Banned Bookbag Booklet
on
Old Classics
on
Old Classics
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General Information on the topics on Old ClassicsBackground information on each book, why they were banned, and discussion questions for you and your child
More Information You can Find Online
(Use the included QR code or visit the FFPLTC website)
More recent books on the topics discussed above
Further resources for you to talk about tough subjects with your child
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...Old ClassicsLoading...
Let's focus on history and how to approach reading older classics to children that have outdated views (i.e., racist depictions).When it comes to old classics (especially those we loved as children ourselves), with outdated views, people think it boils down to two choices: to excise these books from libraries and school curriculums; or to be present with your child and have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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
Tintin in America by Hergé
Existing in Volume 1 of The Adventures of Tintin in our library and originally published in 1932 by a Belgian cartoonist, Tintin in America had three challenges against it in 2015. Firstly, a First Nations educator objected to the sale of this graphic novel in March due to “the impact of racist images” and “the perpetuation of harmful narratives” at a Chapters bookstore in Winnipeg. The book was briefly pulled from shelves, but shortly returned after an investigation of the books’ content. Due to this, Winnipeg’s public library also reviewed the book due to “anti-ethnicity, inaccuracy, insensitivity, offensive language, and racism.” In June, the book was moved to the adult graphic novel section. Lastly, the book was challenged in December by a patron in an Ontario public library for similar reasons. Like in Winnipeg, the book was moved to the adult graphic novel section. The library also recommended that parents read the book with their children to put the book’s content into historical context.
Questions for Tintin in America
1. This book was written in 1932 by a Belgian, not an American despite it being set in America. Does this change how we view how the First Nations characters are shown?
2. If someone who wasn't from Fort Frances came here, wrote a book about it, and all the characters from Fort Frances were portrayed as mean, rude, and hated fishing, how would that make you feel?
3. A stereotype is when we make assumptions about people based on something they can't control, like their ability, age, gender, race, and more. Stereotypes often happen when we don't spend enough time around people who are different from us in some way. Can you think of any stereotypes? How do you think stereotypes hurt people?
1. This book was written in 1932 by a Belgian, not an American despite it being set in America. Does this change how we view how the First Nations characters are shown?
2. If someone who wasn't from Fort Frances came here, wrote a book about it, and all the characters from Fort Frances were portrayed as mean, rude, and hated fishing, how would that make you feel?
3. A stereotype is when we make assumptions about people based on something they can't control, like their ability, age, gender, race, and more. Stereotypes often happen when we don't spend enough time around people who are different from us in some way. Can you think of any stereotypes? How do you think stereotypes hurt people?
Tintin, a reporter for Le Petit Vingtième, and his dog Snowy go on an assignment to fight against Chicago's organized crime syndicate. After run-ins with Al Capone and his rival Bobby Smiles (both based on real people), Tintin pursues Smiles out west to the fictional Midwestern town of R*dsk*n City. Smiles convinces a tribe of Blackfoot Native Americans that Tintin is their enemy, and when Tintin arrives, he is captured and threatened with execution. The plot continues on from here, with Tintin later returning to Chicago and later to his home in Europe, but for the purposes of this bookbag, we'll be focusing on the part concerning the Native American tribe, whose appearance begins on page 163.
Throughout this sequence, white characters refer to the natives as "r*dsk*ns" while they are characterized as foolish, superstitious, and violent among other things. The history of First Nations' relationship with settlers in the United States is certainly as fraught with tension and racism as Canada's is. As Fort Frances exists on the territory of Treaty 3, the traditional land of the Anishinaabe people while noting that the local Metis Nation also shares spiritual history with this land, it's important to discuss historic and contemporary tensions between First Nations and settlers with your children.
Throughout this sequence, white characters refer to the natives as "r*dsk*ns" while they are characterized as foolish, superstitious, and violent among other things. The history of First Nations' relationship with settlers in the United States is certainly as fraught with tension and racism as Canada's is. As Fort Frances exists on the territory of Treaty 3, the traditional land of the Anishinaabe people while noting that the local Metis Nation also shares spiritual history with this land, it's important to discuss historic and contemporary tensions between First Nations and settlers with your children.
If I Ran a Zoo by Dr. Seuss [On Libby]
Like Tintin, many Dr. Seuss books are beloved…but are also old and carry with them images that do not match the values many of us hold today. The problematic pages can be found on page 22, page 34, page 42, and page 52.
Questions for If I Ran a Zoo
1. What if you ran a zoo? What animals would you want in it? How would you take care of them?
2. What imaginary animals would you put in your zoo if you could?
3. What was your favourite animal you saw in If I Ran a Zoo?
1. What if you ran a zoo? What animals would you want in it? How would you take care of them?
2. What imaginary animals would you put in your zoo if you could?
3. What was your favourite animal you saw in If I Ran a Zoo?
4. Do you think it is right to keep wild animals in a zoo? What are some good and bad reasons?
5. Do you see any images in the book that you think would upset people? Why?
5. Do you see any images in the book that you think would upset people? Why?
If I Ran a Zoo was published in 1950 and challenged by a BC public library patron in 2015 due to “ethnic stereotyping”, especially against Asian and Black characters. The library kept the book.