Shelia of Book Journey is hosting this event.
While looking over the (many) lists of banned and/or challenged books two caught my attention due to the fact that I am enjoying sharing the love of reading with my 15 month old grandson.
Do not take my stick or my books!
The two that caught my attention:
Geisel, Theodor Seuss
Hop on Pop: The Simplest Seuss for Youngest Use
Random House
Challenged, but retained at the Toronto, Canada, Public Library (2014) despite a patron’s concern that the book “encourages children to use violence against their fathers.” The patron requested that the library apologize to local fathers and pay damages resulting from the book’s message. Written in 1963, the classic children’s picture book ranked sixteenth on Publishers Weekly's 2001 list of the all-time best-selling hardcover books for children. Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association named the book one of its “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.”
Source: AL Direct, April 30, 2014.
This book was read many time to my kids while growing up. This is a fun, quick rhyming read. that kids of all ages will enjoy. The concern is quite ridiculous, and I would not hesitate to read it to my grandson. What are your thoughts on the concern?
Geisel, Theodor Seuss
If I Ran the Zoo
Random House
Challenged, but retained at the Vancouver, Canada, Public Library (2014) despite a line in the poem about helpers who “all wear their eyes at a slant,” accompanied by illustrations that are racial stereotypes of Asians. The book is often credited with the first printed modern English use of the word “nerd” in a sentence. The library will no longer read it at storytime or promote it other than as resource material in a study of how the portrayal of other cultures has changed over time.
Source: AL Direct, May 14, 2014.
My thoughts:
I do not own this book, and don't remember reading it much to/with my kids. The line that is challenged is very understandable, however it should be used as an opportunity to talk with kids about why the line is objectionable instead of getting rid of the book. Let's admit our wrong attitudes/thinking of the past and talk about how to respect everyone different than us.
Everyone has their own limits of what they will or will not read or what may be offensive to them. This is an individual choice and they should not be harassed because of those choices. But those said limits/choices should not be forced on others.
Do the books on the challenged/banned lists make you want to read them?
"A book banning is the removal of those materials that someone protested. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, or stores, thereby restricting the access of others."
