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25+ Changes To Your Favorite Childhood Book Show How Much Society Has Changed
Richard Scarry, the prolific children’s book author who has created more than 300 books since 1949, has quietly been updating his work to ensure that it would be acceptable for modern audiences. Since the 1950s, our understanding of gender roles and ethnic relationships has changed, and Scarry has done a great job of ensuring that the children who love his books wouldn’t be influenced by outdated gender norms.
The subtle changes were noticed by Alan Taylor, a senior photo editor at The Atlantic who loved Scarry’s books as a child and noticed the changes in his own kids’ books. What do you think about the changes Scarry has made?
More info: flickr.com (h/t: upworthy, demilked)
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Richard Scarry’s “Best Word Book Ever” has changed a lot since 1963
Dad can cook, too!
Flight personnel requirements have become more open
Firefighters will save people no matter their gender or appearance
Men can make their own breakfasts, too
The playground has become a bit more diverse
Cowboys and “Indians” have been removed
Gender-specific occupation names have been changed
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What do you think ?
KikiCastro 10 years ago
but... it is male* walruses who have tusks... does that mean that they even included a trans in the original book?
JoeTorres 10 years ago
Actually both male and female "adult" walruses have tusks. So he was right.
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YeohMelissa 10 years ago
omg my fav no 1 book when I was a kid. the 1990 version so delicious to look at. Amazing man
Emjay Sanford 9 years ago
Right? Firefighters ARE brave heroes. I don't understand why that had to change.
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Mike Vasiljevs 9 years ago
You mean a skirt chasing the shorts bit? Why not, makes the story a little more interesting...
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JenniferGorman 10 years ago
My children, and my brother and I when we were little, all would just sit and look and look and LOOK, at the pages of his books, and not only listen to the original stories and words, but sit and imagine other stories in our heads about the pictures
BobbyMcD 10 years ago
Looking forward to the version where all the women and girls aren't wearing skirts and dresses.
JoanaMourato 10 years ago
That would be difficult because if they dress them with the equally we don't go know they genre.
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KateřinaEff 9 years ago
He updated the book in 1980. The article above is a bit nonsense, referring about 35 years old news.
Load More Replies... KikiCastro 10 years ago
but... it is male* walruses who have tusks... does that mean that they even included a trans in the original book?
JoeTorres 10 years ago
Actually both male and female "adult" walruses have tusks. So he was right.
Load More Replies... YeohMelissa 10 years ago
omg my fav no 1 book when I was a kid. the 1990 version so delicious to look at. Amazing man
Emjay Sanford 9 years ago
Right? Firefighters ARE brave heroes. I don't understand why that had to change.
Load More Replies... Mike Vasiljevs 9 years ago
You mean a skirt chasing the shorts bit? Why not, makes the story a little more interesting...
Load More Replies... JenniferGorman 10 years ago
My children, and my brother and I when we were little, all would just sit and look and look and LOOK, at the pages of his books, and not only listen to the original stories and words, but sit and imagine other stories in our heads about the pictures
BobbyMcD 10 years ago
Looking forward to the version where all the women and girls aren't wearing skirts and dresses.
JoanaMourato 10 years ago
That would be difficult because if they dress them with the equally we don't go know they genre.
Load More Replies... KateřinaEff 9 years ago
He updated the book in 1980. The article above is a bit nonsense, referring about 35 years old news.
Load More Replies...
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