Tuesday, September 29, 2015

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.





29 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this! So silly what people find offensive and seek to protect their children from. It especially bothers me when they think they should decide what is appropriate for all children not just their own child and impose their own beliefs on others. That is essentially what censorship of children's books does. Grr.

    I'm glad Mia will have the chance to read these and other books!

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    1. I know right, if you don't want to read something or your child to read something ... then by all means steer clear but imposing often misguided or narrow-minded opinions on others is just not on!

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  2. So sad that books are still being banned today :( My all time fave was Charlotte's Web!!

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    1. Charlotte's Web still makes me teary ... now I want to watch the movie, with Mia lol

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  3. The reasons for banning books are always so bizarre. Tango Makes Three looks really sweet and I loved Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

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    1. I thought Tango Makes Three was absolutely adorable Katherine ... sad that so many want to censor truth and reality :(

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  4. Shocked at the number of children's books that are banned and gob-smacked as we'd say here at the reasons why they are banned. I'm actually quietly happy at the amount of them I have read though I have some catching up to do as far as more recent additions to the list go.

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    1. I've got a few classics I still want to read and there's a New Zealand YA book that's been recently banned that I'm keen to read ... Into the River. I wanted to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian this year but just ran out of time. Oh well there's always next year lol

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  5. Delightful childhood favorites! I loved the Winnie the Pooh stories and had a copy of Where the Wild Things Are, which was a Caldecott winner back in the day. Hard to believe any of these were banned, right? Thanks for sharing.

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    1. It really is baffling and a little bit scary that something so innocent can can quickly escalate!

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  6. Good grief, how silly. Those books are all cute- and harlmess.If something is "culturally sensitive" by all means avoid it, but to dictate to everyone else... don't get that. And if these are a problem... LOL. What's next? :)

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    1. that's what worries me Greg, just when you think common sense prevails, something else rears its head!

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  7. I just wrote about Where the Wild Things Are and And Tango Makes Three for my own banned books week post tomorrow! I had no idea bout Winnie the Pooh though and I'm fairly shocked to hear about that kind of thing happening here in the UK as you don't see it that often. What absolute ridiculousness. If people are offended by something then by all means don't read it but don't stop everyone else reading it too!

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    1. will definitely check out your post ... people can choose to read or not read something, but arggh it makes me wild when choice is taken away!

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  8. I love so many of these books! I am shocked about the Muslim pork issue and book banning. Holy crap! It's not like books are ever labeled halal or anything. I live in an area of Michigan with a huge Muslim population - I wonder if this is an issue that has come up around here? Thanks for the educational post!

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    1. Funnily enough the Muslim Council of Britain thought the whole thing ridiculous too ... go figure lol

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  9. Nice post. I wasn't familiar with the Steig book.

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    1. a sad story but at least there's a happy ending :)

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  10. Wonderful post! Love the felt Winnie the Pooh characters! I am sure you will love sharing them with Mia. Where The Wild Things Are has been a family favorite.

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    1. It seems you either love or hate Where the Wild Things Are, not too many fence sitters for that one. I can't wait to share it with Mia lol

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  11. Have never been aware of banned books that much until recent years. I remember reading Where the Wild Things Are to junior classes. I enjoyed Diane Chamberlains mention of Forever by Judy Blume in Pretending to Dance. I think Laurel-Rain mentioned Forever so it jumped out at me. We just had a hou-ha when a teen book that won an award was banned because of the explicit sexual overtones, not sure if it has been 'rescued' yet. I love the look of And Tango Makes Three. The illustrations must be adorable going by the cover.

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    1. I've got a NZ book that's recently been banned on my TBR list, it's called Into the River ... can't remember the author's name. Is that the one? I liked the mention of 'Forever' in Pretending to Dance too, another reminder to get to it some time.

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  12. Excellent post and great banned books choices!

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  13. Wow, I had never heard about the pig story ban in England, and that is a great example of why the concerns of a portion of a community should not dictate the reading choices of the entire community. I have nothing against Muslims and respect that they might not want their children to read pig stories, but they should not be able to limit my child's access to Charlotte's Web, one of the best kid lit books ever!
    Thanks for sharing.

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    1. The odd thing is that Muslim leaders were trying to set it right calling the ban misguided ... things do get out of hand. I think I was more shocked by the publisher's 'guidelines' ... I mean, seriously??

      Charlotte's Web has been a favourite in our home for almost 50 years ... wow I can't believe it's been around that long lol

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  14. Winnie the Pooh is one of my all time favorites and my son adored Where the Wild Things Are. Book Banning is outrageous.

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