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Debbie DeGroff got into children’s books when her eldest child started reading. She noticed differences between current ’80s literature and her own childhood reads. Her curiosity soon turned to worry, sparking decades of research. Over the last 30+ years, she’s read thousands of kids’ and young adult books.
He conversation with me is based on her eye-opening book, Between the Covers: What’s Inside a Children’s Book?.
The book serves as a wake-up call to parents about the content their children are consuming. She challenges the authority of so-called experts in child-rearing and education, urging parents to take a more active role in their children’s lives.
It isn’t just a critique of modern literature; it also takes a historical perspective, revisiting the early 1900s when series books like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys were both popular and controversial.
DeGroff delves into the hidden agendas in contemporary children’s literature, arguing that these books are not just innocent tales, but vehicles for indoctrination and manipulation. (For example, transgenderism, LGBTQ, and climate change propaganda.)
This isn’t limited to just books; she extends her argument to include the influence of media (like Cartoon Network and Disney) and educational institutions, suggesting a systemic issue.
The book also tackles the subject of controlled vocabulary and reading levels, showing that academic standards have been diluted over the decades. DeGroff asks whether the educational system is genuinely benefiting children or setting them up for failure. She presents this as a reflection of broader societal issues, asking whether or not we are progressing or regressing in our educational standards.
Parents need to be more vigilant and proactive in their children’s education.
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