I am a huge Dr. Seuss fan, so I was happy that the ALA chose this quote as one of three to represent Banned Books Week (September 26 - October 3) for 2009. Their website has lots of great information and free downloads.
The downloadable lists of banned or challenged books from the previous four years were very interesting. And it makes a great TBR list. I found a book on there that just made the jump to the top of my TBR pile. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah Brannen. It's about two gay guinea pigs. I just can't pass that up. There are lots more. Some old favorites still getting heat, like To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye, and some new ones that I'm going to check out.
Last year during the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor honoring George Carlin, Denis Leary related a story from his childhood. When he was an alter boy back in the sixties and seventies, his Catholic church would print in the bulletin different media deemed inappropriate for the parish and urged church members not to purchase them. Young Leary saw it as a "what to buy" list. That's how he found Carlin's albums. And that's how I view the banned and challenged list.
So go check it out. Support intellectual freedom and your First Amendment rights. Read a banned or challenged book.
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2 comments:
"Banning" Dr. Seuss is ridiculous. However, no books have been banned in the USA for about a half a century. See "National Hogwash Week."
Also see "US Libraries Hit Back Over Challenges to Kids Books," by Sara Hussein, Agence France-Presse [AFP], 6 September 2009.
Glad you agree. And that's fabulous news that there have been no banned books in so long. Glad great minds and the American Constitution are still winning out.
Thanks for stopping by.
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