https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:38:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1428102 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 22:02:42 +0000 hummusgirl 1428102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to think I'd be supportive of whatever he chooses, but this week LO (16 months) picked up a book about Justin Beiber at the library which really tested that principle! (My husband was there and managed to redirect...whew) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1428073 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 21:48:36 +0000 Smurfette 1428073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if she wants to read then I will do whatever to encourage it. Too any kids have no interest in reading. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1428058 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 21:42:50 +0000 blackbird 1428058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm big on letting children pick their books in order to foster their relationship with reading. I think forcing it and or forcing them to read things they don't want to will backfire. But that's mostly an older kid thing, I think. But if they like it all, then I'm all about picking something we would both enjoy. I feel like once they can read, it's all about whatever interests them to continue fostering a positive relationship with books. I read a ton and always had free reign. </p> <p>That being said, we are hoping she keeps loving herself some dr Seuss because I am a fan of the classics </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1428051 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 21:37:08 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1428051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Aimed: haha, well I find him disrespectful! He seems to complain a lot and doesn't listen to sir top ham hat. The attitude he has in the books and movies does grate on my nerves! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427821 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 19:34:26 +0000 Aimed 1427821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: thanks! I've often heard of parents disliking Thomas the train and I never knew what the deal was. My LO is only a year so he doesn't know about any characters yet,<br /> Except spot the dog whom he adores! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427774 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 18:59:28 +0000 mrsbookworm 1427774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I agree, most of the TV character/superhero books are terribly written. A lot of the Disney/Winnie the Pooh ones are terrible too (not the original A.A. Milne). I think you've got the right approach by letting the kids pick a few that they like and then picking others yourself. They'll probably figure out pretty quickly that the stories in the superhero books are not as engaging! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427652 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 16:36:23 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1427652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: And I think my original post came off a little wrong-- so sorry for that. I wasn't suggesting that you (or anyone, really) was censoring-- just that we never outright say no to pretty much any book. There have been about two times Ellie has chosen something with subject matter that seemed border-line (once it had something about prostitutes-- nothing in depth, but strongly implied) and another time it was a pretty gritty book about a family that was living in their car. The first book we ended up telling her was a little too mature; the second one we read through ourselves first, read aloud to Ellie, and then talked about. But it's a really personal choice and I don't know that some level of censorship isn't good and appropriate. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427645 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 16:33:19 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1427645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: We're the same. :)<br /> I do think that kids who have been exposed to some good writing tend to dismiss the truly awful stuff. I guess I try to slog through the books I don't prefer since I know that, for a while, I'm their only access point. The repetition can get painful, but I usually just let myself go on auto-pilot and think about other things (awful, huh?). I mean, I don't do that until we are about five reads into the very.same.ranger.rick.magazine, but boy-- there are only so many times ricky racoon finding a geode feels interesting. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427640 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 16:24:29 +0000 mrbee 1427640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: Ok back at my desk! Not sure if we're talking about the same thing... we let him pick out a bunch of books, and then we picked a bunch of books too. So no censorship involved...</p> <p>I totally agree that it's great when kids pick their own books. It's maybe not so great though when the kids can't read yet, and the parents are forced to read the books to them over and over. And then you realize that the book just makes no sense at all.</p> <p>I think Charlie noticed too, because he hasn't requested me to reread the book as many times as he usually does! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427480 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 13:43:52 +0000 mrs. bird 1427480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: I &lt;3 that you are still reading aloud to her! It makes me so sad when parents stop reading to children just because they're able to read. Different skills, both important for fostering a love of books! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427476 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 13:39:09 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1427476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't find the pertinent passage, but "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease is a fantastic resource for anyone who reads to their children (at any age). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427473 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 13:33:47 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1427473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Both. She still gets about an hour of read-aloud time per day (sometimes more if it's a weekend or something like that), and then she also reads to herself. Her teacher told us that she is the best reader she has had in her class in a very long time and is reading at about a fifth grade level. The school library relaxed their rule about not letting first graders check out higher level chapter books when she asked them if she could, since she was able to demonstrate that she could read and comprehend some of the books she was interested in taking home. It takes quite a while before reading competency/fluency catches up to your "listening level," so we will do read-alouds for the forseeable future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427438 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 12:55:41 +0000 mrbee 1427438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: do you read to Ellie or does she read to herself? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427434 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 12:51:52 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1427434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't generally censor the girls' picks at all. We do try to carefully select some options to have on offer based on their interests/tastes/past reading preferences, but anything they choose at the library is fair game. We just want them to love books and reading. It reminds me a little of a great Kate DiCamillo book we read where the main character loved comic books and the mom didn't want her reading them because she thought they were junk. I just think we all have our own tastes, and recognizing those generally means more reading happens. But yes, some of those pulp books are just so... UGH! Ellie likes some of the pulp Fancy Nancys (not too terrible, but not great), and Fly Guy (which I really just don't like), but she reads them and enjoys them. I know Mr. T turns up his nose at many of my book selections, and I am ALWAYS teasing him about how I can choose a book for him quickly because I just look for the words, "CIA," "explosion," "killer," and "fast-paced," in the jacket description. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427370 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:49:37 +0000 bookwormmama 1427370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: this is a good suggestion! There are lots of graphic novels that would be age appropriate! Some of the ones you mentioned are good, but there are also simpler ones out there that would similar to picture book length! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427368 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:47:03 +0000 bookwormmama 1427368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We almost never buy character books at my library for some of the reasons you mentioned (Clifford is different though since he started as a book!). We do have some of those Lego visual dictionaries, but not a lot of picture books featuring TV/Disney characters. One of the big reasons is the books are almost always paperbacks so they don't hold up well with a lot of circulations, but I know the selector doesn't really think the writing is well done in most character books and I think she doesn't want to encourage too much TV watching with books about TV characters...but I'm not sure of all of her motivations behind not buying them.</p> <p>I think some character books are fine, especially if they get kids reading, but if you are concerned/don't like them (I don't blame you) maybe next time ask the librarian if there are other superhero picture books they would recommend (there are lots written that are not about TV/Marvel/Disney characters and have pretty good stories). Maybe you can get him interested in better stories that still have a similar theme? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427367 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:45:08 +0000 .twist. 1427367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: yes! That is totally right. I was not thinking of those types of graphic novels. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427365 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:41:15 +0000 Charm54 1427365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: hmm I suppose it would depend, my 7 year old students love the Lunch Lady, Baby Mouse, Mal and Chad, Owly, Giants Beware etc graphic novel series. So not your typical super heroes but they have really interesting story lines and detailed graphics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427359 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:36:45 +0000 .twist. 1427359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: the only thing I can think of with graphic novels, is that they are possibly not age appropriate? At least, the ones I read are definitely not. Hahaha so maybe depending on the super hero.? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427354 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:32:17 +0000 Charm54 1427354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about some graphic novels?? They are a great way to get kids started with reading because they can read the pictures and put their own plot/story together. There's usually some real interesting story telling that happens with them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427351 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:29:40 +0000 .twist. 1427351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Aimed: haha, well, I haven't watched it in a while (or read a book, thankfully, either) so currently, it's because I find him irritating... The book we had was insanely long and the kids always picked that one because they figured we'd read the whole thing for bedtime. Much to their dismay! Ha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427309 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:54:09 +0000 californiadreams 1427309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: that's such a good idea to trade books with friends!</p> <p>i haven't given much thought to superhero books, but i don't think i will be too picky about what books LO reads, as long as he enjoys reading and understands it is fiction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427300 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:45:23 +0000 mrs. wagon 1427300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also not a fan of the superhero stuff.. Mostly because it turns playtime into fighting bad guys, which leads to a lot of violent looking motions and hitting things. He's good about following directions when we say no hitting with anything, but he even takes his blankie and whips it around at people's faces, which I hate. That being said, he loves those superheroes... Not really sure how to keep things like that away from a boy.</p> <p>He comes home from daycare asking about ninja turtles, ninjago, power rangers.. All the kids talk about it (especially the kids with older brothers) so I guess it's all inevitable.</p> <p>That being said.. We're picky about writing as well so we don't have any books that we don't considered as written well. We don't do library trips yet because we have SO many books. And we trade with friends. One of my closest friends is a 4th grade teacher so she provides us with tons of great stuff which I love!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427295 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:40:38 +0000 Aimed 1427295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: this is off topic but why do so many people hate Thomas the tank engine? I know little or nothing about it so I'm just wondering as I've heard several people express dislike of it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427294 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:39:51 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1427294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age I think a 50/50 split is good. Once they are older though I would take any reading (sports illustrated kids etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427292 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:39:31 +0000 mrs. 64 1427292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your 50/50 split sounds like a good idea. Just wait until he gets into the elementary aged graphic novels. The kids love them, and I love that they love to read them, but they are awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427291 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:37:21 +0000 .twist. 1427291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the superheros are great, it introduces wicked characters in a child friendly manner and then they know who they are when they get more into comics and stuff. I would so much rather read a poorly written comic story than a well written thomas the train book (who I hate!). Like everyone else though, I'd just be happy he's into reading! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427274 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:19:09 +0000 Dandelion 1427274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't mind them at all. I'm just happy when he's excited to read, no matter what the topic. DS has done this, too.</p> <p>DS now picks books with topics that interest him, like space, spiders and all that. So, don't worry...this is just a short phase for a year or so. Kids' tastes in stuff changes all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427268 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:13:29 +0000 mrbee 1427268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: Elmo books are pretty well written! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-childrens-books-featuring-superheroes-or-cartoon-characters#post-1427262 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:07:43 +0000 erwoo 1427262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't mind if my oldest wants us to read it once in a while but definitely prefer other books for sure! I did get some fireman LEGO books that teaches you about what to do when there is a fire. I'm SO not a fan of superheros these days... especially when he starts acting like one. Someone usually gets accidentally hit or run over when he's pretending to be them. :\ </p>