Big Red Lollipop Book

I really hated this book. I know people are saying it is about cultural differences in such but I just don't buy it. Fairness and unfairness are cross cultural. In fact ideas fairness and unfairness are seen across pretty much all primate groups and among many other non-human animals (e.g. dogs and horses). Yes, I can see that, perhaps, and with a big grain of salt, the mother might not understand about birthdays due to cultural difference, HOWEVER, the mother still has no respect at all for the feelings of the older daughter, completely giving in to the wants of the little sister. Also, the whole idea of the little sister getting to eat her entire lollipop and then that of her older sister as well has nothing to do with cross cultural ideas. It is about fairness and it is not fair that the older sister must give up her lollipop just because the younger one wants it. Even dogs would know that that is unfair; people, no matter their cultural background ought to know that too.

To me the book read as an abusive/at least borderline abusive parent making a golden child of the middle sister and scapegoat of the older one. But, you argue at the end the mother tried to make the middle take the youngest to the party. Hah! That reinforces my point. The middle daughter was at the age of having her own friends, precisely the age that the abusive parent will turn on the golden child in order to force her back in line (under the mother's thumb), moving her into scapegoat 2 position with the youngest, still most compliant being bumped up into the golden child spot.

No, I did not like this book. I really hated it. Abusive behaviour is abusive behaviour no matter what culture you are from. It is insulting that the book tries to pass it off as 'cultural differences'.