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Foul word in childrens books!

3mummy3 View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 08:55 AM Post #1
Posts: 1,329 Joined: 15-July 05
Advanced Member
My dd aged 8 borrowed the Roald Dahl book revolting rhymes from the local library. My 13 yo ds was just flicking through and told me i shouldnt be letting dd read that because there was a foul word in it. It is in the cinderella story, the line is: The prince cried, 'Who's this dirty s*ut? Off with her nut! Off with her nut!'. I know the whole story is a bit gross about chopping peoples heads off etc and it is supposed to be a bit of dark humour but i am seriously shocked that such a word is used in a childrens book. For those that dont know the book, it is a picture book with 'revoltingly funny' rhymes of popular childrens tales like snow white, goldilocks, jack and the beanstock etc. So would you/have you let your kids read this or should i send it straight back to the library?

WibbleWobble View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 08:57 AM Post #2
Posts: 469 Joined: 13-July 02
Member
I would let her read it and explain that the meaning for s*ut has changed over time and explain what it meant when the book was written.

cinnabubble View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:00 AM Post #3
Posts: 11,488 Joined: 24-April 06
I like cats, but I couldn't eat a whole one.
The traditional meaning for s*ut is a slovenly woman. It wasn't sexual.

RobotFerretOfDoo... RobotFerretOfDoom View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:00 AM Post #4
Posts: 5,304 Joined: 27-February 09 From: Sydney
All Mustelidae wrangled. Except badgers. Drama llamas by appt.
What Wibble Wobble said. To be honest I was expecting something much worse. I remember reading this book as a kid and being completely unfazed by the word.

niggles View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:02 AM Post #5
Posts: 10,051 Joined: 11-March 09
My war paint is Sharpie ink
I would encourage her to read it and doscover the richness of the English language. A s*ut is just a word for a poor housekeeper. Would an 8 year old know any other meaning?

bakesgirls View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:13 AM Post #6
Posts: 3,036 Joined: 6-August 01
Advanced Member
It wouldn't bother me in the slightest, for the reasons PPs have stated.

Greenbag View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:13 AM Post #7
Posts: 6,356 Joined: 28-September 09 From: Melbourne
+
I actually think Roald Dahl was a bit of a misogynist. I loved his books as a kid but I find something creepy about them as an adult. The word 's*ut' wouldn't bother me in that context, once you explain what it meant to the author. I remember getting a kick out of reading the rude words from the dictionary or the stuff about sex in the bible. I turned out normal. Sort of.

Chelli View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:15 AM Post #8
Posts: 12,801 Joined: 3-August 01
Admin & Moderator
I know the word meant something different back then, but I would've been shocked to read it in a children's book.

halfagonyhalfhop... halfagonyhalfhope View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:18 AM Post #9
Posts: 1,741 Joined: 5-June 09
Advanced Member
We love revolting rhymes in our house! It wouldn't worry me - I would just explain it in context, and explain that it is not a very polite word, and I would rather they didn't use it.

Livsh View Member Profile	12/12/2012, 09:20 AM Post #10
Posts: 1,910 Joined: 27-July 10
Advanced Member
It's Roald Dahl, it had a different meaning and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

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