Banned Books Week ~ Childhood Favourites

Head over to Sheila at Book Journey to check out everyone's posts for Banned Books Week. 

You know what I love most about banned and challenged books? Far from deterring they often promote, encourage and inspire reading of said works. (there's always a positive) 
And Banned Books Week is the perfect discussion forum for anyone passionate about the freedom to read whatever the hell you like!

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins. But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all.

Mum and Dad bought me this one back in the day, surprising considering how strict they were (children-should-be-seen-and-not-heard-strict.) My copy is so well-loved and well-read it has fallen apart. 

I always found Where the Wild Things Are fiercely fascinating, not scary, fascinating. I still love it for Max's mischief making, his wild imagination, his realness and as an adult and parent, Max reminded me of my eldest son lol. 

Challenged for it's dark, disturbing nature and I'm sure I read it has also been challenged for witchcraft/supernatural elements ...  seriously? why not challenge imagination.

 Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

One rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvester makes a wish that brings unexpected results.

Banned in some US states after publication in 1969 for its portrayal of police as pigs. I'm not sure whether this book still receives challenges. 

I was a little over a year old when this book was published and my copy is the original hardcover published in 1969 by Windmill Books. I don't know what age I was when I first read Sylvester and the Magic Pebble but as an adult looking at the cover I can faintly recall the sadness for Sylvester and his parents and joy at the heartwarming end. A lovely message and water colour illustrations. 

I wasn't aware of the earlier ban until a few years ago but just so you know, the police were very helpful in the story lol 

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White & other Pig stories.  

I adore Winnie the Pooh and friends ... these little felt guys were made by a friend for my baby girl. They're 25 years old, moth-eaten and became even more precious when Taleah died not long after she was born.

Winnie the Pooh is not on ALA challenge lists but ...

In 2003 at an infant and nursery school in West Yorkshire, UK, where a large percentage of pupils are Muslim, Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte's Web, Three Little Pigs, Babe and other books featuring pigs were banned from under-sevens' classes. The ban has been in place for a number of years with the head teacher sensitive to causing offense and distress, following complaints from the Muslim community. 

The Muslim Council of Britain appealed for an end to a "well-intentioned but misguided" policy and urged for 'pig stories' to be returned to open shelves. (http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/mar/05/schools.books) ... Hallelujah good sense prevails.

As a one off incident, why draw attention to it? Because these forms of 'censorship' should concern us. I'd be spewing very unhappy, if this occurred in my child's school. 

I was shocked earlier this year (yes 2015) when I read about a top UK publisher, Oxford University Press, under scrutiny for allegedly prohibiting authors from mentioning pigs or pig products in their children's books. 

Revealed by British radio presenter Jim Naughtie when he read out a letter he had obtained from Oxford University Press to an author, prohibiting the mention of “pigs plus sausages, or anything else which could be perceived as pork” in their book. 

OUP deny the ban, stating editorial guidelines have been in place for many years ... "what we do, however, is consider avoiding references to a range of topics that could be considered culturally sensitive."  

What utter nonsense. This seriously gets my blood boiling.

It's obvious, violence, alcohol and swearing are not included in children's picture books but if everything that 'could' be considered culturally sensitive is censored where on earth does it stop?? 

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Based on the true story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo in New York Central Park Zoo who were given an egg to hatch and raise ... enter baby Tango

It's been one of the most frequently challenged books since 2006, holding the number 1 spot a few years running and it was back at number 3 in 2014. 

Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “promotes the homosexual agenda” (ALA website)

How sad this delightful picture book was removed from state libraries in Singapore in 2014 for its anti-family stance. *sigh* 

Obviously this wasn't one of my childhood favourite's being published in 2005 but what a beautiful, sweet, true story about family and love, one I can't wait to share with my granddaughter, the illustrations are adorable.

“	We wrote the book to help parents teach children about same-sex parent families. It's no more an argument in favor of human gay relationships than it is a call for children to swallow their fish whole or sleep on rocks.	”
— co-author Justin Richardson  Celebrate the Freedom to Read :)