A Cool Kid -Like Me!, Hans Wilhelm, 1990
This is a story about a boy who everyone thought was a "cool kid" and didn't let many children see the real him except by his grandma. Only to her will he tell the awful truth, his coolness is merely a facade, and he's actually terrified without the night-light on. When his grandma goes on vacation, she gives the boy a teddy bear to keep him company and he loves it so much. Although his parents think he's too old for a stuffed animal and his friends think it is a weird present for a cool kid to get. In his grandma's absence the bear becomes a confidant, listening patiently as the boy tells of his inner fears until the day grandma returns.
I would have to say the characters are pretty stereotypical, just one white happy "cool" family. This book states if your cool then you don't have fears. All the power in this story go with being "cool". His parents and friends expect that from him but if he states how he really feels he wont be "cool" anymore. I believe the grandma has the wisdom since she assures him it is okay to be scared and to like teddy bears still which is how it should be. She lets him know it's still "cool" to be yourself.
His consequences are having to live with two different lives and only be himself when he is alone. His mom doesn't know he doesn't like the dark so she turns off the lights or that he wants his teddy so she puts it away up high. Now he has to wait until she is gone for the light and to grab his teddy instead of just telling his mom and friends and not having to deal with this everyday. His traits feel rewarded when he acts "cool" and his family and friends want to be around him.
Hans Wilhelm wrote and illustrated this story and many others. He want children to relate with other children who have fears themselves. I guess I would say he is inside the groups he is presenting since he is white but he has moved around most of his life. He wants to share is life affirming concepts he has learned along the way to others.
I would say in this story there are 3 voices heard the boys, his grandma, and then everyone else together. The boys voice is conflicted on who he should listen to and what type of boy should he be. The grandma has the right voice letting children know its okay to be a child and to be yourself. The other voices are the voices we shouldn't listen to, that your only "cool" if you are like everyone else and don't have fears. I believe the voice that is missing is the voice of the parents and other children letting him know its okay to be himself and everyone has fears.
I don't think this would be a book I would recommend to anyone. I think there are better books out there that let you know its okay to be yourself. Also maybe the word "cool" shouldn't be used since children already have a problem with "cool kids" and "nerds".
I have not heard of nor have I ever read this book. But I feel that you gave enough valuable insight as to what was happening in this book. I agree that this is not really a good book for children. Yes at first it may seem harmless but looking into it, I see how it is stereotypical. That is disappointing that it represents a white family as being cool and that you have to be fearless to be cool. Many many children have at least one fear when they are young. I do not think that hiding your fear is healthy or cool. Like you said we already have problems with children feeling like they fit in. Having a fear should not make the child feel like they are any less of a person! Thank you for your post!
ReplyDeleteNice write up. You bring up some excellent points to take into consideration, and I would follow your advice not to use this book. I agree that the message is not very strong to "be yourself" rather, "hide your true self and your normal fears."
ReplyDeleteSome grammatical errors.
Do you like any of the other books from this author?
When I was doing this assignment and my research for this author there was no other books from him that I have read before.
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