From: Todd Krueger <toddbcpl_at_gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 09:43:23 -0400

Hi Allie,

I read Ahmet Zappa & Dan Santat's BECAUSE I'M YOUR DAD after your comments about it, but I'm not sure I read the same book.

You had said: "BECAUSE I'M YOUR DAD (Zappa, 2013), is full of gender stereotypes ("Because I'm your dad, you'll grow up knowing robots are cool, but monsters are even cooler") and also plays into the stereotype that Dad is the "fun" parent ("Because I'm your dad, you can have spaghetti for breakfast... Because I'm your dad, you can sometimes stay up late with me to watch TV...")."

If a reader approaches the book as Because *I'M* Your Dad (rather than Because I'm Your *DAD*), it's a very different experience. I read it as a monster dad who is in essence Ahmet Zappa himself. The dedication is 'For My Little Monster', and the adult monster speaks to how because he is the little monster's father, the little one might have an unusual first name, that Dad will be on the road as a rock musician, and that they'll travel a lot together. I took this as a very individual experience, hardly speaking to fatherhood in general. Many of the episodes aren't gender-specific to fathers or mothers - just parents who focus on fun.

I don't disagree that there are far too many examples of insidious gender stereotyping in children's books, but I'm not so sure this is the best example of one.

Thanks, Todd

-- Todd Krueger Collection Development Baltimore County Public Library Towson MD 21204 toddbcpl_at_gmail.com
Received on Thu 08 Aug 2013 09:43:23 AM CDT