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To Teach or Not To Teach:

Not only am I a children's book writer, I am also a mom of two. I started writing stories to teach my five year old right from wrong. Notice that I used the word "Teach", not "Preach".

Although I believe that children's books need to have morals, I also believe that they need to be entertaining. But, there seems to be no room left for books that teach, and entertain. I say this because recently I pitched my stories to an agency and they told me that children do not like stories that teach, stories that have talking animals, or stories in rhyme. This agency said that children these days want to be entertained, not taught.

I joke around sometimes and say I am the "Tom and Jerry" kind of writer and they want "Sponge Bob Square Pants". I strongly believe that stories can be entertaining and teaching. Not just one or the other. The reason I use those two cartoons to compare my writing, is because although my stories do entertain, I do not use words like "stupid or hate".

You always hear people saying that children these days are so much different than children were fifteen or twenty years ago. Well, maybe it's because they are being taught no morals, no respect, and no manners. Kids today will not say "excuse me, I'm sorry, or thank you." Instead, they expect you to get out of their way, instead of "I'm sorry", it is "My bad", and to get a thank you from a child today is like pulling teeth.

So, the question was, "Are children books providing them with enough advice?" My answer would have to be "No."

Learn more about this author, Michelle Loewer.
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