Banned Books Week: Children's Classics Edition

On this final day of Banned Books Week 2013, let's take a look at the classics of children's literature that some adults have deemed unsuitable for young minds. 

That Wilbur the pig and the other animals on Zuckerman's farm could talk is "an insult to God," according to those who've banned Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White.

 
For reasons that range from "too depressing" to "promoting witchcraft" to "criminalizing the foresting industry," many classics of children's literature have been routinely banned in the United States. Buzzfeed compiled a list of the "15 Children's Books That Have Been Banned in America." Some of them are:
  

Immediately following its initial publication in 1963, Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are was targeted by a number of Southern U.S. states for promoting "witchcraft and supernatural events," according to Buzzfeed.

Since the 1960s, Alice in Wonderland (also Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) by Lewis Carroll has been banned out of fear that it promotes drug use to children, reported Buzzfeed. I have to say that listening to Jefferson Airplane's 1967 hit "White Rabbit" has recently got me to purchase a copy of Alice so that I can see if I can pick up on any drug references re-reading it as an adult.

As was the case with Charlotte's Web, Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne has also become forbidden reading because Pooh and the other animal inhabitants of Hundred Acre Wood can talk and thus are "an insult to God," said Buzzfeed.

Of all books, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary was banned because an edition of it contains the definition of oral sex, thus offending the sensibilities of some adults residing in the state of California, according to Buzzfeed.

To take a look at all "15 Classic Children's Books That Have Been Banned in America," check out Buzzfeed's article at THIS LINK. 

All above images from http://www.buzzfeed.com 

Book-Centric Google Doodles Are the Best

Who doesn't love a good Google Doodle? The typically playful alteration of the company logo on Google's homepage is always a welcome attention-grabber. 

An already good Google Doodle is even better when it's book-related. Whether it's recognizing the birthday of a celebrated writer or commemorating the anniversary of a classic work of literature, a Google Doodle that is literary in nature never ceases to delight, especially when it's both clever and whimsical. For instance, check out the above doodle celebrating Dr. Suess' 105th birthday.

Another favorite is the one that served as a tribute to Richard Scarry on what would've been his 92nd birthday. As a child, I had many of his books, including the ABC Word Book, Best Mother Goose Ever, Best Word Book Ever, Please and Thank You Book, and Mr. Paint Pig's ABC's. I used to spend hours staring at the densely illustrated, intensely colorful pages filled with anthropomorphic animals dressed in quaint outfits and doing silly things. The Google Doodle marking his birthday perfectly captured the essence of his children's books.

There's also the Google Doodle that honored Maurice Sendak on the occasion of his 85th birthday. It features a frolicking Max, the young boy at the center of his 1963 children's book, Where the Wild Things Are. As if seeing Max in his wolf costume wasn't enough to bring a smile to your face, the doodle was also animated. You can CLICK HERE to enjoy it. (On a related note, if you're in New York City between now and August 17, be sure to check out the exhibit "Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work" at the Society of Illustrators.) 

In its article "Best of Literary Google Doodles," BookRiot spotlights the above doodles and several more, including ones lauding Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Beatrix Potter, Will Eisner, and Franz Kafka. To see them all, go to THIS LINK.

Amazing 'Where the Wild Things Are' Amigurumi

I need to make these right now! Time to dust off the ol' crochet hook...

Image from http://bookriot.com/2013/03/11/9-itty-bitty-literary-crafts/

Christopher Walken Reads 'Where the Wild Things Are'

Christopher Walken has made a career out of playing characters creepy enough to make your skin crawl. So his isn't exactly the first name that comes to mind when envisioning a narrator of a children's book.

Christopher Walken

Yet here he is (or someone that sounds a lot like him), reading Where the Wild Things Are, the classic 1963 children's book written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Since Where the Wild Things Are is mostly comprised of illustrations, Walken does take some humorous(ly disturbing) liberties in interpreting the perennially popular book. Enjoy his unique telling in the video below.