When I have children, these will be among the best books on their shelf, but people around the country have found them much more controversial. So instead of saying “why not”, here’s WHY they are so great:
1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell / The adorable true story of two male penguins in Central Park who, with the help of the zookeeper, hatch a beautiful baby daughter. While one of the most challenged books in 2008-2009, this may be my favorite story about a “modern family”.
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson / Victims should never be blamed or silenced, and anyone that sees rape as pornographic is severely disturbed. I was appalled at how Anderson’s novel was targeted last week. Teens should be encouraged to #SpeakLoudly… and they can get the courage to do so from this book.
3. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling / Obviously. Since I am the kind of person that labelled myself as a “Christian witch” when I was 12.
4. Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary / If kids are reading the dictionary (even if it’s to look up the definition of “oral sex”), the only consequence is that they’ll probably do better on the SATs. Also, if your children have to look up what sex means, you probably need to work on your parenting skills.
5. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison / Ooh muttis and vatis may have a nervy spaz because Georgia’s diary contains gorgy sex gods, but if you cannot grasp the hilariosity, you are probably a wet tosser and in need of a duffing up. Now let’s go down the disco!
5 Comments on The Top 10 Banned Books I’ll Make Sure Kids Read, last added: 10/2/2010
I heart you. Oh the insanity of book banning!
Great list!
I’m not actually allowed to read In the Night Kitchen to my class because of the naked baby. It’s a shame because I read it in my first class before I knew of the ban and the entire response to the “explicitness” involved me saying, “Yup. You’re right. That’s a peepee. Let’s move on.”
Great choices. I’d never heard of Rabbit’s Wedding, but now I got to find a copy.
I second finding The Rabbits’ Wedding.
I wish some people wouldn’t make life so complicated . . .
Thanks, y’all! The Rabbit’s Wedding is just an adorable classic and I’d highly recommend to anyone…