Customer Reviews

The Hating Book

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

 

 

This book takes children through their own feelings when slighted by a friend. After bringing the intended audience (your child) into total sympathy of the "angry" child, Zolotow presents the other child's view. Wow, all of a sudden the main character, and your child, realize they were wrong. They should not have jumped to conclusions, been quick to judge, or acted rashly. What a wonderful, nonpreaching way to teach character development to young children who are just learning to reason!

As a student in the Early Childhood Education department this book was assigned to us for review. I thought it portrayed the thoughts of a young girl in a realistic manner. I don't encourage my children to use the word "hate" either, but I am not naive enough to think that when loose in the world they always behave the way I would like. We try our best, but ultimately...you give them roots and wings.

This is a kids point of view about a misunderstanding and the emotions that are felt by both sides. This young girl hate hates her friend and can't figure out why her friend is being so rotten to her. Her mom tells her to just ask her why but she is too embarassed and just won't bring herself to confront her friend and says, "I couldn't, I'd rather die. No- if that's the way she's going to be, it's quite okay with me." Her attitude is that of a stubborn child and I think most kids can relate to this character. Everything is smoothed over in the end and the moral shows that communication is key. Illustrations are basic sketches with only red, yellow, pink and brown colors.

There are three negative reviews to this book, which largely all rehash the argument "OMG! HATE IS BAD! THIS BOOK IS BAD! NOOOO!"

As near as I can figure, these people looked at the title and stopped looking.

To sum up... this book isn't about "teaching kids to hate". And it's not about hating either. It's about children being angry and making up at the end with the mother's sage advice "You should really just talk to her". (What an idea! When you're angry at somebody, talk to them, get their side of the story!) It's about resolving conflicts peacefully with your words, and about not being too scared to make amends.

Even if your family doesn't use the word "hate", that doesn't mean your children don't have those same feelings. They do - you've just robbed them of a way to express themselves.

I did find the artwork is a little dull, though.

I read this book with my 2nd grade daughter (assigned book through the school counselor). In our household, we don't encourage the word hate; I prefer I'm angry at or I dislike... The book uses the word hate frequently, and the little girl in the story talks of wanting to die rather that talk to her friend about their problem. Neither of us liked this story. I feel the language is inappropriate for the age group.

As a parent, I was very very disappointed in the content of this book. To have a 2nd grader read this book is very disturbing. If they are learning about hate in the 2nd grade, then what will they learn in the 3rd grade, how to kill??? This book should be banned from schools. In our home,we do not advocate or teach our children to hate anyone. The world has enough problems. Now, we know why we don't understand what's going on with our children.... Look at what they are given in school to read and the teachers who give them this kind of material to read.