sparklesinwonderland
Member
I’ve done more looking into The Bench, and I have issues with it as someone who has studied children’s literature and earned a Master’s degree in library science.
1) Not every book is for every child, that’s fine. HOWEVER, you cannot publicize a book saying that you hope it’s inclusive and resonant with every family, no matter their makeup, and have it be only for fathers and sons. Are foster parents going to be depicted? What about moms who have to fill the role of both mom and dad? Are female children depicted at all? (I haven’t seen all the illustrations). Market the book for what it is- a racially inclusive Father and Son book.
2) There are so many books of much higher caliber that get much less attention. MM has NOT reinvented the wheel here. In fact, she is flooding the market with her celebrity puff piece, preventing authors who have actually spent years and years perfecting their work from getting noticed.
3) One of the crucial aspects for a successful children’s book is either uproarious entertainment/humor, or for the child to emotionally connect. They need to be provided with “windows, mirrors and doors,” opportunities to see themselves reflected, see others unlike themselves and learn about it, and step through those “learning doors.” (Yes that’s a 2 cent explanation of a more complex academic concept!). MM hasn’t done that. Children won’t connect to this. Ok, a 1 pg illustration of a parent coming home from deployment/training (talk about gender stereotypes, would’ve subverted those myself but OK)... nope, not enough. There’s just nothing to grab onto. What a vanity piece.
1) Not every book is for every child, that’s fine. HOWEVER, you cannot publicize a book saying that you hope it’s inclusive and resonant with every family, no matter their makeup, and have it be only for fathers and sons. Are foster parents going to be depicted? What about moms who have to fill the role of both mom and dad? Are female children depicted at all? (I haven’t seen all the illustrations). Market the book for what it is- a racially inclusive Father and Son book.
2) There are so many books of much higher caliber that get much less attention. MM has NOT reinvented the wheel here. In fact, she is flooding the market with her celebrity puff piece, preventing authors who have actually spent years and years perfecting their work from getting noticed.
3) One of the crucial aspects for a successful children’s book is either uproarious entertainment/humor, or for the child to emotionally connect. They need to be provided with “windows, mirrors and doors,” opportunities to see themselves reflected, see others unlike themselves and learn about it, and step through those “learning doors.” (Yes that’s a 2 cent explanation of a more complex academic concept!). MM hasn’t done that. Children won’t connect to this. Ok, a 1 pg illustration of a parent coming home from deployment/training (talk about gender stereotypes, would’ve subverted those myself but OK)... nope, not enough. There’s just nothing to grab onto. What a vanity piece.
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Brits do not sound cool, Hazza. We just don’t! It won’t help you to use glottal stops or say your Ts incorrectly. You just sound even more of a knob!! MORDD-I-FYING!!! 
