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DISCUSSIONIlliberal children's stories (self.RedPillWives)

submitted by whataday_95

This may seem like an odd post for this sub, but I figured this community is one of the best to ask.

My 18-month old daughter is starting to really love books, especially rhyming ones like nursery rhymes and so on (she loves the Sandra Boynton ones). I want to get her some new stories, but I'm really wary of all the liberal and feminist nonsense out there like Frozen. I'd like to get her something that has a good message for girls, and especially if it has female protagonists.

Any suggestions? In general, what are your kids' favourite books (for up to 2 years)?

EDIT: Thanks for all the responses everyone! They've been really helpful. I posted a comment below with some books someone else suggested, but I'd also like to draw attention to The Little Red Hen (helpfully mentioned by someone here). It has a female protagonist and a great message about self-sufficiency. Another great story is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie which is a cute story also about self-sufficiency.


[–]LaBiciclette7 points8 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

My kids loved the classics: Mother Goose and Each Peach Pear Plum especially. I still find them looking through our tattered Mother Goose sometimes:) They also liked Eric Carle's board books -- the very hungry caterpillar and some others. And Margaret Wise Brown has lots of gorgeous books for small kids. My daughter loved one called Big Red Barn. Enjoy! It's so great to have kids who love reading!

[–]whataday_95[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Enjoy! It's so great to have kids who love reading!

I'm loving it. Thanks for the suggestions!

[–]StingrayVC7 points8 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

For when she is older, Caddie Woodlawn. It's awesome. There are others here that are fantastic. Lurve Island of the Blue Dolphins, Little Women, Laura Ingals Wilder*, etc. At this age, don't worry about female protagonists. Just foster that love of reading. She'd probably love the Beatrix Potter books, though she may still be a bit young for them. Just read. Go for old things.

And when she gets older, start listening to audiobooks in your car. My kids are teen/preteen and we still do this. It's awesome.

Edit: Also, The Magic Treehouse is very good. Mary Pope Osborne has re-written some Great Books such as The Odyssey and she's done an amazing job doing it. Going for abridge versions of more difficult classics is always a great route as when, they do read the originals, there's no fear. They already know the story.

[–]pyramus36 points7 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

The Little Red Hen was a great story about how not to expect rewards when you don't put in any effort. Basically the hen works hard to turn wheat into bread while other farm animals decline to help, and at the end they all come asking for some bread and she tells them to stuff it.

[–]whataday_95[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

I love that story! We have it and read it regularly. Another one that has a good message is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

[–]whataday_95[S] 6 points7 points  (4 children) | Copy Link

I'm doing some research. Here are some suggestions from a helpful comment on a feminist video:

  • Little Women
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • The Secret Garden
  • Anna of Green Gables
  • Little House on the Prairie
  • Pippi Longstocking
  • Matilda
  • Pollyanna

[–]IroniatonEarly 40's, married for 10 years, 4 kids4 points5 points  (2 children) | Copy Link

Great books!

It's actually not so difficult to find good books for children, so many old ones are still in print. I'm reading Narnia to my children now, they are also great, and all have at least one heroine.

Pippi Longstocking is lovely. I'd also recommend other Astrid Lingren's books.

And don't forget Mary Poppins!

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

I adored narnia growing up. I must have read them all a million times!

[–]IroniatonEarly 40's, married for 10 years, 4 kids2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

I also totally loved them when I was young. I must admit that now, as an adult, they do feel slightly too preachy to me at times, and after having read some more advanced fantasy like LOTR, the world of Narnia is a bit flat. But then again, I'm not the target audience any more :) (Important to remember when reading to children!)

And by the way: don't forget old classical fairytales, either! There are some excellent collections in print. And always go for the oldest version - children love it when evil stepmothers die painful deaths in the end!

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Heidi and A Little Princess fall into that category.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

I loved Enid Blyton's books. The magic faraway tree, secret seven, etc. I think being written by a woman makes a big difference in having complex and positive female characters.

[–]ProudAmerican19892 points3 points  (10 children) | Copy Link

I second the love for older books like Little House on the Prairie, This Side of the Mountain (male protagonist, but a fantastic book), Island of Blue Dolphins, etc.

What's the hesitation with Frozen? Just curious. I heard Jordan Peterson one time say he thought the message was drivel, and I do think the whole "just use love" thing at the end was a total deus ex Machina, but I'd like to know your thoughts.

All the old fairytales are great too, as well as Greek myths. My mom read tons of those to us when we were kids.

[–]StingrayVC2 points3 points  (6 children) | Copy Link

The main song in Frozen is basically, just do what you want to be happy. Let it all go, and in the process, she destroys everything and nearly kills her family.

[–]teaandtalk30, married 7 years6 points7 points  (3 children) | Copy Link

I thought the repression of her powers (true nature) was what caused the freezing of Arendelle? 'Let It Go' was after that, when she realized that being a solo ice queen was causing all the problems. If she had been herself instead of fighting it, nothing bad would have happened.

There's also the case of Anna, who grows up parentless then latches onto literally the first man to show her interest, to the extent of agreeing to marry him and give him her kingdom with no vetting at all and it turns out that was a terrible idea.

Honestly, I think there are some good (RP adjacent) lessons in there.

[–]StingrayVC1 point2 points  (2 children) | Copy Link

In the process of "letting go" she refuses to go back and make right what she nearly destroys (if I remember correctly. I haven't seen it for a couple of years) Love brings her back, which is quite beautiful. But the highlight of the entire movie, that one song boils down to, basically, do what thy will.

[–]teaandtalk30, married 7 years1 point2 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

Doesn't she not fix it because she doesn't know how? She's never used her powers before! (I'm giggling at two grown adults debating the plot points of Frozen, haha).

[–]StingrayVC1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

That's so funny, we can debate anything, right?

I don't remember exactly now, the details of it. The message of that catchy song, though . . . . .

Edit: Here's what it boils down to. You're most likely correct. But, that song. What do most people remember about Frozen? They remember the song. It gets stuck in your head. Let it go.

I have zero trust for Disney and am quite sure this is by design. People remember the song and the rest of it is plausible deniability.

[–]Ariel1254 points5 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

Oh wow, I’m very anti-feminist and I never thought of that. I love Frozen!

Actually, I have PCOS and could totally identify with her internal suffering over things she didn’t understand or control happening inside her. It brought tears to my eyes.

But I didn’t like how they downplayed the romance. I’ve always loved the guy-saves-girl theme of fairy tales and I know modern Hollywood hates it. Such a shame.

[–]StingrayVC2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

I think, on some level, we can all understand her, which makes that song 1) so catchy and 2) scary because what happens when people really do just say screw it and let it all go?

FWIW: I like Frozen too and really like the song. It's incredibly catchy, which I think is on purpose. It makes it harder to think about what's really going on.

[–]whataday_95[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children) | Copy Link

I haven't watched Frozen, but from commentary I've heard and even just from the trailer, it seems like they took a feminist ideological message and built a story around that. The message seems to be something like:

  • you don't need no man
  • you're low status as a girl unless you beat the boys at their own game
  • (and by extension) girl things are low status

I don't want my daughter internalizing any of that.

[–]Inkspells0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

Frozen while not a good Disney movie compared to some does none of those things you listed. Elsa and Anna are about as edgy as Princess Jasmine

[–]NotaNPCmid 20s, LTR, 1 year0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

I actually found Disney movies help little girls in the sense they want to emulate them by wearing those pretty dresses by staying still and letting their hair get braided and wanting badly to sing!

[–]littleeggwyfEarly 30s, Married, 10 years total1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

They're not really suitable yet because they're a bit old for your daughter, but "fantastic mr Fox" and Rudyard Kipling's Just So stories are favorites for my daughter (5) and have been maybe since she was about 3.

At a more age-appropriate level the Richard Scarry picture books (busy busy world especially) and Mr Men books maybe? Mr Men and Little Miss and the beatrix potter books were i think good bedtime books about the 2 years age.

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[–]whitcris30s|Married 5 years|Together 11💞1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

If you haven't already checked it out, The Read Aloud Handbook and The Read Aloud family are absolutely fantastic resources for children's books. The information is fantastic, but the book lists are truly the. Best. Both are written by people that are quite religious and conservative (from what I can tell). Highly recommend.

[–]gabilromariz1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Sophie's Troubles or Misfortunes (I've seen both titles) by the Countess of Segur. I loved these as a kid, they're not fairy tales but normal adventures of a little mischievous girl and her cousins. I remember every time Sophie got in trouble with the adults for her wild ideas. Nothing too wild though, she's like 5 and they're tiny adventures around the house. She learns her lessons and grows from story to story (book has many small stories)

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Louis Sachar is a great children's author (at least, almost everything before "Small Steps") with material for ages from elementary to middle school, with Wayside School series (perfect for reading to kids) ans Holes (late elementary school onwards) the best ones.

He also did the Marvin Redpost series, as well as a lesser-known favorite of mine, "Sixth Grade Secrets".

The books are great for both boys and girls and have a lot of wordplay, depth, ans hidden connections.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Also Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series. Bonus points - it has some nice light satire of 1950s mores, but not through a gender lens.

You can kill a man, but you can't kill an idea.

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