Children's book bans challenged 

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The Society of Authors says children are getting a diluted version of the world because publishers don't want to rock the boat.

The group have joined up with Wellington's 15 libraries to highlight the issue this week. The organisations say a growing number of works are being banned, restricted or sanitised.

Out of Reach - the forbidden bookshelf is a new event organised by Wellington City Libraries and the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA). A week-long series of readings, displays and a celebrity debate at Wellington libraries will focus on the theme of banned, restricted or sanitised children's books.

Spokesman and author Dom Long says subtle censorship is rife in New Zealand. Long says it's widely rumoured that work that includes taboo topics like fast food will not be touched by some publishers.

He says many writers are also having to bend over backwards to make their work politically correct enough for the US market.

Many NZSA members have reported increasing pressure from publishers to adjust their work for overseas markets. Long says the American edition of his book Fishing Off the Wharf had elements such as its separated and mixed-race parents removed.

Wellington City Council Social Portfolio Leader, Councillor Ngaire Best, says libraries are the natural place to examine what reading materials are suitable for children.

"Libraries play an important role in providing the public with open access to a range of materials. This event will examine if, in some places and at some times, the impulse to protect children from accessing some materials has been taken too farm," Best says.

Many high-profile children's book titles have been subject to bans. The Harry Potter series was in the news after being banned in many schools and libraries overseas, and public opinion on books such as Little Black Sambo, where an Indian boy outwits some tigers, has changed over time as cultural attitudes have shifted.

Closer to home, works such as Washday at the Pa, a 1964 school bulletin by Ans Westra showing a rural Maori family living in run-down housing, have caused controversy and divided opinion.

Here is a list of some children's books that have been banned or restricted overseas.

Blume, Judy, Blubber, 1974

This book has been repeatedly challenged for its language and because the children who bully a classmate don't face any consequences for their actions. Judy Blume herself is possibly the most censored author of young adult literature in the USA.

Bannerman, Helen, Little Black Sambo, 1899

Controversial in both the USA and in Japan, where it was pulled off the shelves for racist characterization in 1988 after selling more than 1m copies.

Carroll, Lewis, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Banned in China (1931) for portraying animals and humans on the same level, "Animals should not use human language." Also banned at certain school libraries for allusions to drug-taking.

Dahl, Roald, James and the Giant Peach, 1961

Challenged at the Deep Creek Elementary School in Charlotte Harbor, Fla. (1991) because it is "not appropriate reading material for young children." Challenged in two school libraries because the book contains the word "ass" and "promotes" the use of drugs (tobacco, snuff) and whiskey. Removed from classrooms in Stafford County, Va. Schools (1995) and placed in restricted access in the library because the story contains crude language and encourages children to disobey their parents and other adults.

Frank, Anne, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

Challenged in Wise County, Va. (1982) due to "sexually offensive" passages. Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of this book because it is a "real downer."

Handford, Martin, Where's Waldo, 1988

Challenged at the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Mich. (1989), Removed from the Springs Public School library in East Hampton, N.Y. (1993) because there is a tiny drawing of a woman lying on the beach wearing a bikini bottom but no top.

Lee, Harper, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960

The book's use of racial slurs, profanity, and frank discussion of rape has led to it being challenged in libraries and classrooms in the USA.

Lewis, C S, The lion, the witch and the wardrobe

Challenged in the Howard County, Md. school system (1990) because it depicts "graphic violence, mysticism, and gore. "I'm sure the school system would rather have its children reading something which adheres to "good Christian values."

Paterson, Katherine, Bridge to Terabithia, 1977

This 1978 Newbery Medal-winning book has had several attacks from the censors, stemming from death being a part of the plot, Jess' frequent use of the word "lord" outside of prayer, and concerns that the book promotes secular humanism and New Age religions, occultism, Satanism, and for accusations of sexual content.

Pilkey, Dav, Captain Underpants (series), 1997-current

This series was challenged and banned in the US for insensitivity and being unsuited to age group, as well as encouraging children to disobey authority.

Stein, R.L, Goosebumps (series), 1992-1997

Often challenged in US libraries for their sometimes-violent content.

Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter (series), 1999-2007

These books have been constantly banned in the southern states of the USA because their depiction of the supernatural is seen as anti-Christian. Some further claim that the books promote certain political agendas.

Sendak, Maurice, In the night kitchen, 1970

Objected to because the main character, a small boy called Mickey, is shown with no clothes on. In Springfield, Missouri, this was corrected by drawing shorts on Mickey.

Sewell, Anna, Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse, 1877

This was banned in South Africa for the use of 'black' in the title, during apartheid.

Seuss, Dr, The Lorax, 1971

This was banned in some parts of the US for being an 'allegorical political commentary', criticising the logging industry.

Twain, Mark, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1884

This was/is banned in many high schools in the USA for racism and frequent use of the word 'nigger'. Amusingly, CBS made a movie of it with no blacks and no mention of slavery!

Williams, Garth, The rabbits' wedding, 1958

This was put on a "reserve" shelf in the public library of Montgomery, Alabama, because the illustrations showed an "interracial" couple with one black and one white rabbit.