Monday in the carpool line, a group of moms exited vehicles to chat in the shade of the awning while waiting for the end of school bell and the children to exit. Most of are book lovers and normally we discuss our favorite reads that week.
But on that afternoon, as we discussed healthy Easter baskets, we brainstormed new books for our offspring the upcoming holiday. When possible books turned to books with a slight Easter theme--as in rabbits--discussion rapidly became disagreement.
We all grew up with Little Golden Books and in the name of tradition, seek those titles and pass them along to our children. A few Little Golden Books starring a rabbit unanimously agreed on for kids Easter reading were:
Home For a Bunny
and
Margaret Wise Brown's The Golden Egg Book
Richard Scarry's The Bunny Book
However, another traditional rabbit book sparked dissension in the ranks.
In The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, a widowed mother rabbit cautions her young to stay away from Mr. McGregor's vegeteble garden, as their father had died there. Rebellious Peter Rabit enters the garden lured by the vegetables, becomes sick at his stomach, and is spied by the villain Mr. McGregor while he searches for a soothing stalk of celery. The chase begins. Fortunately, Peter gets away and his mother cares for his ailing tummy, but not before Peter--and any young audience of the book--are scared sh*tless.
At least that is the premise of the debate on this fine day.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, is another Little Golden book we all grew up with. Yet, it's a tradition some vehemently refuse to read to their own kids. The arguments against this fictional and supposedly fun book spewed fast and furious.
"Was there ever a children's book with a more horrifying beginning?"
...your father had an accident there, he was put into a pie...
"Don't get me started on labeling children and expected behavior"
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail are “good little bunnies” and Peter was “very naughty.”
"He lost his shoes, and then his clothes--he was naked--and afraid"
...now he couldn't run; he just had to hide...
"Just when there's hope for escape, Peter Rabbit is fat shamed by his author"
...found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath
"Seriously, this is just creepy!"
Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds.
"So are we still taking the kids to Peter Rabbit this weekend?"
One friend asked the rest of us. We all dissolved into laughter just as the bell sounded the end of another school day.
"But are we?" Another friend persisted as we moved toward our cars.
Right. Because one creative liberty taken when adapting the book to video supposedly has parents outraged. Here's a marshmallow peep.
But "Allergy Bullying" is a soccer-moms-shady discussion for another afternoon.
Peter Rabbit Extended Trailer
all about the books and the worlds within
Stalk BooK BanGS
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