Banned Books Week is nearly over, as I am no longer in the book industry it nearly slipped by. However there are still a few days September 26 - October 3 is the week that the American Library Association has choosen as the week to celebrate the freedom to read.
although I really like the two I used last year this one highlights children's books which are the ones most often challenged. As parents want to protect their children from the evils of talking animals as in Charlotte's Web, or from the witchcraft of the Harry Potter series, or issues of sexuality as is the case with this years most challenged book; And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole.
This book tells the TRUE STORY of two male chinstrap penguins in the the New York Central Park Zoo and their adoption of an egg and subsequent chick, dubbed Tango. Oh my goodness gracious me don't let the children know that homosexuality happens in nature!!! PUHLEAZE!!! Get over it people.
Without this turning into a political post over civil rights here it is;
The top ten most frequently challenged books of 2008
Out of 513 challenges as reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group - His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence - TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group - Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence - Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group - Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group - Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen
Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group - The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group - Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper
Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group
Just remember any book worth banning is worth reading!
