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Home > ATLarts > Archives > 2008 > September > 29 > Entry
Banned books and penguins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week is Banned Books Week, an annual public awareness campaign sponsored by the American Library Association and other groups. Every year they publish a list of the most challenges from the previous year, the vast majority of which happen in school settings.
I was very surprised to see this year’s winner was a book I’d never heard of: a children’s book called “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell.
It beat out perennial whipping posts like “Huck Finn” by Mark Twain and “His Dark Materials” by Phillip Putnam. Heck, “Catcher in the Rye” didn’t even make the Top 10!
So what’s wrong with “And Tango Makes Three?” The ALA lists the reasons that were given for attempts to yank it off library shelves, and they include “Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group.”
Wow. That must be one pretty offensive book. So what is it about, anyway?
Here’s a summary of “Tango,” courtesy of Wikipedia:
“The book is based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male Chinstrap Penguins in New York’s Central Park Zoo who for six years formed a couple. The book follows part of this time in the penguins’ lives. This book aims to send the reader the message that it is okay to be in, or know someone who has, a “non-traditional” family.”
So basically, the culture wars now include penguins.
I’d ask for opinions on this topic, but I have a feeling you’ll give them whether I ask or not.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Books
Comments
By thejoker
September 29, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
But who’s Tango?
By V for Vendetta
September 29, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
This is just another example of how much of our Puritan-derived society practices nothing but hypocrisy. Books such as the Harry Potter series, His Dark Materials trilogy, and ANYTHING that even remotely dares to mention homosexuality are scorned by the same people who sit together every Sunday and talk about love. Maybe someone should write a book about THAT. Heck, they’d probably just want to ban it.
By T
September 29, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
LOL, What?
By Mark Duncan
September 29, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
I have this book, my daughter is 2 1/2 years old and it is one of the books she likes for the pictures. I like the story and think it is totally acceptable. It does hint that that they were forced into this “Penguin lifestyle” but oh well it is my daughter’s first lesson in “Other people are different and that is OK” so it broaches the subject as a simply logistics issue. More importantly for me is that she learns early in life that people are different in many, many ways. This book may not be everyones cup of tea - hell, it is not my first book choice either - BUT - it in no way belongs on a list such as this.. I cannot belive I am wasting part of my lunch hour writing this. The irony is that becuase it is on this list it will get much free publicity and sales will increase! More to burn later I guess.
By Phil Kloer
September 29, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
The zookeepers gave them an egg to hatch together from another penguin couple that had had problems hatching an egg. They hatched it, and the girl penguin was named Tango by zookeepers. They “raised” Tango together. Again, according to Wikipedia.
By DM
September 29, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
When I first heard about this very sweet book, I purchased it for my grandaughter. She is now 5 and it remains one of her favorite books. She grasps the concepts of same sex parents and has never blinked an eye at it. She’s being taught to accept people just the way they are. I think Mr. Rogers would approve.
By Enough
September 29, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Especially given Phil’s last update….everyone knows what this story is trying to convey! They knew that main stream Americans would never allow the book if the characters were human….so, they made them cute fuzzy animals & kept the moral the same. That way, when people with mainstream values speak out….they can try to make us look stupid by saying “oh, now there are ‘hidden messages’ in books about penguins? You people are crazy”….Sad thing is that it works! But, it doesn’t change the facts: 1) it is totally inappropriate for children 2) It is an immoral message in the eyes of a vast majority of Americans 3) Tax dollars should not be spent to have this book on the shelves….if Barnes & Noble wants to carry it and you want to buy it for your kid….fine….that’s what the 1st amendment is all about! But, it does not belong in a public library…
By Fun times
September 29, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
My childrens book about animal porn was also banned. I don’t undestand why. It was just pictures of little furry animals having “fun”.
By Mike D
September 29, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
I would like to see more books about:
Books with real world examples like this will help our children adjust to real life situations.
By Edward
September 29, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
It appears that people like Enough, Fun times, and Mike D need more education. Such bitter whining over a TRUE STORY about REAL PENGUINS in a zoo can only mean these people are self-righteous bigots with nothing better to do than tell other people how to live. Get off your cross, the wood would make a better piece of furniture somewhere else.
By John
September 29, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
I’m against book banning, and hate the culture wars being waged by fanatics. And I haven’t seen “tango” but maybe we shouldn’t use real-life zoo stories to illustrate tolerance of non-traditional human families. I mean, isn’t it like saying “Penguins don’t invade Iraq in pre-emptive strikes, driven by oil greed, so neither should we.” Nature’s examples sometimes have no true relavance.
By Pie
September 29, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
I like pie!!!!
By Enough
September 29, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Dear Edward, I simply said that my TAX DOLLARS should not be used to push this agenda any more than they should be used for a library to buy a Bible, Torah, etc. Again, if you want to buy this book for your children, that is your choice. I would defend the publishers right to print it all day long. But, making me pay for thousands of copies to place in public libraries is unacceptable. It is not a “true” story about “real penguins”….but, you knew that when you said it. Also, as a Jewish woman…I think that is the first time I have ever been accused of “being on a cross”….I hope you have a wonderful week and find peace in whatever it is that has you so angry.
By John
September 29, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Dear Enough: Regarding your first post: If the characters were human, why would they be in a zoo? And why would they sit on a penguin egg. you are obviously confused
By Enough
September 29, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Come on John….now you’re trying to tell me you haven’t heard of the latest recreation of the loony-left….”Penguin Egg Sitting”…..the craze is sweeping the nation! It’s part of a reparations package for melting all the ice at the south pole through Global Warming caused by human activity. We sit on their eggs so that they can stay in the very cold water and not get too warm! What rock have you been living under that you haven’t heard of this???
By Karuna
September 29, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
I love banned book week because it shows us what we are going against and why we are going against it. Now when I heard that the Harry Potter series was on the banned book list I was in shock!I was like who would want to ban these books and then I remembered that the christians who were really huge on following the laws of their religion were against witchcraft. most of my friends who are christain read it anyway. I will always support banned book week and make sure that any banned book that I know of will always stay on shelves. GO BANNED BOOK WEEK!!!!!!!
Karuna Nikajawa (fake name)
By Edward
September 30, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Enough: My tax dollars have just as much relevance as yours. How about my tax dollars not subsidizing your religious institutions? Do you really want to venture down that road? Your particular religion is irrelevant, it is your demand that everyone else abide by your bigoted and narrow view of life that is at issue. I’m not the one who is whining and bitter here, you are.
BTW, the basis of the “Tango…” book most certainly is true. But then, truth has never been a big virtue among the religious types except as empty platitudes.