Seems like an accurate review to me. I read this to my son when he was 2. He started crying but lacked the verbal skills to explain to me what was wrong. I just read it to him again at 3 years and 2 months. He started crying hysterically. If he gets red wings (changes). I won’t recognize him or love him anymore. We won’t ever be reading this again.
We went back to the Little Red Hen. He’s annoyed with her because he thinks she should be the bigger person (chicken?) and share with her free-loading friends even if they don’t deserve cake. I’ll take annoyed at poultry over a sob fest with rabbits any day.
There's something about the book and the description of the story that just doesn't sit right with me at all, this video made me realize what it was: the message flopped and made no sense. One of the few take-aways I thought I was supposed to get from this story was "You have everything you need, don't try being different or you'll be shunned. Fall into line." If I got this read to me, I'd probably cry too, not just from fear but for feeling bad for the rabbit.
I had this as a child and decided to look it up again. I remembered liking it for the beautiful art, but also remembered how distressed it had made me feel- specifically the part where he has fallen after trying to fly and is covered in thorns, and cries for his mother who had rejected him and can’t help him. I remember how helpless it made me feel, that he had done nothing wrong and was suffering so much. I don’t think this book did any lasting harm to me because it wasn’t my favorite and I also had a variety of other books I read with better messages in them. But I do agree that the message is absolutely terrible. In retrospect I can relate the main characters experiences to a lot of trauma I faced later in life when it came to being rejected by family or society for simply expressing myself, being curious, and exploring what I was capable of.
I agree with other commenters that it’s difficult not to see the LGBT+ allegory especially. The LGBT+ child is unsatisfied with the way he is, and wants to change. He gets his wish, but his mother disowns him, literally forcing him out onto the street like so many homeless LGBT+ youth. He has no parent to help him navigate the new change, and ends up getting hurt. Without a supportive parental figure to reassure him that mistakes and bumps in the road are a natural part of the experience of growing up and trying new things, he is immediately convinced by the groundhog’s suggestion that he abandon his new wings and be “normal” again. For the fictional rabbit, this is a happy ending- for the LGBT+ child, it means being forced to stay closeted, shame, self-hatred, and an increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide. I’m sure that having a parent who makes it clear to their child that they accept them and love them no matter what would more than make up for any negative messages they got from a story like this. But the message is still definitely worth criticizing, especially when many kids don’t have parents who are supportive or accepting of the way they are.
I was reminded of this book when I saw some news about a modern kids book by an anti-trans author that has a similar premise. To be honest I didn't think much of this book when I read it as a kid and I think I was just enticed by the magical elements, but I do agree that it can be used to spread harmful messages. Even as someone who wasn't traumatized by this book, I really don't like when people say something is "just for kids" and I don't think you read too much into it at all. If anything people need to put more nuance into kid's media than anything else because kids are at their most impressionable. They aren't as dumb as people think, and they absorb things from what they see. People need to understand that THAT'S why kids will consume almost anything and not use it as an excuse to skimp on quality and botch a story's subtext. Sorry for the rant, I know this is an old video but this kind of stuff really bothers me. People need to learn more critical thinking skills, and that starts at childhood.
@@dontreadthistomykids7104 it’s awesome you’re still replying a while since the uploads, if you want to it might be cool to do more books, not my decision of course
For me, reading it to myself, the rabbit got into a fix due to being impulsively envious of differences in appearances. But having considered the analysis here and elsewhere, I certainly see more problems than I did as a kid. What bugged me then was that the supposed magic pool and the mother's rejection were just disappointing, not given even half-way plausible explanations (the little editor-to-be in me - but I wasn't esp prescient about the *rest* of the problems). The general desire for interesting or semi-plausible explanations of "magic" led me to fantasy and sci-fi.
Seems like an accurate review to me. I read this to my son when he was 2. He started crying but lacked the verbal skills to explain to me what was wrong. I just read it to him again at 3 years and 2 months. He started crying hysterically. If he gets red wings (changes). I won’t recognize him or love him anymore. We won’t ever be reading this again.
We went back to the Little Red Hen. He’s annoyed with her because he thinks she should be the bigger person (chicken?) and share with her free-loading friends even if they don’t deserve cake. I’ll take annoyed at poultry over a sob fest with rabbits any day.
@@PrincessTraceyBrown I appreciate your sharing!
There's something about the book and the description of the story that just doesn't sit right with me at all, this video made me realize what it was: the message flopped and made no sense.
One of the few take-aways I thought I was supposed to get from this story was "You have everything you need, don't try being different or you'll be shunned. Fall into line."
If I got this read to me, I'd probably cry too, not just from fear but for feeling bad for the rabbit.
I know, right? His dreams are crushed, and the lesson he learns is not to have any dreams at all.
Wonderful analysis! I’m glad you took a look into it, you don’t deserve the dislikes this has!
Thanks for the support!
I had this as a child and decided to look it up again. I remembered liking it for the beautiful art, but also remembered how distressed it had made me feel- specifically the part where he has fallen after trying to fly and is covered in thorns, and cries for his mother who had rejected him and can’t help him. I remember how helpless it made me feel, that he had done nothing wrong and was suffering so much.
I don’t think this book did any lasting harm to me because it wasn’t my favorite and I also had a variety of other books I read with better messages in them. But I do agree that the message is absolutely terrible. In retrospect I can relate the main characters experiences to a lot of trauma I faced later in life when it came to being rejected by family or society for simply expressing myself, being curious, and exploring what I was capable of.
I agree with other commenters that it’s difficult not to see the LGBT+ allegory especially. The LGBT+ child is unsatisfied with the way he is, and wants to change. He gets his wish, but his mother disowns him, literally forcing him out onto the street like so many homeless LGBT+ youth. He has no parent to help him navigate the new change, and ends up getting hurt. Without a supportive parental figure to reassure him that mistakes and bumps in the road are a natural part of the experience of growing up and trying new things, he is immediately convinced by the groundhog’s suggestion that he abandon his new wings and be “normal” again. For the fictional rabbit, this is a happy ending- for the LGBT+ child, it means being forced to stay closeted, shame, self-hatred, and an increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide.
I’m sure that having a parent who makes it clear to their child that they accept them and love them no matter what would more than make up for any negative messages they got from a story like this. But the message is still definitely worth criticizing, especially when many kids don’t have parents who are supportive or accepting of the way they are.
@@sharpeningtheaxe Thanks for your response!
I was reminded of this book when I saw some news about a modern kids book by an anti-trans author that has a similar premise. To be honest I didn't think much of this book when I read it as a kid and I think I was just enticed by the magical elements, but I do agree that it can be used to spread harmful messages. Even as someone who wasn't traumatized by this book, I really don't like when people say something is "just for kids" and I don't think you read too much into it at all. If anything people need to put more nuance into kid's media than anything else because kids are at their most impressionable. They aren't as dumb as people think, and they absorb things from what they see. People need to understand that THAT'S why kids will consume almost anything and not use it as an excuse to skimp on quality and botch a story's subtext.
Sorry for the rant, I know this is an old video but this kind of stuff really bothers me. People need to learn more critical thinking skills, and that starts at childhood.
I really appreciate your response!
This is amazing! I hope you will continue to review. I love your little asides and captions!
Thanks! I appreciate your feedback! I've been busy recently but I'm planning on doing another one within the next month or so.
I remember this book! It always made me so upset when his mother didn’t recognize him and wouldn’t let him in the house.
Looking at the comments gotta love how not a single one of the enjoyers have a follow up response
I know! It's like asking them simple questions blew their minds.
@@dontreadthistomykids7104 it’s awesome you’re still replying a while since the uploads, if you want to it might be cool to do more books, not my decision of course
For me, reading it to myself, the rabbit got into a fix due to being impulsively envious of differences in appearances. But having considered the analysis here and elsewhere, I certainly see more problems than I did as a kid. What bugged me then was that the supposed magic pool and the mother's rejection were just disappointing, not given even half-way plausible explanations (the little editor-to-be in me - but I wasn't esp prescient about the *rest* of the problems). The general desire for interesting or semi-plausible explanations of "magic" led me to fantasy and sci-fi.
PLEASE MAKE MORE VIDEOS love your analysis
Thanks for your feedback!
I personally think this was a good book. You really took it out of context.
I'm interested to hear what you think the message is.
I loved this book... You are thinking about this too hard.
I appreciate your watching it anyway. What do you think the message is?
This was a childhood favorite of mine!
Thank you for watching. What do you think the message is?
yeah I love this book and my kids love it too
Thanks for watching. What do you think the message of the book is?
Maybe I was dumb back then
I think that the message of this book is very important.
What do you believe the message is?
It seems a tad bit anti trans
I know, right?
Loved this book as a child, I think you're looking a little too far into it.
She literally addressed the "looking too far" thing.
I like this review and I thought it was funny, but I'm a bit concerned that I should feel bad because the video has more dislikes than likes.
I'm glad you like it. I certainly didn't make it with the intention for people to dislike it.