This week it was reported that Scholastic Books had chosen to censor, or not include, Lauren Myracle's book, Luv Ya Bunches, in their book fairs. The book features a character with lesbian mothers.
After Change.org got wind of this, an online letter writing campaign began and thousands wrote in expressing their concern over this censorship.
It must have done the trick, for in less than 48 hours, the book was added to the spring book fair list and Scholastic Books responded with the following letter:
"Scholastic does not censor books. We review thousands of titles each year for our book clubs and book fairs, and we are committed to a review process that considers all books equally regardless of their inclusion of LGBT characters and same sex parents. In an interview with School Library Journal, Scholastic stated that we are currently carrying Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle in our school book clubs. We also said we were still reviewing the book for possible inclusion in our book fairs. Having completed our review of Luv Ya Bunches, Scholastic Book Fairs will carry the title in our spring fairs for middle school.
Scholastic is proud of our long history of providing books that will appeal to the wide range of interests and reading abilities of children in the many diverse cultures and communities we serve. Luv Ya Bunches is just one example."
Comments
I'm so glad to hear this! I had volunteered to work the book fair at my children's school today. I felt that because I had made a commitment to help the librarian, I couldn't back out at the last minutes but I also had reservations about helping a company that censors reading material.
This is why I try not to buy anything scholastic buys. Trash. Kids don't need to know about wrong relationships such as this. They need to know the truth about homosexuality. It is wrong. Plain and simple!
I am appalled and will no longer purchase books from you company.
I understand the idea behind the censorship issue and for that I am on board; however with that being said I also have a very large issue with promoting books that are against my beliefs as a christian. I understand the world is very divere, with many types of people trying to blend and be accepted in one form or another. I am however very much opposed to books being put out there for my children to get there hands on that have a message I do not think they need to have to hanlde, deal or try and understand at this point in time.
I will no longer buy books from you and I am forwarding this to the administration at my children's christian school.
I will not order any books from a company that is going to be putting out ones that tells my kids that it is okay to live that way.
I'm glad I found this out early enough so that I can hopefully make a difference in the school in which I teach. Scholastic, you are losing a well-paying customer, and I'll do my best to see that you lose many, many more.
There goes Scholastic. I will try to let my daughter's Christian school.
big?ot?ry-??[big-uh-tree]
–noun, plural -ries.
1. stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own. 2. the actions, beliefs, prejudices, etc., of a bigot.
Some 'great' comments: mtmom3, Christy, Stand4God, and Jo- y'all need to move on into the 21st Century. No one is going back into the closet; Scholastic has done the right thing and their sales will certainly not be hurt by your bigotry and self righteousness.
According to new study of U.S. Census Bureau data performed at UCLA, there's not much difference between straight families and gay couples:
Same-sex couples who identify as married are similar to straight spouses in terms of age and income, and nearly one-third of them are raising children, according to Census data released Monday that provides a demographic snapshot of gay families in America. The study released by a think tank based at UCLA also found that Utah and Wyoming were among the states with the highest percentages of gay spouses in 2008, despite being heavily conservative states with no laws providing legal recognition of gay relationships. The data from the annual American Community Survey showed that nearly 150,000 same-sex couples in the U.S., or more than one in four, referred to one another as "husband" or "wife," although UCLA researchers estimate that no more than 32,000 of the couples were legally married. The coup
"...The couples had an average age of 52 and household incomes of $91,558, while 31 percent were raising children. That compares with an average age of 50, household income of $95,075 and 43 percent raising children for married heterosexual couples."
See- we're just like you!
Shame on you Scholastic for backing down!!!!! Homosexual relations might be part of life but it doesnt have to be cramed down children's throat and confuse them. If more parents were aware of what their children were reading, watching, and playing there might not be so much violence and problems with our youth today. Children are raising themselves or parents are trying to be their friend not a parent. What happened to Christian values and principles. Oh yeah, we let Madelyn O' Hare throw Christ out of the schools. All of Mississippi doesnt agree with the above comment. I want my children protected from such garbage as this book
I will no longer buy books from you. I will let my daughters christian pre school know what kind of books you are selling.
I think it is really rude for people to call christians bigtory!
One more step, one more push, one more little inch on the long road to finally achieve true freedom and equality for all people. This is a bold step to be proud of Scholastic. Not folding in the face of angry and insolent bigotry.
i will no longer buy books from you guys. i think it is really rude for people to call christians to be called bigtory. I have a daughter and will use other companies to buy books from.
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