UPDATE: Mom Says She Won't Burn Library Book, Still Wants it Censored

re: UPDATE: Mom Says She Won't Burn Library Book, Still Wants it Censored

rustyMLS — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:13:50 GMT

Research shows that the more a child reads, the better reader he becomes, and also that it doesn't matter what he reads. (That seems counterintuitive, I know.)

As school librarians, my colleagues and I know that you don't make readers out of non-readers by giving them War and Peace. Getting kids into a library is a battle; getting them to check out and read anything is a bigger battle; and getting them to check out and read anything for pleasure (not assigned reading) is the biggest battle.

School librarians in most states are professional educators, with the same training as classroom teachers plus a masters degree that covers many topics, like how to evaluate and select books and other materials that meet the recreational and informational needs of the library's users.

The school district in question hopefully has a policy and process for challenging library materials, and I hope that the district is asking this woman to submit her complaint formally.

re: UPDATE: Mom Says She Won't Burn Library Book, Still Wants it Censored

leahsmom — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:25:33 GMT

I understand the inclinations of those who are troubled by making light of suicide - as someone with a family member who took her own life, I feel some of the hurt that comes with poking fun at it. But the whole point of free speech is that people get to make fun of things in offensive or even hateful ways (not that I'm calling Bunny Suicides either of those) and that we have to deal with the discomfort this causes. We can deal with that by speaking out about how we are hurt - by making our own speech, and by furthering dialogue. But we don't get to deal with it by telling other people they can't make fun, or be offensive or hateful. I'm okay with that situation, myself.

re: UPDATE: Mom Says She Won't Burn Library Book, Still Wants it Censored

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:43:34 GMT

I'm glad she took it down a notch. But yeah, her new plan also sounds like censorship -- just with fewer flames.

re: UPDATE: Mom Says She Won't Burn Library Book, Still Wants it Censored

hand — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:39:54 GMT

I might have a similarly troubled reaction to such a book if someone in my family had committed suicide, or if I or one of my children had ever contemplated suicide....

Or if I deeply loved bunnies....

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

maeby — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:35:48 GMT

i bought this book for a friend. i think its funny!

although i dont understand why its in a school library

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:15:58 GMT

I will agree wholeheartedly that the mom is handling this extremely poorly. But suicide is NEVER something to joke about. It just isn't funny, and it isn't something that needs to be in a school library.

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

feefifoto — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:57:08 GMT

She's just bitter because someone had the poor taste to name her "Taffy."

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

Knitty — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:44:09 GMT

And right here in Portland, too. How embarrassing... I always think of these nutters living in some red-state wasteland, not around the corner.

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

Em — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:23:46 GMT

1) This book is not a "graphic novel" - there is no plot, just a bunch of funny cartoons.

2) The book is amusing, and I don't find it offensive in the least. I think it really needs to be seen to be understood. It really doesn't make suicide funny, like EG fears. But, I can see that perhaps some people may be offended by it, and I'm cool with that.

3) Burning books? Really? Just tell the kid that you don't approve of that kind of material, and make him take it back to the library (or take it back yourself). Yeesh.

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

Mamallama — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:04:46 GMT

I appreciate the mom's sense of responsibility to her kid's values, morals, etc. But she's definitely lost the forest for the trees and clearly any sense of reason she may or may not have possessed. High schoolers can appreciate irony and sarcasm all too well....maybe the mom should try it.

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

Zach — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:23:47 GMT

Thank you crazy lady! I now have a bunch of sweet books to add to my Christmas list :)

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

troll — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:21:12 GMT

Thanks for bringing this book to attention! I haven't seen it before. I'm going to order it from Amazon tonight to give to my 15 year old niece for Christmas. She'll love it!

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

Esme — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:10:50 GMT

erni look at the review on Amazon.com and you'll see that someone does call him a British Gary Larson.

I think it's insane that someone would burn a book in this day and age for it's contents. This woman needs some serious help.

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

EG — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:57:09 GMT

Making suicide funny isn't something I generally support. I know, I'm WAY to un-cool and conservative for Babble.

I also don't support burning books, banning books, or refusing to return what you borrowed, but I can see how seeing my child with the book would incite many different emotions, most of them negative.

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

erni — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:55:05 GMT

British Gary Larson? What? His work is completely unrelated to anything Gary Larson ever made. That doesn't even make sense. You made that up.

re: Mom Plans to Burn Book her Son's Library Book - Really

Phil — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:41:47 GMT

Man... I mean, I question the wisdom of a high school library having that book. But that's mostly out of a sense that a high school library can do better - even in that general genre. (I have a strict "No more suicidal picture books until you've finished your Edward Gorey" policy) There seems no reason for the library to have that book.

But that shouldn't be the test, of course. The test should be if there's a reason for the library not to have the book. And for high schoolers, there clearly isn't. A ninth grader is perfectly able to understand what the book is parodying, and to understand what is going on in the book. I mean, if it were an elementary school library? Yes. Of course, get that book out of it. But on the high school level? If kids don't understand what's going on in that book, that book is the least of the problems with the reading material the school has been providing them.