For three — if you’ll excuse the expression — straight years, “And Tango Makes Three” has been the most banned book on the American Library Association’s list of most banned books.
The children’s book by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell tells the story of two male penguins at New York’s Central Park zoo who share a nest and hatch an abandoned egg.
This year, Tango the penguin with two gay dads, got knocked off the list by a series of books written in the style of instant messages.
Taking the No. 1 spot is writer Lauren Myracle series including “ttyl.” Drugs and offensive language are the complaints. The books don’t promote drugs. They just deal with them a 21st century realities for kids. Kewl.
Of the top 10 banned books, a few others are listed for LGBT content. “Tango” holds the #2 spot.
“The Perks of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky is #3. The main character has two gay friends. In “My Sister’s Keeper” (#7), the sister is a lesbian.
The books are in good company. J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye” perennially makes the list (#6 this year). Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” is #9.
Note to Border’s on McKinney. You did a good job of putting other bookstores in Oak Lawn out of business. I buy this book along with “Heather Has Two Mommies” for any friend who has a baby because I believe children should be raised with good children’s books. PLEASE STOCK THESE WONDERFUL BOOKS.
3 Comments
Its always funny when I think about all the awful things that I already knew by the time I was 8. I had a mind that could’ve made a sailor blush and every single bit of it came from my friends and schoolmates, not books.
Only people that don’t, or can’t, read ban books.
Books have been my lifelong friend, always there, always waiting for when I have time.
I searched everything I could find for anything about being gay when I was young. There needs to be something there for those searching kids to find.