Strollerderby
Banned Books Week: "And Tango Makes Three"
Banning books is nothing new, of course. Thankfully, morons have been trying it for ages. I say thankfully, because there’s no surer way of drawing attention to a book than trying to ban it. When “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was pulled from library shelves, Mark Twain famously said that means another 25,000 in sales.
Let’s hope the same can be said for “And Tango Makes Three” — an inspiring children’s book about two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who together raise a baby penguin, Tango. Although it’s based on a true story from the New York Zoo, and although it has won numerous literary and library awards for story-telling and illustration, the book is frequently on the list of most banned books each year.
In fact, it is the most banned book in 2006 and 2007.
A school district in Charlotte, N.C., pulled the book following a few complaints from parents and from a leading local homophobe, who said he was opposed to books that make homosexuality sound normal. Libraries in two Missouri towns pulled the children’s book out of the children’s section and put it in the non-fiction section, always a popular spot for young readers.
Why?
Because Roy and Silo are two daddies, and apparently that just doesn’t happen in America. (Close your eyes, children. Nothing to see here!)
I remember the first time I read “Tango” to my daughter, Emmeline, who seemed to have a little trouble understanding where, exactly, Tango’s mommy was. I explained that Tango had two daddies and no mommies, and Emme grabbed onto the idea that she had seen something like this in real life.
“Just like Joe and Richard!” she exclaimed, referring to family friends.
This is the best part of children’s literature — explaining the world around us in simple, easy-to-understand ways. Roy and Silo aren’t the evil hobgoblins homophobes would like us to believe, but winged archetypes for a valued segment of society. Children “get it.” Let’s hope their parents do one day, too.
And until then, let’s hope Tango keeps getting banned across America, if only so more and more people are quickly made aware of such a charming book.
More from Banned Books Week here at Babble:
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4 Comments
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amSame here Kyle. I’m writing a paper for english to and I thought this was a very interesting topic!
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI think this book is a good story that kids can hear. It simply gives them a true story that talks to them about different types of families. It does not go into graphic detail about what 2 daddies means. It shoes the love of 2 penguins(people) and sharing that with a child.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amwell i’m writing an essay for English and i think this helps
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amThis one was proudly displayed on the Banned Books display shelf in our children’s section this weekend. =)
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