One time a patron at the library asked me if we had any racist books in the children's section of the library (it was for a school assignment). Skippyjon Jones was the first thing that popped into my head because he fantasizes about being a Mexican Chihuahua stereotype (see: http://www.tuvez.com/five-stereotypical-talking-chihuahuas/). So, right off the bat, you know I'm not a big fan of these books. But I took a few minutes and listened to the author read this newest installment on the accompanying CD and I have to say I was very nearly charmed by her narration. It made me think, "Is this really any worse than Fancy Nancy fantasizing about being a stereotypical fancy French lady?" But, yes, it is worse because the French are not a marginalized community often subjected to harmful generalizations in this country. I continue to reject Skippyjon Jones, while also admitting that I see the appeal. Before you dismiss these books as harmless, I think you have to ask yourself how you'd feel reading one aloud to children of Hispanic descent. Maybe you'd be fine with it. Maybe, like me, you'd feel pretty uncomfortable.

See also: http://decoloresreviews.blogspot.com/2013/04/skippyjon-jones-and-big-bones.html?...
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Skippyjon Jones rejects listening to his sisters' book choice of Snow White to listen to and goes to play in his closet. He is dragged into a quest to save the frozen princess Nieve Que (Snow What), and ends up having fun after all. ( )

Skippyjon Jones' sisters are clamoring for storytime and beg for Snow White, their favorite. Kitty Boy, aka, Skippyjon Jones does not like that story. The give-and-take repartee between mother and cat is sarcastic and amusing. Needless to say, SkippyJon walks (over the river and through the woods) into his own fairy tale which includes elements of Snow White, shades of Three Bears and more. "Mirror, Mirror on the wall" Skippy wants to know "Who is the bravest chihuahua of them all?" As this is the eighth tale about Skippyjon Jones, one can only assume they're popular with kid readers. They're rollicking fun read alouds, even if they don't always hang together and make a lot of sense. Includes Spanish words. ( )