Rating a Story CD for Children/Adults

[mythteller]

I'm about to release a new CD of stories that I've recorded called "The Bard's New Hat" and I'm trying to figure out how I should market it.

Off the top, I would say that the stories are family-friendly, but there's one story that has an element that may put some people off. In the story "Brahma and the Brahman", there is a character that lives her life as a prostitute. I don't go into graphic detail about her business, but I'm wondering if just mentioning this occupation in this story puts the whole CD out of the Family-Friendly category.

I'd rather not remove the story from the CD, but I worry that it might be irresponsible or unethical to sell the CD when I know children will be listening to that story. How big a deal do you think this is?

Update: Listen to the story here.

Comments

[misskitty-79.livejournal.com]

Personally, I doubt I'd have a problem with it (though, I couldn't say for sure, without having heard the story), but there are a LOT of crazy uptight people out there in the world who think any knowledge of sex at all is damaging to children & when it comes to sex in exchange for cash, they tend to get especially up in arms.
So, um, I dunno...

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

I might try and find some parents in your target audience and ask them, since they're the ones who would be making the decision. Maybe play the story for them. (I don't think it's *that* long, right?)

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

You would have heard the story, since I told it at the last Cafe 92 Degrees show. Do you remember the story of how to Brahman tricked Brahma?

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

Yup, I know exactly what story you're talking about. I've since told it to Marc because I love it so much.

On the other hand, I'm not a parent and can't know what parents will find offensive or non-child-friendly. Also, I suspect I fall on the more liberal, open-minded end of the spectrum when it comes to these things.

Hence asking the parents themselves, or at least a sampling thereof. It's not that I don't know the story, it's that I don't know how parents will react.

[tocityguy.livejournal.com]

It depends on how the story mentions that she is a prostitute and how easy it is for children to deduce it's meaning. (How many references in the bible were there to women who are "known" by a man?)

[le-maistre-e.livejournal.com]

I've heard the story (and have one for you along the "out of the mouths of babes" vein in exchange, btw).

I'd have to listen to the story again, but, if I remember correctly, and to be honest, I'd be disinclined to include it...

[pasley.livejournal.com]

Not having heard the story (though I'd love to!) I'd say either market the CD to grown-ups, and they can share the story with their kids if they choose, or else remove that story. The only other alternative I can think of would be to somehow redo it and change her profession, unless her profession is integral to the story somehow.

As a parent, I would have no problem sharing this story with my daughters, but as someone who teaches children's literature, and who has discovered in her research that Goodnight Moon is considered by many parents to be "disturbing" and "potentially traumatic" . . . let's just say any hint of sexuality in a story intended for children would be considered cause for a lawsuit and a lynching among many many parents. Sad, but true.

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

I've updated the post by putting a link to the story I recorded. Have a listen and let me know what you think!

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

Goodnight Moon is considered by many parents to be "disturbing" and "potentially traumatic"

Wait, what? This is a new one for me. Goodnight Moon was a childhood favourite of mine. What's their argument that it's potentially traumatic?

[pasley.livejournal.com]

Prepare yourself for silliness.

Many parents out there feel that the unnamed, unidentified "old lady" who whispers "'Hush!'" to the little bunny is creepy. I've read such parent comments as: Who is she? A grandmother? A nanny? Why isn't she identified? Why is she forcing that poor, sweet, imaginative little bunny to go to sleep? What sort of monster is she? My daughter had nightmares because of this book.

And so on.

Be assured, that for all those wacky parents, there are many many more---myself included---who think this book is wonderful. This is one of the books I teach in my children's literature class, and it is one of my daughters' favorites.

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

Wow. Better make sure those parents don't get their hands on any Grimms' fairy tales. Even the toned-down "safe for kids" modern versions.

"A woodcutter?!? But he's got an axe!"

Sigh.

[pdaughter.livejournal.com]

Wow! Here I was wondering what was disturbing about it. Guess the copy of Goodnight Goon (a parody of Goodnight Moon) I got for Tristan will scar him for life. *lol*

I have a feeling that according to some parents out there I will be committing major parental FAIL!

view from the West

[(Anonymous)]

I just listened to your story. It's a great story, well told and there's nothing offensive or vulgar about it obviously. It would however, raise uncomfortable questions from a child and I don't believe it should be included on a story CD for children. "...for she is destined to become a prostitute." (pause) certainly invites the question.

Similarly someone mentioned Neil Gaiman's books. "The Graveyard Book" is critically acclaimed as one of his best and targets middle-school readers (and adults). The book opens with the main character's family being murdered. It's not described in graphic detail but the idea of a boy's family being murdered is not something I want my son exposed to. Sure, he could handle it and would enjoy the book. He could also handle an explanation about prostitution and would certainly enjoy your story. That being said, I would prefer he just be a kid with a kid's perception of the world for just a little longer. I'm sure most parent's share this view.
They'll be exposed to prostitution, murder, etc. soon enough.