The Real Sociopolitical Meaning of Popular Children’s Books
A House in the Woods
This wonderful book is about two vagrant animals that destroy the personal property of two pigs, then, as compensation, convince a labor union to build a lavish house on public land, in which everyone can cohabitate. The pigs are left to do more work and become sleep deprived as one of the animals has a bad back and a snoring problem.
The Rainbow Fish
An endearing book in which the proletariat convinces an aristocratic fish to give up all its wealth for friendship, thanks to a hippie living in a cave.
The Pout-Pout Fish
A lovable story about a senile old fish that realizes if he disrespects the personal space of others he’ll at least feel better about his loneliness and insecurities.
The Mixed Up Truck
A unique gem about a young incompetent worker that disrupts professionals at a construction site, but thanks to employment laws (and kindness!), is allowed three chances to make it right, and through the benefit of overtime gets everyone high on cocaine. I mean soap. Given the excessive mentions of white powder this could also be a terrorist training manual.
Dragons Love Tacos
A powerful tale of a young boy that invites big government (metaphorically represented as dragons) into his home and due to a regulatory slip-up loses everything, but thanks to taking on more debt will eventually get a new house through a steady stream of interest-only payments.
Little Blue Truck
In this popular children’s book a group of rag-tag ‘main street’ farm animals and outdated pickup use their only asset — poor infrastructure — to entrap the powerful and unfriendly force of a globalized, unfriendly capitalist-driven Dumpster. The highlight is the Goat, which jumps over the fence, signifying the inability for anyone to be entrapped.
Little Blue Truck Leads The Way
This popular sequel to the Little Blue Truck is another stick at modern urban society. Our little friend, overwhelmed by the bustling city, leverages the chaos of traffic to entrap the mayor, then declares martial law forcing everyone to ‘get in line’.
