Freedom to Read

This being Freedom to Read Week, I thought I'd fill you all in on a few of the off the wall challenges to books that have come my way--

• The little black book for girlz: a book on healthy sexuality was challenged for being "obscene and for containing explicit instructions for sexual acts"" among other things! Hello...how on earth can you have a book that explains sexuality without being explicit!
• My friend Flicka, the classic by Mary O'Hara was challenged because the book uses the word "bitch" to refer to a female dog. Ok, so go ahead and check with any breeder for the acceptable term for female dog. Big surprise...it's "bitch"!
• Here's a good one; The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier was challenged because it promotes defiance of authority. Who knew a Canadian classic picture book about hockey could be so controversial!
• And the one I like the best is The tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. which was challenged for portraying only middle-class rabbits and by consequence is "classist".

For more information on challenged and banned books, check out the Freedom To Read website