A Disappointing Guide to Raising a Depressing, Mouth-Agape Daughter - Not What I Was Looking For

I'll be honest, the content of this book really threw me off. I try to avoid all sorts of sectarians and the beaten followers of mumbo-jumbo, but in a recent delivery of children's literature that my little one got from her older sibling, I stumbled upon these poems called 'Almost Magical Transformations for Moms and Daughters'. I thought maybe it was just a bad delivery, but it turns out the whole book is full of terrible illustrations. Some of them looked like they were created by people with schizophrenia. Like this one, where a little girl pianist has her head smashed by vines growing out of her mom's hands, apparently.

If the author herself created these illustrations, I wouldn't be surprised. But if it was an illustrator who was commissioned to do this, I have a lot of questions for the person who ordered it... not the illustrator, no. This might be the author's style, and it's fitting for some fairy tales or even Edgar Allan Poe's books, but not for a book about supposedly healthy relationships in a family or at least between a mom and a daughter. But, as it turns out, the author has a passion for this style, and many of her poems are illustrated in the same way. It's just...The book itself is super thin and completely uncontentious. It's got only 45 pages. The text is huge, with big gaps, huge indents, and a ton of illustrations. At the end, there's a table of contents and some exit information. The cover of the book is... half-soft? I mean, it's made of thin cardboard, and it's glossy. The book is light.

Inside, you'll find white paper with a medium density. It's packed with colorful illustrations. I assumed my kid would be drawing in the book sometimes, but it's not designed for that - my kid drew with markers and they bled through to the other page. The paper is too flimsy for markers and highlighters. Pencils are okay, but there are no suggestions for choosing materials, or I just missed it. Honestly, I don't have any major issues with the book's quality, but all my complaints are about the content. It's funny - in my previous book review, it was the complete opposite: I had no complaints about the content and all my issues were with the book itself. But that was a beautifully illustrated book, not this weird pamphlet based on popular psychology by Mlodik. I did some research on the author, and what I found was surprising.Mlodik Irina Yuryevna is a well-known psychologist and psychotherapist who developed several unique programs for working with children. But the information I found didn't match the book at all. I'm not sure what to make of it.

She's a chairman of the Association of Practicing Psychologists "Just Together", a candidate of psychological sciences, an existential psychotherapist, and a Gestalt-therapist.

I have to admit, I'm confused. I don't believe that someone with her credentials could write and publish something like this. Did she buy a diploma? Did she get the job through backroom deals, using her "insightful" skills? How can someone who writes this kind of thing possibly help people? I was expecting a second Valuyeva - a skirt to her knees and eyes downcast. But instead, it's a modern-looking woman, apparently educated, who's published a lot of books, which, by the way, have good reviews. What made her suddenly switch to writing a book for girls and their moms? There's a mirror book for boys and dads. Now I'm curious - what secret knowledge is hidden in it.

After writing a lot of text, I realized I hadn't said anything about the content except that it's not my cup of tea. I guess it's time to dive into the story, which, to be honest, isn't really there... The author's annotation sounds like this:

As a mom, I've realized how hard it can be to have these important conversations with our little ones. I mean, we've got life experience to share, but sometimes it's tough to put into words. This book is a game-changer for me – it's like a real-life school for my daughter and me to explore together. The text is engaging, the illustrations are vibrant, and the practical exercises are a great way to get us both involved. I've even had to call in my husband a few times to help with some of the activities!

Let's get real – inside this book, you'll find some pretty raw stuff. It's like a messy mix of emotions, with some tough topics thrown in. The story starts off like a fairytale, but then it takes a darker turn. I was expecting some wisdom from the queen, but instead, she's just sharing her own experiences and feelings. It's like I'm having a conversation with a wise old friend – someone who's been through the ups and downs of life. And then there's the part about how some dads might want a boy, but a girl is just as amazing. I'm all for that!

Things get even more mixed up as the book goes on. We've got 'mystical kitchen worlds' and advice on how to say no, but then it throws in some confusing messages about boys being better or girls needing to be more successful. It's like the author can't make up their mind. And don't even get me started on the part where it says girls should listen to their brothers all the time. I mean, come on! Who's behind this mess?

It's all presented in this overly sweet and creepy way, like I'm talking to some kind of radicalized little girl who's been raised in a world where women are worth less than dogs. I mean, what's next? Are we going to say that a girl's worth is measured by how well she cooks for her husband?

I was expecting a book about growing up, but what I got was a shock. The chapter on sex was a total surprise, even though it was mentioned in the second paragraph. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for age-appropriate sex education, but this book is not it. It's not even a good resource for kids, and the sex talk is completely out of place.

Age rating inside the book is listed as 0+. I strongly disagree with that. This book is not for kids, and it's definitely not suitable for young children. The content is more suitable for pre-teens, but the language and terminology are not kid-friendly. I'd say the book is more suitable for adults, not children. For reading with children.

Even in its current form, I doubt kids would be interested in this book. Unless, of course, you're a child who's been raised on the ideology of Valuyeva, where women are expected to be subservient and men are the authority figures. You know, the kind of family where the dad is the king and the mom is the queen, and the kids are expected to follow the rules without question.Check out the author's conclusions. The last point is a real firecracker.

And what's the final verdict?

My review is either longer than the book or just a bit shorter, depending on how you stretch it out. As for the content, I think I've said all I need to say.

In short, this is the worst book you could give to a little girl. Even the 'Secrets of a Little Princess' book about sewing aprons is more useful. I definitely don't recommend reading this. The book is not only useless, but it's actually harmful, filled with outdated prejudices, complexes, and the idea that women are inferior to dust under the furniture.

If you love your daughter and want the best for her, the perfect solution is to not buy this book in the first place. But if it somehow ended up in your hands like it did with us, just toss it in the trash. To be honest, I'd give it zero stars if I could, but that's the lowest rating I can give on this site, and it's well-deserved.