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| A much-loved Pat the Bunny book. Note "Judy's Book." |
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| Can't feel the bunny's fur through the glass :( |
Warning: Giant soapbox alert.
This just hurts. Pat the Bunny. Remember it? Published in 1940 by Dorothy Kunhardt, sold over 6 million copies, the book presents a series of sensory activities: touching the bunny's fur, Daddy's scratchy face, reading Judy's book, etc.
Now iTunes has released a Pat the Bunny app. That's right, your little one can amuse him/herself with exciting finger sweeps on the shiny surface. Now you don't even have to bother yourself reading it to them* - just hand them your damn phone and they'll get out of your hair. I am so sad.
Wasn't the whole point of that book to give young children real, interactive, tactile experiences? My heart goes out to all the little kids out there whose parents find the Pat the Bunny app a suitable substitute - or even an improvement - over the book. I still remember reading the tiny, real "Judy's Book" to all four of our kids. [Shout-outs to Pat-the-Blog and Raising Sam for great Bunny posts.]
*While we're on the subject, have you seen the recordable children's books from Hallmark that allow you to record yourself reading the story once, so that you can hand your kid their bedtime book and go back to checking your Facebook status?
SIGH.
8 comments:
OMG! This is criminal. I grew up with Pat the Bunny. Who would think of such a thing??
I read to my children almost every night when they were young (include all 1000+ pages of LOTR to Juliana doing different voices for the different characters) and they loved it. I think they still might if there were time for it.
However, I have met quite a few people who actually dislike their children. I know it's bizarre, but this app might be directed at people like that.
You might even ask, "Why did you have children then?" But I digress...
it is an unconscionable outrage, Mer. i'm non-secretly hoping one of my FB friends posts a link to their wall - would love for people to get ticked off about this. Obviously there are bigger problems in the world, but all the more reason not to mess with our collective childhood experience.
Sean and I have the same conversation all the time! A lot of people seem to not enjoy their children very much. What were they expecting when they were expecting? We're lucky in that we still have one more young enough to read to, currently in Harry Potter book five. I'll read to him as long as he'll let me.
Hey, we live in a culture that has been brainwashed since birth to believe that "New" = "Better" - t'ain't necessarily so.
A lot of new stuff, I like - but messing with Pat the Bunny is violating some galaxy's Prime Directive.
I think we can still buy the book, so the tactile minded can still get a touchy - feely fix.....sometimes the app is not for that.
you're right, mj! I want to make and sell a "Pat the Bunny" iPhone cover that has an actual soft bunny on it.
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