Banned and challenged books: Banning and challenging children's literature
Children's books
Banning Children's Books
In the United States, most books (and other materials) are challenged or banned where people under 18 (children) have access to them - school libraries, classrooms, public libraries. Many of these books, such as "Soul on Ice" or "Fifty Shades of Grey" are not specifically intended for children, so, in some sense these challenges may not be particularly surprising to some people. The banning and challenging of books specifically for children can provoke more surprise. What follows is a very small sample of children's picture books that have been frequently and/or famously challenged.
The books listed here are available in the TCC Library, in the children's literature section. The hyperlinks take you to the source of the banned/challenged information included in each box below.
Featured books
The Snowy Day
This Caldecott Medal awarded book was challenged because people took exception to a Jewish author, Ezra Jack Keats, featuring a Black character in the story.
Reasoning: "Too appropriating"
And Tango Makes Three
This true story of two male penguins who adopt an abandoned egg at the New York Central Park Zoo is frequently challenged due to fears that it "promotes homosexuality."
Reasoning: "Too gay"
Rabbits' Wedding
This is probably the most intense book challenge story among these. It even inspired a play "Alabama Story." "Alabama State Senator E.O. Eddins, ...said the book’s goal was to promote integration and interracial marriage to impressionable...children. He questioned the motives of librarian Emily Wheelock Reed...As director of the library service she was the de-facto state librarian...Reed refused to discuss her views on segregation and would not strip the book from her library holdings in Montgomery."
Reasoning: "Too desegregationist"
The Lorax
In California in 1989 prominent logging families in the Laytonville school district challenged the book, claiming that it criminalizes tree cutting. The National Wood Flooring Association published a response to the book, called The Truax. Google it.
Reasoning: "Too anti-logging"
In the Night Kitchen
Frequently challenged (and "treated") due to main character's full frontal nudity during the dream sequence.
Reasoning: "Too naked"
George (re-titled to Melissa)
Alex Gino’s George has been challenged as too offensive for children because the book’s young protagonist is transgender. The book has appeared on the ALA's Top 10 Most Challenged book list since 2016, and has been the number 1 most challenged book from 2019-2021. (This book has been re-titled by the author as "Melissa", April 2022.)
Reasoning: "Too Transgender"
Except where otherwise noted, the content in these guides by Tacoma Community College Library is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. When reusing or adapting this content, include this statement in the new document: This content was originally created by Tacoma Community College Library and shared with a CC BY SA 4.0 license.
Tacoma Community College Library - Building 7, 6501 South 19th Street, Tacoma, WA 98466 - P. 253.566.5087
Visit us on Instagram!