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

[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!