Banned and Challenged Picture BooksLike this list

65 items

• The Story of Ferdinand

  Leaf, Munro, 1905-1976

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  This classic picture book has been challenged for "promoting a pacifist agenda." Ferdinand, thought to be the fiercest bull in all the land, turns out to be the most peaceful. Three months before the book was published in 1936, civil war…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Donovan's Big Day

  Newman, Lesléa

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  This book about a boy preparing for his moms' wedding was challenged but retained at the Edmonton Public Library in 2014. The complainant stated: "Title should not be allowed to be borrowed without parental consent or be labeled to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ouch!

  a Tale From Grimm

  Babbitt, Natalie

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  This picture book was removed by the principal of an Edmonton school in 1999 after a library technician complained that it was unsuitable because it deals with hell. The book had been chosen by a teacher from the Edmonton Public School…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Librarian of Basra

  a True Story From Iraq

  Winter, Jeanette

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  The true story of an Iraqi librarian trying to protect the books in her library was challenged in Duval County, FL in 2015 for "promoting a non-Christian religion" and "being too violent for young readers." It was later challenged at…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• This Day in June

  Pitman, Gayle E.

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  In 2017, two parents tried to have this book about people attending a Pride parade removed from the library in West Chicago, IL, but the library board voted to retain it in the children's section. The book was also challenged in Hood…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• It's a Book

  Smith, Lane

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  It's a Book was challenged but retained at the Edmonton Public Library in 2013, after being banned in two Massachusetts school districts in 2010. When an operator of a literacy program tried to give copies to elementary schools, she…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• In Our Mothers' House

  Polacco, Patricia

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  Challenged for homosexual themes, in this book, three children of different ethnicities are raised in a happy home with two mothers. A school in Utah required students to have parental permission to sign it out after a parent complained in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Three Little Pigs

  Marshall, James, 1942-1992

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  Not only challenged because of violence, but in 2003 it was also challenged on the grounds that a story about pigs might offend the Muslim community (but NOT by a member of the Muslim community. The Muslim Council of Britain has spoken out…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Egg Drop

  Grey, Mini

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  An egg steps off a tall tower, hoping to be able to fly in this picture book. It was challenged (but retained) at the Edmonton Public Library in 2010 for being age-inappropriate.

• The Snowy Day

  Keats, Ezra Jack

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  Challenged when it first came out and again in 1963 when it won the Caldecott Medal, on the grounds that a white man did not have the right to create a Black character and that he only created a "Black" story so that he could get the award.

• The Dirty Cowboy

  Timberlake, Amy

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  The cowboy's private parts are always covered in this book about a dog's reaction after the cowboy has a bath, but that wasn't enough to keep in on the shelves in Annville, PA schools when it was challenged in 2012. Parents said it could…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Jacob's New Dress

  Hoffman, Sarah

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  This book was pulled from a North Carolina school district in 2017 due to complaints that it teaches children to be transgender. After a guidance counsellor at the Lampeter-Strasburg School District in PA read this book to a class to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Am I

  Fitzpatrick, Marie-Louise

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  This parable about the futility of fighting and arguing was challenged but retained at the Edmonton Public Library in 2007 for "the anger displayed in the art and words. 'I hate you, I hate you…' And the possessiveness. It’s rude!"

• If I Ran the Zoo

  Seuss, Dr

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  Stereotypical depictions of Asians, who “all wear their eyes at a slant,” were the reason this book was challenged in Vancouver, B.C. in 2014. The Vancouver Public Library chose to keep it on the shelves, but will not be reading it at…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Heather Has Two Mommies

  Newman, Lesléa

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  Heather Has Two Mommies was challenged for homosexual themes "promoting a dangerous and ungodly lifestyle." In Wichita Falls, KS, followers of a Baptist pastor signed out copies and refused to return them, but new copies were donated by…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Little Red Riding Hood

  Hyman, Trina Schart

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  Sure, the wolf ate Grandma, but in California and Florida, there were several challenges to this edition of the book in 1990 because Little Red has a bottle of wine in her basket, "promoting alcohol to minors."

• I Am Jazz

  Herthel, Jessica

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  I Am Jazz tells the true story of a transgender child (who later starred in a TV show of the same name). A teacher who read the book to a kindergarten class in California to support a transgender student in the class faced parental outrage…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Goodnight Moon

  Brown, Margaret Wise, 1910-1952

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  Harper Collins, the publisher of this beloved bedtime tale, digitally altered the illustrations in 2005, removing a cigarette and an ashtray. The illustrator's son said he felt pressured to agree to this, but there are many people who feel…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hop on Pop

  Seuss, Dr

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  This Dr. Seuss book was challenged at the Toronto Public Library in 2014 for inciting violence. The complainant also wanted an apology from the librarians to all fathers in the Toronto area and for the library to “pay for damages resulting…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Waiting Dog

  Beck, Carolyn

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  In 2006, this book was challenged at the Burlington Public Library, ON for its depictions of violence, described by a parent as "revolting" and "vile." It was also challenged in Canada in 2010 for violence, offensive language, being…Read moreRead more of this annotation