This or The Velveteen Rabbit, which is much older.
this post was submitted on 18 May 2025
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I've read this book many times to my kid, and while it was a personal favorite growing up, I can't help but think the message it sends isn't the best. It basically boils down to: if people don't want to be your friend, you should consider changing who you are, and if that doesn't work, try bribing them instead.
E. The Giving Tree is another popular book I am fond of from childhood with a poor message imho. (Take take take no matter the cost to others) but in truth, that book is at least a good metaphor for parenthood as a whole. (We're the tree)
It’s been a long while since I read this book back in the 90s, so I’m not married to my own interpretation. But it could be a lesson in privilege and charity. If you have all the things your community envies, it is healthy to share those things through charity. It’s not just about individuality in appearance, but could be an allegory for wealth and equalization. Like I said, could be way off base since I only remember the gist of it.
No you're pretty much right (it's about sharing, and not being selfish), but the way it's written doesn't make that clear.
I also remembered it as a book symbolizing wealth inequality but the metaphor doesn't work that well.