A Funny Story and a Silly One

One of the members of my writing group brought in a clipping from the Telegraph, which said that parents weren’t reading traditional Fairy Tales to their children because they’re too scary or not PC. I’ll not moan, but I do wonder whether it’s the mums who think these stories (which have, let’s face it, been around for a long, long, time) are scary. And some of them are. But being scared isn’t a bad thing to learn/come to terms with. Neither is learning that stories are stories, that when the book’s closed the story’s over (except the occasional one which keeps you up all night!) and that, usually, the nasty people get what they deserve. Anyway, enough of that. I’m sure you can all make your own minds up. And, of course, what’s read to someone’s child is their business. As long as something’s being read to them then I’m happy. Not that it’s my business.

Anyway. This led to another member telling us a true story. I thought it was funny enough to share. So here it is.
Someone was reading a group of young children The Three Little Pigs. This was a new story to one of the boys, clearly, because once the wolf reached the house of bricks and said he’d huff and puff and blow the house in, the little boy shouted, ‘Bastard!’.
So there.
***
Oh, and some Labour MP has been claiming that dyslexia is fiction. Right then. I shake my head. I really, really do.

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Nik Perring is a short story writer, author, teacher of writing, and editor from the UK. His books include the widely celebrated Not So Perfect (Roastbooks, 2010), and A Book of Beautiful Words (2014). He co-wrote Freaks! (TFP/HarperCollins 2012), and A Book of Beautiful Trees is out in 2015.

0 thoughts on “A Funny Story and a Silly One”

  1. That little boy has identified the baddie and is fighting back. Job done!I think it’s a bit ridiculous not to read traditional fairy tales to children for all the reasons you’ve listed. My children used to love them.As for the MP. *shakes head in disbelief*:-(

  2. Don’t get me started on this either, Nik.Years ago someone gave me a spoof book called ‘Politically Correct Bedtime Stories’, rewriting all the old greats in a pc manner – it is hilarious. But sad if this is what happens.The scariest thing my kids read is my work:):)x

  3. I think that little boy might have been my son… he’s always been enthusiastic and he has a very–ahem–creative way with words. I am very proud of him!(I’ve read all sorts to my kids, from Grimms to Stephen King, and they’re mostly fine: mind you, it was mostly because I had had enough of reading The Pig In The Pond–marvellous though it is–and decided to read them things I could enjoy too, otherwise I was the one who went to sleep and not them.)

  4. Hi Jane – lovely to see you here. Welcome!I’d doth my cap to your son!And why shouldn’t you read ‘scary’ stories to little ones? Nothing wrong with that at all in my book, and I’d guess that seeing the reader (ie parent) enjoying what they were reading is a Very Good thing.Nik

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