Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Remember when I mentioned that book challenge on my 2nd day at Sticks? Finally finished the book, will review soon; going to scout out some articles/reviews online tomorrow and do some more researching before I call the mom back. It's staying on our shelves, I just want some other opinions and reviews to reference in our conversation! Fight for your right to read!

I remember reading Where the Wild Things Are when I was a kid. I don't know who gave me my copy, probably a relative, because we were poor, but I do remember the way that book made me feel. I knew exactly why Max needed to chase that dog around in his wolf suit, and why he would tell his mother that he'd eat her up. I envied him for being able to sail away from his problems to a land where he was in charge--and he wasn't even scared of the wild things! I wanted to hang in trees and howl at the moon...but eventually I wanted to be my mother's child again too. That book resonates with children because they understand it and see themselves as Max! Iread that book to my nieces and nephews and I love reading it at the library with storytimes--I've never met someone who didn't enjoy it...so, it felt apropos to wind down Banned Book Week 2012 with sharing quotes from this, one of my top 3 favorite picture book of all time. Where the Wild Things Are was banned a...

"You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. What you say is completely up to you" --Madeline Le'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time A Wrinkle in Time has been challenged/banned  for a variety of reasons including: religious content, challenging religious beliefs, and witchcraft. Happy 5th day of Banned Books Week 2012: FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO READ!!  Here are some inspiring quotes by some famous folks: “Something will be offensive to someone in every book, so you've got to fight it.” --Judy Blume “If there's one American belief I hold above all others, it's that those who would set themselves up in judgment on matters of what is "right" and what is "best" should be given no rest; that they should have to defend their behavior most stringently.” Stephen King "There is no such thing as a moral book or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all." --Oscar Wilde "Censorsh...

Too tired to post much, but on today, the 4th day of Banned Books Week 2012, thought I would share this: Did you know that Lois Lowry's 1994 Newbery award winning, The Giver , was one of the most challenged/banned books of the 1990s? The book has made its way onto lists for reasons including: its' scenes of violent and sexual nature, infanticide, euthanasia, and “sexual awakening.” I chose to highlight this book because the eagerly anticipating sequel to The Giver has arrived-- Gathering Blue (2000) and Messenger (2004) were what have been called "sister books," not sequels--Lois Lowry's latest, Son . I have my copy on order and CAN'T WAIT!! “If you were to be lost in the river, Jonas, your memories would not be lost with you. Memories are forever.”  --Lois Lowry, The Giver Interesting article in the NYTimes: " Lois Lowry: The Children's Author Who Actually Listens to Children "

It is absolutely fitting that THIS week-- Banned Books Week --should find me with a book challenged by one of our patrons. I know, I know, it probably doesn't count, since the library's book challenge form has been sitting in the Director box for a while before I even started, but it is COOL! I get to take this book to the Board and review it. Also, went to ALA's website to report the challenge; sharing what is challenged/banned at your library with the ALA helps others stay informed, and helps the ALA's statistics of challenged/banned books. The form is here .

"Books on Trial" a video by the Mentor, OH public library   Today marks the 2nd day of Banned Books Week 2012-- GET OUT THERE AND READ SOME CHALLENGED OR BANNED!!

Today marks the first day AND the 30th Anniversary of Banned Books Week! Books are challenged for a slew of reasons: language, sexuality, immorality, anti-church, anti-government, anti-adults, sentiments of witchcraft, you name it.   Why do we celebrate Banned Books Week? Well, we celebrate it in the hopes of raising awareness about these challenged/banned books (many of which are considered classics!), and also because we believe that people should have free access to and the ability to read whatever they want—each person should be able to judge what is best for him/herself! FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO READ!   For a list of most frequently challenged and banned books, click here . Also, thought I would share some quotes from some of my favorite books which have all been challenged and/or banned too! I am a REBEL! “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you'r...

In spirit of Banned Books Week 2008, thought I would post this, which can be found here : The 10 most challenged books of 2007 reflect a range of themes: And Tango Makes Three , (the only picture book on the list!!) by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group The Chocolate War , by Robert Cormier Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence Olive’s Ocean , by Kevin Henkes Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language The Golden Compass , by Philip Pullman Reasons: Religious Viewpoint The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , by Mark Twain Reasons: Racism The Color Purple , by Alice Walker Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, TTYL , by Lauren Myracle Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , by Maya Angelou Reasons: Sexually Explicit It’s Perfectly Normal , by Robie Harris Reasons: Sex Education, Se...

“[I]t's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” ~Judy Blume Happy Banned Books Week! Never heard of it. Me either, until I began Grad School. Banned Books week is a week long event, which libraries all across the United States celebrate every year; a time for libraries to encourage people to enjoy a better sense of literary and intellectual freedom. Banned books become banned after they have first been Challenged. Look at this list and I think you will catch yourself saying, "why that book?" more than once. These are the top 100 challenged books of from 1990-2000. Banned Books are anything that a school or library board have voted to ban from the premises of the library after challenges have been made and a vote has been reached to remove the books for reasons varying from sexual content, expli...