Oomis, totally agree, as long as they are jewish and kosher and do not have bad ideas mixed in… “
The world is not only comprised of kosher Jews, or even only Jews. Our kids need to be brought up prepared to deal with the outside world and withstand some of the “bad ideas” they will likely encounter. They need the tools to prepare them for this, and reading a wide variety of literature can help to innoculate them.
The best thing a parent can do, is read to and WITH his/her children. When encountering something questionable, that is a wonderful educational moment, and can jumpstart a great lesson for the future.
When I read or told over the story of Goldilocks to my then three-year old granddaughter, I used that story to illustrate how naughty and dangerous it can be for a child to wander off without parental knowledge and permission. I asked my granddaughter did she think Goldilocks did a good thing or bad thing to go into someone’s house when they were not home, and use their things. At age three, she was able to tell me, “No Bubby, that was very bad. Her mommy should give her a time-out.” I asked her what she would say if she were making up this story, and she told me, she would ask her mommy for permission to visit the bears, and ask her to please call them up, see if it was ok to come over, and then take her there. And then she would make brachos on the porridge, because Goldilocks forgot to say Borei Minei Mezonos. (Yes, she really was ONLY three at the time. She is kinehora a very bright child). But I digress…
Anything has the potential to be good and bad, and children’s literature is no different. We are adults, and it is up to us to get our children to have a healthy, but well-rounded view of their world. We do not live in a glass bubble.