Posted on 02/01/2008 7:54:46 AM PST by bamahead
A Markham firm has been sent hopping to yank a Valentine version of the Happy Bunny book series after a mother complained of its "disturbing" messages.
Scholastic Canada Ltd. yesterday said it was responding to Tina Dale's objection after her daughter Emily, 8, brought home It's Happy Bunny: I (Love) Me Valentines, by Detroit author Jim Benton.
Some of the 36 pull-out stickers include references to "floating face down in a river"; "Wow! You're icky! Would some candy make you feel better about that?"; "I think you're the best. (The best I can do for now.)"; "I know how you feel. I love me, too!"
One of the worst examples cited by Dale is, "Let's be friends. We'll be the kind of friends who throw up a little every time we see each other."
The rascally rabbit's twisted terms of endearment are typical of Benton's award-winning Happy Bunny books, in which he repeats edgy, often sarcastic, mean-spirited terms he says are popular among today's 10-year-olds.
His website notes:
"Happy Bunny dislikes everybody."
The St. John's Telegram quoted Benton, a father of two: "It's all joke Valentines ... sarcastic and mean-spirited.
"Ten-year-olds routinely say things to each other like, 'I'm going to kill you if you don't get off those swings', " Benton, 47, was quoted saying. "They don't actually do it."
Dale told a reporter she ordered the $8 book from a catalogue Emily, who is in Grade 3, got at school but saw no warning about it being aimed at older children.
Founded in 1957, Scholastic, whose website describes it as "one of the country's leading publishers and distributors of children's books and educational materials in both official languages," says its Arrow Club flyer in January includes such a warning.
In a statement issued yesterday, the firm said its Arrow fliers are "intended for children in Grades 4-8 and is only distributed to teachers at these grade levels."
ping!
When I was 10, this stuff was edgy.
That’s Happy Bunny. And people are surpised? Try the tee shirts.
I LOVE happy bunny! I get a big kick out of each one. My daughters’ dance bags are Happy Bunny bags. One says “Don’t blame me, I was born Awsome” the other says, “Focus on Me” They are cute.
But Scholastic putting them out? I thought they were suppose to be about education.
It isn’t that it is “Happy Bunny”, it is that is acceptable to market it to 10 year olds inside a scholastic environment.
I don’t remember Ed Roth getting his comix in school book programs when his cartoons were drawn by Robert Williams portraying bikers with brass knuckles.
Exactly.
I monitor what my children see with Happy Bunny. I’m glad they aren’t in school where Scholastic thinks that it’s all good.
I know I’m probably a weirdo, but yes, I do think those are funny.
Not for kids, but funny.
This generation grew up on Bevis and Butthead along with Bart Simpson. My thiry year old nephew who works three jobs to support his wife and four kids, loves Happy Bunny. They are all over his office at work. NOT in his home. That’s how it should be.
I don’t think they’re for kids either, but they’re hilarious. I didn’t think they were being marketed to 10 year olds until I saw this article. Many of the 20-something girls around my office have some of the stickers tacked on their cubes...to me, that’s more the target market.
But then again, kids are always going to gravitate to something that’s edgy and older than is intended for them!
I agree. Not for 10 year olds. Not from Scholastic for sure.
And BTW, what does this mean?
>>”one of the country’s leading publishers and distributors of children’s books and educational materials in both official languages,” <<
What “both” official languages?
The article in from Canada (Toronto) -
English and French are the official languages.
Oh thank God!
I though Spanish became official and I missed it!
I hate Happy Bunny. He belongs in Hell besides Bugs Bunny and Energizer Bunny.
Bunnies suck. They are evil and murder ptarmigans.
Far be it from me to be insensitive, it would certainly be the first time, but Ptarmigans, aka snow chickens, with their loud male croaking sounds couldn't exactly replace the Easter Bunny.
Gee, and you're so well disposed to bunnies in general.
Easter Bunny is a war criminal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.