News and Notes
Note: The Memphis Public Library does not ban books, endorse censorship, or even judge what you read.
The following list is from the American Library Association on the “Top 10 Most Far-fetched Reasons to Ban a Book:”
10) “An unofficial version of the story of Noah’s Ark will confuse children.” (Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle)
9) “A female dog is called a bitch.” (My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara)
8) “It is a religious book and public funds should not be used to purchase religious books.” (The Holy Bible)
7) “One bunny is white and the other is black. This “brainwashes” readers into accepting miscegenation.” (The Rabbit’s Wedding” by Garth Williams)
6) “Little Red Riding had wine in her basket which condones alcohol usage.” (Little Red Riding Hood by Brothers Grimm)
5) “It is a real downer” (Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank)
4) “Tarzan was ‘living in sin’ with Jane” (Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
3) “If there is a possibility of controversy, then why not eliminate it?” (Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown)
2) “It caused a wave of rapes.” (Thousand and one Nights, Anonymous)
1) “Encourages children to break dishes so they won’t have to dry them!” ( A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein)