Customer Reviews

Nora and Mrs. Mind-Your-Own-Business (Riverside Kids)

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

 

 

Johanna Hurwitz is an excellent author, the chapters are quick and easy reads, perfect for children beginning chapter books or for bedtime read alouds. However, in this book (second to the last chapter) please be aware that the truth about the tooth fairy is revealed. For some children, it may not be a problem, but for others in the intended age group it could be disturbing.

I read this when I was younger and I loved it. For those of you who are saying things like (and I quote); "I can't believe a children's author would be so insensitive as to totally disillusion children like Johanna H. did!!! She should be ashamed of herself!!! She needs to take into consideration her audience and their age...6-9 year olds!! Does she not realize that this is the age when they are bombarded with so many negative images and influences and Johanna trying to take one of the last few things children believe in is disheartening." My response is that she wouldn't have anything to shatter in the first place had you not *LIED* to your child about such a thing existing!!

My own parents lied to me about Santa Claus, and I was *crushed* when I was 5 and found out he wasn't real. I don't understand what part of our society tells us that it's okay to lie to our kids about Santa Claus and have their hearts be broken when they find out he's not real? What kind of parent are you to implement that kind of torture on your children? I personally plan on telling my kids that Santa Claus, the tooth fairy and the easter bunny don't exist, but they're welcome to believe that they do, if they so wish. After being told that Santa Claus didn't exist, I knew that the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny didn't either, so this book ruined nothing for me.

And think of it this way...if Johanna Hurwitz didn't ruin the Tooth Fairy lie for your darling...some child at school will.

This was probably one of the strangest children's books I have read. The first few pages of the book seemed odd to me when a little boy gets lost and his mother can't find him. Since there's not much depth in any of the chapters throughout the book, it comes across as simply an irresponsible parent. The next chapter moves on to Halloween, and again, without much depth, the author tries to deal with some strange parental hang-ups about their childrens participation in Halloween. The final straw was the author's total disregard for childhood beliefs and her giveaway of the tooth fairy. I was offended that an author of a children's book would find it her responsibility to question and possibly destroy my child's belief. I can say with certainty I will never read another book by this author.

Every review that references her disillusionment for children is right on the money! There is no warning anywhere prior that this is going to be revealed. Who does Johanna Hurwitz think she is?? This is a typical sacred part of childhood that does not need to be revealed in this manner. Even the main character, Nora, cries when she finds out. I regret that I purchased this book in a bookstore without knowing the Amazon reviews.

When you are reading to your small children at night and, despite being pretty sleepy, they're hanging onto the story because the main character has lost a tooth and is waiting in bed, in the dark, for the tooth fairy, the last thing you want to realize is that the story is about to blow open the tooth fairy thing. (Which is all I'll say here, in case kids are reading the reviews). This lasted several pages and was, in my opinion, completely irresponsible of the author. The book also started with some weird hang-up about Halloween, but a book for 6-9 years olds should assume a certain set of beliefs and respect them and be written accordingly.

I can't believe a children's author would be so insensitive as to totally disillusion children like Johanna H. did!!! She should be ashamed of herself!!! She needs to take into consideration her audience and their age...6-9 year olds!! Does she not realize that this is the age when they are bombarded with so many negative images and influences and Johanna trying to take one of the last few things children believe in is disheartening. I made the mistake of ordering several of her books before reading any reviews about them...now I plan on pre-reading the books myself to make sure Ms. H isn't up to her tricks of treason...