Really Good Banned Books
In these days of sensitivity, some of my favorite childhood books seem like they would be banned.. However, when I checked online library collections, most remain in circulation.
***Instert heavy hearted thoughts on banning books (I don’t approve) and what taxpayer’s money should be used for here (it’s loaded) and that’s a column for another day.
A year ago, everyone was in an uproar that certain Dr. Seuss books were being banned. “To Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street” was banned because there was an illustration on one page of a stereotyped man from China.
So, you can see why I was fearful one of my favorites would soon be gone as well.
Are you familiar with The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop? I don’t know why, but my friends and I loved this book. I think we loved it because the plot was fascinating and totally different than all the other 1,000’s of books about dogs, little girls jumping rope, fairies and trucks.
Imagine, 5 identical brothers, wrongly charged with murder, sentenced to execution, and then, using powers of incredible super-hero-esque skill, escape the clutches of death. Then, live happily ever after with their mother. — Can you beat that?
No. You. Can. Not.
Someone please make a movie.
I learned the author, Claire Huchet Bishop also wrote a Newbery Honor Medal winning book, “Pancakes-Paris.” I recently found a copy and discovered it was completely unlike the Chinese Brothers. Depicting post-war life in France, this story glorifies the kindness of the American Soldiers who befriend a hungry and poor little boy and his family. It’s a “syrupy” sweet storyline, tainted with politically incorrect references to African Americans.
It reminded me of another childhood favorite that is completely banned, that also made me crave pancakes every time I read about that tiger running around the tree. The main character was from India, yet it didn’t bode well for our evolving modern American society and was completely tossed out of libraries.
And would you believe with all the fussing and fighting over library books, my own local Fairhope Library doesn’t carry my last two books, Exploding Hushpuppies and Bringing Christmas Home? They both have subtle Christian messages and wholesome family situations, so I guess that’s a no-no these days.
And speaking of cultural stereotypes, this is also one of my favorites. It was actually banned in Spain for a while and Adolf Hitler burned it because he declared it to be, “degenerate democratic propaganda.”
I’ve written before about my collection of Childhood of Famous Americans books. I love these, but the language is a bit outdated and offensive on many accounts. Someone tried to modernize them, but they lost their charm.
What were some of your favorite childhood books? Are any of them banned or outdated now?
Leslie Anne,
Thanks for reminding me of The Five Chinese Brothers which was one of my favorite childhood books! Two others which are probably banned by now are The Story of Little Black Sambo (which I quickly bought after hearing that it wouldn’t be sold any longer) and my favorite Epaminondas and His Auntie. These are just simple folk tales no different than many others.
Another treasure was The Country Bunny and The Little Gold Shoes which really started me out on my lifelong love of reading.
Sandy Hill
Oh, you and I could share a library! The Sambo book was the one I was talking about with the tiger running around the tree. It was such a sweet story. I don’t know about the Epaminondas book. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks so much for the input!
As a child I loved to read and that love of reading has only grown through the years. Have you ever heard of Lois Lenski? I read every book she had written as a child. I doubt any library would have her books on their shelves. My almost eight year old granddaughter loves reading. She has read all of the classics and I decided to read them once again. I am not familiar with the books you mentioned, except Dr. Seuss!
I haven’t heard of Lois Lenski, but she sounds wonderful. I’m glad your granddaughter has such a good influence in you!
Those orange biographies that I checked out from our church library saved me from many a boring sermon! I loved them!
I have 30- 40 of them any time you’d like to borrow them, but you can’t take them to church.
I thought of Little Black Sambo as soon as I read your title. I fell in love with the Bobbsey Twins at a very early age and Toby Tyler, the litatle boy who ran away to join the circus. I guess free speech isn’t so free anymore. How sad and terrifying. The Bobbsey Twins were a terrible influence… I actually climbed on top of our garage and jumped off with a “bumbershoot” like they did! Your books are safe in my personal library.
Oh, I loved the Bobbsey Twins as well. I’m glad you lived to tell the tale of jumping off the roof! How funny — and terrible!
One of my favorite books, To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee has been removed from many schools and libraries. To me it’s like changing history, denying what happened…like tearing down all the statues and monuments…it makes me sick…
True-true-yes! Don’t hide or rewrite, just learn and move on.