Monday, September 22, 2014

#BannedBooksWeek: 15 Classic Children’s Books That Have Been Banned In America

ALA Banned Books Week: Celebrating The Freedom To Read!

Image from here

I'm kicking of this week's BANNED BOOKS WEEK with Buzzfeed's list of the 15 Classic Children's Books That Have Been Banned in America. Yes, you read that right, CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS that have been banned. You know the books that many of us grew up reading. Yeah, those. 







Wait till you read some of the reasons why these books were banned. I'm having some issues with why there is even a list of classic children's books that were/have been/are banned. HERE are the reasons why each of these books was banned (via Buzzfeed). 

My thoughts on this article are this:

Who bans CLASSIC children's books!?!? Seriously?! I am having a hard time not posting snarky comments here for some of the banned reasons. As a parent, yes, I understand some of the reasons to ban these book (notice I said understand, not the I agree with the public banning). I personally feel these reasons for banning these books are PERSONAL reasons, and as a parent I respect that These however are NOT reasons that should publicly ban a book. Hence the reasons my snarky comments. 

There is a book on here that got banned, and that reason alone is why I, as a parent, will not let my kid read the book. I never liked the book as a kid, and I don't like it as adult, nor is it a book I want my kid to read. BUT, that is my personal reason. Since I don't like the book, I personally don't feel that, that is justifiable for me to make it so that on one else is allowed to read it. That is why I have an issue with banned books. Just because someone else doesn't like the book, does not give them the right to tell me or my kids what they should be allowed to read. 

The beauty of reading is this: 
There are books out there for everyone. Not everyone is going to like every book. If you don't like book, you choose another one. At some point you'll find the book that is right for you. No one should have the power to take that right away from someone else. Banning a book doesn't make that book go away. It just prevents a reader from finding a story that was meant for them. 

Maybe that next book that gets banned was written for someone who's been trying to find a story that may help them through a situation they otherwise won't find a way out of. Or maybe that story is one that opens the door to possibilities. Or maybe that story is one that will allow a creative mind to realize that writing is their dream. Or maybe, just maybe, that story is meant to bring comfort to child who is dealing with a scary reality. You never know what stories will impact readers.

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~