Banned Books Week 2008

We all encourage our children to read. We want our kids to grow up to love books. Perhaps some of us have our own values, and want to put limits on what our children are allowed to read. For instance, some people may not want their children to read books that talk about things that go against their religious beliefs. Others may not want their children reading books that contain violence. Parents have a right to decide what their children should read, just as they have a right to decide what to allow their children to watch on TV or look at on the computer. But who else is deciding what your kids can and cannot read? Their teachers? Their friends' parents? The local library? Others?

September 27 to October 4 is Banned Books Week. This is a good time to think about your opinion on the banning of children's books. It is also a good time to talk to your children about this issue.

Out of all of the books that get banned in the United States, most are books written for children. Generally, parents or other concerned citizens want books taken out of schools, libraries, or book stores, because they think the books contain material not appropriate for the children they're being marketed to. Books that contain sexual material, or references to homosexuality, are the most likely to be challenged.

But you may be surprised at what other books have been challenged! Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak, is a book about a little boy who has a temper tantrum and is sent to bed without supper by his mother. He then falls asleep and dreams of going to a wild kingdom, where he joins all sorts of monsters and other "wild things." When this book was originally published, in 1963, parents protested the idea of a book about a little boy exhibiting such poor behavior. They felt it was not a very good example to set for children! But even today, this book continues to be challenged. Some people don't like the fact that the little boy is sent to bed without supper, as most parents don't consider this an appropriate form of discipline. Others feel that the illustrations are too frightening for children.

Daddy's Roommate, and Heather Has Two Mommies, are two more of the most challenged books. Both books are about children being brought up by gay parents. The books are meant to help children come to terms with the idea that some children do have parents who are gay, and that, other than the fact that the parents are of the same gender, children with gay parents have home lives similar to the home lives of other children. However, people who challenge this book feel that children should not be exposed to the idea of gay parents. Some are against homosexuality and don't want their children learning that "its okay to be gay." Others just feel that their children are not mature enough to start thinking about the concept of sexuality.

Those books are fairly old, but what about today, in 2008? Surely we're getting a little more open minded when it comes to books?

According to the American Library Association, books are still being challenged on a regular basis. For instance, Alice On Her Way, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, is now only permitted to be read by middle school children who have written parental permission, because of the use of two "cuss words" in the book. Tripping Over the Lunch Lady And Other Stories, by Nancy E. Mercado, was challenged by parents in one Virginia community, because it contained graphic descriptions of war. Military parents, in particular, worried that the book would frighten children. Even classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Huckleberry Finn, are still being challenged or banned in many schools and libraries, because of descriptions of racism and violence and use of profanity.

During Banned Books Week, think about how you feel about the idea of banning books. If you're against it, you may want to actually introduce your children to some of the books that have been banned. Tell your children ahead of time that some adults do not like children to read these books. As your child reads it, ask her if she knows why the book might be challenged by adults. Try to gage whether your child feels uncomfortable reading the book, and whether the book brings up issues that your child might want to talk about.

People who challenge or ban books usually have a good reason for doing so. Their intentions are usually in the right place. But whose job is it to decide what our children need to be protected from? This is something we all must consider during Banned Books Week.