Greta and the Giants by Zoe Tucker
I was interested to see that Jill Biden and Duchess Catherine went together to a primary school in Cornwall during the recent G7 Summit of World Leaders. And as a reader, booklover, writer and teacher, I was even more interested to see what picture story book was being read and studied in this classroom of four- and five-year-olds.
They were studying Greta and the Giants by Zoe Tucker.
This is a story about a little girl called Greta (based on Greta Thunberg) who lives in a beautiful forest. The forest is threatened by the giants (read ‘adults’) who are described as ‘huge, lumbering oafs who are always busy’. Greta decides that something must be done so she sets out to meet the giants with a sign that says ‘STOP”. Forest animals join her. The giants listen and they change their behaviour. Everyone lives happily ever after.
I have two main concerns about this book: the subject matter for such young children, and the story-telling style.
This story is being taught to four- and five-year-olds. It’s a story saying that climate change is caused by human activity, and the result of unchecked human activity will result in a planet which is dangerously warm. Climate change is an issue for ADULTS to discuss and deal with. It’s not for very young children who are unable to really do anything of significance to make a difference or even to fully understand or process what they are being presented with.
Not only that, but climate change is a scary story for children. Why are we terrifying little children with these stories and ideas? I read that Prince William has been teaching his son, Prince George, about the ideas he has learnt from David Attenborough, and the poor wee lad has been crying and begging his father to turn off the television because he is so afraid. I wonder at the wisdom of the adults here.
Prince George isn’t the only child severely affected by climate change alarmism; Greta Thunberg herself was traumatised by things she was told about climate change when she was eight years old. She became depressed, and stopped talking and eating, and lost ten kilograms in two months. Clearly, this dear girl is unhappy and afraid. She describes herself as having Asperger syndrome, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), and selective mutism.
My second concern is that Greta and the Giants is written in the style of a folk story. In true folk tales the giants and dragons don’t change, they get beaten and outwitted in the end. In Greta and the Giants the giants do change because Greta and the animals want them to. This is unrealistic and weak. The protagonist in a good story uses her wits to win, and she does win, and she does beat the dragon or the giant.
Good stories work on multiple levels. We see how the protagonist might gain a skill that will save his life later in the story, or we see how listening to an older, wiser person can help her to win in the end. As well as hope we learn about the value of sharp wits, a good work ethic, persistence, problem solving skills, respect for experience, respect for wisdom, and so much more.
And a good story never preaches. That’s important. We never get the protagonist instructing the baddie and then the baddie changing, do we? Preaching doesn’t work.
Greta and the Giants is a book which is preachy, scary and offers a false solution. My recommendation is to avoid this book and tell the children that this is a problem for adults to deal with today. Let the children enjoy true folk tales (not Disney versions) that encourage them to learn problem solving and inspire them with hope. Let them enjoy their carefree childhood; it’s short enough anyway.