So I’ve been rereading some childhood favourites that’ve been collecting dust over the past couple of years. After breezing through Scott O’dell’s wonderful Island of the Blue Dolphins, I craved the type of easy literature that didn’t ask too much from the reader… just for them to enjoy it. Children’s literature provided me the satisfaction I was looking for and I immediately dove into Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic Little House series. However, I couldn’t help but feel a little perturbed this time around. Although I’ve read the books many a time, I couldn’t help but notice the blatant racist commentary smattered throughout the books. I’m only on the second one in the series, the iconic Little House on the Prairie, and just couldn’t help but notice all the references to “savage Indians.” One particular disturbing scene involved Laura’s father promising her that he’d be able to find and show her an Indian ”papoose”–what Indians apparently called their babies. The charming songs that Laura’s Pa sing throughout the books even reveal the sentiments America’s southern frontiersmen felt towards black people:

“There was an old darkey
And his name was Uncle Ned,
And he died long ago, long ago.
There was no wool on the top of his head,
In the place where the wool ought to grow.”

Don’t take me wrong, I love these books, but it disturbs me a little that children read these things. Why can’t all childrens books be like Orwell’s Animal Farm? Some might debate that Orwell’s classic satire is anything but a children’s book. But the original title did have the words, A Fairy Story, attached before English publishers dropped it believing at the time that there wasn’t a market for children’s books. The text is simple and straightforward. Had I been introduced this novella as a child I certainly would have read it. I’m also rereading this book and rediscovering what an amazing writer Mr. Orwell is.

On a side note, I love my cat.

The first picture looks like she took it.

And allow me to introduce you to a new friend I made a couple days ago:

His name is Kyle. Due to a surge of hormones brought on by my period, my friend has decided to take residence on my forehead and will probably be there for awhile.