My Friend, The Kitten

IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE KITTEN

Free Movies With A Library Card

With the increasing cost of gas and the cost of living, you can get a library card and save yourself some money. Why go to Barnes & Noble or Movie Gallery for books and movies when you can check them out at the library for FREE. Visit your local library for more details.

Additionally, September is Library Card Sign-Up Month - a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind parents that the most important school supply of all is @ your library®--it's your library card. (ala.org)

If you and your child do not have a library card, please get one. It will be the best piece of plastic to have in your wallet.

It's Perfectly Normal & Nappy Hair

The book, "It's Perfectly Normal,"written by Robie Harris is on the challenged book list of 2007. I knew that this book would offend some parents because of the pictures. And, this is exactly what happened, a parent challenged the book being in the library. However, I thought that this book was appropriate for adolescents. I feel that children need to be aware of the changes that their bodies go through. The book was ONLY a guide to help parents educate their children about growing into adults. And, what better place than a library to house the information for free.

After the review of the book by library staff, the book was put in the branch manager's office. And, at some branches it was reclassified from juvenile to adult.

According to Carol Hurst's Children Literature website, this book goes where others fear to tread, explaining things like sexual desire, having intercourse, pimples, bras, jock straps, as well as the process of reproduction. The touch is light but informative as it talks about things pre-adolescents and adolescents want to and need to know and it does it with humor and kindness and without cringing. http://www.carolhurst.com/

However, below is an interesting link that opposed the book: http://www.cwfa.org/articles/6122/CFI/family/index.htm

Another book that received negative publicity was "Nappy Hair," by Carolivia Herron . As I flipped through the pages of this book, I knew it would offend someone as well. Personally, I did not take offense to the book. This is our culture and I am not ashamed of it. However, the book received a lot of controversy when a white teacher read this book to her predominantly African-American and Hispanic 3rd grade class. It caused her to transfer to another school.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND BOOK: Carolivia Herron is an African-American former English professor and the author of the children's book "Nappy Hair." The book tells the story of an African-American family extolling the strength and wonder of young Brenda's natural hair while affirming her beauty and culture. Uncle Mordecai is the principal character who praises Brenda, and Herron has written the following article from the perspective of what Uncle Mordecai would say about the sullying of the word "nappy."(CNN.com)

http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/us/0704/slideshow.herron.reading/frameset.exclude.html

The Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2007

According to ala.org, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received a total of 420 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. According to Judith F. Krug, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, the number of challenges reflects only incidents reported, and for each reported, four or five remain unreported.

The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007” reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

1) “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2) The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3) “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes

Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language

4) “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman

Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain

Reasons: Racism

6) “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7) "TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8) "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou

Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9) “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris

Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10) "The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Off the list this year, are two books by author Toni Morrison. "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved," both challenged for sexual content and offensive language.