This is what I get for deciding to embrace the fall
I get tomorrow's forecast, which looks like this:
Rain/SnowLikely
Hi 51F
Yeah, the weather is on my craplist. That mess ain't even right.
Fortunately for me, tomorrow is the start of Banned Books Week, about which I am very excited. I mean, sure, my director decided to leave that same week in what can only be an effort to steal the First Amendment's thunder. But that's okay.
Here's what I have on the roster, and I'm glad now that it's a low-key as it is, given everything that's happened since the initial plans were made.
We've made pirate-themed displays to go with this year's theme, and we're displaying copies of books from the ALA's 100 Most Frequently Challenged books of 1990-2000 list. I've also made brochures that include that list and the list of the big challenged books for 2006.
We're doing a drawing during the week, and I have 14 copies of books like The Giver, Bridge to Terabithia, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Witches to give as prizes. I also bought bookmarks to give out, and 2 of the ALA posters.
We have "I read banned books" buttons to wear during the week.
I kind of really, really wanted this canvas tote. I couldn't decide though if it was fabulous or if I was just turning into an Education Week participant and my next step would be denim jumpers and white Keds.
Anyway. Which banned book are you going to read next week to celebrate?
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
21 comments:
I think I'm going to read To Kill a Mockingbird, since I've never actuall read it. So exciting! I love the buttons. And the bag is cute. I would use it for my library bag. Or you can use if for a grocery bag. Or the bag you fill with precious things when you come visit me.
I love banned books. I have several in my personal library. So if something is banned from his school library, he can still read it.
I'd take that bag to church to make everyone gasp.
I finished Slumming and loved it every bit as much as I did the first time I read it. I'm pretty sure someone's tried to get that book banned somewhere. 'Cause it's just that good.
I think I will go check out In The Night Kitchen and read it with my little boy.
Nem, Can I please please please have one of those buttons?????? I don't know if our library is doing anything that cute. I want one so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't see the bag as the church blocked the picture. I guess we don't look at banned pictures, huh?
You have inspired me to re-read To Kill a Mockingbird.
I echo desmama--soooo want to take that bag to church.
I want that badge! And the bag.
Sadly, I will only be reading books so boring that they would never even get on the banning radar.
I haven't read Huck Finn in while. I think that may be next. Or anything Steinbeck. Grapes of Wrath is just...well...sublime.
And I really want to borrow Desmama's copy of Slumming. Too bad I'm seven hundred miles away instead of the former seven blocks.
My own recomendation of the week is EM Forster's A Room With A View. Gorgeous. The movie adapation is also one of the best I've ever seen--perfect girls' night in.
You should totally get that cute canvas bag and send me one for my upcoming birthday.
BTW, my denim jumper and white keds are long gone. :)
Hmmm... I just read "Daddy's Roommate" because it was checked in at the library where I work. And I thought, Huh. I bet this book gets banned a lot. Looks like it's number 2.
And I'm just reading the list now to see...and I--WHAT? "Where's Waldo?"
Good grief. Maybe I'll read that particular cesspool of immoral filth.
I'm going to give Bridge to Terabithia a go. I haven't seen the movie, but I did hear enough about the story to intrigue me.
When my kids were young, I read aloud to them. Some of the books we enjoyed are on the list such as Bridge to Terebithia, The Giver, The Boy Who Lost His Face and The Witches. Roald Dahl and Louis Sacher were favorites. I'll always remember my boys literally rolling on the floor with laughter at the Frobscottle and Whizpoppers chapter of The BFG! I think I will read The Chocolate War next week.
Tote bags = slippery slope. Just say no.
Love the buttons and the tote bag. You should also make yourself a t-shirt, kind of along the lines of your other shirt, but says: b***h who reads banned books.
Of the list that you linked to, I have read 22 of the banned books. Not too shabby.
Also I found it ironic that the top of the 2006 list was a book based on an incident that really happened at the Central Park Zoo. Funny how often people want to ban the truth, even some people who claim to love nothing more than truth. I feel like that about a lot of the banned books, that they may be writing about difficult, even ugly, subjects, they still speak truth. Grapes of Wrath was a heart-wrenching book to read. I've never cried so much while reading a book as I did when they tipped those oranges into the river. But I never wish I hadn't read it.
"Where's Waldo?" is a banned book? I think I'm going to give Bridge to Terebithia a try.
I am going to make a tote bag that says "Banned Books Are My Bag." And I will sell them at Education Week and library conventions.
Hi, I found you thru Kristen, I am really enjoying your blog.
I went to the library yesterday and they had a big display out with caution tape, around the banned books. It was really cute. I've read about 50% of the books on the list, but I was very surprised that Where's Waldo made the banned book list? Any ideas on that? It's a picture book, I'm confused.
I'm not reading a banned book this week, but I am proud to say that I do own quite a few off the list--so I think I'm good. Who ever is selling banned books at Ed Week, it totally my hero!
Hi Eden, thanks for reading! I think one of the gripes people had with Waldo is that in one of the pictures you can see the side of a woman's breast--the beach pic where the sunbather gets an ice cream cone smashed on her back.
Really smutty stuff.
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