Hey, it’s Banned Books Week
Posted on October 2nd, 2008 – 8:11 AMBy May Chen
Alright, so it’s almost over, but I was busy, okay?
What with crashing markets (worried Cribsheeters can click here for Kara McGuire’s tips on budgeting in these perilous times), my own newspaper’s financial woes and what not, a girl can get distracted.
But back to Banned Books Week. This lovely idea of celebrating freedom of thought and speech has been observed since 1982 by the American Library Association and other groups. And since this is not Iran (or Alaska), the books are not actually banned, just, well, frequently challenged. Usually by well-meaning folks trying to protect children, so Cribsheeters will be interested to know that kids’ books have frequently made the list.
I was pleased to find that several of our bookshelf favorites are among those that have been challenged - “In the Night Kitchen” by Maurice Sendak, “Mommy Laid an Egg (Or Where Do Babies Come From?)” by Babette Cole and more than one book by the fabulous Shel Silverstein, whose serial killer mug on dustjackets is enough to warrant censure. Click here for a bunch of banned kids book reviews Strollerderby bloggers on Babble.com.
And here’s the list of books most frequently challenged in 2007.
What’s your favorite banned book, for kids or otherwise? And which ones would you stay away from?
9 Responses to "Hey, it’s Banned Books Week"
I don’t think I would stay away from any of them. I personally think the key is to use them to discuss the issues, whether it is racism, homosexuality or something else. For example, I loved Babar, and when I was old enough to get that it wasn’t just about the elephants, my parents talked to me about it. Not to mention I certainly can’t imagine my childhood without Little Women.
I didn’t even know this week existed!
I agree with Amelia about talking through books. Someone sent us vintage “Dick and Jane” books and I found myself asking aloud, “Why is Jane stuck inside sweeping while her brother gets to play?”
Thanks for the lists - it’s great to go to the library with a few specific items to look for.
Hang in there Star Tribune!
I agree with Amelia. Where do you draw the line on what is considered OK and what isn’t? I am not a fan of banning. I think parents can figure out what is right for their families. And adult books? Banning them for what? A friend and I had this discussion this week due to it being Banned Books Week. I can’t believe that “The Color Purple” is on the banned list. Jeez. Who are the people that get to decide these things?!
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Okay, so I had no idea there was more to Babar than elephants … do share, I am now very curious!
Here is a good link to a post about it. http://www.punnybop.com/detail/defending-babar/ Like so many things, it was art as commentary.
Judy Blume seems to always fall among these lists, but to me her books are classics and helped me through tough times that are the pre-teen years. If I ever have a daughter, I’ll encourage her to read Judy Blume. Just love her.
I don’t understand banning books. Just don’t read the books you don’t like them, and if the child happens across it, explain the book to them at that point.
We have a bunch of books we have been reading to our new son. There is one book I skip because it is about tickling, and the mother is chasing the kid around the house trying to tickle him while the child in the story is crying and trying to get away because he doesn’t like to be tickled. It seems like outright child abuse to me, so I just don’t read that book. I don’t even want it on the shelf, but I am paranoid about throwing a book away, regardless of what it is.
We did get rid of one book that we received. We got so many books when our daughter was born that it took a long time to get through them all. I’d say our kid was about 11 months old before I reached for this particular book. I read through it one time and put it aside for my husband to look at it. It was about a girl who goes out for a walk with her grandpa and discovers a bag in it with a dead kitten. Then her grandpa has to explain to her that some people are mean and cruel to animals.
We decided to throw it away (the book did warrant some discussion because the givers had the author autograph the book to our daughter). We just couldn’t figure out what would be the appropriate age to read a book like that to a kid to teach them about respecting animal life. We felt perhaps there were other ways to teach that lesson than to read this book over and over again. Of course back on topic I wouldn’t have it banned either. Just wasn’t right for our family.
