www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tesco-apol...hopper-left-22488103


Someone is "angry" because a baby book illustration describes someone (possibly) black as having hair that is too fluffy.

Except that if you read the book, it is not calling the hair too fluffy in general, just too fluffy to be identified as YOUR mermaid. (Because yours is the one with the shiny mirror)

The book also comes in versions showing the fluffy hair in brown, blonde,and ginger.

Was wondering how the book might be received in the USA so had a look at it on Amazon.com (can't see any mention of fluffy hair in any of the other images from the book), and there are these 1* reviews, all "reviewed in the United States", the first dated August 2019, the second September 2019 and the third 8 August 2020:

Would never buy this

I saw this book in a bookstore and thought it was a joke. As an African American woman, although the author may have good intentions, a cover with a mermaid of color with full thick hair and the title, that’s not my mermaid because her hair is to fluffy is beyond offensive and comes off racist.

Comment: Immediately was my first thought! Thank you! I will not be purchasing.

Perpetuates Racism

I wish I could give this book zero stars. I was so excited to see the cover of this book featured a black mermaid. When I read the rest “That’s not my mermaid, her hair is too fluffy” I was shocked. Of all the mermaids in the book and things to pick out it is racist to to comment on her “fluffy” hair. During this summer (yes 2019!!) California banned discrimination based on natural hair. So to have a book that says a black characters hair it too fluffy is unacceptable. Our family will not be supporting Usborne as a company. Our girls need books that promote a positive self image, love of their as it grows naturally from their head, and does not perpetuate the racism they already face every day. Shame on you, Usborne.

Racist and disappointing

Would give 0 stars if I could. Really disgusted to see the perpetuation (however innocently created) of racist stereotypes. Saying that a black mermaids hair is “too fluffy” whilst also normalizing t the touching of her hair is beyond inappropriate.

I see what you mean now, Honey, about the other versions. Amazon.com also sells the versions with a white blonde-haired mermaid and red headed mermaid whose "hair is too fluffy".

One of the 5* reviews (89%) of the book with the black mermaid on the cover:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get a grip people!!! These are WONDERFUL books!

I own the previous That’s Not My Mermaid book which features a white mermaid on the cover. I actually looked to order it again as an adoption day gift for some close friends. It would NEVER EVER cross my mind to consider the book racist because a white mermaid—or any color mermaid for that matter—had hair that was too fluffy. Good grief! These are WONDERFUL books and I feel sorry for the children that miss out on them because of their PC induced psychosis suffering parents. Where does the insanity end???!!!
There's a whole range of "That's not my …" books, including the following:

That's not my unicorn, its mane is too fluffy
That's not my bunny, its tail is too fluffy
That's not my hedgehog, its ears are too fluffy
That's not my hamster, its ears are too fluffy

And other books with creatures/things that are too tufty, soft, bumpy or fuzzy.

I want the whole range now!

Mumsnet doesn't get it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreason...r-get-it#prettyPhoto

It's a book that gets children interested in textures. Saying that a mermaid has fluffy hair is hardly racist.

But Mumsnet is having a fit of the vapours regardless. They need educating.

Sheba wrote:
Mumsnet doesn't get it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreason...r-get-it#prettyPhoto

It's a book that gets children interested in textures. Saying that a mermaid has fluffy hair is hardly racist.

But Mumsnet is having a fit of the vapours regardless. They need educating.

I suspect that Mumsnet don't need educating. They have just weighed up whether it is worth trying to talk sense in the current atmosphere, and decided it is not worth the risk.