Controversial Books - Not in Room 204

By: Shannon Riggs

This book was a story about a girl who is being sexually abused, and decides at the end to confide in her teacher. It really bothers me and I would even go as far as to say that it offends me when books are controversial simply because the topic is a “tough topic” to talk about. I think that is a cop out on the part of the teacher to not want to talk about tough issues with kids. The fact is, you do not know where your students are coming from or what they might be going through, and the classroom needs to be a safe place. In my opinion, the classroom should be an agent of conversation and change that breaks certain taboos in terms of what we talk about and don’t talk about. Not talking about something just because it is uncomfortable is perpetuating the taboo. This book was not too upfront about sexual abuse, however, it brings up the topic in a meaningful way and sends a message that it is okay to break the silence. Having said that, I don’t think that I would pick up this book and read it haphazardly to my class, or have it lying around during free reading, but it would be good to keep in mind if I suspected a student in my class was struggling, or if we were doing another unit on safety

Controversial Books - The Story of Little Black Sambo

By: Helen Bannerman

This is a book where the controversy is obvious, and also where I would side against it as an appropriate book to be read in schools. This is the type of controversy that is very clean cut for me. Before even reading the text, I could tell that I would feel this way just judging from the picture on the cover. It is an extremely stereotyped image of an African American, and the images inside follow suit. I found the way that their lips are drawn and stand out in red to be very offensive. Everything else about the illustrations: the way they were dressed, facial expressions, etc. I found equally so. Also, it takes place in the jungle, which makes the characters seem very primitive. Also, the end made them seem almost barbaric. I would not have this book in my classroom. On the back of the book, there is a quote that says about the book: “I cannot imagine a childhood without it.”  I recognize that this was written a long time ago and maybe it did have its place at one point, but I think that time has passed. In a progressive society, this book took one step backwards for me: Not something I would want young children to read. The only purpose that I could see for this book would be to read it with older kids as a part of a social studies unit and to talk critically about how African Americans are portrayed.

Controversial books - A Simple Story of a Boy who Peed on War

By: Vladamir Radunsky

I honestly am not sure how I feel about this book. First impression was that it has great illustrations. However, in terms of content I am a little unsure. My first impressions after reading it were that it was kind of humorous, but I can definitely see why it would make people uncomfortable. I don’t think it is a bad book, but I am not sure how I would feel about reading it at a read aloud, or even having it in my classroom for individual reading. I thought that the talk about war along with the illustration was very effective, however, it was kind of down hill from there for me. I think my biggest problem is the maturity level. I think this book definitely plays into the oh-so-popular “potty humor” and really, in doing so, trivializes the idea of war. I could also see it having really bad behavioral consequences for kids who think it is funny and maybe want to imitate it. I am also not sure what it teaches. Not that every book needs to teach something exactly, but I think that when you are dealing with a topic like war, you really have to go into it with an educational motive. I am not really all that offended by it, I just don’t really understand the point and I don’t think that it promotes the level of maturity that we are looking for when talking about important things. 

Controversial Books - And Tango Makes Three

By: Justin Richardson

I loved this book. I loved the story but what I loved most of all was that it was a true story. I think that it would have bothered me had it not been a true story, because it bothers me when authors use animals as metaphors when talking about human rights issues. However, the fact that it is true made it a very enjoyable read, and also can add to the rationale and the legitimacy of in the context of explaining this book choice it to parents and administrations. This book can really stand on its own as a cute story about Penguins, but also invites a lot of conversation if you are ready to get into it. I do think though that if you are going to use this book, you should talk about it, because there are just so many wonderful opportunities that present themselves. One thing that I thought of while reading it is that it would be good to talk about as a class if we know anyone who has two moms or two dads, or if we know two people of the same sex who are together. I also like that it plays into the child’s compassion in caring about what happens to the penguins. I think if I were to use this story I would use it as a read aloud because it is a story I would want to read and discuss with my students, instead of letting them just happen upon it on their own. Again, like the misfits, it makes me sad that allowing this book in schools is an issue. Also like I said before with the misfits, I am not saying everyone must read this book, but not allowing it is just sad to me. 

Controversial books - Rose Blanche

 By: Roberto Innocenti

I think that saying “like” in terms of this book is not the appropriate term, but I would definitely say that I appreciated it and found it meaningful. This first thing that I will say is I would never just leave this book lying around for children to discover. If I was going to use it I would have to put a lot of thought into it, and also make sure that I had enough time to devote to it (at least a couple of days). I think that if I were to use this book it would either be in a small literature group as a choice, or as part of an entire holocaust or war unit. This book was very dense for a children’s book. This was my second time reading it and there was so much that I missed the first time around. The illustrations make it a very powerful read. I do think that this book would be useful in a classroom, because the reality, however horrible, is the reality, and it is important to learn about and think critically about, especially at a young age. I think it is important at a young age to be able to develop a certain kind of caring and compassion, even if it feels uncomfortable. I am not sure that shielding children from real events and real life just because it is not pretty is really doing them any good. I think that to some extent, if we have made them think, if we have upset them, then in a way we have done our jobs. 

The Giver

By: Lois Lowery

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is definitely a book that has multiple layers that allows both adults and children can learn something from it. I liked that it was mature yet still suitable for young readers. It raises so many questions and has so many jumping off points for lesson plans within the classroom. There are so many different directions you can go with it and that’s what I love about it. Also, each person can really bring their own perspective and interpretation to it so it can provide a learning experience beyond just the planned out lesson. Besides being great for instruction, it was also an enjoyable, suspenseful read that I didn’t want to put down – I think this aspect has a huge benefit in the classroom because we want students to read something that they will enjoy and that will evoke feelings from them. 

Who Sank the Boat?

By: Pamela Allen

This was a basic, early reading book. I enjoyed it because it can serve many purposes for beginning readers. I used this book with my child study student, and it was great to use as a discussion for what to do when you don’t know words – because it does have a more interesting and colorful vocabulary. The pictures were great and are good for young readers because they are funny and also help in the understanding of the story and providing clues to the text. It was also a fun read.