A Look at Censorship: James and the Giant Peach

Is censorship moral? Those who argue in favor would say it is necessary in order to uphold morals. However, to deny others access to certain books or ideas is not only unconstitutional, but immoral as well. Parents have a right to censor the material they allow their children access to, but it is wrong to take that right away from others.

In addition, censorship creates a false sense of reality for developing minds. According to the American Library Association, "censorship is harmful because it results in the opposite of true education and learning. In the process of acquiring knowledge and searching for truth, students can learn to discriminate - to make decisions rationally and logically in light of the evidence. By suppressing all materials containing ideas or themes with which they do not agree, censors produce a sterile conformity and a lack of intellectual and emotional growth in students" (ALA, 2000).

You may be surprised by the many different books that have been censored in the past. One of those books was James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl.

This beloved children's tale has been challenged repeatedly in the past for several reasons, including:

• promoting mysticism
• sexual inferences
• profanity
• racism
• references to tobacco and alcohol use, and
• promotion of negative body images

While the list of accusations may seem surprising and outlandish, it does nothing to show the quality of the book itself. James and the Giant Peach is a wonderfully imaginative tale portraying the strength of the human spirit, diversity, and friendship.  

As with any book, teachers should be aware of any questionable content before presenting the book. Parents should be notified ahead of time to allow them to express any concerns, and provided with the educational reasons as to why this particular book was selected. During instruction, teachers should also be prepared to address any concerns the students may have about the material. 

Appropriate for ages 8-12, James and the Giant Peach might be used through upper elementary and even middle school as a literary study on descriptive language, characterization, or theme. In addition, the book has merit as a cross-curricula study for science (floatation), and social skills development.

Literature Genre: Fantasy
Lexile Score: AD 870L
Appropriate for ages: 8-12 

Issues and Trends in Children's Literature

What's the latest in children's literature? How is it changing? How does this affect your child's school? This week I met with our local elementary school librarian to find out the answers to these questions. 

Q. How long have you worked as a children's librarian?
A. I have worked as a children's librarian since 1999, 18 years.

Q. What certifications or training did you need to complete to be qualified as a children's librarian?
A. In the state of Louisiana, you need to have worked as a teacher for at least 3 years, then you also must get your library certification which is an additional 21 credit hours.

Q. How would you describe what you do at the school?
A. Basically, my job is to enrich the language arts instruction that happens at the school. I look at the curriculum and standards for each grade and make my lesson plans based on what each grade level is focusing on. I also work with reading recovery groups to assist students who are reading below grade level.

Q. What do you do to stay current with the issues and trends in children's literature?
A. I attend professional development for the school district twice each year. I also subscribe to a couple of professional journals which provide reviews of the latest books. My favorite is School Library Journal. Our library's book supplier also sends me a regular publication with new book reviews.

Q. What issues or trends in children's literature have you noticed in recent years?
A. In general I have noticed a trend towards more controversial topics in earlier elementary level books. The books are written to be age appropriate, but the subject matter is much more mature. I've also noticed that more children's books are written specifically to align with curriculum standards. The new books coming out are more agenda driven. Also, as technology improves, we are working a lot more with the internet than we used to. One new resource we are using a lot right now is pebblego.com. This is a an online children's encyclopedia which can be used in the classroom for research and instruction.

Q. Can you name any author's or illustrators who exemplify these trends?
A.  I know the author Judy Blume has produced some controversial books, such as Forever, but most of these types of books are at a higher reading level than we cover in lower elementary.

Q. How have these trends affected the selection of books you bring into the library or use in the classroom?
A. Because we work with such a young age group, I really don't work with a lot of controversial material. I am not trying to censor what I put in my library, but I make decisions based on what books I think the students can benefit from and that align to standards. Any books I choose have to be approved at the school and district level before I can purchase them so I need to have an understanding at what types of books would be seen as acceptable and relevant to the curriculum.

Q. What would you say is the biggest challenge in your work?
A. I think librarians tend to get a reputation as being someone who sits around reading books all day. I wish librarians were given more respect for the professionals they are and the service they provide in supporting literacy.

Q. What is one thing you would like to see change in your school?
A.  I would like to see more expansion of reading enrichment programs. Currently, we just focus on students who struggle with literacy. I would also like to start some groups with students who are advanced readers.

Q. What do you enjoy the most about what you do?
A. The best thing about working as a children's librarian is getting to see kids learn to love reading. It's very rewarding to watch a child develop from kindergarten into 2nd grade and see their progress.

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This interview really helped me appreciate the work that librarians do in schools, and how school libraries share many of the current issues and trends affecting public libraries. According to the 2016 State of America's Libraries Report, two of the more pressing issues affecting libraries today are media literacy instruction and censorship (American Library Association, 2017). In fact, on the issue of censorship, a 2015 Harris poll showed that the percentage of people who agree with censorship has increased by more than half since 2011. 

Libraries reflect the communities they belong to. As they reflect the diversity and trends of society, they must also reflect the conflicts that arise as a result. It is clear that the job of librarian is more than just a cataloger of books. Rather, a librarian is a dedicated professional who serves as a unifier by balancing the community's diverse needs and preferences. 

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

You might not think much about the weather, but what if the weather was food?

In this delightful tale children are transported to the fantastical town of Chewandswallow where the weather provides a buffet of interesting meals three times a day! From showers of orange juice for breakfast, to storms of hamburgers for dinner, the citizens of Chewandswallow just need to watch the weather reports to know what's on the menu. All is well until the weather takes a turn for the worse and the storms become dangerous. Now the townspeople must find a solution before it is too late!   

With beautifully detailed artwork, this fun and unique story is sure to spark any child's imagination and sense of wonder. 

Literature Genre: Fantasy 
Lexile Score: AD 730L
Appropriate for ages 4-8

"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" has been one of my favorite books since I was young because it shows how we can see wonder in the world around us. The drawings, in particular, really help bring this story to life and transport the reader to a different world. Mundane events, such as the weather, that I would have normally disregarded as a child, took on a whole new life because of this book. I find this story to be fun and engaging while the simple message rings true: the world is a magical place if we only make the effort to see it that way.