The most dangerous man in America!

        Captain Underpants isn’t really the most dangerous man in America, is he?  But the Captain Underpants books frequently are  challenged by people who object to them and would like them to be removed from libraries.  

      Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. This year Banned Books Week is September 21-27.  The week raises awareness that books can be challenged or banned, but also celebrates the fact that books most often remain on the shelves for people to choose to read. Libraries in particular support the freedom to read what we want to read.  

     I bet you would be surprised to learn some of the picture books that have been challenged.  
 
Winnie the Pooh and Charlotte’s Web (talking animals are an “insult to god.”)
James and the Giant Peach (includes the word “ass”)
Where the Wild Things Are (promotes witchcraft and supernatural events)
Green Eggs and Ham (promotes homosexual seduction)
The Three Little Pigs (pigs as food might offend the Muslim community)

     I could go on and on.  Check the American Library Associations’ Banned Book Week website for list of books that have been challenged.  http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks


Here is a list of the most challenged books of 2013:
 
Out of 307 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
1.    Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence
2.    The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
3.    The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
4.    Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James
Reasons: Nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
5.    The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
6.    A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
7.    Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
8.    The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
9.    Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: Occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
10.    Bone (series), by Jeff Smith
Reasons: Political viewpoint, racism, violence

So, celebrate your Freedom to Read! 

Read a banned book!

Happy reading,
Connie

Bookworms!

      What is “Bookworms?”  It’s a fun book group for middle school kids who love to get together with friends, laugh, talk about books they’ve read and books they want to read, eat snacks, and just have a great time together at the library.

      We’ve had a break for the summer, but we are starting our third year and we want YOU to join!

      We meet on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 in the Meeting Room at the library.  Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, September 17th.  That day we will look at a bunch of books and vote on the one we want to read first. We read books that interest kids and we have fun talking about them.  

     This is not school!  No tests, no wrong answers, no pressure.  Just bring a love of books and reading, a smile and a snack if you want!

     Stop by the Youth Services room to sign up or call us (883-4723 option 3) to register. Or just stop by on September 27th, or any Wednesday, and see if you like Bookworms.  I’m betting you will!

Have a great start to the new school year!

Happy reading,
Connie