Here’s a bedtime story guaranteed to give you nightmares – ‘Maggie Goes On A Diet’.
Maggie is a fictional fourteen year-old and the heroine of a book by the same name. A book with a target audience of ages 6 -12.
Here’s the blurb:
‘This book is about a 14 year old girl who goes on a diet and is transformed from being extremely overweight and insecure to a normal sized girl who becomes the school soccer star. Through time, exercise and hard work, Maggie becomes more and more confident and develops a positive self image’.
Dieting, exercise and hard work. That’s what makes you worthwhile Maggie.
Sweet dreams.
Is this for real? When I was nine years old I read a book called “I was a fifteen year old Blimp” or something. I learned all sorts of purging tricks that were implemented over the next ten years. A real helpful resource for a chubby kid already living in a fantasy world to escape reality. Where do they come up with this crap?
Hi Carol
Yes I’m afraid it’s for real. I’m just thankful the Blimp stories passed me by.
Here’s something I’ve been wondering about – how do we address the issue of say childhood obesity? Is this something kid’s books can and should deal with? And if so, how?