Children's books and Crime
 

I've spent a good number of hours reading to my kids over the past 3 years. Many of the books I'm reading, often nightly are the same stories I heard when I was young. My favorite as a little boy was "the jolly barnyard", the story of animals planning a party for farmer brown's birthday.


Anyway, I've had an epiphany while reading recently. Most of these books and stories...read any of the little golden books, contain crime.

Ex.
The 3 Bears.
Goldilocks is walking in the woods, sees a house, knocks on the door. No one answers, so she decides to go in. Breaking and Entering. She sits in the chairs, breaks the wee little chair to bits...destruction of property. She eats baby bear's food.....burglary. I'm sure in today's environment, being found sleeping in a child's bed as she was in baby bear's bed would lead to a sex offender list.

Don't even get me started on the 3 little pigs. Its got strong arm robbery, destruction of property, breaking and entering, premeditated murder....but also brings up a social issue of using deadly force to defend your home.


So. Your challenge is to give the cliff notes of a children's book or fable, and list as many crimes committed in that story as you can.

Crime dog fred mcgriff

ROFL

A little off topic, but I'm amazed how many of the Disney flicks involve death, or start off with characters dying.

Hansel and Gretel should be a good 'un.

My favorite book as a child was Helter Skelter. I don't know where to start.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Breaking and Entering, Grand Larceny, Cruelty to animals, Perjury,

green eggs and ham:
stalking
harassment

sam i am could use a swift kick to the nutsack.
sec

The Pied Piper is about a guy who abducts a whole village of children after someone refuses to pay him what he's owed.

We have quite a few crimes here:
By the mayor:
Breach of contract (

By the Piper
Kidnapping
Extortion

If you think that is bad, wait until rainman dissects Little Red Riding Hood.

Why shouldn't children's stories have a little bit of salacious content in them? I mean, seriously, how many stories can you read about the dog that loved everyone before you accept the prospect of your child being illiterate? :)

Conflict is the crux of storytelling. Without something happening, there is no story. I would be a lot more impressed to hear of some bestselling books with no conflict or crime in them.

Don't even get me started on "the pokey Puppy". They dig under the fence, destroying property, they're out past curfew, tell lies, and steal food.

Little Red Riding Hood

Child endangerment, Solicitation of a minor, Assault & Battery, Kidnapping, Vigilante Justice, Animal Cruelty

I'm just glad some of these stories and fables told today are watered down versions of the originals. Have any of you read the actual Grimm's fairytales. :eek: Would give my kids nightmares.

Maybe you could give examples of some items that have been changed from the originals to today.

Examples men...examples!