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And Tango Makes Three is a board book about two male penguins that raise Tango, a chick, in a non-traditional family. This is a true story that is banned in places in the United States.
Last night I participated in the Naperville Zoom presentation on banned books, which I found both interesting and horrifying. Over twelve hundred books have been banned in this country in 2022, including all Harry Potter books, To Kill a Mockingbird (one of my favorite books), Huck Finn, and Charlotte’s Web.. Go online and look up 2022 banned books.* I just did that and am appalled, but also pleased to say I have read quite a few of them.
What’s the answer? In 2015 the book “When Books Went to War” was published. I’ve read it and recommended it to one of my book groups. It is the true story of how the U. S. government and publishers got together to supply millions of paperback books on all topics to our military abroad during WW II. This, of course, was a counterattack against Nazi Germany’s wholesale book burning policies.
That is an example of a large solution. But there are small things we can each do. I’m in three book groups and am going to recommend we read a banned book or two each year. Also, a banned book group is an idea. Read banned books or give them as gifts. Talk to librarians or bookstore employees if unsure where to start. Some bookstores have displays of banned books.
This is not your typical Co-President letter, and that tells you how much this topic really bothers me. By the way, I gave And Tango Makes Three to my three-year old grandson.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Cindy Heckler: 630.740.6626 [email protected]
Deb Harris: 630.263.4950 [email protected]
Sue Stealey: 630.963.6625 [email protected]
*Editor's Note: There are many websites discussing banned books. Rather than linking just one to Cindy's comment I will list a few here:
Banned Books Week
American Library Association
American Bookseller's Association
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