I'm just another working mom seeking a few moments of Zen and zinfandel between soccer practice and supper. My former beach bartender husband founded 
Once upon a time there was a little girl who grew up in the country who loved to read because, let’s face it, it was either that or name all her pet chickens and carry on in-depth conversations with them. Wait a minute, she SO did that.
She’d curl up on her bed or sprawl in a chair on the shady screened-in back porch and get lost in her favorite book.
The little girl grew up and had two daughters of her own. Her 7-year-old was a good reader and it was so exciting seeing her daughter excel in reading. The little girl who grew up to be a mother had dreamed of the day she’d pass on her favorite books, like her Little House on the Prairie series or her dog-eared copy of The Secret Garden, to her daughters.
Then one week the book fair came to school. Oh how the little girl who grew up to be a soccer mom in the suburbs who found solace in the Target dollar section and the occasional, yet elusive, nap remembered the book fair from her school days. She and her daughter headed into the school library the afternoon the book fair opened. Her daughter was so excited to show her the books she’d selected that she practically dragged her to the chapter books display area. The mother thought to herself with wistful anticipation…What children’s literary classic would her daughter discover as she read familiar passages? Anne of Green Gables? Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm? Caddie Woodlawn?
THIS is what her 2nd grader plucked from the shelf.
WTH? You’ve got to be kidding me! Freaking rabid hamsters? Was this some sort of twisted parental karma for not buying her children Zhu Zhu pets for Christmas?
At least her daughter chose to dress up as Nancy Drew for Favorite Book Character Day or there would be much brain washing, I mean sadness.
That is crazy! What kind of children’s book are they pushing these days? I know it’s all about encouraging them to read what they are interested in, but can’t the school/book fiar steer them a little closer to Judy Blume or something more tame than rabid hamsters?! I would have felt the same way you did.
.-= uncommonblonde´s last blog ..Miami =-.
What in the heck? That cover is down right scary. Please tell me there is some good reading in that book (but there probably isn’t).
.-= Pippi´s last blog ..Quick and Dirty – Vegas or Bust for Single Mom Says…Day 3 =-.
Oh that’s creepy. And pretty funny!
I remember my daughter devouring the Little House series in 1st grade – she LOVED those books! She never was interested in anything scarier than Nancy Drew.
.-= amy2boys´s last blog ..Poppy Seed Chicken Salad =-.
Hilarious
!! Baby Girl is kind of a scaredy cat so I don’t think I have to worry about this.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Talking with Baby Girl =-.
OMG! I am laughing so hard I might actually show my husband this one! Thanks.
.-= Shauna´s last blog .. =-.
Hey, we have the whole set of Walter, The FARTING Dog!! Just what the boys needed!! HA!
I checked out “Little House in the Big Woods” from the library. But every time I suggest we start it my daughter says no. She’s not interested.
Last night I told her that I was just going to read a few pages, just to see what it’s about.
15 pages later I told her I could read no more that night.
I think she was strangely in awe of it. There was so much animal killing and butchering and playing with a blown up pig bladder…and we’re vegetarian!
I thought she would be horrified (I completely forgot about this aspect of the book), but instead she was enthralled!
I have a feeling she might like Goosebumps, too.
.-= Leighann of Multi-Minding Mom´s last blog ..Nick Presents Storytime Live (Locals Can Win!) =-.
Oh my lord, that is hysterical. I mean, it’s kinda disappointing to you I am sure, but wicked funny at the same time. I can’t believe someone actually thought to write a whole book about rabbid hamsters! Ha ha
BTW, I love Target’s dollar section too—they always have the best junk!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Downtown Disney =-.
I remember this little girl so well. I remember the books I would buy, the screen porch, pet chickens, dogs, cat and on and on. You took your mom on another trip down memory lane.
That is too much! Now you have me wondering what gems my daughter is going to discover when she is older.
http://www.RubysSlippers.etsy.com
I hate to admit it but Goosebumps came out when I was in 5th grade and were the coolest things ever. I read all of them at the time, though i can say the rabid hamsters weren’t published yet. I love hearing your side though because it’s so true… I enjoyed those books but the ones that i love today are the classics that I still love reading as an adult and RL Stine is no longer on my book shelf. You’re daughter will be the same!
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Well, the hamster sort of looks like how I always imagined Gilbert Blythe when he was picking on Anne. You know, before he stole her heart (and mine).
.-= Stacia´s last blog ..Time Traveling =-.
We had a pet chicken named Margaret…after Margaret Hoolihan from MASH….and the name fit. My mom sold her at a garage sale as a bonus with the charcoal barbecuer.
My brother and I used to set them free in the grass in the morning and then see how many were left that night! Mom hated that game. Thanks for sharing your stories with the world!
.-= Myhandbasket´s last blog ..When Moose Play Hide-n-Seek =-.
my daughters never read nancy drew or trixie belden. it bummed me out. my oldest daughter though…i read all the books she reads. except twilight. i didn’t like that one.
my kids all went through a goosebumps phase. i even read some of them. they are really scary!!
One day your daughter will grow up and she’ll feel the same nostalgia you do. I know Goosebumps looks dumb to you, but people my age (I’m 24) already look back on it fondly. Not everything needs to be a masterpiece to be enjoyable.
Kids love that stuff. A safe scare. Cover is awful though. But at least you’re not stuck in Star Wars nightmare. Mr6 won’t even pick up a book unless Anakin Skywalker is involved. How many lightsabers can one mum bear?
.-= lifeinapinkfibro´s last blog ..It
Thought maybe your readers with “little ones” might enjoy this clip.
It is a delightful new series set in 1890 San Francisco about a little cable car finding his way in a big cable car world.
http://www.cubbietown.com
Cheers!
Erik Nelson
http://www.cubbietown.com
http://www.cubbietown.blogspot.com
SO funny! My son was Nate the Great. Love to meet kids who love books, even if they are Goosebumps! Thankfully Nancy Drew lives!!
.-= Misa ´s last blog ..About Twinkle, Star of the Week and Groundhog Weather School =-.
Ahh! Devastating! I have a toddler, but will take this post as a sign that I should begin mentally preparing myself for the day when classics like The Hardy Boys and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing are long forgotten—what a sad, sad day.
P.S. I named my chickens, too. Roosters named Rover and Over.
.-= sarah´s last blog ..Diagnosis: Not (Completely) Crazy =-.
[...] like yesterday I was beotching about Miss C’s penchant for horror theme chapter books with freaking rabid hamsters (see also freaky rabid hamsters…eh same difference) depicted on the cover. Well, it was last [...]