Customer Reviews

The Book of Mean People

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I can't believe all the negative reviews this book has recieved on this site. Have these people never looked at the world through the eyes of children? Younger children (as well as many adolescents) see discipline and authority as "mean". It's helpful as a parent to be reminded of this and take the opportunities when we have to be "mean" (in their eyes) to explain why we do the things we do. "You have to eat your veggies because they help you stay healthy". "You have to obey because I want you to be safe". Etc, etc. I see this as a great book to be read to and with kids! It opens the door for discussions on the difference between behaviors that are truly mean (physical or emotional harm), things that annoy us (pesky little brothers), and things those in authority have us do for our own good (eating right, getting plenty of rest, etc.). Many, if not most children believe that adults live in a world where they can do anything they want. This book also creates a perfect opportunity for parents to talk about things we don't like to do and how we deal positively with the "mean" people we come in contact with. All in all a helpful book for those who chose to use it in a positive way.

i enjoyed this book. preschoolers deal in literal interpetations of what adults do and say. they have a hard time understanding "frowning people that smile". This book reminded me of some of Fred Gwynne's work on the same subject. how many times have you had a preschoolers to tell you "you're mean" because things don't go they way they plan or you do something they don't like. I think this book is for adults too. It gives us the child's possible perspective of the actions of the adults in their lives and leaves the child with the question...are they really mean people?

I can certainly see why some would disagree with the portrayl of parents, teachers, etc. as mean but I agreee with some of the other positive reviews. I think the Morrision's give children validation for their experience of these expectations as "mean". As a parent it reminds me to not take it so personally or explain why it's not mean to make my son eat his breakfast but instead to acknowledge that in his experience it is mean. That doesn't make me change my decision but it does let me honor his feelings too. As a family therapist I think it can be a nice opening for parents and children to talk about how our feelings don't always match others intentions. And even more importantly it can be a chance to encourage children to talk about how to deal with feeling like they are being treated unfairly (a common complaint among children of almost any age). I would say that you should give it a chance, if nothing else it's a cute little book that gives your kid someone (even if they're fictional) who really understands their feelings.

I am very disappointed in this book. It is not appropriate for children of any ages. This book portrays teachers, mothers, friends, siblings and grandparents as mean people because they have expectations of the child.

When I read this book to my 4 year old son, he looked at me and said "Mommy you are mean because you make me eat green beans".
(A true fact from the book). I don't think it's appropriate for children to see caring adults as mean because they are trying to guide children into making good decisions.

I suggest you check this book out from the library or borrow from a friend should you think you want this book. A total disappointment!

I cannot believe how much negativity people put out. First of all this is supposed to be a cute and humorous book about what is considered mean. Children feel so many people in their lives are mean, because they can't understand everything just yet. This is not a book to teach children the differences between someone who is mean, and someone who is not!! This book validates children's feelings, and as an adult you can take the time to explain that people who tell you what to do are not really mean.

Is this book meant for a toddler with very limited experiences and understanding. OF COURSE NOT!!! So stop reading it to toddlers. This is meant for children who can clearly understand the tongue-in-cheek. That is the target audience. I read this book to my second grade classes every year. Do they truly believe everyone that tells them what to do is mean? NO. But it does help them deal with other mean children. It helps them feel like they can cope when people are really mean to them. I tell them that you will always find mean people around you, how you react is more important. I also believe that they can even reflect and understand that not all the people in their lives are really not mean afterall. However children need to be old enough to be able to make that connection.

This is an excellent book, it flows like poetry, the illustrations are great, and children enjoy it. My students could hear it everyday. It is short and sweet.

The is a terrific way for children to express their anger and fears about people who frustrate, control, threaten, tease, or ignore them - all with a sense of humor. I am a child/family psychologist and often provide this journal to my young clients as we work to process negative emotions.

Last night I was browsing the children's book section at a local bookstore and I came across a book for very young children entitled "The Book of Mean People."
I couldn't believe what I was reading! Page after page, the story told of how people who yell or tell you what to do, whether it is your teacher, your parents or your grandparents are mean. As I was reading, I was hoping that at some point in the book, the authors would make it clear to the children reading the book or having it read to them the difference between people actually being mean and parents caring for them.
The message I got from this book was to defy authority and withdraw into your own world to escape "mean people." If the authors were trying to be subtle about what was mean and what was caring, they failed miserably. One should not write books for very young children with subtle messages, it is indeed very careless.
It is not only important to filter what your children watch on television and what music they listen to, but also what they read. Bad, or misguided messages lurk in books as well.

I borrowed this book from the library and after one reading, I put it away so that my kids couldn't find it. I agree with the other reviewers that the definition of "mean" used in this book is too broad. Maybe it was written so that you could discuss whether something was truly mean with your children, but try discussing subtleties such as that with a three-year-old. My six-year-old saw it as vindication of her calling me mean when I get her out of bed in the morning to go to school. I kept waiting for a page to come up saying that just because someone asks us to do something we don't want to do, that doesn't make them mean. That page never came.

I bought this book for my 5 year old daughter hoping it would help with the bully issue, but after reading it, I hid it. I showed the book to three other adults who also thought it was somewhat frightening and depressing for a child. An adult might think the book is somewhat humorous as to how a child labels people who set limits, babies who pull hair, teachers who correct homework etc. all as being mean. A child sees this book as justification that mom is mean if she makes me eat vegetables. It seems to say to the child that everyone in the whole world is mean. A somewhat pessimistic and dark look at humanity. Not cool for kids! Save your money!!!(...)

I am sadly dissapointed by this book. Toni Morrison is one of my favorite authors--for adults. As a children's librarian, I think this book has missed the mark. My experience with the intended audience for this book, is they will miss the point and take it very literally. The ending appears to quickly close a book that seems to have had no real point from it's inception.