SHILOH, Ill. - A picture book about two male penguins raising a baby penguin is getting a chilly reception among some parents who worry about the book's availability to children — and the reluctance of school administrators to restrict access to it.
The concerns are the latest involving "And Tango Makes Three," the illustrated children's book based on a true story of two male penguins in New York City's Central Park Zoo that adopted a fertilized egg and raised the chick as their own.
Complaining about the book's homosexual undertones, some parents of Shiloh Elementary School students believe the book — available to be checked out of the school's library in this 11,000-resident town 20 miles east of St. Louis — tackles topics their children aren't ready to handle.
Their request: Move the book to the library's regular shelves and restrict it to a section for mature issues, perhaps even requiring parental permission before a child can check it out.
For now, "And Tango Makes Three" will stay put, said school district Superintendent Jennifer Filyaw, though a panel she appointed suggested the book be moved and require parental permission to be checked out. The district's attorney said moving it might be construed as censorship.
Filyaw considers the book "adorable" and age appropriate, written for children ages 4 to 8.
"My feeling is that a library is to serve an entire population," she said. "It means you represent different families in a society — different religions, different beliefs."
Lilly Del Pinto thought the book looked charming when her 5-year-old daughter brought it home in September. Del Pinto said she was halfway through reading it to her daughter "when the zookeeper said the two penguins must be in love."
"That's when I ended the story," she said.
Del Pinto said her daughter's teacher told her she was unfamiliar with the book, and the school's librarian directed the mother to Filyaw.
"I wasn't armed with pitchforks or anything. I innocently was seeking answers," Del Pinto said, agreeing with Filyaw's belief that pulling the book from the shelves could constitute censorship.
The book has created similar flaps elsewhere. Earlier this year, two parents voiced concerns about the book with librarians at the Rolling Hills' Consolidated Library's branch in the northwest Missouri town of Savannah.
Barbara Read, Rolling Hills' director, has said she consulted with staff members at the Omaha, Neb., and Kansas City zoos and the University of Oklahoma's zoology department, who told her adoptions aren't unusual in the world of penguins.
She said the book was then moved to the nonfiction section because it was based on actual events. In that section, she said, there was less of a chance that the book would "blindside" someone.
"Move the book to the library's regular shelves and restrict it to a section for mature issues, perhaps even requiring parental permission before a child can check it out."
That is freakin' priceless. Talk about degredation of society. I think ignorance will harm society far greater than anything else.
I'm with you, Heck! Let's just SHELTER children, from everything....
My partner was sheltered, big time... and it's caused her more problems then anything. I feel sorry when folks believe that it's the only way to raise their children. But, it's their kids... not mine.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Why don't these tools just start burning the books they don't like. Some people just have nothing else better to do. Man penguin shalt not lay with other male penguin like it was a lady penguin. Of course, in penguins defense, they all do kind of look alike. Hope I'm not being an animal racist.
What about a-sexual organisms, are they going to hell?
it may just be me - but 6 year olds should not be reading a book about 2 male birds or anything for that matter - humping each other. i would burn a book if i had an 8 year old reading about one dude sticking another dude in the ass. sorry but they aren't old enough for that. plus, some of that material hinges on the line of porno.
i saw this kids book not long ago that had explicit information on how and what a homo and straight person is to do during "sex"
it was in the 8 year old section.
preventing an 8 or even 10 year old (or even 12yr old) from reading this is far from being protective.
Its items like this that we have 12 year olds baking babies, and the morons of the country wonder why? (book i'm talking about not the bird book with this comment)
come on now, use commonsense or do we all lack it?
I don't think the book had graphic penguin on penguin action. If it had, then no, kids aren't ready to see that.
The issue at hand is having to fictional, male penguins raising a baby penguin. Never said they were gay penguins exactly. Could be like Three Men & A Baby.
I would be astonished that so many don't see any problem with this if it weren't for positions I've read in other threads.
This book is obvious in what it's trying to convey to children. It's no wonder why as the generations pass, the society is deteriorating the way it is.
Governor Bush on Kosovo war exit strategy in 99 ” Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
President Bush on Iraq war exit strategy in 2007. “ “
But the fact is this did happen and I belive that there have been other dcoumented cases in the wild so if the book is based on facts there should be no problem.
The book is about 2 male penguins raising a baby penguin. I don’t know about fact but clearly it’s aimed at the psyche of our children.
There is a concerted effort force homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle by the gay community. Anyone who says they don’t agree with it are labeled as homophobic, just as Rosie O’Donnell just did with Clay Aiken and Kelly Ripa simply because she told Clay not to cover her mouth with his hand. This book is another effort to do so. If parents don’t agree with the book’s content, it should be pulled.
I think it’s an ugly day when people are offended at a bible being in on our schools shelves but deem this book as being something acceptable.
Governor Bush on Kosovo war exit strategy in 99 ” Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
President Bush on Iraq war exit strategy in 2007. “ “
oneofpeace said this in post #13 : The book is about 2 male penguins raising a baby penguin. I don’t know about fact but clearly it’s aimed at the psyche of our children.
By telling them the truth? Like I said there have been instances of things like this in the wild are we to ban any wildlife progarms that show this or will we just show it after the kids are in bed .
There is a concerted effort force homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle by the gay community. Anyone who says they don’t agree with it are labeled as homophobic, just as Rosie O’Donnell just did with Clay Aiken and Kelly Ripa simply because she told Clay not to cover her mouth with his hand. This book is another effort to do so. If parents don’t agree with the book’s content, it should be pulled.
So what you are saying is that a book that tells a true story of 2 male penguins raising a chick ( that would have died otherwise) is going to turn our children gay, man that's a powerful book. If that's what you belive maybe we should not let teenagers read the book as well because they are certainly open to trying new things. Of ciourse it's how you twist this book's story you say it's pink propaganda I would say it's a subtle way to teach people about adopting orphans
I think it’s an ugly day when people are offended at a bible being in on our schools shelves but deem this book as being something acceptable.
Why is it unacceptable? do you find the book in itself unaccptable?, the fact kids can read unacceptable? or the fact that it really happend unacceptable?. The basis of education should be the search fro truth if you belive that and hide this book from kids you are hypocrite.
lodgebo wrote
By telling them the truth? Like I said there have been instances of things like this in the wild are we to ban any wildlife progarms
First, I think this is very pretentious to say that this book is about wild life. Secondly, parents disagree with the content. They are the one’s paying taxes and their voices should be heard.
quote:
So what you are saying is that a book that tells a true story of 2 male penguins raising a chick ( that would have died otherwise) is going to turn our children gay,….
…..Of ciourse it's how you twist this book's story you say it's pink propaganda I would say it's a subtle way to teach people about adopting orphans
This book is about homosexual penguins raising a baby penguin, not simply about 2 male penguins raising a chick that would have otherwise died. Apparently you don’t know about the content, a content that clearly states that the two adult male penguins are in love.
Furthermore, I never said that this book was about converting children but aimed at gaining acceptance for the lifestyle. But now that you’ve mentioned this, children are impressionable. I’m sure some children will be confused about this content and yes it may encourage some to think it’s ok and ok to engage in such behavior.
quote:
Why is it unacceptable? do you find the book in itself unaccptable?, the fact kids can read unacceptable? or the fact that it really happend unacceptable?. The basis of education should be the search fro truth if you belive that and hide this book from kids you are hypocrite.
Like I said earlier, the day when people are at arms about a bible being in our schools while protecting this book as a right to be there highlights social issues if you ask me. And because a subject matter may be truth, doesn’t mean our kids should be exposed to it. If that’s the case, why not a book on prostitution? After all, that’s truth too, isn’t it?
Governor Bush on Kosovo war exit strategy in 99 ” Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
President Bush on Iraq war exit strategy in 2007. “ “
11-17-2006 05:03 PM
The heavens must be shaking because this book was made.
That is freakin' priceless. Talk about degredation of society. I think ignorance will harm society far greater than anything else.
