17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill

A Controversial book that our Don loves.

Controversy is not new to children's literature nor should it be. In the case of this book though, I fear some folks may have gone a bit overboard with their reactions. But first the book... and then a short discussion.


17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore is composed of a series of panels; the first showing a very imaginative and impish little girl doing things that have apparently upset some adults.

For example, we get to see our little imp gluing her brother's bunny slippers to the floor, and we consequently told that "I am not allowed to use the glue anymore." Then we are informed that "I had an idea to do my George Washington report on beavers instead." And that "I am not allowed to do reports on beavers anymore."

There are seventeen of these little scenarios addressing subjects from the misuse of beavers, to walking backward down the hall at school, to throwing cauliflower at her brother. Each item is absolutely hilarious. The illustrations, by Nancy Carpenter, are cute, well executed and appropriate. Adults will find as much humor in this little work as the children who read it.

Now, I have to admit that there was not one instance of our young lass acting out that I did not try myself at that age, including setting a kids sneaker on fire with a magnifying glass. Either I did it or a friend of mine did it. Kids have been doing these things since the beginning of time and they are still doing them. If any parent is so out of touch with their children that they think this work will cause "bad behavior", or that this book will teach their children to act out in an inappropriate way, then I must say that that parent has lost touch with what goes on in the life of their child, and lost complete contact with what goes on in the mind of their child.

Kids are not stupid. Even the youngest can recognize irony, even if they cannot actually define the word. Each child, unless they are psychopathic, knows what the little girl is doing is wrong and that there will be consequences to pay. Again, kids are not stupid...they know! One of the reasons the children laugh when this work is read to them is that they instantly recognize what the situation is. In many ways kids are a lot brighter about such things than we big people are.


Now I have read a lot of reviews on Amazon and I am a bit upset that there seems to be an almost coordinated effort to trash this fine book. There are a handful of reviews giving the book one star and if you read them closely, they all sort of sound a like. They are all written by reviewers who have, for the most part, only one review to their name. If you read the reviews on the many wonderful books in the Junie B. Jones series, you will find the same sort of thing going on. and by the same folks I suspect. It would appear that someone or a group feels rather strongly that all imagination, creativity and individualism should be crushed out of all female children and we should return to the "good old days." Cod-wallop! Now each parent has the ultimate responsibility to monitor and advise as to their child's reading. A concerted effort by a group of people who hold their life views and values as being the "only right ones," is not a good thing. This is called censorship thru written intimidation. It is a form of propaganda. It is bad!

This is a good book. I have read it to well over 200 children of the targeted age group and have yet to find one that did not enjoy it and have yet to find one that felt it was a handbook of sort on how to misbehave. Kids at this age do not need a handbook...they are bright enough to figure out for themselves as to how to get into trouble...trust me, I know!

Again, it is every parent's responsibility to watch out for their child. Caution should be taken though and each parent should make their own mind up. This review is my particular take on this book. Without knowing me personally, I would hate to think that a parent would mindlessly give or read this book to a child on my word alone. As a nonprofessional reviewer it is not my job to do your thinking for you, although I assure you that I have no hidden agenda one way or the other when it comes to this particular work. My views, along with others can be helpful, but ultimately you need to check the work out for yourself. This work is in most public and school libraries and is not that difficult to come by.

And one last thing... I usually do not like taking shots at other reviewers but in this case I will indulge myself. For those of you that feel the little girl in this story should be beaten, spanked, or otherwise physically abused for the things she did...shame on you! I would suggest you enroll in a parenting class or anger management class and if you are a teacher who wrote such a thing and actually believe it, then you really need to have a long talk with yourself and question yourself as to whether or not you made the right career choice. If you became known to me, or taught one of my kids or grandchildren, I would do what I could to have your certificate pulled. Bad, bad, bad....horrible in fact. Again...shame on you! Just a tip from someone who knows... beating a child does not work and as a matter of fact only makes the situation worse. Again, shame on you people!

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore

• Accelerated Reading level : generic level "2"
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (December 26, 2006)
• ISBN-10: 0375835962
• amazon

Technical Stuff
Lexile: AD750L