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    Free-Range Kids

    The Lion, The Witch and the Car Seat

    January 20, 2010
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    Hey Readers ! Let’s have a little fun. (Or a lot — up to you.) After reading the post below this one, regarding the kids left home alone in “The Cat In The Hat,” a grad student named Aaron Mulvaney wrote:

    Don’t aaatayerza
    forget, “And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street!” The poor kid has to walk home by himself on, like, the sidewalk.

    Of course, “And To Think I Saw It Out of the Backseat Window of My Mom’s Minivan on The Way to Soccer Practice!” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.

    Which got me thinking: Why don’t we come up with the names of some classic, Free-Ranging kids books re-written for these modern, cautious times? Things like, “Alice and Her Caregiver’s Adventures in Wonderland.” And,  “Are You There, Mom? It’s Me, Margaret. Text Me.” And the indoor adventure of a boy and his dog,  “Lassie, Stay Home.”

    You get the idea. Pile on!

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

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    162 Comments

    1. Alison on January 20, 2010 6:07 am

      Ramona The Brave Because Her Mother Is Keeping A Close Eye On Her

    2. Vickie J. on January 20, 2010 6:10 am

      “Where the Wild Things Are Lonely because Max is on Ritalin”

    3. Janis on January 20, 2010 6:20 am

      Goodnight Moon-shaped light on my video surveillance monitor

    4. Jess T. on January 20, 2010 6:20 am

      “Oh, The Places You’ll Wish Your Parents Had Let You Go”

    5. Jess T. on January 20, 2010 6:26 am

      “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Confiscated at Schoolhouse Door; Charges Pending”

    6. Lucy on January 20, 2010 6:29 am

      Betsy Tacy and Tib Ask Their Mommies to Schedule a Playdate

    7. June on January 20, 2010 6:30 am

      “Pat the Bunny And Then Slather Your Hands With Purell.”

    8. brian on January 20, 2010 6:31 am

      This is more along the lines of politically correct, but the whole serious just makes me fall over laughing:
      http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-More-Enlightened-Time/dp/0028604199

      Speaking of which, this isn’t about political correctness, its not “Newspeak” from 1984.. What are we going to call this re-wording of things to protect the children? Helicopter-ese?

    9. Lori on January 20, 2010 6:36 am

      The Runaway Bunny with the Implantable Chip

    10. Lisa K on January 20, 2010 6:38 am

      “Don’t Worry, Honey, Phantoms are Make-Believe and We Have a Speed Pass, Anyway”

    11. Kaje on January 20, 2010 6:38 am

      Charlie and the Whole Foods Distribution Center

    12. Lori on January 20, 2010 6:39 am

      The Princess and the Pea and the Resulting Lawsuit

    13. Lori on January 20, 2010 6:41 am

      James and the Giant Organic Peach

    14. Matthew on January 20, 2010 6:42 am

      Curious George Watches TV

    15. Corey on January 20, 2010 6:46 am

      Reminds me of the old adage, “Subdivisions are where they cut down the trees and name the streets after them.”

      Maybe we need a new adage, “Stolen childhoods… now resurrected in cute books as bedtime stories.”

      My little Max has been finding his own way to where the wild things are lately. He’s more likely to tell us about that trip than ask for a story from his books. Fine with me. Carry on, kiddo.

    16. amy on January 20, 2010 6:49 am

      Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs FALLING FROM THE SKY AAAAAAAAAGH

    17. Into The Wild! on January 20, 2010 6:52 am

      “The Wind in the Willows: Tornado Watch.”

      “The Secret Garden as Viewed Through the Off-Site Video Monitor.”

      “Little Women Under House Arrest for Inappropriate Hugging.”

      Shall I go on? -]>_<[-

    18. tana on January 20, 2010 6:52 am

      The Steadfast Tin Soldier that You Must Never, Ever Touch Because of Unacceptable Levels of Tin

      Curious George Doesn’t Go Anywhere

      Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Do You See Me Calling Animal Control?

      Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Life

      If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Expect Rabies Shots Immediately

      The Little Engine That Could, But Wasn’t Allowed To

      And finally,

      Sarah, Plain and Tall, Bored and Fat

    19. ryan on January 20, 2010 6:52 am

      Charlie and the individually wrapped 100 calorie serving of free trade chocolate.

    20. Lori on January 20, 2010 6:53 am

      The Giving-if-it’s-okay-with-Mom-and-Dad Tree

    21. HSmom on January 20, 2010 7:06 am

      Frog and Toad Play Gameboy

      Harold and the Purple, Crayola No-Mess Marker

      The Snowy Day When Peter Stays in and Watches TV

    22. Bambs on January 20, 2010 7:08 am

      Hahaha…this has totally made my afternoon! Thanks everyone!

      Where the Sidewalk Ends at My Driveway

    23. Lori on January 20, 2010 7:12 am

      Stay away from Harry the Dirty Dog

    24. Lori on January 20, 2010 7:13 am

      Ten Little Monkeys Sitting Quietly on the Bed

    25. Meagan on January 20, 2010 7:19 am

      One fish, two fish, red fish, mercury poisoning.

      Where the sidewalk is: too close to the road.

    26. Carla on January 20, 2010 7:19 am

      Cat in the Hat II: Here comes DCFS.
      Dept of Children and Family Services

    27. Daddio2B on January 20, 2010 7:27 am

      Gary Paulsen’s, “Dull Butter Knife”

    28. Amy Kraft on January 20, 2010 7:28 am

      Pippi Longstocking Goes to Social Services
      The Secret, Chaperoned Garden
      The Lion, The Witch, and the Barricaded Wardrobe
      Complacent George

    29. Nicola on January 20, 2010 7:29 am

      Clifford the Big Red Hypoallergenic Dog

      Fourteen Bears in Summer and Winter as Viewed at the Zoo

      Francis Eats Whole Grain Spaghetti and Vegan “Wheatballs”

      My favorite above is from Jess T. – Oh the Places You’ll Wish Your Parents Had Let You Go – I laughed out loud! Thank you!

    30. chocolateuniverse on January 20, 2010 7:47 am

      Madelaline in Paris with an embedded chip
      (Madeline in paris)

      If I ran a few feet and then mom called me
      (If i ran the circus)

      How the jen stole ted’s nintendo, then got grounded for a week
      (How the grinch stole christmas)

      I’m still here in the bathtub with purell and lice shampoo
      (im still here in the bathtub)

      little red riding hood that never got lost because she has a GPS on her blackberry
      (Little red riding hood)

    31. Lori on January 20, 2010 7:49 am

      Sit Near Pop (Used to be “Hop On Pop” but Pop might get hurt)

    32. HSmom on January 20, 2010 7:53 am

      Prepackaged Blueberries for Sal

      Chicka-Chicka NO Boom-Boom (The Helmet Edition)

      The Lonely Doll Doesn’t Talk to People

      The Emperor’s New Clothes Got Him a Permanent Spot on the Sex Offenders List

    33. Doesnotwishtobenamed on January 20, 2010 8:00 am

      chicka chicka, get out of that tree
      (chicka chicka boom boom)

      Goldilocks and the three caged bears wearing thick kitchen mits over their claws.

      The billy goats cautious

      The Tortoise, The Hare, and their helmets

      The Beauty who was too aware of stranger danger to eat the poison apple and didn’t fell asleep

      Beauty and the beast with an up-to-date rabies vaccine

    34. charles on January 20, 2010 8:06 am

      An Energy Saving Light in the Attic

      Where the Sidewalk Ends (and you are not allowed to go)

    35. tana on January 20, 2010 8:13 am

      The Many Playdates of Winnie the Pooh

    36. Robyn on January 20, 2010 8:20 am

      Goodnight, Gorilla I Saw on Animal Planet

      The Babysittees Club

      The Little Engine that Didn’t Risk It

      Charlotte’s Web Meets Raid

    37. Lisa on January 20, 2010 8:25 am

      Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Missing Childhood

    38. CGDH on January 20, 2010 8:38 am

      Little House in the Sidewalk-less Gated Community

    39. Diane on January 20, 2010 8:41 am

      Tales of of Fourth Grade Nothing that Damages Your Self-Esteem.

    40. Diane on January 20, 2010 8:43 am

      Whoops, didn’t proofread before submitting. My bad.

    41. Sara on January 20, 2010 8:51 am

      Where the Wild Things Might Be, but We’re not Entirely Sure Because Mom and Dad Won’t Schedule a Playdate With Such Poor Behavior Models

      Eeps, Creeps, It’s my Mommy-Cleaned Room

      Harry Potter Doesn’t do Anything Because Kids are Never Allowed out of Arms’ Reach

    42. Bob Davis on January 20, 2010 9:18 am

      “The Railway Children [are taken in to custody by Child Protective Services]”
      Somebody really did come up with “Little Plaid Sambo”
      Then there’s Stan Freberg’s “Elderly Man River”, where “Old Man River” is bowdlerized because the “tiny tots” might be listening.
      One of my favorite childhood books was “Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel” to which we could now add “Get Shut Down by OSHA.”

    43. Layne on January 20, 2010 9:20 am

      Charlotte’s Safety Net

    44. Kelly on January 20, 2010 9:41 am

      The Carl Books, the parents always leave the baby with the dog.

    45. JenJen on January 20, 2010 9:52 am

      Dick and Jane>>>>>> a boy with an unfortunate nickname and Jane
      See Jane run.
      See Dick…….that’s as far you’ll get with that smut, mister.

      Blubber by Judy Blume would be
      “Young Lady with a Glandular Disorder”

    46. JeninCanada on January 20, 2010 9:54 am

      OMG I’m laughing so hard I have tears streaming down my face. Thanks everyone.

    47. Phoebe on January 20, 2010 9:56 am

      Mickey in the Baby-Proofed Kitchen With His Clothes On (really, how sanitary could that milk *be* once he swam nekkid in it?)

      How the Magician’s Nephew Was Taken Away by CPS

    48. HSmom on January 20, 2010 9:58 am

      Harriet the Couch Potato

    49. Rich Wilson on January 20, 2010 10:05 am

      “The Great Brain that Went to Waste”.

    50. kathryn on January 20, 2010 10:10 am

      These are really witty! I enjoyed. My contribution:

      The House That Jack Built with a Zoning Permit and According to OSHA Standards

      Hippos Go Berserk and the Cops Come

    51. Lilly on January 20, 2010 10:16 am

      The Speed Challenged Little Puppy (Poky Little Puppy)

    52. Blake on January 20, 2010 10:24 am

      It’s bad that the first thing I thought of when I read “It’s me, Margaret” is an old Ray Stevens song (“It’s me again, Margaret”)…

      “Children Abducted: the Story of Peter Pan and Wendy”

      “Mary Poppins in the Child-Proof Playroom”

      “Sara Crewe”, or “What Never Happens at Miss Minchin’s Boarding School”

    53. Lori on January 20, 2010 10:33 am

      Mr. Snitzel’s Gluten-Free, Dairy Free, No Salt, No Sugar Pretzels. (Mr. Snitzel’s Cookies, one of my childhood favorites, about not judging people by appearance.)

    54. Q on January 20, 2010 10:41 am

      You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown…but Just in Case, We’ll Need Fingerprints and a Background Check

    55. E on January 20, 2010 10:42 am

      The Little Engine that Could Ask His Mother for Help

    56. E on January 20, 2010 10:49 am

      Choose Your Own Mini-Van Adventure: Soccer, Softball or Swimming?

    57. ebohlman on January 20, 2010 11:07 am

      Rudolph the Sunscreen-Nosed Reindeer
      Santa and his Elves and the Wage and Hour Department
      Jack and the Beanstalk and the Therapist who testified that it was all about his dad molesting him

    58. gramomster on January 20, 2010 11:25 am

      Harriet the Spy-ing From Her Safe Bedroom Window

      The Mouse and the Push-Scooter in the Well-Supervised Cul-de-Sac

    59. Christy on January 20, 2010 11:46 am

      Charlie and the Fiber Glass Elevator with Safety Straps.

    60. Sammi on January 20, 2010 11:58 am

      The Miracle Green Eggs and Ham Diet: Get Your Kid Into Harvard!

      Second printing: The Evil Green Eggs and Ham Diet: New studies show that green eggs and ham cause cancer.

    61. Nicola on January 20, 2010 12:11 pm

      Who could forget “Hatchet?!” Ultimate survival of a 13-year-old boy lost in the woods after a plane crash. Still an awesome book even for adults to read. 🙂

    62. Katie on January 20, 2010 12:42 pm

      hatchet could be “specially designed, left-handed safety scissors.”

    63. Meguey on January 20, 2010 1:08 pm

      The Elephant and Very Polite Baby

      The Not Really How It Happened Stories

      Mogli’s Adventures in His Own Back Yard

    64. Flipper on January 20, 2010 1:12 pm

      The Adventures of Tom’s Lawyer
      The Hospitalizations of Chuck, the Very Thin
      Auntie Tame
      Make Way for Bird Flu
      Make Way for 529(b)s
      A Child’s Ballet Rehearsals
      A Child’s Warden of Purses
      Now We Are Set
      Now We Are Sects
      Wharton Nears…Says You
      My Side of the Driveway
      The Nancy Drone Histories
      Merry Poppers and Bert the Test Prep Coach
      Blue Bookbags for Sal
      And to Think That I Bought it from Sesame Street Brand Licensed Merchandise
      In the Stainless Kitchen

    65. Coco on January 20, 2010 1:58 pm

      Five Little Monkeys NOT Jumping On The Bed Because They Might Receive A Serious Head Injury

      Green Eggs and Ham (Are A Leading Cause Of Childhood Obesity)

      Curious George Is High As A Kite On Ritalin

      Click, Clack, Moo – Cows That Report Safety Violations

    66. SKL on January 20, 2010 1:59 pm

      Little red raincoat hood
      Goldilocks and the 3 teddy bears
      Cinderella broke curfew
      The Land of Oz: how the Munchkins contributed to the delinquency of a minor
      Hide-y, who only dreamed about climbing the mountain
      Pinocchio, or the perils of walking to school
      Hansel and Gretel: RIP
      Pelle’s new mail-order suit
      The three pigs who still live with their poor mother
      Peter Rabbit visits McGregorGarden.com
      Blueberry Jelly for Sal

    67. Coco on January 20, 2010 1:59 pm

      Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See Within The Ten Feet Around Your House?

    68. Jaynie on January 20, 2010 2:53 pm

      Harry Potter and the Cupboard Under The Stairs Where He Was Perfectly Fine and Safe From the Risks of Being A Wizard

      The Mud Puddle that You Will Never Have to Worry About Defeating With Your Own Ingenuity (Because You’re Inside, and Don’t Have Any)

      I’m trying to come up with something for the Paper Bag Princess, because surely that’s about as free-range as they come…but I’ve got nothing.

    69. shortylion on January 20, 2010 3:21 pm

      A Charlie Brown Non-Specific Winter Holiday

    70. Frau_Mahlzahn on January 20, 2010 3:41 pm

      Let’s ban Pippi Longstocking from all library shelfs and bookstores!

      By the way: my 12-year old daughter babysitted her younger siblings (7 and almost 3 years old) while we went out for dinner. The cell phone rang for the first time when he just had the main course — my daughter asking where to find the wipes because she needed to change her sisters diapers. The second time it rang over coffee, my son asking where to find his younger sisters favorite stuffed animal. When we came home, nobody was sleeping, but everybody was happy and proud that they did so well.

      So long,
      Corinna

    71. Frau_Mahlzahn on January 20, 2010 3:42 pm

      Oh, and: Peter and the Wolfveis Peter who has a nintendo game where a wolve eats a duck and he has to catch the wolve and rescue the day.

      So long,
      Corinna

    72. Phoebe on January 20, 2010 6:18 pm

      Clothed Mickey In The Baby-Proof Kitchen (because being naked in milk is sooo unsanitary!)

    73. Rich Demanowski on January 20, 2010 7:00 pm

      What are we going to call this re-wording of things to protect the children? Helicopter-ese?

      How about Bull$#1t?

      Cat in the Hat II: Here comes DCFS.
      Dept of Children and Family Services

      More like “Defenseless Children For Sale”

    74. Davonia on January 20, 2010 10:07 pm

      “I’m trying to come up with something for the Paper Bag Princess, because surely that’s about as free-range as they come…but I’ve got nothing.”

      How about Bubble Wrap Princess?

    75. catgirl on January 20, 2010 10:38 pm

      Amelia Bedelia Goes to Night School

      Pippi Longstocking Gets A Full-Time, Live-In Nanny

      Green Eggs and Ham Are Destroyed by A Hazmat Team

    76. Lola on January 20, 2010 10:51 pm

      My still favourite Neverending Story would be the Neverstarting Story. Bastian would be followed everywhere, so he would never get to skip lessons and read his book. It wouldn’t matter really, ’cause it’s been a long time since Fantasia succumbed…

      The Little Prince would now be The Pampered Prince…

      Gulliver’s Parent-approved Schooltrips to Several Instructive Museums Where He Wasn’t Allowed to Touch Anything or Talk to Anyone…

      Ali-Baba Calls 911…

    77. L. Vellenga on January 20, 2010 11:36 pm

      Nancy Drew Because She Had an Early Curfew

      The Hardy Boys and the Sit Still Challenge

      Gone-Away Childhood (i.e. Gone-Away Lake — my favorite book in 5th grade)

      Mary Poppins and the Nanny Cam

      Driving By Woods on a Snowy Evening

      From the Mixed-up-and-Creepy Files of Ms. Over-Zealous School Authority Figure

      Encyclopedia Brown and the Mysterious Question of Wat His Father Does at Work Since He Is Never Permitted to Hear of Anything Unsavory

    78. jim on January 20, 2010 11:38 pm

      “My Side of the Sofa”
      (Tip of the hat to Lenore for including “My Side Of The Mountain” in her book’s list of free-range videos – both the book and movie were great favorites of mine around 1970, when running away from home and living in a hollow tree seemed like a great idea.)

    79. Alana M on January 20, 2010 11:45 pm

      The Magic Tree House Series, But Only In Your Imagination

      Too Much Homework of a Wimpy Kid

    80. SlayBelle on January 20, 2010 11:56 pm

      “I’m trying to come up with something for the Paper Bag Princess, because surely that’s about as free-range as they come…but I’ve got nothing.”

      How about Bubble Wrap Princess?”

      Or, The Ecologically Conscious Reusable Grocery Sack Princess

    81. Lucy on January 20, 2010 11:57 pm

      Toby Tyler, or 10 weeks inside the allergen-free house, safely away from those germy politically incorrect circus things.

      The mundane life of Thomas Sawyer, from the house to the minivan to the safe-kids school zone and back again.

    82. lilly on January 21, 2010 12:23 am

      Jack be husky, Jack be slow, Jack be nimble with the Nintendo.

      Mary had a Grass-fed Lamb…

      The Very Hungry Catepillar Eats his Way through MyPyramid.gov

      Where is Baby’s Belly Button? (NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!)

      You’re not my Mother!!!

      Sheep in their Carseats

    83. SlayBelle on January 21, 2010 12:29 am

      Mary Poppins and the Hidden Nanny Cam
      Where the Red Fern Grows on my GPS
      The Magic School Bus: Or How Ms. Frizzel Got Fired
      Gluten Free Bread and Organic Jam for Francis Cut Into Bite Sized Pieces
      Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark that You Will Never Get to Read and Why Doesn’t Mommy Just Go Ahead and Burn this Book, Ok?
      The 5 Little Monkeys Take Ritilian
      Carl the Crocidile Gets Taken Away By the Animal Control Police
      Charlie and the Carob Factory
      Alice’s Carefully Supervised Adventures in the Playroom
      From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: Claudia Gets Grounded Until She’s Married
      Julie and the Hypoallergenic Dogs Remain Safely Indoors All Winter

    84. anon on January 21, 2010 12:30 am

      Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and the resulting therapy sessions and prozac prescriptions.

    85. anon on January 21, 2010 12:38 am

      The reusable recyclable cloth bring your own cloth bag princess

    86. lilly on January 21, 2010 1:13 am

      Llama Llama Fire-Retardant Pajamas

    87. Ben on January 21, 2010 1:31 am

      Don’t Pat the Bunny
      What to expect when you run a background check on the babysitter

    88. pentamom on January 21, 2010 1:42 am

      The Boxcar Children Who Go Willingly to the Orphanage Because They’re Afraid to be Outside Alone

      The Bobbsey Twins Play Supervised Sports

      (Love the Mixed-Up Files reference — can you imagine that story being written today? Claudia and Jamie’s faces would be all over FoxNews and MSNBC, 24/7, and their parents would have been in counseling, instead of just waiting for them to show up.)

    89. pentamom on January 21, 2010 2:11 am

      Oh, and this thread is absolutely not complete without mentioning the “Good Dog, Carl” books, which can’t even be helicopter-parodied, since the entire POINT is a dog taking care of an unattended baby!

    90. Kashmir on January 21, 2010 2:29 am

      The Eating Disorder Caterpillar
      If You Give a Mouse A Cookie, he then goes to the dentist.

    91. Lucy on January 21, 2010 2:33 am

      The trumpet of the EPA protecting the endangered swans from harassment by little boys.

    92. Matt on January 21, 2010 2:53 am

      My Side of the Mini-Van

    93. Meredith on January 21, 2010 3:34 am

      “Oh the Things You Can’t Think for Yourself”

    94. Greta Koenigin on January 21, 2010 3:53 am

      Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Mommy

      Hansel and Daddy

      Sleeping Guilt

      The Very Hungry Family

      Beauty and the Job

      Charlotte’s Nanny

    95. edie on January 21, 2010 5:17 am

      I Can Draw Myself But An Art Class is Preferred
      Oh the Thinks You Can Think If There Were Time

    96. bequirox on January 21, 2010 6:28 am

      Al Gore Knows There’s a Light on in the Attic

    97. bequirox on January 21, 2010 6:44 am

      Alice in Daycare
      Mapquest to Terabithia
      The Strange Lady We Don’t Talk About of Blackbird Pond (I bet she’s a sex offender)
      Animals Should Definitely Wear Clothing
      The Five Brothers of Asian Descent
      Stoned Soup; Why we don’t take candy from strangers

    98. Carmela jacobitti on January 21, 2010 7:59 am

      My real escape today and great warm fuzzy laughs from all the clever ideas. a real economy booster is stone soup. Strega Nona??? Shoemaker in custody for permitting naked small people working in his shop after hours-oh unlimited charges. I was called a helicopter parent- I said Ok but safety first-ha ha

    99. Lola on January 21, 2010 8:04 am

      The Boy Who Wondered Just What a Wolf Looked Like
      Jack and the Climbing Rope in the Gym
      The Zoo Book (vs. The Jungle Book, of course)
      The Emperor’s New Clothes That Became Trendy Because the Child Was Not There To Laugh at Him (he was busy at football practice, you see)
      The Prince and The Pauper Have a Playdate (and get home on time to do homework)
      The Tin Soldier Recall
      Pinocchio Goes to Plastic Surgery (safer than rescuing his dad, why take the risk?)

    100. Riverdaughter on January 21, 2010 8:31 am

      The Hobbitt or See What Happens when you go off with Dwarves?

    101. Mhadley on January 21, 2010 9:18 am

      How about “The Efficiency Challenged Little Puppy” (The Poky Little Puppy – a Golden book I loved as a child)

    102. John Murphy on January 21, 2010 9:24 am

      Ender’s Video Game?

    103. Elizabeth Fuller on January 21, 2010 9:25 am

      Don’t Pat the Bunny (It Might Have Germs!)

    104. Steven on January 21, 2010 10:06 am

      How about a modern spin off of a Nickelodeon’s classic entitled, “Are you NOT afraid of the dark?”

      It’s where kids do not go to the woods (but in the living room instead) and not tell “spooky” stories. They just tell any version of a “Non spooky” happily ever after story.

    105. Steven on January 21, 2010 10:07 am

      O and they are supervised!!!!

    106. Jen C on January 21, 2010 10:15 am

      Where The Sidewalk Ends Is Where the Pedophiles Lurk in the Shadows

      If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Make Sure It’s Gluten-Free and Not a Peanut Butter Cookie

      Little Women are Not Women Yet and Should Be Treated Accordingly

      Old Yeller Lives Happily Ever After

    107. Catherine Scott on January 21, 2010 10:26 am

      The Big Friendly Giant is discovered to be on the register

    108. Sarah on January 21, 2010 10:46 am

      The Night I Would Have Followed my Dog

    109. fighting for my children on January 21, 2010 11:02 am

      Francess and Thelma renamed, you better be careful when you play with thelma because her dad might be a pedophile.

    110. furious on January 21, 2010 11:09 am

      The pokey little puppy goes to the fair with his nanny and doesnt get left behind because his nanny holds his hand all the way.

    111. edie on January 21, 2010 11:41 am

      A bit off topic but…
      The Little Red Hen Loses Her Sunscreen

    112. Tracie on January 21, 2010 12:26 pm

      Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland Were Really All Just a Bad Dream – See, That’s What Happens When You Eat Processed Foods

      The Wizard of Oz Who Could Help Me Get Home But Auntie Em Would Freak If She Heard That I Travelled to the Emerald City With Strangers and Wearing Someone’s Else’s Potentially Germ-Infested Shoes

      The Duckling Who Wasn’t Unnattractive, Just Different

      The Boy Who Cried Wolf Because His Parents Didn’t Spend Enough Quality Time With Him

    113. edie on January 21, 2010 12:31 pm

      Tracie: Your Alice and the processed foods is my favorite!

    114. Kim on January 21, 2010 1:04 pm

      How about:

      — Doctor Dan the Bandage Man and Nurse Nancy Have Nothing to Do Because They Aren’t Allowed to Play Outside Without Constant Adult Supervision
      — We Would Help Daddy if Mommy Would Let Us
      — Unucky Mrs. Ticklefeather Gets Evicted for Keeping an Exotic Puffin as a Pet in her Penthouse Apartment
      — Doctor Squash the Doll Doctor Is A Sex Offender…Get Your Kids Away from Him Quick, Quick, Quick!
      — Because A Little Bug Went Ka-Choo, Farmer Brown Called An Exterminator. End of Story.
      — A Great Day for Up is Ruined by Overprotective Parents Insisting that Everyone Stay Down Where It’s Safer.

      I could go on, but it’s past my bedtime, and unfortunately I have to work tomorrow. (Er…today, since it’s now after midnight.)

    115. LindaLou on January 21, 2010 1:07 pm

      Harry Potter and the Deathly Head Cold
      Make way for Avian Flu Carriers
      The Reusable Canvas Tote Bag Princess
      Fully Enclosed, Pedestrian Walkway to Terebithia
      McElligot’s Fully Stocked Trout Pond

    116. amy on January 21, 2010 2:42 pm

      The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
      And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
      He had a broad face and a little round belly,
      That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

      Maybe that whole stanza should be circle-slashed…?

    117. N on January 21, 2010 8:54 pm

      “Get an H1N1 Vaccine!” Said the Elephant! “I’m Going to Sneeze!”

    118. Beatrix on January 21, 2010 10:09 pm

      Tom Kitten and His Sisters Get a Time Out

      Now We Are Six and Must Complete Homework Every Day

    119. Alana M on January 21, 2010 10:59 pm

      A GPS Tracker for Cordouroy

    120. Mrs. H. on January 21, 2010 11:17 pm

      James and the Giant Peach Cut Into Tiny Pieces So As Not To Present a Choking Hazard

    121. Beatrix on January 22, 2010 12:20 am

      The Flopsie Bunnies: Or Don’t Take Lettuce from Strangers

      Peter Rabbit Goes Shopping with His Mother

    122. pentamom on January 22, 2010 12:59 am

      The Safe, Child-Proofed Life of Sarah Noble

      (In the early 18th century, a little girl of about seven is taken by her father to a deserted area in the woods where she spends most of the day alone while he builds a home for the family, and she cooks all the meals over a fire. When he leaves for the winter to go back to bring the rest of the family to the new home, he lets her live with the local Native tribe for several months.)

    123. edie on January 22, 2010 1:05 am

      The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Put an End to Their Visits: One Fears Lime Disease and the Other is Asthmatic and Fears the Ozone Levels.

    124. amy on January 22, 2010 2:36 am

      The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
      And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
      He had a broad face and a little round belly,
      That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

      Maybe we should just circle slash these two stanzas…?

    125. Chris B on January 22, 2010 3:16 am

      CapsForSale.com

    126. HankTheCowdog on January 22, 2010 4:10 am

      Danny Dunn and the Science Experiment That Got Him Suspended and Got His Parents’ Garage Searched By The Police
      Go Dog Go Because Mom Says I Have to Stay Home
      Mr. Popper’s Penguins Aren’t Real, They’re Made Up Just To Lure You Into His Car
      Treasure Island–Home of Long John Silver, Child Molester
      Good Fences Keep The Neighbors Away

    127. HankTheCowdog on January 22, 2010 4:21 am

      “I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before.”
      — The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

      Good ol’ Huck, the uber-FRK, the one us FRKs aspired to be. If any kids are still allowed to read it in school, due to its extensive use of non-PC vocabulary, can today’s over-protected children even recognize Huck as another kid?

    128. Crusty on January 22, 2010 5:56 am

      The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: How to safely tranquilize a bear the wandered into the backyard of my new subdivision ?

    129. Crusty on January 22, 2010 6:05 am

      For the best children’s book ever read “Der Struwwelpeter” gotta love the germans… Suck you thumb and someones gonna break into the house and cut them off. The girl that plays with matches and emmoliate herself

    130. Claudia Conway on January 22, 2010 6:43 am

      The Nutritionally Balanced Caterpillar

      Just So You Don’t Have Anything Happen To You Stories

    131. babelbabe on January 22, 2010 11:15 am

      Crusty – I am also a HUGE fan of Eward Gorey’s Gashlycrumb Tinies.

      Brown Bear Brown Bear Do You See Me Calling Animal Control? made me howl with laughter…

      I am thinking. Not very clever but fun to think up : ):

      There’s a Monster at the End of this Book but don’t worry, Mommy will handle him for you

      Five Little Ducklings get what they deserve for wandering away from their mama.

      Guess How Much I Love You? Yes, that’s right, as far as the Wii controller and back.

      Roller Skates (but only with helmets and pads, and not around the block)

      Protected and Cosseted Betsy

      The Snowy Day as seen from the living room window

    132. Laurie on January 22, 2010 12:32 pm

      “The Man With An Alternative Belief System Maintaining Governmental Supervision of a Dream Induced Area Populated By Vertically Challenged Individuals”….also known as “The Wizard of Oz”

    133. Nita on January 22, 2010 9:27 pm

      Google Brown Boy Detective
      Harold and the Purple Crayon Get Arrested for Graffiti
      Miss Nelson is Missing and at Rehab

    134. erica on January 23, 2010 3:23 am

      Jen C. “Where The Sidewalk Ends Is Where the Pedophiles Lurk in the Shadows

      If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Make Sure It’s Gluten-Free and Not a Peanut Butter Cookie” – Hilarious! (my kids have peanut allergies, so it’s doubly funny!)

      Here’s my contribution :

      Caps For Sale on Ebay or Etsy…because going door to door might get you kidnapped and/or molested…and it would require parental supervision, of course…and that’s really not possible when your in before, during and afterschool programs all day long.

    135. edie on January 23, 2010 4:19 am

      T he Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree and the Pesticide Bellyache

    136. charles on January 23, 2010 4:31 am

      Not So Grimm Fairy Tales

    137. Kacie on January 23, 2010 12:51 pm

      Strawberry Shortcake – Only sugar-free shortcake and all organic strawberries washed for 3 minutes under cold water.

    138. mountcool2000 on January 23, 2010 12:52 pm

      The Very Hungry Catepillar Has a Glandular Problem

      On the Day You Were Born (Via Scheduled C-Section)

    139. N on January 24, 2010 4:33 am

      Where the Mild Things Are

    140. Ms.Terri on January 24, 2010 4:46 am

      Marvin K. Moony Will You Please Go Now Because I Saw Your Name on the Sex Offender Registry List

    141. Michelle The Uber F****n Haus Frau on January 25, 2010 7:56 am

      The Little Mermaid: Eric’s sex offender registry(for marrying 16 year old Ariel)

      Beauty and the Unfortunate Prince(beasts are too scarey!!)

      Charelotte’s Web Sprayed with Raid

      Cinderella taken by CPS

      Little Red Riding Hood(who is driven to granny’s)

      Alladin and the magic lamp that was confiscated by homeland security

      The Lord of the Lead-Free Nickle-Free Hypoallergenic Rings

    142. decemberbaby on January 29, 2010 2:04 am

      Mortimer, take your Ritalin!

      The don’t-touch-my Bellybutton Book

      But not the hippopotamus, she’s a bad influence.

      Spot goes nowhere

      I love you because you’re a straight-A student

      And to think that I saw it on Sesame Street!

      A Blackberry for Sal

      The Supervised Garden

      If I rode the bus (and other fantasies)

    143. edie on January 29, 2010 3:53 am

      The Princess & the Organic Pea

    144. Cait on January 30, 2010 4:47 am

      Madeline goes nowhere
      Harriet the virtual spy
      The Poky Little Puppy and the Fenced in Yard
      Little house on the cul-de-sac
      Pippi Longstocking gets neuro-psych testing

    145. Michelle on February 1, 2010 1:46 am

      Stand By Me & Hold My Hand
      The Insiders

    146. Ross Hirsch on February 26, 2010 7:26 am

      Where the Wild Things Are, There Might Not Be Cell Phone Reception.

    147. Chris on February 26, 2010 12:57 pm

      “Everybody Poops (And That’s Why We Only Use The Bathroom At Home)”

    148. edie on February 27, 2010 4:37 am

      The Princess & the Pesticide Pea

    149. edie on February 27, 2010 4:40 am

      The Little Red Hen’s Premonition About the Ozone (The Sky is Falling)

    150. becky s on March 3, 2010 6:40 am

      “Stay Out of That Wardrobe! There’s a Lion and a Witch in There! You Could Get Hurt!”

      “Pippi Longstocking and the Trip to Child Protective Services”

    151. Layne on April 7, 2010 4:24 am

      Hey shout outto you for being published TWICE in this month’s Reader’s Digest! Also, my other favorite blog, CakeWrecks, got a page!

      And I am frugal with my frequent tightwad moments!

    152. Angela on July 9, 2010 2:37 am

      Are You My Mother…or Just Another Nanny?

    153. Guusje on July 25, 2010 7:25 am

      The Little Engine that Didn’t Bother …… because he knew his mother would do it for him

      Beany Tried to Have a Secret Life

      Snow White Speaks to Strangers

      Cinderella Has Her Slipper Confiscated Because Glass is Dangerous

    154. Michele on July 25, 2010 8:32 pm

      Snow White and the Seven Little People

      Hoarders – Millions of Cats

      What Katy Didn’t

      The Call of the Tame

      Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates Game

      Adam Off the Road

      Paintguns for Watie

      The Senior Citizen and the Sea

      How Green was my Lifestyle

    155. edie on July 29, 2010 5:48 am

      The Three Little Pigs Face Foreclosure
      The Three Blind Mice Have Cataract Surgery
      (From my friend, Sherry)

    156. edie on August 3, 2010 12:06 am

      Tubby the Tuba Blows His Diet and Must Face the Music!

    157. Jeannette on September 5, 2010 7:19 am

      The Co-existing Inclusive Cooperative of the Ring

    158. dedy on September 9, 2010 4:51 pm

      The pokey little puppy goes to the fair with his nanny and doesnt get left behind because his nanny holds his hand all the way.

    159. Amanda on January 2, 2011 5:50 pm

      The Bridge to the Television Room
      (instead of Terebithia)

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