Five books banned for the most absurd reasons
We’re well into Banned Books Week 2013 now, almost half way through in fact and we hope you’re enjoying whatever book you’re reading to support the cause. I don’t usually lament having plenty of reading material, but the amount of books on the list is so big, you’ll have plenty to choose from. Some reasons for removing reading material are sometimes understandable, even if you don’t support the idea, but some are simply absurd!
Based on our research over the last few weeks, on books that have been banned for various reason, and concentrating especially on children’s’ literature, we’ve put together the five books that we think have been banned for the most ridiculous reasons. We’re not sure whether to laugh or cry at some of these, take a look and see what you think.
I’m imagining every one of you, reading this list, mouth agape as you can hardly comprehend the reasons given, especially as most of them are children’s books! It seems Banned Books Week still has work to do, judging by this lot.
Where’s Wally (Where’s Waldo in U.S) – Martin Handford
This just has to make the top of the list. In 1987, Where’s Wally was removed from the shelves and reprinted because it contained a drawing of a topless woman sunbathing. Not only is she drawn, but she is turned away from the scene and so nothing is really exposed. What I’d like to know is who found the tiny topless woman in between everything else on the page, and why weren’t they looking for Wally?
The Lorax – Dr Seuss
This is possibly the most ridiculous banning I’ve heard of. The Lorax banned in several schools in the U.S for its ‘criminalisation of the logging industry’. Who knew that this little environmental chap could get into so much trouble? It seems the truth isn’t popular with many. Dr Seuss has got into trouble with several books, supposedly promoting homosexuality and Marxism (I must have missed those).
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Frank Baum
This wonderful magical tale was banned in all public libraries in Chicago in 1928 because of its ungodly influence in depicting women in strong leadership roles. In 1957 the book got into trouble again, this time in Detroit for having no influence on today’s children.
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
As late as 1996 (shame on you Texas), To Kill a Mockingbird was banned from a reading list in Lindale Texas for ‘conflicting with the values of the community’. I suspect it’s the values of the community that need banning in this case, not the books.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary – Tenth Edition
Possibly the most absurd thing I have ever read is the banning of the Merriam-Webster dictionary (tenth edition) in several classrooms in California because it included the definition for oral sex. Now I don’t know about you, but half the fun of school was looking up the rude words in the dictionary.
Close contenders for the list were Alice in Wonderland, banned for putting human emotions in animals, back in 1931; Uncle Tom’s Cabin, banned for its anti-slavery themes, proving how much sway plantation owners had with public bodies; The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, banned for its overt rejection of a woman’s role of wife and mother.
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