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How to ruin a children’s book in 140 characters

Twitter is vandalizing your most innocent memories.

 

Miles Klee

Internet Culture

Posted on Mar 25, 2014   Updated on May 31, 2021, 2:10 pm CDT

Lifelong readers love to reminisce about the books they grew up on, but as hardened, cynical adults, they’re also willing to face up to the gritty realities of life not often featured in children’s literature. Combine the two impulses and you’ve got the Twitter hashtag #RuinAChildrensBook, which originated on a #HashtagWars segment of the comedic game show @midnight

It is, as you’ll see, a rather self-explanatory (and Photoshop-friendly) concept.

Why is Mommy Moaning?#ruinachildrensbook pic.twitter.com/QTwJCyotIg

— J Ladrae (@jladrae) March 25, 2014

#RuinAChildrensBook pic.twitter.com/57w5LNJpAl

— Jacob Perkins (@Perk_Perkins) March 25, 2014

I’m not sure I can #RuinAChildrensBook here. pretty sure it ruined itself, or someones childhood… pic.twitter.com/rTTXzlDaOq

— Carlin Dennis (@carlin_dennis) March 25, 2014

My first dirty book, always wanted the scratch and sniff version #RuinAChildrensBook pic.twitter.com/KC1VRqHgNJ

— James Harrison (@Ballchinian69) March 25, 2014

#RuinAChildrensBook pic.twitter.com/9vLuxphzu8

— Cody. (@Cody_Bosh1O17) March 25, 2014

*book cover* RT @paulscheer: The Cat in Pharrel’s Hat #RuinAChildrensBook @midnight pic.twitter.com/cemSn2O9qO

— darth™ (@darth) March 25, 2014

*book cover* RT @nycsouthpaw: Oh, The Places You’ll Go No. 2 #RuinAChildrensBook @midnight pic.twitter.com/4tB1fyVFcJ

— darth™ (@darth) March 25, 2014

*book cover* RT @paulandstorm: [P] The Phantom Menace Tollbooth #RuinAChildrensBook @midnight pic.twitter.com/mKxqcOGCbr

— darth™ (@darth) March 25, 2014

#ruinachildrensbook Frog and toad together pic.twitter.com/rmlVgvYToT

— Got Ashley? (@ashtweetsthat) March 25, 2014

My First Cavity Search #RuinAChildrensBook pic.twitter.com/YT9kt1IzP6

— Unite Right (@UniteRight) March 25, 2014

#RuinAChildrensBook Little miss teenage pregnancy pic.twitter.com/e66omJCQ09

— ☜NadiahLuvsNutella (@NaDiah_Ash) March 25, 2014

#RuinAChildrensBook pic.twitter.com/lc6uwRdjLN

— British Logic (@BritishLogic) March 25, 2014

#RuinAChildrensBook pic.twitter.com/IjEhA0jt9F

— MΔ†TGÖØN (@MattBloodyGoon) March 25, 2014

#RuinAChildrensBook Arthur… pic.twitter.com/MklwXGlxNB

— Allison_Marie1 (@allisonmarie001) March 25, 2014

Where the Girls Gone Wild Things @midnight #ruinachildrensbook pic.twitter.com/9yRNKf1xmN

— Shannon (@schoolgirlshay) March 25, 2014

It’s a sure bet that, in addition to spoiling an untold number of kids’ classics, this joke also ruined some poor librarian’s day. Is not even Judy Blume sacred?  

Photo by mike wright/Flickr

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*First Published: Mar 25, 2014, 4:04 pm CDT