Old Classics

Banned Bookbag Booklet
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Old Classics

...Old Classics

Let's focus on history and how to approach reading older classics to children that have outdated views (i.e., racist depictions).

When it comes to old classics (especially those we loved as children ourselves), with outdated views, people think it boils down to two choices: to excise these books from libraries and school curriculums; or to be present with your child and have conversations about the content.

As librarians, we think you'll know which one we'd prefer you do. Still, that puts a huge task in front of you. We hope with this booklet and other resources we provide, we can make that conversation with your child easier, should you choose to have it.

Avoiding discussion about differences between people simply won't work, and children will inevitably witness or experience discrimination that happens because of those differences. It's in how we decide to tackle those conversations that matter.

It's important for you to know that just because books are written for children, doesn't mean they're completely innocent. While they may appear simple, children's books are anything but, and it's good to develop a more complex and critical relationship with them, even the books we loved. Especially the books we loved.

Unlearn myths about history and social progress. Many excuse older books because "they are a product of their time" or "that's how they thought back then." If all people everywhere thought the same, we wouldn't have progress.

Racism isn't "either/or." Dr. Seuss, who has a few books in this booklet, wrote both racist and anti-racist books, often in the same period of his career. If I Ran a Zoo contains racist caricatures while Horton Hears a Who! has anti-discrimination messages. With that in mind...

Racism is still racism even when we don't intend it. Considering the breadth of Dr. Seuss's work, it's likely he didn't intend to be racist with his images. He might not have seen them as harmful. But that doesn't mean they aren't racist.

Inevitably, you won't see some racism. When everyone grows up in a world where racism is the norm, there are some ideas, images, and words that we might consider natural, but could be harmful to others. It's important for you to ask questions.

Get children to question what they are seeing in the media they consume. As we are attempting to do with this booklet, ask children to consider what roles characters are playing, if the book discusses the "bigger picture" (history, social, or political context), and who has power and agency within the story.

Foster the egalitarian impulse. While our brains might create automatic assumptions, we can overcome that by fostering the concept of fairness in children, and to call out unfairness when we see it, whether that's in books, movies, or inside ourselves.

Some general questions you can discuss with your child while reading:

1. In older books, we often see pictures and words that are outdated or different to how we think now. Should we keep old books as they are or should we change them to fit how we view the world now? What would be the good and bad parts of this?

2. What can older books teach us?

3. What if your parents or grandparents love this book?

4. Why do you think the author used bad words to describe people?

5. What if someone made a rule that says everyone with [your child’s hair or eye colour] must eat a different snack at snack time than the rest of the class? Does that seem fair?

Banned Books that are Considered Old Classics

Crafts for Kids by Gill Dickinson

The image we assume got this book challenged can be found on page 63 (and maybe page 109). Page 63 depicts a white child in a feathered headband dancing wildly in a pantomime of a First Nations stereotype. Page 109 depicts an Asian child dressed up in a “Hawaiian costume” which includes a hula skirt and lei. While out of context this latter image might seem harmless, this is also the only Asian child included throughout the book in a majority white child book.

The children depicted here are not at fault. They are oblivious to the racist undertones that adults are putting them in. Crafts for Kids was also published in 2003 in Great Britain. Other countries are going to have different relationships with First Nations people, but that doesn’t justify the stereotype's inclusion. Regardless of your personal beliefs on what someone should or shouldn’t be able to do, say, or wear, if your child dresses up as other ethnicities, races, or cultures, they will likely receive criticism. While images like the ones in this book may seem harmless, and some people may find it absurd that a crafts book was challenged due to two pictures, it’s still important to acknowledge the impact they have.

Questions for Crafts for Kids

1.What is the boy on page 63 doing?

2.How would you feel if someone dressed up like you, and made fun of how you act, or what you believe?

3.Are there ways we can show appreciation or interest in a culture different from ours without being disrespectful?

Gill Dickinson is a well-known crafts expert whose projects for adults and children have appeared in numerous books and magazines. This book was published in 2003 and challenged due to concern about overly racist imagery.

Madeline and the Gypsies by Ludwig Bemelmans

The first thing to note here is that the word “gypsy” is a ethnic slur. This might be unknown to you because the Romani people, who are also referred to as Roma, Sinti, or Kale depending on the subgroup, are an ethnic group which primarily lives in Europe. The following instances of this ethnic slur will be censored out of respect for the Romani people.

The first book in the Madeline series was published in 1939, with Madeline and the G**sies being published in 1959. A life-action movie adaption, direct-to-video movie, a video game, and other media came out in the 90s, sparking new interest in this older series.

Common stereotypes given to the Roma include being thieves, criminals, and child kidnappers among others, which are displayed in Madeline and the G**sies where the character “Mama G**sy” effectively kidnaps Madeline and Pepito. Research shows that kids as young as 3 can begin to form racial biases, which become fixed by age 7. Many neuroscientific studies show that attempting to be “colorblind” just doesn’t work, and so while sharing books like this and others in the banned bookbags, it’ll be important to acknowledge things like the use of the word “g**sy” and why we don’t use language like that today.

Questions for Madeline and the G**sies

1. Have you ever gone to a fair or carnival? What was your favourite part?

2. Have you ever been separated from your parents in an unfamiliar place? How did that make you feel? How do you think Madeline and Pepito felt when they were stuck on the Ferris wheel?

3. If you were taken away to work at a carnival, how do you think your parents would feel?

4. Has anyone ever called you a bad word before? How did it make you feel?

5. Sometimes, people call each other bad names based on things they can't control, like their skin colour, their gender, or sexual orientation. Have you heard of any words like that?

6. What would you do if someone called you or one of your friends a slur while you were playing at recess?

Exists as part of Mad about Madeline: The Complete Tales book in our library. Madeline and the G**sies was published in 1959 and challenged by a patron of an Ontario public library in December 2015 as they believed the book “conveyed racist or negative stereotypes of the Roma.” The complainant wanted the book moved to a special collections section where people could read it only for research. The library ended up keeping the book where anyone could read it.