May 27, 2014

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Worst Children's Book EVER!

Disclaimer: I do not own this book or illustrations. Please see note for author/illustrator. I am sharing these pages in light of parenting advice and creating a parody. Thank you.

When we take the kids to the doctor's office, they always have a drawer of books in the room to help keep the kids amused during the wait. I came across this "gem" at our most recent visit. Please take a second to read this and let me know that I am not crazy- this has to be the worst book ever written!


A book by by Kenneth Grahame (Author), John Patience (Illustrator)

Note to self: Teach children how to break out of prison...





And the moral of the story is what exactly? 

If you read the entire book-it is okay to be a reckless driver, to lie, to bribe, to be a repeat offender and to break out of jail- apparently...

If you would like to buy this book and see more of Mr. Toads adventures-
 you can click here to get your own copy!


Fess up! Is there a book that you hate reading to your children?

41 comments:

  1. This book is mind blowing! I seriously am laughing at how I cant even find the moral!

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  2. Are you sure that is not an adult book! Although my son would probably love it, you know how they are at 11!
    thanks,
    MItch

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  3. Lol I understand where you are coming from,Not really some things you want your kiddies to learn.Although i must say this is a very old story written in England in around 1908.I think most kids in the Uk have watched the movie,Had the book read to them etc.I loved it when i was younger But i must admit i do not know if my kiddies will read or watch it.

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  4. Oh jeez. I think I read that book a million years ago when I was a kid, but I am definitely keeping it away from my kids! Wow.

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  5. Replies
    1. There are so many old children stories and songs are would be inappropriate now. I have not read this on to my children.

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  6. I remember that story well from my childhood. There's a ride based upon it in Disney.

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    1. Do you get arrested at the end of the ride?

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  7. That is so wrong. Moral of that story is... None.

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  8. Ummm...yeah. That's an interesting one for sure. Sometimes kids books are crazy!

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  9. Awful lessons for a children's book. No wonder wind in the willows is lesser read nowadays! We have a 50s copy of 3 Billy Goats Gruff and when they fight the troll is is GRAPHIC and BLOODY! But Red loves it anyway.....

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  10. That is hysterical! Thanks for sharing those images. What a trip.

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  11. so many old stories are not appropriate for kids. even some of the modern cartoons, movies and books aren't appropriate.

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  12. Wow that is the worst book ever! I had to be self published because no one in their right mind would have published that book!

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    1. It was a very popular story serious actually!

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  13. Haha! I remember this one from childhood. That explains a lot. ;)

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  14. I loved these books as a kid! They were fun, and silly, and totally out there. They're still some of my favorites to read from time to time.

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  15. I wouldn't read it to my kids, that's for sure. Children's stories are supposed to be fun, but they are supposed to teach them values, too.

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  16. I think I'll pass on getting my own copy. A lot of books these days that were written years ago I would not buy for my kids now. :)

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  17. I think the morals to the story you came up with are pretty funny. Seeing how my son is in an imitating phase (loves to do EVERYTHING he sees in books or on tv!), I won't be reading this to him any time soon. I haven't come across a children's book (yet) that I absolutely hate.

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  18. I think I remember reading that book as a child. But I also watched Wile E Coyote get hit by anvil every episode and still live another day to chase the roadrunner. Although not P.C. in today's world, if someone read the book to their child they could talk about the bad behavior of the toad and ask them what they thought about the behavior.

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  19. Some of the old children stories are not appropriate for children of today. Times sure have changed! Thank Goodness!

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  20. Oh my! That really has to be the worst children's book ever! There are all kinds of criminal acts in there. Tying up the girl? seriously?

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  21. Oh my word! That was really pretty bad! I wouldn't let my grandchildren read that book. Never thought I would have to censor books before I let the kids read them.

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  22. It's amazing what the content is in some chldren's books. Fairy tales leave me shaking my head sometimes too. ;)

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  23. I've never heard of this book. My kids are teenagers maybe it was not around when they were younger.

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  24. Um wow.. I would never want any of my kids to read that book. I will say my family was in an OBGYN office last year and they had a nude sports magazine! I almost fell off my chair. Everyone in the book was nude. Geesh I think some offices do not even know what is sitting in their waiting rooms.

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  25. In all fairness lots of children's stories have a few shady storylines. But this one was a bit much but still funny.

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  26. Some of the old time tales do push or go way over the line, don't they? The good news is that much of it goes over their heads probably.

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  27. I remember that book well. It's hysterical for children to imagine. Coming from a Disney family we were read the book and have been on the ride.

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  28. This is an interesting story to read. However, I think it’ll be more beneficial to let the kids read something that is worth their time. There are a lot of better books out there that you can readily see some vital moral lessons rather than thinking hard what to make out of a story.

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    1. I totally agree. I was being sarcastic when talking about the morals and buying it for yourself.

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  29. Hahahha, I love your interpretation! I certainly would not read this book to my kids :)

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  30. Oh dear! That really isn't a very good book for children. However, as an adult, I would read it and laugh.

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  31. This reminds me of the fact that so many of the fairy tails and nursery rhymes that have been passed down for years have questionable behavior and poor moral examples.

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  32. Hilarious! There are several kids books, songs, stories that get a serious side eye from me! They can be pretty wacky!

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  33. YOu are so funny! I love that you did this. I think the same thing when I take my kids to the doctors and the books that they have laying around

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  34. I'm dying!!! That is so horrible, it's hysterical!!

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  35. Ha, that is true! I've always thought that story was out there!

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  36. That's awesome! I can just see the toad getting pulled over lol.

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