Books #158 – #161: So-call children’s classics

Yes, gurl, twirl, turn, pose, live your best life, werk! Oops, I forgot where I was. Wrong place for this.

Classic Books 4-7

Somewhere along the road, I took the liberty to also read a few children’s classics that I’ve never read before and a reread. 

Book #158: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Top Promise: This Dr. Seuss classic starring Sam-I-Am will have readers of all ages craving Green Eggs and Ham!

Here’s the thing, I’ve never read any books from this fake doctor and decided to give one of his most popular books a chance. I was left disappointed by this travesty. Sam I Am is probably the most obnoxious thing I’ve ever come across. He’s vile and nasty when it comes to forcing his disgusting food upon others. Learn to respect others’ opinions when it comes to food!

via food.com

The book didn’t make sense and it was really boring. Bottom line message: if you keep on pressuring and insisting, they’ll eventually say yes. This is not a great message for children. 

Yuck! I don’t care if its name is Sam, and he’ll eat it in a boat, with a goat in a very green coat, no second serving for me.

Final Verdict:

Book #159: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Fun Fact: This book was banned from a public library in Colorado in 1988 because it was deemed too sexist as some readers believed that the young protagonist continually took from the tree without ever giving anything in return.

And in a way, they’re right… just not about the sexist thing. We can look at this book from several points of view, but I dislike it because it’s a horrible and depressing story for children. The Bible tells us that it’s better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), but THIS  kind of giving is inexcusable. The tree loves the boy and is at its happiest whenever she gives, gives, gives! This crazy giving is not self-sacrificial, but rather vile. Vile that the tree can’t learn to say no at times because it makes the thankless boy even greedier. Vile that he took all of her fruits, branches, and trunk until the stump alone remained. Vile that it’s implied that when someone loves you it’s okay to take advantage of them for all that you want/need for they’re always going to be there for you.

This one-sided love is vile.

I know I can look at this story from so many points of view, but from a child’s point of view, what message are they receiving? Most of them are going to cry over how unfair it was for the dead tree anyway. 

Final Verdict:

Book #160: Eloise by Kay Thompson 

There is no better way to say this and believe me, I tried to come up with better words, but that’ll be sugarcoating it, so that disclaimer of sorts out of the way: I HATE THIS BOOK!!

I knew I was going to dislike this book from the cover at how the spoiled ugly twerp – yes, I called a child ugly, deal with it, but she’s ugly inside-out – was climbing to scrawl her name on the mirror. Here are some things I STRONGLY dislike about this book:

^ The brat is 6, rich and automatically entitled. Her hobbies include hitting adults, drawing on the hotel walls, and bending over to show her knickers to everyone. She looks as untidy as her room.

^ Where are the brat’s parents? Her mother is across the world meeting important people (probably in Tahiti as I write this) and her father is never mentioned.

^ I feel as if she abuses her pets. She has a dog and a turtle. Those poor, poor animals!

^ The only person kind of tolerable in this story is the English nanny and Eloise enjoys making fun of her accent. What am I talking? The world enjoys making fun of the English accent for some sad reason.

^ I get it. I do. Her mother is rich and has no time for her, so she’s entrusted to a nanny as do most rich brats, but I can’t feel sympathy for her. Mama abandons her at the plaza to go on extravagant trips and to have an affair with her lawyer. Or maybe the poor lawyer is the brat’s father. I don’t care at this point.

^ And calling the name of the Lord in vain after picking up this trait from the English nanny? Oh, little twerp, no! This idiot gets in people’s way all the time and what is the she-devil doing in the men’s room?! 

^ Every time the twerp mentions her name, she practically screams it: ELOISE. Eew! This child is always around adults, mostly males, and yes, I am insinuating. Some of these men are creeps. I see you, Philipi. Creepy French tutoring pervert with a garter.

^ The twerp’s favorite word? Charge it. Entitled sad stupid brat.

^ I do not need to see a naked child!

^ Nanny smokes and drinks while the twerp watches TV with a parasol (in case of a glare) and binoculars.

For those saying that the thing is just a child, being 6 is no excuse to hit people, destroy things and call the Lord’s Name in vain. Solomon tells us so in Proverbs 20:11. This book is not okay for children to read and the subtle sexual references didn’t go unnoticed.

Final Verdict:

Book #161: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

This line: “The smallest one was Madeline…” All of them looked the same size in the same two straight lines for me. I recall liking this book at first read when I was young, but now… erm, I love the rhyming and I love Miss Clavel for she’s patient, sweet, and kind. I don’t get what is it with children authors showing little girls in their underwear, but it’s annoying.

And here’s something you don’t hear from me often, I still like this little treasure, but what was so special about Madeline anyway? All she had was an appendix removed.

Final Verdict:

If I make reading unfun, I don’t apologize. I have no reason to sugarcoat things not even for a children’s book.

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The Promise of a Rainbow🌈

Short Story #28

“Papa!”

“Papa, come quick!”

At the urgency in the voices of his twin toddlers, Ray immediately stopped icing the black coffee vanilla cupcakes and rushed over to them in the playpen that was positioned by the window. They were directing his gaze outside of the window with frantic pointing and worried chubby faces.

“Something wrong with the sky!” the twins echo in unison as they point out the window. “Look, Papa!”

Ray looked and smiled. “Nothing’s wrong with the sky, mes amours. It’s only a rainbow.”

The twins scrunched their adorable little faces at their ever-patient father.

Ray heartily laughs.

Marcus playfully nudged his sister-in-law. “I bet you a box of the finest Belgian chocolates that he’s going to give the babies a scientific explanation. Ça te dit?”

Diana looked at Marcus and then at her husband who was gathering the twins in his arms. “He’s going to tell them a story, but you’re on!”

“A rainbow is a multicolored arc in the sky. It’s one of creation’s most splendid masterpieces all thanks to God.” Ray explained to the babies. “See, people were very wicked and refused to obey God; it displeased Him. However, one man found grace in God’s eyes: Noah. Had it not been for him, the world probably wouldn’t have existed today.”

Ashley tilts her head sideways to look at her father. “Vraiment?”

“Vraiment,” Ray clarifies. “After Noah followed God’s instructions in building an ark, a great flood came and cleansed the earth removing evil-minded mankind. After Noah and family left the ark, a multi-colored curved bow appeared in the sky symbolizing God’s covenant He made with Noah as He promised to never destroy the world in such a way again.

“It’s a beautiful promise. How many colors do you see?”

As Ray occupied the babies, Diana turns to a smiling Marcus. “I know you got lost in the story, but you owe me a box of the finest Belgian chocolate known to man.”

The smile quickly morphed into a sourish scowl. “Ray, couldn’t you have given the babies a scientific explanation and leave it at that?” Marcus picks up one of his twin’s signature cupcake and starts walking away. “Now I owe your wife chocolates! Chocolates, Ray! C’est ouf!”

Ray’s infectious laughter fill the room causing his wife to join in.

French terms used:

* mes amours – my loves

* Ça te dit – up for it?

* vraiment – really

* C’est ouf – it’s crazy

All grammatical errors are mine.

Inspired scripture: 

Three places to study the meaning of a rainbow or what some of the colors may symbolize are found in Genesis, Ezekiel, and Revelation.

On another note, I’ll be sharing more stories, trains of thoughts, ideas, really short stories, etc. in the near future. I may post a lot of stories on Tuesdays. Most, if not all of the stories are Biblically-based and I want to start incorporating French in many of them.

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Say a prayer for the new school term🤲

Books #128-#131: history, plants, manners, and Jim Carrey

Book #128: Don’t Throw it, Grow It! by Deborah Peterson & Millicent Selsam

I read this book out of boredom one day and it sort of inspired me to want to actually plant things and watch them grow. When I was younger, I used to enjoy growing beans, but I lost interest. Anyway, about the book, it’s easy to understand and it’s filled with great ideas for experimenting with gardening.

Reminds me of my dear gardening friends, Luda and Reema. 😄

There are no photographs, but illustrations which is fine by me, but I think the authors could’ve added a bit more information about the plants. Overall, this book is worth .

Book #129: First In Trinidad by Michael Anthony

I love this book! It was easy to read and I enjoyed discovering more historical facts about my country such as the first survey, the first few streets of Port-of-Spain, how the French made education a thing, the first time we got television service, and the first time the telephone rang which was 1885. 

It’s a really informative book and I’ll read it again when the time permits. While reading, I was inspired to write a story using ‘old’ Trinidad as the backdrop setting, so it looks like I’ll be reading more historical books like these soon. 

I’ll strongly recommend this book for Trinidadians who are not aware of their history: 

#Yay4History

Book #130: Multicultural Manners: Essential Rules of Etiquette for the 21st Century by Norine Dresser

This book was written with the American in mind. The author reminds her fellow Americans that they should know another’s culture before doing things the “American Way”, but at the same time, she is defending the “American Way” in some instances.

We all should do a bit of research before visiting a foreign country. A few interesting things I noted:

^ Never call a Mexican the ‘s’ word. Even if you’re correcting a Mexican child, never use the word ‘stupid’ for it’s the worst possible insult to a Mexican.

^ Some Puerto Ricans will not eat pineapple in combination with other foods. 

^ Yellow flowers hold negative connotations for people such as Mexicans, Peruvians, and Iranians so it’s safer not to gift them such color flowers. Meanwhile, Chinese and most Asian people respond negatively to white flowers because it’s often associated with death. 

Overall, I enjoy learning about so many cultures: 

Book #131: How Roland Rolls by Jim Carrey

First, the illustrations in this children’s book (recommended for 4-8-year-olds) is SLAMMING!

It makes you want to go on a sea adventure. It makes you want to surf and do all water sports. Jim posed for many of the Roland faces throughout the story which is written in rhyme and it flowed well. Roland is a wave and we’re rolled along with his adventure even when he can’t find his friends. Later, Roland will learn that waves cannot make it past land. 

It’s about the importance of friendship, leaving old friends behind and making new friends.

Hmmm… I wonder how Jim Carrey rolls? 

There is no such thing as a sexy baby!

This series shows how sick and twisted the world is quickly becoming and it ain’t no picnic. In the coming weeks, I’ll be focusing more on these type of topics.

Living in this world is giving me a headache and robbing me of my peace of mind. When it comes to children, perverts are getting sicker by the second. Child sex robots are being manufactured to treat pedophiles/rapists who want to be cured. How is this possible and what is it really curing? This will encourage the urges and eventually, the sicko will want the real thing. This is beyond disgusting and creepy, but the real question is: what not to expect in this sick world that we’re living in?

How can people be okay with this?

That’s why when celebrities try to bring light to issues that are hidden in the dark, I don’t believe every word coming out of their mouth for they don’t practice what they preach and in the end, most of them end up exposing their children for the world to see on social media.

When Blake Lively gave a speech on child pornography, many people called it emotional. I did not feel anything coming from this woman. She blah blahed about this and that and yet, she worked with child molester Woody Allen. She wore a plunging neckline to talk at this important conference and her body language told a different story. 

And Salma Hayek gave a very weird speech about Blake Lively before introducing her on the stage. Did Hayek visit a bar before coming to this event? 

If a non-celebrity was trying to bring awareness to this terrible issue, they wouldn’t have been given a platform as big as this, for mind-controlled-celebrity-obsessed-fans wouldn’t give their time to listen. While it’s nice that Miss Lively is given a platform to be a voice for those poor children, spare me for this was scripted just as everything else in Hollywood where the cameras never stop rolling. Hollywood is CRAWLING with pedos! Maybe Lively should speak out against them. Wait…

Never forget that Miss Lively called child molester Woody Allen “empowering to women”. She doesn’t get a do-over because of that speech. She defended this man.

Then we have a distasteful promo for SNL in which host John Mulaney walks into a bar and orders a Shirley Temple drink only to be bought a literal Shirley Temple (a child). Temple was perhaps the most oversexualized child in the history of Hellywood. I’ve never seen a movie of hers (thank God!), but I do know enough to talk about her which I’ll be doing at another time for I may need more than water to get through the writing.

People can call it a joke, but you don’t joke about children and you certainly don’t over-sexualize them. This is why many former child stars can’t seem to adjust when they’re no longer wanted by the film industry. 

Then there’s this:

With pedophilia a rampant thing in Hollywood, you’ll think that celebrities wouldn’t be making fun of it. There is no such thing as a sexy baby! What is wrong with these old fools? Tom Hanks should be ashamed of himself! I know it’s from 2011, but the clip is still disturbing to see how they sexualized that little girl. Plus she’s singing a song from the rock band Poison and is all like, “Talk dirty to me,” (what does she know about talking dirty?) in the pageant segment and adults laugh at this? It’s not funny. And Tom Hanks is all like, “Sexy baby. Sexy baby. Such a sexy baby.” and clapping like an idiot. 

Jimmy Fallon has a segment on his show call Kid Theater in which he read scenes written by elementary school kids with his guests and I think it’s pretty neat. I know Hanks was on one of the episodes, but I only watched the one with TC and I enjoyed it. They need to show children in this light instead of sexing them up in their dialogues and shows. Some of the writing is really good. Keep in mind, some of these children are as young as seven years old.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Book #87: Summer Camp Secrets #2: Prankster Queen

“Yes! Another summer at camp! Me and my sister and brothers have been coming to Camp Lakeview for ever and I love it. But this year I wouldn’t mind being on my own for once. Having my family around used to be like a security blanket – but lately, I feel like I’m being smothered…”

Bubbly, mischievous Jenna is the prankster queen of Lakeview Summer Camp, famous for her fun-loving nature and wild stunts. But this year she’s getting seriously out of control and doesn’t seem to know when to stop. What’s bugging Bunk 3C’s favorite practical joker?

Author: Melissa J. Morgan
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd. (May 01st, 2007)
Chapters: 13
Pages: 173 plus an excerpt of Best Friends
Series: Summer Camp Secrets #2

Prankster Queen is a lighthearted camp adventure featuring Jenna Bloom and her twin, Adam and older sister, Stephanie. I like summer camp books! Unfortunately, this one was stuffed with unlikable and easily forgettable characters, but the author did a good job writing the vivid scenery.

As for the pranks, I was expecting better ones given that Jenna owns the Queen of Pranks title, but they were mainly minor ones. I don’t think Jenna would be out pranking the Dobre twins anytime soon.

Next to them, she looks like an amateur. They could teach her a thing or two when it comes to pranks.

I liked Jenna’s twin, Adam. His personality simply shone throughout the story. I don’t think there was any big secret to actually reveal in the end. Jenna was only acting out because her parents were going through a divorce. It’s never easy for young children to suddenly accept the fact that they’ll be coming home to one parent after school and possibly visiting the other on a weekend. They deal with things in their own way, but I wasn’t getting this vibe from Jenna.

A good read but the author should reconsider renaming the book to Summer Camp Secrets: Annoying Jenna.

COVER:

I love the design and I think it’s one of the prettiest covers I’ve seen in a while and yes, I bought this book because of the cover. This cover is a 4/5.

VERDICT:

NEXT UP:

Fifty Foods that Changed the Course of History by Bill Price 

The 48-hour challenge. Really, Facebook?

Last month, I read that Facebook introduced a new game in which they encouraged young children to go missing for up to 48 hours. Basically, they were to hide from their parents/guardians for 48 hours, and I find myself wondering what kind of sick twisted game was this?

Children are given a higher score if their names are mentioned on social media by their loved ones desperately seeking them. 

This sick and twisted game bear a striking resemblance to the ‘Game of 72‘ in 2015 which encouraged children to disappear for 24, 48, or 72 hours. 

Every day, children go missing and this 48 Hour Challenge game targeting children saw children as young as 14 go missing for days at a time. This game was devised by the mind of evil with no regards for the people who go missing every day. One terrified mother who has been searching for her children found them in a different town only to then discover that they were in on the game with their social peers. 

Within the first 48 hours of a crime, crucial evidence mostly disappears and after 48 hours, it becomes harder to find a missing person because the trail goes cold. Is this what these idiots want? For children to go missing to make them easier to kidnap?

Parents, stay vigilant. This world is becoming messier by the second.

I can never have too many books…

#MusingMonday

…or so I like to think.

I love reading and I love sharing the books that I’ve read through reviews for it helps me practice my writing. Despite having hundreds of unread books, I am over the moon whenever I receive new books! 

New books get me excited like…

Help! Send me to book rehab! … No such rehab exist though. *sighs* 

This is why I’ve decided to hold back on purchasing new books for the time being. I have so many books to read that if I buy new ones, they’ll automatically end up in the bottom pile and I probably won’t read them until 2019 or so. That’s how bad my book addiction is!

However, because of my love for reading, I’ve come up with a plan to make a small business out of it with proceeds going to help underprivileged children. Never have I thought in all my years that I’ll be doing this, but here I am. I’m in the early stages of planning. 🙂

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