Children's book?

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The book Struwwelpeter-- I own that exact same book, probably the exact same edition. It was very popular in its day, which is why I happen to have an old, old copy. Its purpose is to teach children to heed advice and do what is right. It is an alarming, yet humorous series of stories in poem form about naughty children, many of whom die, because of their particular bad habits.

Peter, whom you see on the cover, has no liking for hygiene, never cuts his nails or tends to his hair. Another child tortures animals, and ends up being badly bitten by the dog he beats. A little girl who plays with matches burns herself up. A thumb-sucker who won't take his mom's advice has his thumbs cut off. The particular story which is mentioned in the film is about little Robert, who goes out into a storm with his umbrella and is picked up by the wind and blown away. They talked about that one as scary, but the one about the thumb-sucker whose thumbs are cut off by the tailor is worse. But I don't think they thought it would be acceptable to mention that to an American audience.

Why is it mentioned in the film? It is a way of bonding the two characters who remembered the book. It was very widespread in the German-speaking world.