Mundie Moms

Monday, September 22, 2014

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

ALA Banned Books Week: Celebrating The Freedom To Read!
Image from here

I can't not share this. I shared it here on Mundie Kids, and I have to share this here, because seriously... BANNED CHILDREN'S CLASSIC just... well it brings out my snarky side. The list I'm talking about is from 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). 

For example, and snarky comments will be included (just saying): I've included the number by each book as it's listed in the article.

2) The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, now who didn't read that book as a kid. That is a classic. Apparently it was banned for being sexist and it criminalized the foresting agency. Um, did I read the same book they did? It was sexist? 

3) Winnie The Pooh & 8) Charlotte's Web - Per this list, talking animals are an insult to God, which resulted in both of these books being banned. Okay, I'm just going to say this, TALKING ANIMALS DO NOT EXIST! I know, sorry to burst someone's bubble. I wish they did. As someone who believes in God, I don't think God is going to be insulted by talking animals in a MAKE BELIEVE story! Are we going to start banning books with unicorns and other mythical creatures too? They don't exist. Or are we only banning books with talking animals? If there's a book with a talking Unicorn, it might end up on the banned list. 

6) Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl - Do NOT even get me going on this stupid ban. Seriously. How in the heck can this book be banned!? This was one of my favorite books in MG, because of the fact it was the first time I read a book and was emotionally invested in the story. It was also the first time I remember reading a book about a such an incredibly strong, brave and courageous character. It was also the first book I remember crying over while reading it. Anne Frank is a book that was banned because it was deemed "too depressing", among other stupid reasons. I don't know about you, but I was touched by Anne's story, not depressed by it. 

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As a parent, sure, I understand some of the reasons to ban these book (notice I said understand, not the I agree with the public banning, because I don't). 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 in 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. 

No one has the right to prevent someone else from picking up a book they didn't like. Everyone has a right to not like a book. Everyone has the right to have access to books. 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.

Banned Book Week Day #2: All Kinds Of Kids Deserve All Kinds of Stories #BannedBookWeek

ALA Banned Books Week: Celebrating The Freedom To Read!


THIS quote is one of the biggest reasons why I am a firm supporter of #BannedBooksWeek. There are all kinds of kids, will all kinds of backgrounds, living all kinds of lives, that deserve all the different kinds of stories that all kinds of books offer. NO ONE has the right to take away those stories from those kids, except their parent/guardian.

Everyone has the right to read. 
No one else has a right to decide what "everyone" else should or shouldn't be able to read.

No one has the right to tell my kids what to read, except for me. What I feel may be right for my kid to read, may not be right for another child to read. A book I may not find inappropriate, may be the kind of book a child needs to read to know they're not alone. Who am I to tell that kid, "No, you can't read that." What if that book would have been the book that would have helped them break their silence, or empowered them to endure or inspired them to do great. 

I personally feel that Book Banning is either done in fear or out of ignorance. 

I feel that those who fight to ban a book are either scared of how that particular book will influence the reader (really that parson should be more concerned about what kids are watching on tv, listening to on the radio, can see at the movies, and watch in the games they play, as those things are far worse than what they normally read about in a book), OR they themselves haven't read the book, and have no idea what the book is actually about, they just "heard" the book wasn't appropriate and they've jumped on the ignorance bandwagon to take a stand.

I believe everyone should be able to read books they themselves find suitable for them. I have a right to read. Just because I don't like the content in a book, does not give me the right to take that away from someone else. Just as I have a right to read, I have a right to not read things. I have a right as a parent to not allow my kids to read certain books. What other parents may find suitable for their kids, won't always be for my kids. Instead of banning that book, and making it so other kids aren't allowed to read what I don't deem appropriate for my kids is not right, but finding them an alternative book to read is. Trust me, I know this time will come. Just as I'm not afraid to stand up in support in Banned Books Week, I'm not afraid to stand up and say no to something I don't want my kid to read. Thankfully when that time arises, I'll be armed with a well stocked library and will be able to find my kid an alternative book to read. 

Check out Simon & Schuster's Banned Book Week's page for additional quotes, a list of their books that have been banned, and more.

What are your thoughts on Banned Books? Tomorrow I'll be sharing a list of banned books and which books I've read from the list. *shakes head* Some of these books I'm seriously shocked at. I read a handful of the books I read from the list, in high school. As in it was required reading. Tomorrow I'll talk about the list. 

Mundane Monday #222- TLH Snippet


Happy Mundane Monday!
This weekend Cassandra Clare shared a TLH snippet with her fans via her Tumblr page. Just in case you missed it, I've got it here:

James could see his mother moving like an anxious pale star among the guests in her lilac dress, greeting each of them warmly, welcoming them to her home. She had not glamoured herself to look her husband’s age for the evening, and she appeared enormously young, though her hair was done up like a gracious older woman’s, not a girl’s. When Will materialized out of the crowd and came to put his arm around Tessa, smiling down at her, the gray at his temples flashed like silver. James looked away; he loved his parents for being extraordinary, but sometimes he also hated them for the same thing.

I can't wait for this series to be out!

Middle Grade Monday


Here's what was featured this past week on Mundie Kids:


 I celebrated back to school with some back to school middle grade advice from the author of Jessica Darling's It List, Megan McCafferty! Check it out here


If you're looking for a fabulous picture book to pick up, add JOURNEY to your list! You can read my 5 star review for it here


Want to dress like a pirate? author Heidi Schulz stopped by Mundie Moms, and gave us some fabulous tips on creating a DIY pirate costume! Get more information and find out more about her new middle grade book, HOOK's REVENGE, here


Just in case you missed it, I revealed the cover for Stuart Gibb's EVIL SPY SCHOOL! 
Find out more about it here


Looking for some SPOOKtacular reads? Check out some Random House Kids's books spooky Halloween reads. Get the full list here


Check out some of the newest KidLit/MG books that I've added to my shelves, here.

Happy Middle Grade Reading!

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