We did have a very sweet little book called ‘Anna Day and the O Ring’ when the kids were little. It was the best we had because the family structure was entirely incidental to the (very simple) story. We had other books that were just dire in their clunky treatment of the ‘issue’. I’d defend such books from those that ban, of course, but IME our kids really want excellent fiction and not a book ‘to make a point’.

I agree with you completely in regard to the Cat in the Hat. I say this because my 6 year old IS the Cat in the Hat. He’s always balancing on a ball and juggling and talking and…well…bedlam does indeed rule.

Anne of Green Gables is Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm’s equally subversive twin, though in this one there’s a “bachelor uncle” to go with the “spinster aunt.” A shy, soft-spoken bachelor uncle, nudge nudge wink wink.

Beatrix Potter also gave us Tom Kitten, another disobedient child who leads his sisters in shedding all their clothes, and their mother is clearly their examplar in wickedness since her response is to lie unashamedly to her guests. And not content with undermining authority in Tom Kitten and Peter Rabbit, Potter topped herself with The Tale of Two Bad Mice, which winks at vandalism and lawlessness. These rodents riot and loot and are rewarded for it. What do you expect from a Unitarian.

Man, the more I look the more I realize we’re going to have to sweep everything off the shelves, make a nice bonfire and restock. Do they still sell Dick and Jane?

Amy

Tango Makes Three topped the small stack of “Happy Banned Books Week” gift books I forked over to our lil’ monkey’s preschool this morning. (Other titles: Mama Eat Ant, Yuck!; two Todd Parrs, and ; Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Moms Story; and Who’s in a Family? The last one, she already had. And she met the gift bag with such warmth and gratitude. I’m thinking even if they feed her Twinkies and HoHo’s all day, it would be a fine place for her.

And AllieG: you should hear a friend of ours wax on about that book, especially the creepy stalker aspect of the mom. Should note said friend is a mom of two. I wonder: how do you, as a homeschooler (as we seem to call ‘em over here) choose your curriculum? How have you fine-tuned the family diversity material, now that you aren’t limited by what your kids do (and don’t) get in school? I may just find the right post of yours and ask this again over at Green House by the Sea.