Rhyme Stew

Dick Whittington and his Cat: Dick Whittington travels to London and secures a job with a Lord. However, the cat manages to truly anger the Lord, who begins shooting at it.

St Ives: Transformed into the St Ives rhyme, where the idea of 7 wives proves to be more captivating than just 1.

A Hand in the Bird: A 40-year-old maid feels what she believes to be a mouse in her knickers, only to discover it's actually the vicar's hand!

The Tortoise and the Hare: A tortoise has an engine and wheels installed to win a race against a hare. But the mechanic betrays him and informs the hare of the situation.

The Price of Debauchery: A girl is warned by her mother that there is always a price for kissing. Nevertheless, the girl kisses a boy and subsequently catches a cold.

Physical Training: A poem about a boy who receives additional tuition from his gym teacher, who introduces him to more adult forms of exercise.

The Emperor's New Clothes: The classic tale of a king who,不愿显得愚蠢, agrees to some see-through ski clothes and ultimately freezes to death.

A Little Nut Tree: A girl asks a nut tree for nuts, and it responds with "nuts to you."

The Dentist and the Crocodile: A crocodile visits the dentist, and the dentist fears he will be eaten. But a woman arrives and claims the crocodile as her pet.

Hot and Cold: A woman undresses in front of her friend's son. When he asks if she's cold, she replies that she's hot.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: Ali Baba discovers he can open doors by saying "Open Sesame." He then heads to a posh hotel and opens all the doors to see what's happening inside.

Hey Diddle Diddle: About some men dealing with cash.

Mary Mary: A woman is asked how her garden grows, and she replies that she lives in a high-rise.

Hansel and Gretel: Proceeds as expected. Hansel makes a joke about Gretel's penchant for cooking when she pushes the cannibal into the oven.

Aladdin and the Magic Lamp: Aladdin wishes to become a djinn and then grants the wishes of others.

Once upon a time, Dahl wrote books for children, but this contained stories that were not really for children. The story told by the wrestling teacher about the girls really confused an adult too :D Dahl is quite different in general from what I have read before. This week, it was reported that there is a need to rewrite inappropriate classic texts, and as I remember, one of the 'texts to be corrected' was Roald Dahl's description of a person being really fat! So can't a child say 'big-bellied fatty' and 'fatso' anymore? :D

It's interesting to see how the perception of what is appropriate in children's literature has changed over time. While Dahl's works are beloved by many, some of his descriptions and language may now be considered outdated or potentially offensive. Rewriting these texts can ensure that they are more in line with modern values and sensitivities. However, it also raises questions about whether we should be changing the original works of great authors. On one hand, we want to make sure that children are exposed to positive and inclusive messages. On the other hand, we don't want to sanitize or censor literature to the point where it loses its authenticity and power.

Perhaps a better approach would be to use these texts as a starting point for discussions with children about language, stereotypes, and respect. By engaging in these conversations, we can help them develop a more critical understanding of the world around them and learn to appreciate different perspectives. In this way, we can both preserve the legacy of great authors like Roald Dahl and ensure that our children are growing up with the right values and attitudes.