Blubber by Judy BlumeBefore Lindsey Lohan tried to fit into the "in" crowd in Mean Girls, there was Jill in Judy Blume's story about the viciousness of 5th grade children, Blubber. Blume has a way of depicting the reality of school life - a reality that needs to be out there and talked about. In the case of Blubber, the protagonist, Jill, tries to fit in with the popular girls by picking on Linda, a slightly overweight girl in their class. Really horrible, mean things are done to Linda and there is not much of a happy ending, but it is a realistic portrayal of life in the Tween years. Challenged for: depicting children as evil and cruel without being punished for bad deeds; sexual references; profanity.
The Lorax by Dr. SeussAs a child, I simply enjoyed the story of the Lorax for what it was - a rhyming Dr. Seuss book with funny words and cute characters. I felt sad that the Lorax had to leave his place, but there was hope with the last remaining seed. As an adult however, it is hard to miss the strong environmental and anti consumerism messages. That is not necessarily a bad thing. The Lorax would definitely still serve well as an introduction to environmental lessons and should be shared with our young children. Challenged in a California school district because it "criminalizes the forestry industry."
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas RockwellWhen four friends are together, what do you think happens when one of them annouces that they could eat anything?! The challenges start coming out and Billy is faced with accepting a dare to eat 15 worms in 15 days for $50. He can use any condiment he wishes and cook them any way he wants, but he has to eat them all, or he loses. As the days tick by, his friends get increasingly nervous Billy will actually do it, so they pull out the psychological warefare. This leads to a fun, albeit icky, read. Challenged for: Profanity (the word “bastard”); depicts alcohol consumption (father has a beer).
King & King by Linda de HaanA very tired and grumpy queen wants her son to marry, though he announces he has never much liked princesses. A few prospective women come by, but it isn't until one comes along with her brother that the prince is smitten, with the brother of course. The marriage happens and everyone lives happily ever after. Very light, sweet story that could be shared with children to open up a dialogue, or when teaching a lesson about families. Challenged/restricted for: depicting homosexuality; inapropriate children's book.
Where Willy Went by Nicholas AllanWilly, along with his rival Butch and about 300 million other sperm in Mr. Browne are preparing for the big race to the prize (egg) in Mrs. Browne. Willy is an excellent swimmer and when the race arrives, he is the first to burrow into the soft egg. The egg grows and so does Mrs. Browne's belly until a baby girl, Edna, is born - who happens to be a good swimmer too. Nice, light introduction to the reproductive cycle for children, and Willy is darn cute. If you need a book with more details and correct terminology, check out How you were Born by Joanna Cole. On a side note, the book is dedicated to the singer, Rod Stewart. Challenged/Restricted because: Willy is a sperm and the book is about sex.
Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark by Alvin SchwartzAlvin Schwartz has gathered together some of the scariest stories from folklore, sure to make you gasp in fear! Perfect reading for the Halloween season, or whenever you feel the need for a fright! Two other volumes are also available. Challenged/banned for: Will give children nightmares; unacceptably violent; references to evil, the occult, the devil.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'EngleAs a young child, my local librarian recommended this book to me, and I've thanked her ever since (mostly mentally). Never had I connected so thoroughly with a book. Wrinkle is at the same time a telling sibling story of Meg, Charles Wallace and their search for their father with the help of three "witches", and a classic battle of good vs evil. Meg Murray is a tween who the majority of girls could relate to: she's awkward, smart, dense, funny, shy, stubborn, confused and brilliant all at the same time. Charles Wallace Murray is her younger brother who is beyond simply smart, he's a genius, yet he is still young. The story takes the reader to other worlds and to the most enlightening world within themselves. Newberry Award Winner. Challenged/banned for: Sends mixed signals about good and evil; promotes witchcraft, crystal balls and demons; and the listing of Jesus "with the names of great artists, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders".
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice SendakSurreal dreamtime book by the creator of Where the Wild Things Are. At bedtime, Mickey falls into the Night Kitchen where the bakers (who look a lot like Oliver Hardy, IMO) are baking the morning cake. This may sound scary, but it's not; Mickey escapes the bakers in a plane made of dough, swipes their measuring cup and flies to the Milky Way to gather some milk. Full of fun fantasy, this story will make little sense to adult minds, but I bet your children will love it! Challenged/banned for: depicting nudity and offensive language (I guess they mean the naked boy crowing "Cock-a-doodle-doo" at the end?! I can't find any offensive language in the book!).
James and the Giant Peach by Roald DahlAt the beginning of this book, James' parents are eaten and he is left to live with two very mean aunts. I think Lemony Snicket might be a Roald Dahl fan. Through a twist of fate, James accidently grows a giant Peach. Eventually he finds a hole in it and inside, some giant bugs. He and the bugs take off on a fanciful (like the book wasn't already!) journey. Fun, short book that's a quick read and quite entertaining. Challenged for: use of the word "ass"; promotes smoking and drinking by mentioning wine, tobacco and snuff.
