My son is not a big reader. When he was younger I tried every type of book and enticement but he was not his sisters. I celebrated every small success -- a series he enjoyed, an English teacher that gave options besides the infamous book report, comic books/graphic novels. Even though his reading for fun is limited in these days after the graduation gown was packed away in the back of his closet, he is still aware of the trend of banning books. He's up-to-date on book banning thanks to me and my occasional(weekly) banned book rants at the supper table.
Most of the books he'd never heard about, let alone read. But in my furor I explain the plots, reasons behind the bans and my outrage. He nods silently as he eats his chili.
Then I visited my local library this week and they had a Banned Books display. It was packed with books my son knew well because they were books from our shelves, books I'd read aloud to him countless times
Where the Wild Things Are
Frog and Toad
The Snowy Day
Hop on Pop
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Harry Potter series
I feel another rant on Book Bans: The Children's Section coming up. I'm tired of reading about book bans and tired of the fact that, as a writer, sometimes I write something and wonder, "Will this get twisted into a book ban?"
So, we may be at the end of Banned Books Week but you still have time to read one...or two...or twenty banned books. Because how long does it take to read a picture book?
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