Review: I've read a few negative reviews but my niece really liked it.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 22, 2013
I've seen a few unflattering reviews about "Stinky Dinky". Well, my 3 year old great-niece enjoyed it. A couple common objections I've seen about this title are: (1) it promotes or condones bullying & (2) having roaches lick the feet of Danny is scary to some children.I'll address these "concerns" or "criticisms."The mother is trying to convince her son to take a bath.  Danny refuses.  Mom tries to tell him children may make fun of him.  They do, thus Danny is called "Stinky Dinky."  Now I personally do not believe this kid's book either promotes or condones bullying. I see this as a fictional Mom trying to prepare her son for a little schoolhouse reality. Bullying and name calling IS wrong but the reality is, if a kid often was dirty and around other kids, in all likelihood someone might call the kid stinky. (A legitimate point made that I somewhat agree with is: What mother would let her child go to school dirty and/or smelly. In reality, a good parent WOULD NOT allow this.  This is perhaps the author's attempt to warn kids of the potential or likelihood OF being called names if he doesn't keep himself clean.)The second common criticism relates to two cockroaches licking the dirty child's feet. Some believe this portion of the book could be SCARY for a few young readers. Again, I don't feel this segment of the story is SCARY.  The author uses perhaps an unorthodox illustration to get the young reader or the one being read to, to THINK about their personal hygiene.My 3 yr old  great-niece responded to this story by saying: "Uncle Bud, I don't want to be dirty."  She wasn't scared but she did appear to grasp the point I believe the author was trying to illustrate.