Precocious

I'm actually a bit boggled by this.

I don't know whether to laugh or moan. Is it cute or a sad testament to our society's love of self-help books? Is it awe that a nine-year-old can write a book suitable for publication or irritation that some will capitalize on the publicity a nine-year-old author will generate?

Maybe it really reflects my aversion to the precocious. Shirley Temple annoys me. Not Shirley Temple Black. She's amazing. I'm talking about sausage curled, short ruffly dresses and dimples Shirley Temple.