Children's books soon to be boring, but safe.

From the Telegraph:

Lindsey Gardiner, who has written and illustrated 15 children's books, claims publishers banned youngsters from walking alone in one novel and removed sharp objects from another.

Her latest book, Who Wants A Dragon?, originally featured a dragon toasting marshmallows on flames from his nostrils as he sat around a campfire. She said her publishers insisted that she change the scene because "it looks dangerous and goes against health and safety".

Laaaaaaaame.

Comments

[Gryph]

Because...otherwise kids would try to light things on fire with their nose flames? I can see how that would be a safety hazard. If you had BRAIN DAMAGE.

[Leila]

Thanks, Gryph, for making me snort hot tea out my nose.

At least I didn't set anything on fire.

[Brian F.]

You know, maybe it IS time we cleanse children's lit and make it more safe. Back when I was a kid, the swingset was located on blacktop. Nowadays when you visit a playground, the swings are over cedar chips. We must protect the next generation and fill books with more cedar chips! I propose the following changes to popular kids lit:

A WRINKLE IN TIME: Well, we can't have children cavorting around tesseracts. Someone could lose an eye (and just try to find it again in a transdimensional vortex). Meg and company will simply have to go on their quest with the aid of sufficiently air-bagged Big Wheels.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: I'm sure the Pevensie children would have just as much fun exploring the inside of a tea cup as they would a danger-laden wardrobe and it certainly would keep them from being exposed to lions and fauns and other potentially toxic, dander-related allergens.

THE WESTING GAME: Simple solution--anyone under the age of 21? Let the Ritalin treatments begin!

That should do for a start.

[Andrew Karre]

Who are these publihsers that even have time for this nonsense? Are publishers getting sued for this kind of thing in Britain? I doubt it.