I'm Maggie Felsch, a Vice President at The Good and Beautiful. Do you know what the
content is in children's books today and how it is undermining the efforts of devoted parents and
teachers across our nation? In just two minutes, I will share statistics and information with you
that will open your eyes to something that not a lot of people are talking about, but should be.
And then I have an invitation: Join the super easy Good and Beautiful Book
Challenge with your family. Find out the details at the end of this short video. Look at these
crazy statistics about books for teens before I also give you some profound insights into books
for younger children. We took 15 best-selling books for teens published in the early 1900s and
compared them with 15 recently released books for teens on Amazon's current bestseller list.
First, how many of the 15 best-selling books for teens published in the early 1900s contained
profanity? 0%. None. How many of the current day best sellers for teens contain profanity?
100%. Every single one. There are zero uses of profanity in the 15 books from the early 1900s.
However, there are a combined 1888 uses of profanity in the 15 modern bestsellers for teens,
with an average of 125 uses of profanity per book. We are sounding the alarm. For any vigilant parent,
the days when you can let your children and teens read any book they pick in the library are gone.
The kind of sexual and graphic content in books has rapidly changed, even in the past few years,
and it is truly alarming. This is what we found in just the study of comparing those 15 books.
100% of the 15 modern bestsellers for teens that we studied contained sexual content, while the books
from the early 1900s. . . not a single sentence in any of the books contain sexual content.
But what about books for younger children? Our studies show that in the past 100 years
family once greatly supported by children's books, is now blatantly demeaned and devalued
in today's popular chapter books for children. Parents as positive role models
and the portrayal of strong families are almost non-existent in the current best-selling books
that we studied for this age group. Depicting parents, teachers, and siblings as annoying
is common in most best-selling books for children ages eight to twelve.
These things were almost non-existent in books for the same age range from the early 1900s.
Potty language and rude and selfish behavior made to look funny is found in almost every
current best-selling book we review, but these things were completely non-existent in children's
literature of the early 1900s. So what does this all mean? Why does it matter so much?
The most powerful way to teach a child is through example. Children learn so much more than you might
realize through the examples in the books they read. Children model the behaviors and language
they read about. Books are ALWAYS teachers, and many of today's books are teaching the opposite of what
you are trying to teach your children. I know not a single parent watching this video would ever bring
a teacher into their home and say, "Teach my child to say potty words. Teach my child to make fun of
other people. Teach my child to roll their eyes at me. Teach my child to think school is boring.
Teach my children to think it's funny to lie and to cheat. Teach my child to hide things from me."
But many of the books that our kids are reading are teaching children those exact things.
The covers may look harmless or even adorable. They may be super popular. Your kids may love them,
but the examples and models your children read about will change them
in negative or positive ways every time they read a book.
If this message resonates in your heart, I invite you to take what you're feeling and act upon it.
There is an absolutely beautiful world of books out there—old and new—that teach respect, kindness, and
honesty through wonderfully written, engaging, and inspiring stories. When you immerse your children
in this kind of literature, over time you will see your children become more kind, more respectful, and
more positive. Take The Good and the Beautiful Book Challenge and Become a "Good and Beautiful
Book Parent," meaning you are committed to being vigilant about the books you and your kids read!
It's easy and it gives you access to amazing support, giveaways, exclusive discounts, and more--
all to help you in this journey. Here's how you do it: 1. Go to goodandbeautiful.com/challenge
2. Fill in your name and email and hit the button that says "I Accept the Challenge!" 3. Download the
Family Standards Plan and fill it out with your family according to your own standards.
4. Get rid of books in your home that don't meet your standards, even if it's just temporarily
boxing them up. 5. Commit to having your family read only books that meet your standards for one
year. That's all! You'll have become a Good and Beautiful Book Parent and will be given
instructions on how to access all the resources and special discounts to help you on your journey.
I have a personal witness to the life-altering changes that come into a child's life when they
immerse themselves in books that are truly good and beautiful. Go to goodandbeautiful.com/challenge
now and join us as we bring children back to wholesome literature.