I read to my kids every night before they go to bed, two books. One picked by girl child and one picked by boy child. It’s a good thing. It mellows them out, they relax against me, get all snuggly and reading is a good thing. Damn it, I’m a writer, I want my kids to be readers.

Problem is, once I start reading some of that crap ahem, I mean the children’s books, I start editing the thing in my head. Then I edit it as I read. It’s ridiculous.

But I can’t help myself.

These chicks’ books are the worst. I’ve never seen more “exclaiming” in all my life. They exclaim all over the place and sometimes, I hate to say this, but they are too stupid to live. The Disney princesses! My daughter idolizes these women! She wants to BE one when she grows up! Hell, she’s Snow White for Halloween this year and she was Cinderella a couple of years ago!

But the books that Disney spews out featuring their beloved princesses are not written that well. They’re silly. Too many “she said, she said, she saids” too. Grrr. I drop ‘em. I alter sentences so they make more sense. I’ve even dropped sentences because they were pointless.

Now the Diego and Dora books, they teach you a little Spanish. I like that, that’s cool.

So yeah, if you think it’s bad that you’re editing a book in your head while you read, a book you chose yourself, try editing your kids’ books as you read out loud. It’s even worse! Trust me.