Those Words

Teresan Pitman was a childbirth educator in Willowdale, Ontario.

Jeopy, as most children do at one time or another, has discovered “swear words.” His family and neighbours are shocked when they hear him and try to get him to stop by lecturing and explaining that “those words” can offend people. Jeopy loves all the attention.

Finally his parents solve the problem; and the book ends humorously as his father spills the jug of milk at supper and uses one of the words Jeopy had been lectured about. “Those words” are never given explicitly. Instead they are described (e.g., “the word that sounds like pithead”); I found this rather irritating because it invites the children listening to the story to try translating the word and distracts them from the plot. The pictures are attractive, and the purple cloud above Jeopy’s head whenever he uses “those words” is very effective.

Swearing is a common problem in young children, and one that has rarely been approached in a picture book. Both parents and children should enjoy this one.