Research Guides at CSU Pueblo Library: ED 351: Children's Literature: Banned Books

About Banned Books

The American Library Association promotes the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinions even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular, and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those viewpoints to all who wish to read them.

Important Definitions:

Challenge - an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.
Banning - the removal of those materials.

Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection.

From http://www.ala.org/bbooks/about

Descriptions on this website are taken directly from the ALA Banned Books webpage as well as from the Yearly lists of Banned and Challenged Books, and multiple banned book descriptive websites (Search for banned children's books or banned picture books).

Banned Books Resources

Banned/Challenged Books - Young Adult

The following banned or challenged "Young Adult" books are available in the library.

Abduction! by Peg Kehret
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Challenged but retained at the two Apple Valley, Massachusetts middle- and eight elementary-school libraries [2006] despite the complaint that the book was too violent.
Alt Ed by Catherine Atkins
-
Challenged as an optional reading in a bullying unit at the Lake Oswego, Oreg. Junior High School (2007) because the novel is "peppered with profanities, ranging from derogatory slang terms to sexual encounters and violence." Students are given a list of book summaries and a letter to take to their parents. Four of the eight optional books offered are labeled as having "mature content/language."
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Challenged at the Cedar Mill Community library in Portland, Oregon in 1988 because the book promotes lesbian love and sex as normal. Challenged in the Colony, Texas public library in 1992 because it "promotes and encourages the gay lifestyle." Challenged because it "encourages and condones" homosexuality. Challenged at several Kansas City area schools in 1993 after the books were donated by a national group that seeks to give young adults "fair, accurate, and inclusive images of lesbians and gay men" -- at the Shawnee Mission school district the book was returned to general circulation; at the Olathe East High School the book was removed; protesters burned copies of the book but the Kansas City, Missouri school district kept the novel on the high school shelves. In Kansas City, Kansas, the school district donated the book to the city's public library; and in Lee's Summit, Missouri, the superintendent removed the book. The federal district court in Kansas later found the removal of the book unconstitutional and ordered it restored to the school district's libraries.
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Call Number : PCCLD
-
One of several books attacked in Vero Beach, Florida. Part-time librarian and graduate student Meagan Albright decided to focus on gay, lesbian, and transgendered themes as part of a University of South Florida course called Multicultural and Special Population Materials for Children and Young Adults. She created a display honoring GLBTQ books and authors. The display was presented at the West Gate Regional Library, and Albright, who is not gay, received an A from her professor. Subsequent protest from three visitors to the library prompted attacks on the books, as well as a town ordinance prohibiting county government from acknowledging or promoting gay pride and events.
Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Removed from the Pickens County, S.C. middle- and high-school library shelves (2007) because "the language, the sexual references, and drug use are not appropriate for middle-school students." In 2004, the book was named a Michael Printz honor book for excellence in young-adult literature by the Young Adult Library Services Association. Challenged as a suggested summer reading at the Alsip, Ill. Prairie Junior High (2007) because the book is "laced with profanity and other mature content." The District 126 superintendent plans to retain the award-winning selection as one of the many titles offered to students to read, preferably from the recommended summer reading list, before school begins.
Forever... by Judy Blume
Call Number : PCCLD
-
In 1987, “Forever” was challenged at the Moreno Valley, CA Unified School District libraries for “profanity, sexual situations, and themes that allegedly encourage disrespectful behavior.” It was challenged in the same year at the Marshwood Junior High School classroom library in Eliot, ME because the book “does not paint a responsible role of parents;” its “cast of sex minded teenagers is not typical of high schoolers today;” and because the “pornographic sexual exploits (in the book) are unsuitable for junior high school role models.” Blume’s 1975 novel offers a frank consideration of teenage relationships and sexuality that was unprecedented for its time. Beyond the significant controversy over “Forever,” Blume became a frequently challenged author for her many works exploring difficult subjects – including menstruation, bullying, and divorce – that face young adults.
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Call Number : Go
-
In 1993, “Go Ask Alice” was removed from the Wall Township, NJ Intermediate School library by the Superintendent of Schools because the book contains “inappropriate” language and “borders on pornography.” Responding to an anonymous letter, the superintendent ordered the book removed from all reading lists and classroom book collections. It was also removed from an English class at Buckhannon Upshur (WV) High School because of graphic language in the book. At the Johnstown, NY High School, “Go Ask Alice” was challenged as a required reading assignment because of numerous obscenities. Published in 1971, the book is presented as the diary of a teenage girl and details her troubled life, particularly emphasizing the reality and perils of teen drug addiction.
I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier
Call Number : Cor R
-
Challenged on the seventh-grade honors English reading list at Elko, Nev. Junior High School (2004) because of the book’s sexual content.
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Challenged in the Hillsborough County, Fla. school system (2007) because it was considered too intense for teens.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Call Number : Gre J
-
Challenged, but retained in the Waukesha, Wis., South High School (2014) despite claims the book is “too racy to read.” Challenged in the Verona, N.J. High School curriculum (2013) because a parent found the sexual nature of the story inappropriate. Banned as required reading for Sumner County, Tenn. schools (2012) because of “inappropriate language.” Awarded the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, this coming-of-age story traces the journey of Miles Halter, a misfit Florida teenager who leaves the safety of home for a boarding school in Alabama and a chance to explore the “Great Perhaps.”
Lord of the Flies by William Golding; E. M. Forster (Introduction by)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Challenged at the Dallas, TX Independent School District high school libraries (1974). Challenged at the Sully Buttes, SD High School (1981). Challenged at the Owen, NC High School (1981) because the book is "demoralizing inasmuch as it implies that man is little more than an animal." Challenged at the Marana, AZ High School (1983) as an inappropriate reading assignment. Challenged at the Olney, TX Independent School District (1984) because of "excessive violence and bad language." A committee of the Toronto, Canada Board of Education ruled on June 23, 1988, that the novel is "racist and recommended that it be removed from all schools." Parents and members of the black community complained about a reference to "niggers" in the book and said it denigrates blacks. Challenged in the Waterloo, IA schools (1992) because of profanity, lurid passages about sex, and statements defamatory to minorities, God, women and the disabled. Challenged, but retained on the ninth-grade accelerated English reading list in Bloomfield, NY (2000).
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson; L. Anderson
Call Number : And L
-
Challenged, but retained in the Republic, Mo. schools (2010) despite complaints that it is “soft-pornography,” “glorifies drinking, cursing, and premarital sex,” and “teaches principles contrary to the Bible.”
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie; Ellen Forney (Illustrator)
Call Number : PS3551.L35774 A27 2009
-
Pulled from the Meridian, Idaho, high school supplemental reading list (2014) after some parents complained that the novel “discusses masturbation, contains profanity, and has been viewed as anti-Christian.” School board members rejected a committee recommendation that the book should stay on the tenth-grade English supplemental reading list with parental permission required. Challenged at the Cedar Grove Middle School in Wilmington, N.C., (2014) because “the book contains numerous depictions of sexual behavior, as well as instances of racism, vulgar language, bullying, and violence.” Attached to the complaint was a petition signed by 42 members of the complainant’s church, Soldier Bay Baptist. The complainant is not the parent or grandparent of a child at Cedar Grove. District policy states that parents or guardians who do not approve of school reading materials may request alternative texts. Suspended from the Highland Park, Tex., Independent School District’s approved book list (2014) by the school superintendent. The decision sparked a backlash and drew national attention. The superintendent then reinstated the book. In February 2015, the school district trustees approved policy changes on how the district selects books and handles parents’ objections. The challenged contemporary young adult book is a National Book Award winner. It tells the story of a teenager who grows up on the Spokane Indian Reservation but leaves to attend an all-white high school in a farm town. The book has strong language, including racial slurs. Challenged in a Sweet Home, Oreg. Junior High English class (2014) because of concerns about its content, particularly what some parents see as the objectification of women and young girls, and the way alternative lessons were developed and presented. Parents of the eighth-graders in the language arts classes received information summarizing the novel’s most controversial issues before the unit started and had the option of asking for an alternative assignment. Removed as required reading in a Queens, N.Y. middle school (2013) because the book included excerpts on masturbation. Challenged on the tenth-grade required reading list at Skyview High School in Billings, Mt. (2013) because “[t]his book is, shockingly, written by a Native American who reinforces all the negative stereotypes of his people and does it from the crude, obscene, and unfiltered viewpoint of a ninth-grader growing up on the reservation.” Pulled from the Jefferson County, W.V. schools (2013) because a parent complained about the novel’s graphic nature. Challenged as required reading in at least three freshmen English classes at Westfield, N.J. High School (2012) because of “some very sensitive material in the book including excerpts on masturbation amongst other explicit sexual references, encouraging pornography, racism, religious irreverence, and strong language (including the f- and n-words).”
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Call Number : Cor R
-
In 1988, “The Chocolate War” was challenged by a middle school principal in West Hernando, FL, who recommended the novel be removed from the school library shelves for being “inappropriate.” Published in 1974, Cormier’s novel tackled the problem of bullying at a time when this issue was not widely discussed. Frequently challenged for the violence, teen sexuality, “foul language,” and less-than-flattering portrayal of school culture it depicts, “The Chocolate War” follows a high school student who stands up to pressure and intimidation from his fellow students and teachers.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
-
Banned from the ninth-grade honors-level English reading list in the Wilson County, Tenn., schools (2014) due to offensive language. The book was removed from libraries and the possession of students soon after. The decision was later rescinded on the advice of the school board attorney due to possible conflict with a board policy. Removed from the Lake Fenton, Mich. Summer reading program (2010) after parents complained about its “foul language.” The book is about an autistic child who investigates the death of a neighborhood dog. It was a joint winner of the 2004 Boeke Prize and won the 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year award.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank; Otto H. Frank (Editor); Mirjam Pressler (Editor); Susan Massotty (Translator); Francine Prose (Introduction by)
Call Number : PR4034
-
Challenged, but retained in the Northville, Mich. middle schools (2013) despite anatomical descriptions in the book. Before the school district’s vote, ten free speech organizations signed a letter urging the Northville School District to keep the book. The letter, which was sent to the superintendent and board of education members, “emphasized the power and relatability of Frank’s diary for middle school students. Frank’s honest writings about her body and the changes she was undergoing during her two-year period of hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam can serve as an excellent resource for students themselves undergoing these changes.” Challenged at the Culpeper County, Va. Public schools (2010) by a parent requesting that her daughter not be required to read the book aloud. Initially, it was reported that officials decided to stop assigning a version of Anne Frank’s diary, one of the most enduring symbols of the atrocities of the Nazi regime, due to the complaint that the book includes sexual material and homosexual themes. The director of instruction announced the edition published on the fiftieth anniversary of Frank’s death in a concentration camp will not be used in the future despite the fact the school system did not follow its own policy for handling complaints. The remarks set off a hailstorm of criticism online and brought international attention to the 7,600-student school system in rural Virginia. The superintendent said, however, that the book will remain a part of English classes, although it may be taught at a different grade level. The diary has now been published in more than sixty different languages and is on several lists of the top books of the twentieth century.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Call Number : Col S
-
Challenged and presented to the Goffstown, N.H. school board (2010) by a parent claiming that it gave her eleven-year-old nightmares and could numb other students to the effects of violence.
The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox; Eros Keith (Illustrator)
Call Number : Fox M
-
Challenged at the Shelbyville, Ky. East Middle School (2005) because a parent found the book to be a too–graphic depiction of the slave trade.
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
Call Number : And L
-
Withdrawn from classroom use and the approved curriculum at the Montgomery County, Ky. High School (2009), but available at the high school library and student book club. Some parents have complained about five novels that contain foul language and cover topics — including sex, child abuse, suicide, and drug abuse — deemed unsuited for discussion in coed high school classes. They also contend that the books don’t provide the intellectual challenge and rigor that students need in college preparatory classes. The titles appeared on suggested book lists compiled by the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, for twelve- to eighteen-year-olds who are “reluctant readers.” The superintendent removed the book because it wasn’t on the pre-approved curriculum list and couldn’t be added by teachers in the middle of a school year without permission.
Vampire Academy (SERIES) by Richelle Mead
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Banned at Henderson Junior High School in the Stephenville, Tex. Independent School District (2009). The entire teen vampire series was banned for sexual content or nudity. Since the series has not been completed, “Stephenville ISD actually banned books that have not yet been published and perhaps even books that have yet to be written. There is no way the district could know the content of these books, and yet they have been banned.”

Banned/Challenged Books - Easy

The following are examples of banned or challenged "Easy" books.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson; Peter Parnell; Henry Cole (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
One of three books about gay couples withdrawn from libraries in Singapore (2014), where gay sex is illegal. The children’s book was inspired by a real-life story of two male penguins raising a baby chick. In a statement, the National Library Board suggested that gayness and family values are incompatible. Copies of the book will be pulped. It was announced later that authorities in Singapore reversed their decision and stopped the national library from destroying the children’s books, after its decision in July produced a public outcry over literary censorship. Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim ordered that the books be moved to the adult section, where parents can borrow them for their children. In 2006, it was moved from the children’s fiction section to children’s nonfiction at two Rolling Hill’s Consolidated Library branches in Savannah and St. Joseph, MO, after parents complained it had homosexual undertones. It was also challenged at the Shiloh, IL Elementary School library, where a committee of school employees and a parent suggested the book be moved to a separate shelf, requiring parent permission before checkout. The school’s superintendent, however, rejected the proposal and the book remained on open library shelves. “Tango” ranked as ALA’s most frequently challenged book for a record four years in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010.
Animalia by Graeme Base (Illustrator)
-
It was challenged at a school library in Texas for violence and horror.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin; Eric Carle (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
In 2010, the Texas State Board of Education briefly banned this picture book after confusing its author, Bill Martin, Jr., with philosopher Bill Martin, author of ‘Ethical Marxism: The Categorical Imperative of Liberation.’
Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Challenged due to “a stylized naked man and woman shown as Adam & Eve.”
Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs
-
A rather grumpy Father Christmas delivers gifts on Christmas Eve.
Removed from school libraries for Father Christmas' negative attitude toward the holiday. Challenged in public libraries for cursing, alcohol, and negative image of Santa Claus (although this is not Santa, but Father Christmas).
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown; Clement Hurd (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
In the great green room, there is a telephone, and a red balloon, but no ashtray. "Goodnight Moon," the children's classic by Margaret Wise Brown, has gone smoke free. In a newly revised edition of the book, which has lulled children to sleep for nearly 60 years, the publisher, HarperCollins, has digitally altered the photograph of Clement Hurd, the illustrator, to remove a cigarette from his hand. HarperCollins said it made the change to avoid the appearance of encouraging smoking and did so with the permission of the illustrator's estate. But Mr. Hurd's son, also a children's book illustrator and author, said he felt pressured to allow it. And the move has touched off something of a tempest in the nursery, with some children's booksellers expressing outrage. One has even mounted a campaign to have the original picture restored.
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam; Lane Smith (Illustrator)
-
Many school districts across the country believed that this book was too frightening and had supernatural themes that were inappropriate for children. Controversy brewed in the town of Marysville, Michigan, when Pat Ortiz, a librarian at the Marysville Public Library, received three requests for the removal of Halloween ABC from the library. Although Marysville is normally a peaceful suburban community, the town became harshly divided between those who felt that the book should be removed and those who feel that it should be retained. Those who requested its removal claimed that the book is frightening, violent, anti-Christian, and generally unsuitable for children. The book was last challenged in the Wellsville, New York elementary school in 2009.
If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Challenged, but retained at the Vancouver, Canada, Public Library (2014) despite a line in the poem about helpers who “all wear their eyes at a slant,” accompanied by illustrations that are racial stereotypes of Asians. The book is often credited with the first printed modern English use of the word “nerd” in a sentence. The library will no longer read it at storytime or promote it other than as resource material in a study of how the portrayal of other cultures has changed over time.
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)
Call Number : Sen M
-
In 1985, “In the Night Kitchen” was challenged at the Cunningham Elementary School in Beloit, WI because the book was believed to desensitize children to nudity. In Sendak’s picture book, a young boy named Mickey falls out of his clothes as he travels through his dreams to the magical kitchen of the title. In addition to being challenged, “In the Night Kitchen” was frequently defaced by those who objected to Mickey’s nudity and drew diapers or pants over Sendak’s images. The book was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1971.
Pinkerton, Behave! by Steven Kellogg (Illustrator)
Call Number : Kel S
-
Challenged, but retained at the Evanston, Ill. Public Library (2004) despite complaints that the image of a masked burglar pointing a gun at woman is too violent for young readers.
The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop
Call Number : Bis C
-
Banned at Salem Public Library because the racial stereotypes were demeaning to Chinese people (1990) and challenged in a California school because of the violent plots to execute the brothers (1998).
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Illustrator)
Call Number : Kea E
-
Back when this was first published, people were in a slight tizzy over the main character's race. This was one of the first picture books to feature a black character as a hero. While some welcomed this addition to children's literature, many were outraged. Most were upset when they realized that the author, Ezra Jack Keats, was actually a white man. Some believed that he was presenting a negative depiction of African Americans. Others believed he did not have the right to create a black character because he himself was not black. Controversy grew again in 1963 when the picture book was awarded the Caldecott. The argument then became that he created a "black" story in order to be a shoo-in for the award.
Walter the Farting Dog (SERIES) by William Kotzwinkle
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Challenged, but retained on the library shelves of the West Salem, Wis. Elementary School (2004) despite the book’s use of the word “fart” and “farting” twenty-four times.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)
Call Number : Sen M
-
The book was primarily banned in most southern states immediately following its publication in 1963, and it has since been challenged due to the fact that it promotes “witchcraft and supernatural events.”
Where's Waldo? by Martin Handford (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
In 1987, the book was banned and then reprinted because it originally showcased a topless beachgoer (not like anyone could find her if they tried, though).
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories Party Edition by Dr. Seuss (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
In 2012, a teacher at an elementary school in northern British Columbia has been told that a quote from the classic work has been deemed “too political” and the quote is no longer allowed to be displayed, or worn on clothing. So, what is the offensive line that has school administrators in an uproar? Yertle, one of three stories in the book, deals with the king of a pond who stacks himself on top of other turtles in order to reach the moon, and yells at them when they complain. The line in question is: “I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom, we too should have rights.” Administrators were quick to try to save face by denying that the book itself has been banned, just the quote; but since the book contains the offending line, out the book must go. Dave Stigant, acting director of instruction for the Prince Rupert School District, said that the school based its decision on an arbitrator’s ruling in 2011 that political materials must be kept out of British Columbia classrooms.

Banned/Challenged Books - Juvenile (Nonfiction/ Folklore/Poetry)

The following banned or challenged "Juvenile" books are available at WSC.

Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob Grimm; Wilhelm K. Grimm; Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator, Retold by)
-
Yes, the wolf ate Grandma, but the challenge came because Little Red has a bottle of wine in her basket, promoting alcohol to minors.
Wizardology by Merlin; Dugald A. Steer (Editor)
-
Challenged at the Wet Haven’s,, Conn. Molloy Elementary School library (2007) because the book exposes children to the occult.
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)
Call Number : 398.2 Dep
-
Strega Nona (“Grandmother Witch” in Italian) is a kindly old grandmother with a magic pasta pot. When she hires Big Anthony to help her tend her home, he disobeys her instructions not to touch the pasta pot and hilarity ensues. Challenged for portraying witches and witchcraft in a positive light.
Hansel and Gretel by Jacob Grimm; Wilhelm K. Grimm; Dorothee Duntze (Illustrator); Anthea Bell (Translator)
-
The story was challenged at the Mount Diablo (Calif.) School District in 1992 because it teaches children that it is acceptable to kill witches and paints witches as child-eating monsters.
Snow White by Jacob Grimm; Wilhelm K. Grimm; Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator); Paul Heins
Call Number : PCCLD
-
In 1992, the story was restricted to students with parental permission at the Duval County Florida public school libraries because of its graphic violence: a hunter kills a wild boar, and a wicked witch orders Snow White's heart torn out.
It's So Amazing! by Robie H. Harris; Michael Emberley (Illustrator)
-
Restricted, but later returned to general circulation shelves with some limits on student access, based on a review committee’s recommendations, at the Holt Middle School parent library in Fayetteville, Ark. (2005) despite a parent’s complaint that it was sexually explicit. Relocated to the reference section of the Northern Hills Elementary school media center in Onalaska, Wis. (2005) because a parent complained about its frank yet kid-friendly discussion of reproduction topics, including sexual intercourse, masturbation, abortion, and homosexuality.
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris; Michael Emberley (Illustrator)
-
Published in 1994, this book has faced intense criticism for its frank discussions and illustrations of the changes young people experience during puberty. Challenged as an e-book at the Francis Howell middle school libraries in St. Charles, Mo. (2014), because of cartoon nudity. In 2005, it was challenged but retained at the Holt Middle School parent library in Fayetteville, AR, despite a parent’s complaint that it was sexually explicit. It also topped ALA’s list of frequently challenged books in 2005. Two years later, the book would make national news when a woman objecting to its content in Lewiston, ME checked out copies of the book and refused to return them, prompting such headlines as, “Grandma Refuses to Return Library Book, Could Face Jail Time.”
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (Illustrator)
Call Number : 811 Sil
-
Where the Sidewalk Ends was yanked from the shelves of West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wisconsin school libraries in 1986 over fears that it “promotes drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for authority, and rebellion against parents.” Members of the Central Columbia School District in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania must have confused the year 1993 with 1393 when they objected to the poem Dreadful over the line “someone ate the baby” because they feared some of their more impressionable students might actually be encouraged to engage in cannibalism. Sidewalk was also challenged in the Xenia, Ohio, school district in 1983; and by the public school system in Minot, North Dakota in 1986.
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein (Illustrator)
Call Number : 811 Sil
-
This poetry collection by Shel Silverstein was apparently banned for a single poem and accompanying illustration which suggests that children could avoid washing dishes by breaking them.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Matt Tavares (Illustrator)
A self-published author has taken it upon herself to edit the classic and remove all mention of smoking from Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 masterpiece. Canadian publisher Pamela McColl changed the poem to “save lives and avoid influencing new smokers,” according to statements on her website. McColl’s new version, which she released through her own publishing company, cuts two lines that describe Santa smoking: ’The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, / And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;’ and she also omits the iconic illustration of Santa holding the pipe between his teeth. “I just really don’t think Santa should be smoking in the 21st century,” McColl was quoted as saying in a telephone interview.

Banned/Challenged Books - Juvenile

The following banned or challenged "Juvenile" books are available at WSC.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Call Number : Len M
-
It was challenged in 1996, but retained by the Catawba County School Board in Newton, North Carolina. A parent requested the book be pulled from the school library because it allegedly undermines religious beliefs.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; John Tenniel (Illustrator); Peter Newell (Illustrator)
Call Number : PR4611 .A3 1941
ISBN: 9780980921090
-
Apparently there are references to sexual fantasies and masturbation in this book, resulting in its ban from classrooms in New Hampshire in the 1900. Since this original banning, the book has been challenged by thousands of other institutions, most famously in the 1960s in fear that it would promote drug use to children.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson; Donna Diamond (Illustrator)
Call Number : Pat K
-
Paterson’s novel for young people was challenged in 1986 as recommended reading for 6th grade students in the Lincoln, NE schools. Parents objected to the book’s “profanity” including the phrase “Oh, Lord” and use of “Lord” used as an expletive. “Bridge to Terabithia” won the Newbery Award for children’s literature in 1978. It tells the story of two 5th graders’ creation of a magical world far removed from their daily lives, and details the joys and sorrows of childhood, particularly the power of friendship and imagination.
Captain Underpants (SERIES) by Dav Pilkey (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
The “Captain Underpants” series of children’s books was removed from the Maple Hill School in Naugatuck, CT in 2000, due to concerns that they caused unruly behavior among children. The books were also challenged but retained at the Orfordville, WI Elementary School library. A parent charged that they taught students to be disrespectful; not to obey authority; not to obey the law, including God’s law; improper spelling; to make excuses and lie to escape responsibility; to make fun of what people wear; and poor nutrition. The “Captain Underpants” books effectively use humor and illustrations to captivate young readers, particularly “reluctant readers” who may not otherwise enjoy reading, and inspire with their stories of ingenuity and imagination.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl; Joseph Schindelman (Illustrator)
Call Number : Dah R
-
A Colorado library banned the book because it embraced a “poor philosophy of life.” Additionally, since its publication in 1964, the book was under fire for comparing the Oompa Loompas to Africans. The characters’ descriptions were later changed in an edited version in 1988.
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White; Garth Williams (Illustrator); Kate DiCamillo
Call Number : Whi E
-
In 2006, this book was banned in Kansas because talking animals are considered an “insult to god.”
Dragonwings by Laurence Yep
Call Number : Yep L
-
Challenged at the Apollo-Ridge schools in Kittanning, Pennsylvania (1992) because of the frequent use of the word 'demon' in the book. The Newbery Award winning book might encourage children to "commit suicide because they think that they can be reincarnated as something or someone else." On September 15, 1992, Judge Joseph Nickleach denied a request seeking to ban the book from the district's curriculum. In his opinion, Nickleach wrote: "The fact that religions and religious concepts are mentioned in school does not automatically constitute a violation of the establishment clause." Graphic violence, profanity, reference to demons and prostitution, and alcohol and drug use depicted in a positive light.
Goosebumps (SERIES) by R. L. Stine
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Complaints against the series assert that they contain “excessive violence” for books intended for children under the age of twelve; and charges of depicting occult or satanic themes. Some parents have argued that the books violated zero tolerance policies on violence in schools; other parents, and even some school officials, around the country have alleged that the books might provoke harmful thoughts or behavior, and encourage disrespect for people and property. The claims went so far as to accuse Stine of having an ulterior motive of hooking young children with the collection as a prelude to more graphic and perverse books like the “Fear Street” series.
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Call Number : Fit L
-
In 1983, the book was banned from several schools for being “a bad example for children.” It was also challenged for teaching “children to lie, spy, talk back, and curse.”
In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco (Illustrator)
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Removed from the shelves of elementary school libraries in Davis County, Utah (2012) after a group of parents raised objections about the suitability of the story. It remained available only if a student presented a permission slip from a parent to check out the book. A parent then sued the Davis School District in November 2012 alleging her children’s First Amendment rights were violated by the book’s removal. On January 15, 2013, the book was reinstated without restrictions and the school district agreed to pay $15,000 in attorneys’ fees for the lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl; Quentin Blake (Illustrator) - In 1999, the book was banned from an elementary School in Texas because it included the word “ass.”
Call Number : Dah R
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Volume Editor); James Prunier (Artist)
Call Number : PE1128 .E84 2007
-
While no specific incidents attest to it actually being banned, it has been heavily challenged over the years for issues regarding gender. The paradox of the challenges against Little Women lies in the fact that while in its own time it was considered “too radical” for insinuating that women could freely choose what they wanted out of life, others today argue that it didn’t go far enough. Despite the independent, intelligent, and strong-minded heroine of Jo March, Little Women has been criticized by feminist groups because Jo marries an older man. They argue that Little Women “diminishes young women, panders to the ‘weaker sex’ mentality, and fails to empower girls to succeed.”
Sounder by William H. Armstrong; James Barkley (Illustrator); Armstrong
Call Number : Arm W
-
This award winning book by William H. Armstrong has been challenged for use of a racial slur.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Call Number : Ste W
-
Challenged by the Illinois Police Association in 1977 because if this story where all of the characters are animals, the police officers are pigs. Has been banned in parts of the United States.
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Call Number : PE1126.A4 L6 2000
-
Banned in Italy (1929), Yugoslavia (1929), and burned in Nazi bonfires (1933).
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder; Alton Raible (Illustrator)
Call Number : PZ7.S675 E
-
Challenged as part of a reading list in a fourth-grade class at Southern Hills Elementary School in Wichita Falls, Tex. (2009) because the book includes scenes depicting Egyptian worship rituals. The Newbery Award-winning book has been an optional part of the school district’s curriculum for years. “I’m not going to stop until it’s banned from the school district. I will not quiet down. I will not back down. I don’t believe any student should be subjected to anything that has to do with evil gods or black magic,” said the student’s father.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Call Number : Low L
-
In 2003, “The Giver” was challenged as suggested reading for eighth-grade students in Blue Springs, MO, where parents called the book “lewd” and “twisted” and pleaded for it to be tossed out of the district. The book was reviewed by two committees and recommended for retention, but the controversy continued for more than two years. Lowry’s novel for young readers has frequently attracted objections due to its “mature themes” including suicide, sexuality, and euthanasia. “The Giver” received the Newbery Medal in 1994.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (Illustrator)
Call Number : Sil S
-
This favorite childhood book was banned from a public library in Colorado (1988) because it was considered “sexist.” It was also challenged by several schools because it “criminalized the foresting agency.”
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis; Pauline Baynes (Illustrator)
Call Number : PN6120.A5 Q5 1968
-
The book was challenged in 1990 in the Howard County (Md.) School System because it depicts "graphic violence, mysticism and gore."
The Story of Babar: The Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff
Call Number : Bru J
-
Challenged for promoting colonialism and being "politically and morally offensive".
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Call Number : Bau L
-
In 1928, all public libraries in Chicago banned the book because of its “ungodly” influence “for depicting women in strong leadership roles.” In 1957, the Detroit Public Library banned the book for having “no value for children of today.”
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne; Ernest H. Shepard (Illustrator)
Call Number : Mil A
-
Talking animals are somehow considered an “insult to god,” resulting in this book’s banning in 2006 throughout random parts of the United States. Several institutions in Turkey and the UK have also banned the book, claiming that the character of Piglet is offensive to Muslims. Other institutions claim that the book revolves around Nazism.

Banned/Challenged Books - Young Adult

The following banned or challenged "Young Adult" books are available at WSC.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Suspended from the Highland Park, Tex., Independent School District’s approved book list (2014) by the school superintendent. The decision sparked a backlash and drew national attention. The superintendent then reinstated the book. In February 2015, the school district trustees approved policy changes on how the district selects books and handles parents’ objections. The challenged contemporary young adult book is about a boy who has dated and been dumped by multiple girls named Katherine; it includes sexual references.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Call Number : Row R
-
Retained, despite a challenge by the chairman of the Anoka-Hennepin, Minn. School Board (2013) because parents of a student objected to the book’s content, citing its use of profanity and its treatment of sexuality. The Anoka County Library had scheduled a visit by the author, but the event was cancelled due to the controversy. Set in a poor Omaha neighborhood, the story concerns two outsider teens in the 1980s who find a common bond in music amidst poverty, bullying, abuse, racism, and budding sexuality. Selected by National Public Radio as a 2013 Great Read.
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
-
Challenged on the Danbury Middle School reading list in Toledo, Ohio (2013) because of inappropriate language. In 1999, “Fallen Angels” was removed from the Laton, CA Unified School District because the novel about the Vietnam War contains violence and profanity. The same year, it was removed as required reading in the Livonia, MI public schools because it was found to contain “too many swear words.” Set amidst the horror of war, this young adult novel confronts the realities of violence and racism in 1960s America and in the military. “Fallen Angels” received the 1988 Coretta Scott King Award, for outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Harry Potter (SERIES) by J. K. Rowling
Call Number : Row J
-
Beginning with “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” published in 1997, this series of seven novels dominated both bestseller lists and the imaginations of readers across the globe. At the same time, controversy over magic and witchcraft in the stories prompted frequent book banning attempts, and even book burnings. In 2002, the books were proposed for removal, along with more than fifty other titles, by a teachers’ prayer group at the high school in Russell Springs, KY because they dealt with ghosts, cults, and witchcraft. That same year, a federal judge overturned restricted access to “Harry Potter” after parents of a Cedarville, AK fourth-grader filed a lawsuit challenging the requirement that students present written permission from a parent to borrow the books. The novels were originally challenged because they characterized authority as “stupid” and portrayed “good witches and good magic.”
Hold Still by Nina LaCour; Mia Nolting (Illustrator)
Call Number : Lac N
-
Pulled from the Blue Springs, Mo. School District library and classrooms (2011) because the book is “riddled with obscenities.” The novel is about a young girl coping with the suicide of her best friend. The book, according to parents, was read as part of an extra credit assignment in a freshman English class. The local chapter of the ACLU is threatening to get involved if the book is permanently removed.
Paper Towns by John Green
Call Number : PCCLD
-
Removed from the eighth-grade reading list at Dr. John Long Middle School in Wesley Chapel, Fla. (2014), after a parent complained that the book contained F-bombs, several discussions about teen sex, and references to girls as “honey bunnies,” which the parent considered misogynistic.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Illustrator)
Call Number : PN6747.S245 P4713 2003
ISBN: 0375422307
Publication Date: 2003-04-29
-
Challenged, but retained on the Glenwood High School reading list in Chatham, Ill. (2014). A parent condemned the images of dismembered bodies and a guard using urine as a form of torture. Removed, via a district directive, from all Chicago, Ill. public schools (2013) due to “graphic illustrations and language” and concerns about “developmental preparedness” and “student readiness.” Seventh- and eleventh-grade students study the graphic novel about the author’s experience growing up in Iran during the Iranian revolution as part of Chicago Public Schools’ Literacy Content Framework. As the news spread of the directive, students mobilized a media campaign in opposition to “banning a book that’s all about the freedom of speech.” Students took to their Facebook and Twitter accounts, checked out all library copies of the book, wrote blogs, sent e-mails, wrote investigative articles for the student newspaper, contacted the author, staged protests, and appeared on local radio and television programs. Eventually, the school issued a letter telling high school principals to disregard the earlier order to pull the book. The book tells the story of a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution of 1979 and the reintroduction of a religious state. The graphic novel has been praised for teaching students about diversity and different points of view, but it also contains intense language, images, and themes.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor; Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)
Call Number : Tay M
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Call Number : Gre J
-
Pulled from library shelves at the Frank Augustus Miller Middle School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (2014), because the subject matter involves teens dying of cancer who use crude language and have sex. Removed from the Riverside, Calif., Unified School District middle schools (2014) after a parent complained the teen love story was inappropriate for that age group.
Twilight (SERIES) by Stephenie Meyer
Call Number : PS3613.E979 T95 2006
-
Challenged at the Austin Memorial Library in Cleveland, Tex. (2014), along with other young adult books that have a vampire theme. A local minister requested that the, “occultic (sic) and demonic room be shut down, and these books be purged from the shelves, and that public funds would no longer be used to purchase such material, or at least require parents to check them out for their children.” Banned in Australia (2009) for primary school students because the series is too racy. Librarians have stripped the books from shelves in some junior schools because they believe the content is too sexual and goes against religious beliefs. They even have asked parents not to let kids bring their own copies of Stephenie Meyer’s smash hit novels — which explore the stormy love affair between a teenage girl and a vampire — to school.

Top Ten Challenged Books of 2017

As reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom:

Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher
Originally published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it discusses suicide.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie
Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit.
Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered “confusing.”
The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini
This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.”
George written by Alex Gino
Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child.
Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth
This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex educationand is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.”
To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word.
The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas
Despite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curriculums because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and because of drug use, profanity, and offensive language.
And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole
Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship.
I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.

Learn More about Banned Books

120 Banned Books by Nicholas J. Karolides
Call Number : REF Z658.U5 K352 2005
ISBN: 9781438138251
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
100 Banned Books by Nicholas J. Karolides; Margaret Bald; Dawn B. Sova; Ken Wachsberger (Editor)
Call Number : Z658.U5 K352 1999
ISBN: 0816040591
Publication Date: 1999-08-01
Literature Suppressed on Sexual Grounds by Dawn B. Sova
Call Number : REF Z658.U5 S7 2011
ISBN: 9780816082292
Publication Date: 2011-05-01
Literature Suppressed on Political Grounds by Nicholas J. Karolides
Call Number : REF Z658.U5 K37 2011
ISBN: 9780816082315
Publication Date: 2011-06-01
Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds by Margaret Bald
Call Number : REF Z658.U5 B35 2011
ISBN: 9780816082308
Publication Date: 2011-06-01
Literature Suppressed on Social Grounds by Dawn B. Sova
Call Number : REF Z658.U5 S69 2011
ISBN: 9780816082285
Publication Date: 2011-06-01
Hit List for Young Adults by Teri S. Lesesne; Rosemary Chance; Young Adult Library Services Association Staff (Contribution by)
Call Number : Z1019 .L48 2002
ISBN: 9780838908358
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Hit List for Children by Beverley C. Becker; Susan Stan; Donna Reidy Pistolis; American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom Staff (Contribution by)
Call Number : Z1019 .B38 2002
ISBN: 9780838908303
Publication Date: 2002-01-01