Boy, was I horrified (again!) when my toddler and I went through this set of picture cum colouring books!
Before our move to China and because I can’t read/write Chinese, I’ve never visited the Chinese book section. My first encounter with Chinese picture books was a “stunning” one as a gun and a rifle are used to introduce the concepts of “long” and “short”.
As he’s starting preschool soon, I bought a bunch of bilingual preschool books to familiarize him with the Chinese medium of instruction.
Check out this seemingly innocent cover with an excavator:
This 62 page book introduces the Chinese name for invidiual items, with the Chinese character, hanyu pinyin and English word all next to each other. What’s also fun about it is that kids can colour in each item, with suggested colours next to them.
What horrifies me though are these pictures:
BULLET AND MAUSER
KATANNA and NUNCHAKUS?
DAGGER and SNIPE GUN?
GRENADE???
SUBMACHINE GUN
ASSAULT RIFLE?!
I’m dumbstuck. And wonder if I’m outdated. Or over-reacting. Have times really changed that much that words like “assult rifle” have become an essential part of children (preschool) vocabulary?
And my heart goes out to children in war-torn countries who learn these words first long before they learn words like “playground”, “swings”, “slides” or “happy”.
I’m beginning to realize now the effects of living in a country where military might stands tall and proud, amongst the other facets promoted e.g. history, culture, people and natural beauty.
It’s really hard to place this book (the worst actually in the set of six I bought) next to the preschool books I have in my collection. For now, it’s high up in the shelf among the things that are out of bounds for him.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Holy moly!
I must take a walk to the commercial areas and browse the bookshops. These would make hilarious souveniers!
Ok, I’m not meaning to say this should be encouraged and that it’s a laughing matter etc, but really…
It is indeed something different.
What a terrible book for kids! I thought we should be encouraging world peace…
Tan Yee Wei – Ugh, please, please don’t support the sale of these books…For a lover of books, this is one I don’t mind chucking into the mulch!
Josette – Yes…tell this to the publishers!
Maybe it was meant for the kids in military school. *gulp*
Btw, I did the bookworm tag alread.
Zara’s Mama – Ugh…I thought kids in military training existed at war zones, not in a fast developing country! Thanks for doing the tag, can’t wait to read what you read
OMG!! OMG!! I’m … I’m… speechless!!!!!!
Yvonne – You’re speechless? I exploded
I don’t think you’re overreacting at all. I always teach my kids to respect books but I would have no qualms with pitching that one in the trash.
TrishaJ – Thanks…I tend to get ‘over-protective’ sometimes and thought maybe this is one of those moments. I won’t chuck it out yet as it’s just too shocking not to share with others.
That is nuts.
It’s crazy, isn’t it? Have you read about my son’s preschool experiences? That’ll boggle your mind for sure…