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Group Boycotts Scholastic Over Book Portraying Lesbian Moms
Scholastic is learning this lesson the hard way: You can’t please everyone, so you better please yourself.
The controversy (this time) surrounds Lauren Myracle’s book for older elementary kids, Luv Ya Bunches. The book, which features a character with two mothers, was initially banned from Scholastic book fairs. When that caused an uproar among parents, Scholastic “compromised” by allowing it into their middle school fairs.
Whew, so that’s settled, right? Wrong.
The Illinois Family Institute is now calling for parents to boycott Scholastic for allowing book selections that feature LGBT issues.
Parents are being asked to request that the Scholastic book order not be sent home with their child, and that their student not be taken to the book fair when it comes to their school. In addition, there’s a form letter that reads:
“As long as Scholastic Books chooses to sell and promote books that contain offensive content that we believe harms individuals, undermines the natural family, and corrupts society, we will purchase books for our children elsewhere.”
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, huh Scholastic? I think that being one of the largest education publishers in the world comes with a price: You’ve got to do what you think is right, even if it means that someone, somewhere is going to think you’re wrong.
Scholastic is clearly trying to walk a line here: They’ve agreed to add the book, but only to middle school students — even though the book is clearly written for the elementary crowd. I think it’s time for them to decide whether they want to appeal to a “wide range of interests and reading abilities of children in the many diverse cultures and communities we serve,” or whether they’re just trying to sell books.
Would you care if a book like Luv Ya Bunches sat on the shelf during your child’s book fair?
Photo: Amulet Books
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13 Comments
[...] when it comes to this particular brouhaha, a blogger at StrollerDerby may have summed it up best: “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, huh [...]
Gay characters make problems for Scholastic Books | csmonitor.com commented on Nov 05 09 at 6:35 pmMOM3 commented on Nov 04 09 at 12:06 pmComments
I buy from the Scholastic book fair and I buy from the fliers every month. My daughter is in elementary school. Would I buy the book mentioned? If my daughter wanted it, sure. We would read it together and talk about it. I’m going to buy the book now just because! The Jesus we love teaches us to love everyone, no matter who, what or where. Want something to read super conservative people? How about the bible you speak of???
Becky Levine commented on Nov 04 09 at 12:52 pmI would hope that it would.
Manjari commented on Nov 04 09 at 2:30 pmThe Illonois Family Institute can bite me.
matt commented on Nov 04 09 at 2:38 pmHonest to God, I don’t understand the terror that people have that someone in their family might read a book they disagree with.
Sara commented on Nov 04 09 at 7:09 pmOh no. Their kids might learn that gay people exist. AAAAAAAAH
Lizzie commented on Nov 05 09 at 12:33 amHeh heh heh…and if the kids went to our Scholastic Book Fair (which ends tomorrow) they could buy it from the lesbian co-chair–me!
maeby commented on Nov 06 09 at 8:52 amMOM3 i very much love hearing from Jesus lovers with open minds and open hearts!
Mardi commented on Nov 06 09 at 10:17 amI don’t think that the “natural family” is in jeopardy.
Ri-chan commented on Nov 09 09 at 12:58 pmI think people should be organizing protests over more important things, like stopping world hunger or raising money to help get vaccines in 3rd world countries. Instead they’d rather bully people they don’t even know and try to take away their rights. I hope the leader of this movement has a kid, and I hope the kid turns out gay, so there :P
Angie commented on Nov 10 09 at 10:57 amHi Bethany! I can appreciate your perspective here. I also wasn’t happy that Scholastic was only offering the book to middle grades. But I read the book this weekend, and I have to disagree with you that the book was “clearly written for the elementary crowd.” Just curious to know if you read the book? I’m not trying to be confrontational, I swear! The School Library Journal article didn’t mention that there is talk about a pole dancer, an erect penis and suicide. My opinion is the material in this book is too mature for my daughter (she’s in the fifth grade.) There’s also a scene where a 4-year-old is attacked and called a racist name. The book includes words like “slutty” and “ballsy.” I was very surprised when I read this book, especially since the School Library Journal article made it seem like “crap” was the worst language in the book. If you check the Barnes and Noble site, they list the age group for this book as 12 and up.
BC commented on Jan 13 10 at 1:27 pmWhy is a news group even giving these nuts attention? Anyone else actually try to read the Illinois Family Institute website? It’s gross, it’s offensive and it’s deliberately discriminatory. Just boycott them and don’t do anymore articles about them.
Heidi commented on Dec 11 11 at 9:05 pmIf you don’t want your class to buy a book just cross it off the order sheet, and explain to the parents why. I worked at a private Christian school and did it all the time for book that did not match the views of the school. It is no big deal.
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