What Is Appropriate In Chidlren's Literature

The age old question of what children literature should discuss and shouldn't is about as old as the bible itself. Many public and school libraries have had to deal with concerns from parents over the years about suitable topics for children in books. Thus the American Library Association (ALA)provides support for libraries dealing with patrons challenging a particular book in the library's collection. Books from Are you there God, it's me Margaret (Blume) to Harry Potter Series (Rowlings) have survived the parental questionings and remained on the shelves. This may seem to be a Win for the library's advocacy of children's rights however, it may also be a reasons why some claim that librarians are not flexible and deaf to parents concerns and needs. The child, it seems, is the only one who has rights that are to be protected. Perhaps, this is as good as time as any to examine the concerns that parents have about topics that are controversial and sensitive. To get this topic out of the way, we will begin with discussing the "outing" of famous people in history. In the children's Biography Series Giants of Science, author Kathleen Krull is not shy about tackling topics such as Issac Newtnn's sexuality. suggesting that the brilliant scientist who discovered Calculus, may have been gay. If parents object to this book, (on a personal note: I have worked at a library where it was challenged.) there is good reason for them to do ask that it be removed. Why? There is no documentation that supports Newton's "sexuality" nor is it relevant to his contributions to science. In addition to that, nine year olds do not need to be side tracked with what Newton may or may not have believed in a book that is marked as "true". Children need to understand the difference between fact, fiction and it could be. At nine years old, let's make it easier on the child and stick with the facts and the facts only. Librarians who insist on leaving the book on the shelve on the basis that it had good reviews do a disservice to the community and to the profession. AS librarians, we are not to discriminate about the viewpoints of books on the basis of whether we agree or disagree. Having said that, librarians should also demand accountability from the author and publisher that what they put in print it accurate. If it is a personal opinion of the author that a historic figure may have been gay, then that should be disclosed as such. Also, as noted before if it is information that is essential to telling the story of a person's work, then by all means put it in the book. One question that never gets asked it seems is this: would a nine year old doing a paper on Great Scientists like Newton need to know that the scientist may have been a homosexual? Let's reverse that, would it be important to know he was heterosexual? Sex has always been a sensitive topic between adults and children. When is it too early to talk about the topic? There should be a common sense approach here. Not all children are the same. Not all parents think the same ways about sex. Librarians are to merely help locate information for the patrons not demand that all parents allow all children to read whatever they want. Parents often times feel as though they are looked down by "professionals" who think they know children better than parents simply because they have a degree. The gray area of the profession is leading patrons to the information they want and not necessarily what librarians think is a better and alternative information. Is this suggesting that all librarians have an agenda and steer patrons to information that may be misleading? No of course not but if the professional journals and publishers are any indication that all topics are on the table, controversial or not, there is a distinct possibility that protests against certain titles will continue. Librarians must be able to have the freedom to say that not all books are worth defending. Some truly have an agenda that is simply blatant propaganda. Again, harking back to the need for documentation. Another topic that ways heavily on parents mind is the topic of suicide. Should young adults novels delve into the topic and explore what happens when a friend decides that suicide is their only answer. Again it's touchy subject and one that should be treated with sensitivity. One of the complaints that parents may make is that these books may "glorify" suicide and tempt their children to see this as a way out of their problems. One of the best books that deals with this topic very well and does not glorify the act of suicide is Thirteen Reasons Why. It is a haunting book about a girl who has committed suicide and leaves behind an audio tape to her friend to listen to after she was gone. As the title suggests, she gives her friend thirteen reasons why she choose to end her life. It is sad, compelling and makes the reader think about the words that they say and how they affect their friends. Should this book be off the shelf? Yes, as in checked out by parents and their children. Dealing with difficult topics such as these does require some adult handling. It's not a bad idea for parents to read the books their children are reading and have an open discussion about the topic. Books can be a great communication. It is with great reluctance to leave the discussion with a sense that any books about homosexuality, drugs, suicide, sex or rape are topics should never be brought into books for children. There is a time a place to introduce sensitive topics to children. Sexuality does not belong in a picture book or chapter books written for children in lower elementary. For that matter, the other topics mentioned shouldn't be discussed to the young ones either. As a child grows older and a serious discussion can be held with them about sensitive topics than it should be up to the parent to decide when and how the topic will be discussed. Certainly there is a role for librarians and teachers to play here but it is a small part. Children's minds are inquisitive, imaginative and inspiring. It's the professional's responsibility to handle it with care and help them learn. Parents must handle their child's learning experience with care as well. Where professionals teach, the parents responsibility to help their children , take what they have learned and apply it to make life better. In the case of social cultural issues, it is important to trust that parents will do the right thing and help children deal with sensitive topics in positive ways.

Banned Books: An Opporutnity for Famly Reading

Are teens really able to decide for themselves what books to read? Can they make the decision on their own that they are ready to handle heavy topics such as suicide, sex and drugs? The main purpose of Banned Book Week is to give a shout out about censorship and the rights of teens to read whatever they desire. Bold statement from YALSA, but is it really a prudent one? One factor that has always been left out of the debate is the parents of the reader. This is where a little ingenuity and flexibility has to come into play as Young Adult Librarians promote Banned Book Week.

The whole notion of banned book sounds exciting to teens. Reading something that is "forbidden" is akin to sneaking out to the garage to smoke. It's the thrill of finding out what "secrets" they shouldn't know or not getting caught. To be a teen, again. When the books were hidden under the beds, or tucked in lockers so no one would know. Wait! That never happened. As a matter of fact, in the 1970's although there were books that everyone talked about like Judy Blume's novels but not one book seemed off limits for young hands to reach out and grab. Come to think of it, from the way Banned Book Weeks is promoted, one would get the idea that American libraries are under siege and strict government regime is forbidding certain books to be read, thus they must be burned. Okay, so that's a little extreme, but since this is not the case, one has to wonder why it's so important for teens to have "rights" to read about topics that are in some sense controversial? It's all in the name of giving teens independence from their parents and finding out "who" they are. Well, this can lead to dangerous territory, and it's up to librarians to be flexible enough to find the middle ground.

Back in the 1980's when Madonna came out with her controversial coffee table book titled "Sex", libraries grappled with the dillema of how to circulate the book. Should they keep it in "closed" stacks and have patrons ask for the title. If a minor asked for the title, would there be a "permission slip" from a parent required? Does this not pose a threat to the First Amendments? Nope. Sorry, in the case of a child, and teens are still legally children up until the age of eighteen, the parents will and should have the right to determine what is good or bad for their family. This includes books.

What should a librarian do to help the teen who so desperately wants to read 13 Reasons Why? It is a s simple as inviting parents and teen to read the book together. When parents begin to worry that a topic might, such as suicide, might effect their child in a negative way, shouldn't they have the right to have the book held off until a time when the child can handle the subject matter? The only time to challenge an authority figure in a child's life is a school board, but never undermine the parents. Some of the best book discussions that have been held have been with parent and child participating. It is a excellent tool to help foster communications. That is the "Key" to unlocking the banned book debate. Let the conversations flow and include everyone in the conversation.

Banned Book Weeks allow for many good things to happen. One, it entices teens to read. Two, discussions on why the book was "banned" can bring up other ideas that can lead teen to continue their interest in the topic. Three, it provides a valuable opportunity for families to read together. That in itself is the best outcome of Banned Book Week. However your library chooses to celebrate, here's hoping that everyone enjoys the "Banned" week!

Children Need A Great Beginning, Part 2: Reading to Baby

This topic has become very important to me in the last several years. Working with babies and their parents and grandparents has given me a clearer perspective on how books enrich a babies' world. One might say there is a hidden agenda in my promoting reading to children, and they would be right. Although it can't be called hidden when it is as obvious as the sky is blue. Children need every opportunity to grow and learn. In encouraging parents to read to their babies, it is my goal to provide an avenue for every child I meet to have a chance to succeed in life. Period. No other agenda is attached. One may wonder how reading to a child can help them succeed in life. There are so many good answers that picking just one is difficult. In a nutshell, reading stimulates learning on many different levels. As an infant, your child is absorbing tons of information about their world and themselves. The human brain is amazing at what it can accomplish in a small amount of time. Once a parent or grandparent begins reading to their babies, they will notice subtle changes in the behavior and reactions of their child.

As stated earlier, Babies learn about their world in a variety of ways. Mainly it is the five senses help them to identify familiar voices, faces, foods and toys. Using the five senses babies discover what they like, what they don't like as well as giving the opportunity to explore and learn new things. Is it any wonder that Pat The Bunny is still a favorite among parents of toddlers as the go to book to encourage baby to use their different senses to explore their world. it is very important to remember that the best children's books often encourage their audience to use all five senses to learn more about their world. A book is a fantastic tool to begin exploring by sight, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. (Yes tasting! A sign of a well loved board book are tiny teeth marks on the corner.)

Reading books to babies teaches them about communication. By listening to a story, babies come to understand how words become sentences and sentences become an expression of ideas. The little nuances of languages, such as the difference between when to use "a" and when to use "an", do not need to be explained. The baby recognizes that it sounds right to hear "an animal" instead of "a animal" in a sentence. Think of it this way, by reading to your baby you are in essence teaching them English grammar before they learn how to write.

Reading also introduces the idea that learning can be fun. Such concepts such as stories, numbers, letters, colors, and shapes are presented in children's books in colorful, creative and engaging illustrations. It is entertaining to read a book that teaches the basics of the alphabet, numbers and shapes with a unique perspective. A favorite alphabet book to track down to discover the creativity I'm speaking of is Chris Van Allsburg's The Z was Zapped. Babies eat these books up (literally and figuratively), which leads to many positive outcomes. Just to name but a few: memories of their favorite books, bonding time with a parent or grandparent and a love of a good story. As a children's librarian, more often than not, there will be one or two teens or adults who will ask me to help them find the books that were read to them when they were children. These stories really do last a lifetime!

Reading to babies helps to build important skills such as listening, memory, and vocabulary that will be invaluable to them in their school years. Babies love the sound of voices speaking to them. It soothes them. When beginning the habit of reading with baby, they learn that this is a special time to be quiet and listen. After a few times of reading the same book, adults are amazed at times that their one year old knows when the page will turn, or what the next word will be in the story. Why should this be amazing? This proves that the child has been listening to you, enjoying your reading voice and loving a story that will stay with them for a long time. It shouldn't amaze adults if the child who has been read to will begin to recognize words in the story. The bonus of reading aloud is that children who are read to become readers sooner than those who have not had this experience. Talk about a jump start on the way to kindergarden.

In my story times, parents and grandparents laugh when I tell the children to demand to be read to as often as possible. The children don't laugh. They know I'm serious. Why? For a child reading and learning is not only fun but it is very important to them. They want to learn and in their own little ways they are begging to adults around them to teach them. Now, if I could get little babies to crawl into formation and demand their rights to be read, it would be the beginning of a perfect world. Since this is not likely to happen, I will turn to caring adults who should champion this cause by reading to a child. Can you join the cause?