How to be Gorgeous/How to be Clever books

[sleepymother]

A friend shared this picture from the 'Miss Representation' campaign facebook page.
www.facebook.com/MissRepresentationCampaign#!/photo.php?fbid=510678268975603&set=a.188136457896454.39667.139087179468049&type=1&theater
The 'How to be Gorgeous' book is illustrated with a girl on the cover, and the 'How to be Clever' book has a boy on the cover. So far so irritating. But what amazes me is the comments on the Facebook page of people saying, 'It might look sexist but it isn't really, it's just that the books are placed next to each other' 'People won't necessarily associate the picture of the boy with the idea that being clever is a boy's thing', etc. How do we still have to have these conversations? What's more, the books are published by Scholastic, a publisher that most people will associate with 'award winning children's books and educational resources' (their website). Does anyone know whether there has been any previous discussion of these books among the 'laptop wielding harpies' of Mumsnet? (I didn't spot anything when I did a search, but...)

[Mitchy1nge]

are these the books that Harrods withdrew from their shelves earlier?

[sleepymother]

I don't know - they were on sale at Harrods, I understand. Has Harrods now withdrawn them?

[ashesgirl]

Yes Harrods have withdrawn them. Statement from Harros and lots of discussion about these books here

www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Let-Toys-Be-Toys-For-Girls-and-Boys/104658933034521

[ashesgirl]

Harrods even

[Cortana]

Has anyone read the books yet?

I know they're not by the same author but that's all I know. If I'd seen the "How to be beautiful" one on it's own I'd have assumed it's a self esteem book aimed at young girls rather than a manual on wearing lip gloss etc. Has anyone seen reviews or detail about the content?

Reminds me of "The Dangerous Book For Boys". DS loves it and it's great fun, but I did wonder why it wasn't marketed at girls or if there was a girly equivalent.