First, I want to thank you for your long reply to my comment. I get so tired of one and two word comments that really do not address the comment itself and lead to meaningful conversation. Thank you for your time.
I agree that everyone is different and that we all get out what we put into a story. My point was that this is a children's story and as such must be crafted carefully. Young children lack critical thinking skills ( and, quite frankly most adults as well) and so their perceptions must be a bit more guided. These are the minds of the future and if you fill them with cotton candy, the will become unhealthy.
We all have our own preferences and I am perfectly happy to let everyone express them. I wasn't criticizing the author, simply pointing out to a young, aspiring writer the awesome responsibility she has if she is going to write to children. As a parent and grandparent, I also am free to chose which children's stories I will read to my kids. I understand that the values we wish to instill are best presented as children's stories and I always discuss what the stories mean to the children, guiding them in their thought processes. When they are adults they are free to read whatever they choose and that is what being a parent is all about.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.Kahlil Gibran