April 12, 2016
Books That Some People Really Don't Like
Every year the American Library Association publishes a list of the most challenged books in schools and libraries. The top ten most challenged books of 2015 include:
- Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. - Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James
Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other ("poorly written," "concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it"). - I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Reasons: Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group. - Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: Anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other ("wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints"). - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
Reasons: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other ("profanity and atheism"). - The Holy Bible
Reasons: Religious viewpoint. - Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel
Reasons: Violence and other ("graphic images"). - Habibi, by Craig Thompson
Reasons: Nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. - Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter
Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence. - Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan
Reasons: Homosexuality and other ("condones public displays of affection").
April 05, 2016
Upcoming Authors - Spring 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 7 pm – Author/illustrator Henry Cole talks about his new picture book, Spot the Cat
Sunday, April 24, 3 pm – Author/illustrator Lulu Delacre reads and discusses her new bilingual alphabet book, Olinguito, From A to Z! (Note: This will be a bilingual -- Spanish-English -- event)
Thursday, April 28, 7 pm – Author/illustrator Kevin McCloskey discusses his new graphic novel non-fiction beginning reader, The Poop on Pigeons.
Monday, May 2 Tuesday May 3, 7 pm – Picture book star Mac Barnett presents his newest book, Rules of the House.
Friday, May 6, 7:30 pm – Author & humorist Dave Barry talks about his new kids’ novel, The Worst Night Ever, a sequel to his best-selling book "The Worst Class Trip Ever." (Note: This event is in the Takoma Park Community Center auditorium, 7500 Maple Ave.)
Saturday, May 7, 3 pm – Caldecott Honor illustrator Molly Idle presents the latest in her Flora picture book series, Flora and the Peacocks.
Thursday, May 19, 7:30 p.m. – 2016 Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall and author John Bemelmans Marciano launch their new chapter book series, The Witches of Benevento.
Friday, May 20, 7:30 pm – Graphic novelist Maris Wicks highlights her new book, Science Comics: Coral Reefs, Cities of the Ocean
Tuesday, June 7, 7 pm – Debut author (and Takoma Park resident!) Minh Lê launches his picture book, Let Me Finish!
Thursday, June 9, 7 pm – Graphic novelist Ben Hatke spotlights his new picture book, Nobody Likes a Goblin.