Children's Books discussion

Most of these fall under other categories Black authors, Native American authors, LGBTQ+ but not all of them. Review and discuss the banned picture books. Yes banned picture books!

A Family Is a Family Is a Family is seriously nowhere near a "gay" book. It's about various types of modern families: mom and dad, adopted children, grandparents raising children, ONE kid has two moms (who sing badly), ONE kid has two dads (one tall and one short) and ONE kid is from a foster family. The illustrations are weird and cartoony like Quentin Blake almost but in color. The kids in the class are diverse colors, shapes, sizes and have diverse families. There's literally nothing in the book to fuss about.

Time to Pray
This is a sweet story that would actually appeal to Christians if they would read a book about Muslims. It's relatable. A girl bonds with her grandmother by asking to learn how to pray. Her grandmother takes her to the market to buy cloth for special prayer clothes, a prayer rug, etc. The grandmother goes to the mosque and prays, she helps the child learn how to pray when the Muzzein calls for prayers. In English and Arabic.

If I didn't already have a general idea of the content of the story, I would have enjoyed learning something about a different religion and culture.

The illustrations are beautiful!

Banned in Duval County, Florida as part of a blanket ban against a set of educational books

Thank you for getting this thread started, QNPoohBear! Your knowledge on this subject is so enriching for all of us.

This thread is for listing banned picture books, whether they have been banned for years or are newly so. You can find banned picture book lists in a variety of places online by simply searching for "banned picture books." I especially encourage members to post about picture books that have been recently banned as many of us may not yet know about these and I find it so eye-opening to hear about what is being banned here and now.

Of course, posting about any banned picture book is welcome. Although many of us already know about the likes of And Tango Makes Three, published in 2005 and on the banned books list several times over the years, it is still relevant to our list here.

Here's an interesting discussion from April 2022 about how things have changed or stayed the same since the "gay penguin book" was first banned:
https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022...

As a general reminder, this thread is to discuss banned picture books. Please see other threads in this folder for Middle Grade and YA banned books. Also, members wishing to discuss book banning as a whole are encouraged to see the broader threads in this folder such as:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

As always, we encourage respectful conversations and tone in all posts.
"In this club thread we will be respectfully discussing the merits & problems & best fit for grade level of books that have been banned and seriously challenged. We will not tolerate any disrespect towards group members, authors, books, librarians, or readers. We will not be discussing whether banning books is appropriate."

Kathryn wrote: "Thank you for getting this thread started! I encourage members to post here about picture books that have been recently banned -- of course, any banned picture book is welcome, but many of us alrea..."

Actually, we should probably still be adding And Tango Makes Three since it continues to be one of the most challenged and banned picture books in the USA and is currently on the banned list in most "book banning" happy states and areas.

Oh yes, I’m not against adding any books that have been banned for years. Just especially curious about the newer ones. But, certainly, any banned picture book belongs on this thread. I'll edit my earlier post to make that clear. Thanks!

And Tango Makes Three is also nowhere near a gay book, especially as it is based on a true story.

QNPoohBear wrote: "And Tango Makes Three is also nowhere near a gay book, especially as it is based on a true story."

I remember being surprised when it was first banned, though I suppose I shouldn't have been.

Part of the massive banning in Duval County Florida, that these picture books have been banned, is ridiculous.

A Big Mooncake for Little Star

Yes indeed, if I approach Grace Lin's Little Star not so much as an annoying little human child who obviously does not listen to her mother's admonishments about not consuming, about not touching that huge and obviously delicious big mooncake until her mother tells her to, and therefore keeps on nibbling at the mooncake on the sly night after night until there is nothing left, until the mooncake has disappeared, but rather do regard Little Star more as a mythological, trickster like entity, then definitely, I do both enjoy the sweet (no pun intended) mischievous storyline of A Big Mooncake for Little Star and also how Little Star's clandestine nightly mooncake eating escapades also and obviously mirror the phases of the moon itself, from full moon to new moon, from a big and totally intact mooncake to there being nothing left but a few small crumbs, necessitating another moon(cake) being baked in order to have the lunar cycle being started again (with of course Little Star also once again nibbling until there is nothing left). A fun and delightfully imaginative lunar origin tale is A Big Mooncake for Little Star (a story that while of course first and foremost fiction, also especially with the delightful accompanying pictures of the ever decreasing big big mooncake hanging in the sky and tempting Little Star, also could be used to explain, to demonstrate the monthly phases of the moon). Highly recommended and indeed a simply lovely marriage of Grace Lin's imaginative narrative and her equally magical golden and black hued pictures (as to and for my eyes, the combination of gold and black really does visually put both Little Star and her mother in the realm of myth, into the realm of folklore and magic).

Hush! A Thai Lullaby

In this sweet and enchantingly lyrical marriage of text and images, in Minfong Ho's Hush! A Thai Lullaby, a Thai mother repeatedly admonishes the fauna in both her domicile and the neighbouring woods to "hush" (as her baby is supposedly sleeping). The presented onomatopoeic diverse animal sounds (from the wee-wee of a tiny mosquito to the hoom-praa of a massive elephant) combined with the soothing cadence and rhythm of the author's repetitive verses become increasingly soothing and almost somniferous (although ironically and very much humorously, even after all of the animals as well as the mother are indeed and finally fast asleep, the baby alone remains awake, his eyes bright, round and alert). Now while in and of themselves Holly Meade's accompanying illustrations are not what I would consider personal favourites (I love their general descriptive expressiveness and colour scheme, but the depictions of some of the domestic animals do seem a trifle stagnant and lacking expressivity if contrasted with, say, the lizard, the monkey and the elephant) they do work exceedingly well in conjunction with the text, not only mirroring but also quite massively expanding on Minfong Ho's verses (showing the architecture and layout of a typical Thai house, with its open concept living/sleeping quarters, the adjacent rice barn, but especially and with a delightful sense of visual irony demonstrating that all the while the mother is pleading with the animals to keep down their noise so as not to awaken her infant, the little nipper is actually not only wide awake but out and about, gallivanting around the house). Highly recommended is Hush! A Thai Lullaby (and most definitely worthy of the Caldecott Honour Medal awarded, although on a personal reading enjoyment level, only a high three star book for me, lovely, descriptive but not spectacular).

Manybooks wrote: "Part of the massive banning in Duval County Florida, that these picture books have been banned, is ridiculous.

A Big Mooncake for Little Star."

Oh my goodness, THIS is banned!? As you say, ridiculous to say the least. I thought it was a perfectly sweet story and I don't remember anything even potentially problematic! Same with Hush! A Thai Lullaby. I think I must have read these to my children when they were in little-little and I didn't have time to post reviews. I will have to check them out again and write glowing reviews now!

Kathryn wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "Part of the massive banning in Duval County Florida, that these picture books have been banned, is ridiculous.

A Big Mooncake for Little Star."

Oh my goodness, T..."

It seems they just took a bunch of ethnic picture books etc and removed them.

Kathryn wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "Part of the massive banning in Duval County Florida, that these picture books have been banned, is ridiculous.

A Big Mooncake for Little Star."

Oh my goodness, THIS is banned?..."

It's banned as part of a blanket ban of a specific series of educational books, most of which are by/about people of color and LGBTQ+ people. Of course the schools now deny the ban.

The Essential Voices Classroom Libraries collection includes many titles that they say need to be reviewed to ensure they are grade-level appropriate. 176 titles are designed to make classroom libraries more diverse and inclusive.

A Big Mooncake for Little Star
I thought this book was very sweet. It's a fable and to me it's obvious because of the illustrations. The illustrations are gorgeous and really look like the sky and stars.

Dreamers is nice but more for parents than very young children.

Islandborn
I really liked this one. The story was interesting and gave a good sense of both the good and bad of the island home where the little girl's family came from.

Alma and How She Got Her Name
This is another cute book featuring a Latina protagonist. I love the connection to her family history and the story of how she came to be who she is.

Dear Juno
is a sweet story about a young boy who writes letters back and forth to his grandmother in Korea, in spite of not knowing how to write in Korean and his grandmother not knowing English. They bond through letters.

The First Strawberries
An interesting Native American legend. This one will likely be approved - unless the censors don't approve of books about couples who have an argument.

Julián Is a Mermaid
This one has gotten mixed reviews recently. It's not the best example of a Trans kid book but it teaches kids that it's Ok to be yourself and teaches adults to love and accept their children for who they are.

I just read Sing a Song: How "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Inspired Generations
There's not much actual story but it's the story of how a song inspired and uplifted several generations of Black people through all the struggles they faced. MAY not be approved because it does mention struggles, hints at racism and mentions MLK's assassination.

Sadako
We had this book when I was younger but I had already read the original Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. The abridged version isn't quite as nice.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga Many of us read and liked it. It's interesting and important to know more about Native American traditions.

When Aidan Became A Brother
My personal favorite. Aidan is the most adorable little boy and banning him is ridiculous. Parents should read this and learn to understand and respect their children actually do know who they are and have individual identities. I may give this one to a cousin who is expecting baby boy #2. His wife REALLY wants a girl.

And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street
Cancelled by the left for racist imagery (and previously racist language). I feel that is an extreme measure and I've seen and read much worse. This is a young boy's fantasy and none of it is real!

If I Ran the Zoo also cancelled. I found this one mostly delightful except for the illustrations of animals in cages in the zoo. The cultures represented are fantasy people vaguely based on real people. (The same with the other cancelled books like On Beyond Zebra!). The illustrations may be based on stereotypes but I don't think that's reason to cancel the book.

The only other one I read is McElligot's Pool which I had a hard time finding the offensive content. I think it was Eskimo?

I don't understand how children are supposed to learn and grow without understanding the past or why people see offense in silly fantasy worlds not meant to be the literal real world.

Banned and later reinstated in York County, PA schools and banned in Northampton (PA) Area School District (NASD) :

Your Name Is a Song a cute book about a new girl in school. Her mother appears to be an immigrant from an African nation or Caribbean nation. The child's name means something to her mother but the new teacher can not pronounce it. The mother teaches the child about her name and how to say it loud and proud and how ALL names are songs. They sing out all the kids' names, including Bob. A pronunciation and meaning guide is at the end. POSSIBLY PROBABLY banned because one of the names is Trayvon.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark
My newest shero and my favorite biography about her! I jumped on the RBG bandwagon late but this book caught me up to speed. It's succinct and shares enough about her life that older readers can go track down a longer bio if they want or young readers will know who she was. Also major props to Marty Ginsberg for being an amazing husband and father. BOYS should read this book to learn about gender and sexism and how women AND men can have jobs AND care for families at the same time. The book should not be banned because it emphasizes how Justice Ginsberg and Justice Scalia were best friends in spite of ideological differences. I am sure they are having a grand time in heaven listening to opera and going skydiving!

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story
A great idea for a classroom project!

When We Were Alone important to learn about how Native kids has their identities stolen and how they held on to their identities any way they could.

Also very good
The Name Jar
When Lola Visits
Where Are You From?

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré (not sure how that one qualifies as Critical Race Theory)
Ruth and the Green Book history. It happened. It still happens. Read it.

Also recommended from the Central York Banned Book Club list
Thank You, Omu!
I have no clue as to why that one is objectionable. Omu is like my Nonnie and feeds everyone who walks through the door even if it means not having enough for herself. It teaches kids to be selfless and help out their neighbors and also to try new foods.

Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family
Also unclear why this was banned because it's all about the grandfather in Africa and the business of making chocolate. It doesn't say anything about unsustainable/unethical practices until the backmatter. It's a sweet story about a girl learning about her grandfather she's never seen and his connection to her chocolate birthday cake she makes with her dad.

Malala's Magic Pencil a fun adaptation of I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban for very young readers. It gives inspiration and hope to kids growing up in poverty and inspiring for girls.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress
NOT a "gay" book. Merely about a little boy who likes the orange dress in the dress up box at school. It's the color of his mommy's hair and gives him imagination and courage to play imaginative games.

I'm making my way through the banned picture book lists two at a time. My newest read is:

Encounter
A beautiful story of the coming together of two men from different cultures who learn what they have in common. Based on stories of Jacques Cartier's explorations of what is now Canada, the story is very sweet and charming. The illustrations are beautiful and lush. Nature, of course, plays a large role in the story and is reflected in the illustrations.

Contains author's reflections on why she wrote the story (because she was always told a White narrative in school and a different narrative at home). It's an alternative, native viewpoint and a peaceful coexisiting in that moment. The author states the purpose is not to forgive Jacques Cartier for his violent actions but to remind us that violence is a choice. It also shows that everyday people such as the White character, Sailor, can participate in systems that hurt others. "Any of us can be like Sailor and it is vital to know where our food, water and housing originate to ensure we are not displacing others in serving ourselves."

Backmatter also includes a historical note.

Banned in Duval County Florida as part of a blanket ban against a series of educational books.

Another picture books banned recently in Central York, Pennsylvania is

Full, Full, Full of Love

I guess African American families having a fun celebration and dinner is too horrible to consider?

Thank you for posting all of the above titles. Wow, just... wow! I have read many of them and found great value in them.

Deleted a post for using words like 'evil' and 'hysterical' and for being inflammatory. At the very least, please say "to me these people seem evil."

I missed that post. Thank you, Cheryl, for catching that and for the reminder.

Kathryn wrote: "I missed that post. Thank you, Cheryl, for catching that and for the reminder."

It was my post, and while I apologise for the wording, I will not be apologising for the sentiment and my feeling regarding books being banned (and in particular for any blanket book bans). I will watch what I am posting but I will never consider book banning and cancel culture as appropriate and as acceptable.

Manybooks wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I missed that post. Thank you, Cheryl, for catching that and for the reminder."

It was my post, and while I apologise for the wording, I will not be apologising for the sentiment a..."

Thank you for your honesty. It can be hard when we feel so passionately against book banning (what went through my head when I saw some of those titles were banned was not as polite as what I posted, ha!) but I think we try to stay as calm as possible and hope that our threads here in the group might help some parents who are questioning, searching... I'm hoping there are some who are watching these threads but not posting, maybe just dipping their toes into this. .. There certainly are people in Florida and other places who disagree with what is happening... I'm glad we can be a resource here, perhaps people will find books they can check out from libraries to supplement their children's education, or at least feel the group is a safe space for exploring and discussion when they feel shut down in the local school district/community.

This is appalling. Thanks for providing discussion here. So many of these would be personal recommendations for young families and classrooms.

Karen wrote: "This is appalling. Thanks for providing discussion here. So many of these would be personal recommendations for young families and classrooms."

Thank you for your comment, Karen. I agree, I have used many of these wonderful books with my own children. It is really sobering to see what is being banned these days.

Oh year, I forgot that both Where's Waldo? and Goodnight Moon have been repeatedly challenged and banned due to in Where's Waldo? one single image of a nude sunbather (which I have never been able to locate) and in Goodnight Moon a picture of a small doll with no clothing and a depicted cigarette. Absolutely ridiculous and sad and in my opinion almost as silly as that story of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? being banned (and later reinstated) in Texas because someone in "charge" got the name of the author Bill Martin Jr. mixed up with the Bill Martin who wrote Ethical Marxism: The Categorical Imperative of Liberation (even though Bill Martin Jr. was in fact already deceased when Ethical Marxism: The Categorical Imperative of Liberation was written in 2008, as Bill Martin Jr. died in 2004).

Many of us have read and enjoyed a lot of the banned picture books and even shared them with children. "Marxist" is still a rallying cry to ban books even though most of the would-be banners have no idea what that actually means. ("Marxist Critical Race Theory" which is not actually taught at K-12 schools is being confused with diversity, equity and inclusion.)

QNPoohBear wrote: "Many of us have read and enjoyed a lot of the banned picture books and even shared them with children. "Marxist" is still a rallying cry to ban books even though most of the would-be banners have n..."

Ha, ha, ha, that is so true, that many of the book banners have absolutely NO IDEA what Marxism really is (was) and obviously also have no idea that trying to ban books en masse is very reminiscent of Stalinism (and that many of the more extremist Social Conservatives seem to actively despise personal choice and individual freedom). And is that not the extreme collectivism so rightfully condemned by Ayn Rand?

Strega Nona
A family favorite challenged because of witchcraft.
"It was banned from a number of children's libraries in the United States for depicting magic, witches, and witchcraft in a positive light."

Strega Nona is more of a wise woman and healer than stereotypical witch. She does have some magical powers but she always uses them to help her village. We love her because she reminds us of my Nonnie who always took care of her family and her community.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Strega Nona
A family favorite challenged because of witchcraft.
"It was banned from a number of children's libraries in the United States for depicting magic, witches, and witchcraft ..."

Well, I guess the same book banners would also be banning picture books about the Russian Babushka and the Italian Befana Christmas witches, sigh.

Today's challenged books:

It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way
Banned in Duval County, Florida
This was an interesting biography of an illustrator I am not familiar with. I enjoyed learning about her life and especially her childhood in California in the early 1900s. The illustrations are very nice, especially the first page of little Gyo and her busy day. She's so cute!

I especially appreciate how the book was written from primary sources and information from the family.

Contains a timeline of Gyo's life and note from the author and illustrator. Also contains list of sources and bibliography.

Banned because this book talks about sexism, racism, Japanese internment, a picture book that features white babies and brown babies and Black babies and Asian babies all together, teaching children to break the rules.

Grandmama's Pride
In 1956 6 year old Sarah Marie and her 4 year old sister go with their mom down South to visit family. The mother says the back of the bus is the best spot, they brought their own lunches and drinks. The girls are too young to understand segregation. Grandmama insists they walk everywhere because God gave them two legs. She says they don't want to drink from the public fountain, who knows who has been there? plus her ice cold lemonade is better, etc. As an adult narrator, Sarah Marie understands Grandmama was too proud to put up with segregation and found her own small ways to fight it. On this trip, Sarah Marie learns to read and with reading comes an understanding of what the signs mean... not water but "whites only". Sarah Marie shields her sister from the nastiness in the South just as Grandmama and Mama do.

This is a cute story. It shows the small ways ordinary Black women in the South stood up and resisted segregation by doing their ordinary activities in a different way. The story doesn't explain why segregation or get into anything violent. It does mention the bus strike and desegregation in passing. An author's note

The illustrations are really nice and realistic. They accurately depict the segregated South in the 1950s.

Under review in Duval County, Florida

QNPoohBear wrote: "Today's challenged books:

It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way
Banned in Duval County, Florida
This was an interesting biography of an illustrator I am not familiar ..."

Yet another book that I absolutely loved! Wow :-(

It does seem as though in certain states and in certain school boards of certain states almost ANY picture book that features ethnically diverse characters is being challenged and banned, sigh.

We Are Water Protectors
An excellent and informative book with beautiful illustrations.

Banned in the Northampton (PA) Area School District (NASD) school as part of a blanket ban of donations from The Conscious Kid , a non-profit organization focused on equity and promoting healthy racial identity development.

Black Is a Rainbow Color
I found this one on YouTube. It's fun and affirming for Black children.

The First Strawberries ended up being sent back. I don't understand why. I can't think of anything objectionable unless it was banned because it's a creation myth other than the Christian creation myth? I'm thinking it's either the man says something hurtful to the woman and she decides she doesn't want to be married anymore?

Grandad's Camper
A sweet story of a child bonding with their grandfather, who happens to be gay. The LGBTQ+ content is negligible. It's not really a "gay" book so to speak. The same with Uncle Bobby's Wedding. Again it's more about the bond between a child and a special adult in her life than about him being gay.

The Stupids Have a Ball
I confess I kind of liked this series when I was in first grade and learning to read. They're silly and easy to read.

Challenged because the the word "stupid" is used to describe the fictional family. It is perceived as derogatory. The title has also been challenged because it shows children disobeying their parents.

In the Night Kitchen
A childhood favorite. I never noticed the little boy was naked or even cared. I have a little brother and little cousins. We all went to the beach together. I helped change diapers. No big deal.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
An inspiring true story about a librarian and a community coming together to save the books during war. Not for young, sensitive readers because there are pictures of bombs and war violence.

AND
Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan
An inspiring story and must read, especially now the Taliban is banning girls from education again. The illustrations are beautiful and I liked learning about the history of Afghanistan. Also not for sensitive readers. Nasreen's father was a political protester and disappeared. When her mother went to find out what happened to him, she also disappeared.

Both books challenged for its positive portrayal of Middle Eastern / Muslim cultures.

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution
For older children. An interesting history and a message that it's Ok to be yourself.

The Sound of Silence
NOOOO idea why this would be banned. On the Duval County, Florida list of Essential Voices Library book to be reviewed. This book was ultimately delivered to the classroom after review. It's an interesting concept and I loved the illustrations of vibrant, noisy Tokyo. I got this to share with my nephew but forgot to bring it down to show him. I'll check it out again before they go to Japan some day.

Going Down Home with Daddy
A fun story about a boy who finds his place and makes his family proud.

The Bracelet This author writes stories of Japanese internment during WWII based on her own experiences. This story is not as developed as her novels but still, a nice story to read. The children in the illustrations were based on real children.

Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain
I didn't understand any of the mathematical concepts and am in awe of Sophie's intelligence. I love this time period and stories about strong women. Banned due to sexism.

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
A biography for older children with samples of her writing. I guess banned due to racism and sexism?

I also cannot understand why anyone would want to ban The First Strawberries, as there is nothing in there even remotely offensive. And if the idea of a Native American creation myth or that in the story, the woman storms out and leaves her husband is enough to get The First Strawberries is enough to make said book unacceptable, then that is truly sad.

Manybooks wrote: "I also cannot understand why anyone would want to ban The First Strawberries, as there is nothing in there even remotely offensive. And if the idea of a Native American creation myth ..."

I don't either and they didn't give a public reasoning behind why they chose to return certain books. Duval County banned a lot of Joseph Bruchac books.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "I also cannot understand why anyone would want to ban The First Strawberries, as there is nothing in there even remotely offensive. And if the idea of a Native Ameri..."

Ah yes, let's go after Native Americans by banning books authored by them!

A Day's Work
Not #ownvoices but I'm not sure it needs to be. The lesson is pretty generic- work hard and don't lie to get there. Not sure why this is banned. It's about Mexican migrant workers. The boy's family lives in California and the grandfather has recently moved in with them. He takes on day work, odd jobs no one else wants to do for little pay. The boy is eager to help his grandfather but needs to learn an important lesson.

The illustrations are very nice and realistic.

Pink Is for Boys
Banned by narrow-minded people who haven't actually read the book. It's not a gay book or a trans book. It says every color, including black and white, and every activity including puppies and kittens (and unicorns!) are for both boys and girls. There's no gender division when it comes to play. There's no story here but the illustrations are sweet and show boys and girls at play in colorful scenes. One scene depicts boys in fancy clothes.

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation

This is a good basic introduction to segregation in schools then and now and how one family fought to overturn it. I knew the story from so I found this one a little general in the timeline and also lacking because it failed to mention how the Mendez family moved into a home that was forcibly vacated by a Japanese-American family "relocated" to an internment camp. The author's note and bibliographic lists are helpful for those wanting to learn more.

I am not at all a fan of this illustrator's style. I'm not sure why the people look like that and I think it makes Sylvia and her family look more stereotypical than less. Same with the Black people and Jewish boy.

QNPoohBear,
As a banned book elector for the state of Pennsylvania, I was thinking I could take us through the books on my docket in order, either here or on a new forum/thread called ''Your Voice, My Vote: Inside the Stateroom''. What do you say?

Serena wrote: "QNPoohBear,
As a banned book elector for the state of Pennsylvania, I was thinking I could take us through the books on my docket in order, either here or on a new forum/thread called ''Your Voice,..."

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's going on. Maybe you could start a new thread?

Thread created.

Serena wrote: "Thread created."

Thank you so much, Serena! You have some great insights into this issue and looking forward to your thoughts.

Crazy Horse's Vision

A good introduction to the story of Crazy Horse, the Lakota leader who helped his people. I didn't know much about him and enjoyed learning about his life. I didn't quite understand the illustrator's vision making Crazy Horse blue but the style indicates it may be based on Lakota art. Most people are familiar with the Lakota Sioux, the Plains Indians featured in most Hollywood westerns.

What the movies don't tell you is the reason this book is deemed objectionable by some. After a white settler's cow went on a rampage through the Lakota village and a Lakota shot the cow, the chief of the clan offered to pay other animals for the cow. Instead, the Americans (U.S. Army) opened fire on innocent Lakota.

This is an interesting story and inspiring for kids to know that a young person with a dream can stand up and make a difference in people's lives and fight to preserve a way of life they believe in. It shows Indigenous kids that their people had great American heroes too.

Stella Brings the Family

Not really a gay book either. No issues or agenda, just a girl who happens to have a Daddy and a Papa. She worries about who to bring to school for Mother's Day and a classmate helps her figure it out. Some kids have one mom, some kids have two, some have grandmothers but Stella is the only one without a mom but she DOES have two dads who love her very much and an extended family who kiss her, hug her and help her when she's down. Who should she bring to school for Mother's Day?

OK first of all it's rude to hold a Mother's Day event at school in this day and age. What about kids with divorced parents who live with their dads? No one mentioned any of those in Stella's class. What will Howie do on Father's Day? At my younger niece's first school they held a "sweetheart" dance instead of the traditional father-daughter dance they had when I was a kid.

Other than that, it's a story about family and the importance of loving a child so much she doesn't need a dad AND a mom only.

The illustrations are cute.

QN Pooh Bear,
May I know your legal name? As a misunderstood CSA (Christian Student of Arabic),"The Arabic Quilt" is my new favorite kitab (book) and I am actually making my own with my allies' names. I feel you are an ally too.

Serena wrote: "QN Pooh Bear,
May I know your legal name? As a misunderstood CSA (Christian Student of Arabic),"The Arabic Quilt" is my new favorite kitab (book) and I am actually making my own with my allies' nam..."

No. I go by Pooh online! I don't reveal my identity. It's not personal, it's just that I don't want anyone to find out who I am UNLESS I know them in real life, then I will give out my GoodReads name.

The Arabic Quilt was a nice book. I liked the concept. In college I lived in an international dorm and that was SO much fun. We did an 7 Continents event where each floor represented a continent. Mine was Asia and my Japanese roommate and her friends wrote everyone's name in Kanji. I still have mine. Making a quilt would have been a fun idea to bring us all together instead of hanging each name on the wall individually.

Fine, I'll just write "Sadiq" (basically "unnamed ally") and add "from Goodreads" in tiny-printed English. Ana asifah (I'm sorry) for asking.

And you all can call me Farah. As some of you know already, that's my Arabic name, which I prefer.

QNPoohBear wrote: " At my younger niece's first school they held a "sweetheart" dance instead of the traditional father-daughter dance they had when I was a kid. "

That's sweet. I agree, some of the old traditional events don't really hold up with the configurations of many of today's families.

Thanks so much for posting these! I just read Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré and it is such a beautiful book.

I'm starting to think about buying some banned picture books to leave around at the little free libraries in my area.

Serena wrote: ","The Arabic Quilt" is my new favorite kitab (book) and I am actually making my own with my allies' nam..."

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story is on my to-read list :-) I saw that the author has a new book coming out that might appeal to many of us on this thread: The Banned-Books Bake Sale due out later this year.