Whether sparking curiosity, laughter, tears, or inspiration, books are unquestionably powerful. And within young minds that are constantly growing and exploring, their influence is uniquely transformative. When the power of books invokes fear, the resulting efforts to regulate children’s literary content can range from practical to absurd.
Of course, there are definitely times when a book is banned and leaves you with one question: why? There were books like Tropic of Cancer which was sexually over the top for society back in the 1900’s but when some books today are banned, it frankly makes most of us want to laugh. In fact, the entire catalog of banned children’s books is extensive with popular works like Little Red Riding Hood, Harriet the Spy, Junie B. Jones, Captain Underpants and a favorite of mine, Goodnight Moon. All show up on the list for all sorts of creative reasons but, sadly, some book bans are harmful in targeted ways.
The modern book banning process begins with a challenge, a documented request to restrict or remove materials. Any individual or group can initiate a challenge, but more often than not, they come from parents. Book challenges are directed at either a library, a school, or a bookstore. That institution then takes the request into consideration, and if they decide to remove the material from shelves, the book is considered banned. Most bans occur in public libraries and reflect concerns over content being inappropriate, portraying certain industries in a negative light, or including topics too mature for the target age group. But increasingly, that label of inappropriate is being used to censor books that detail the experiences of marginalized communities.
Literature is powerful and good books are often banned because people want society to move in a direction which reflects their own opinions and interests. Yes, it’s always about control over what children are exposed to but also focused on the infulences which are allowed into communities as a whole. That underlying fear of negative influences and a desire to protect the innocence of children is understandable but book banks sweep away opportunities for children to learn, grow, and understand themselves and the world around them.
Such censorship violates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, some limitations are constitutionally permissible. The courts have told public officials at all levels that they may take community standards into account when deciding whether materials are obscene or pornographic and thus subject to censor. The religious community often believes certain books contain unsuitable topics for children to read and, over the years, have successfully banned books from schools because relgious beliefs go agains the fact that animals in some books talk.’
Both localized and limited in scope, book bans often open alternate ways for children to access censored material. But the fact that most challenges take place at public libraries creates inequity. Children with the most limited access to books are the ones most impacted by their removal from library shelves. Diverse perspectives allow individuals to see themselves and to understand the world around them. So when book banning targets underrepresented authors and topics that are important for marginalized populations, the impact is significant.
A diverse selection of literature in a classroom environment can help explain so many complex and layered real world issues. Carefully tailored instruction for different grade levels doesn’t require the omission of important topics that impact children and their communities. The recent nationwide controversy over critical race theory in curriculum mirrors the problems with book banning; classrooms need to encourage critical thinking and develop children who can tackle the social and environmental issues of present day times. Exposure to a variety of literature is crucial.
Banning books means more than simply taking them off the shelf: such actions threaten the very foundation of our democracy. We have a responsibility to learn from our nation’s history, reject discriminatory attacks by prioritizing inclusive policy change, and protect the fundamental rights to freely speak, think, read, and write, especially for those who are most vulnerable. That censorship happens when one group moves to impose their beliefs on another and censors content or ideas. Banning books is just a type of such censorship, the act can take many forms. Removing a book from some shelf isn’t the only method, requiring parental permission to read it or moving it to a less accessible section are examples of soft censorship. Restricting access to some is intended to invalidate marginalized identities and suppress the opportunity to develop open and honest understandings about differences. That ability to learn about experiences different than our own is then taken from us. We lose the opportunity to respect people from all backgrounds and exist in an environment where everyone feels valued.
From the Writer’s Workshop: Write a few paragraphs describing censorship. Include examples of how, when, and where censorship might occur. Is it ever okay to censor a book? Who has the right to censor a book? Is it ever okay for the government to censor its citizens?
