Thoughts about reading fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, new and old
Stuart Little Was a Banned Book
17Jul2008 Filed under: Essays/Articles on Reading, Libraries, Writing about Reading Author: Rebecca ReidThe New Yorker has an interesting article this week about the development of literature for children and E.B. White’s writing of Stuart Little. Did you know that after it was published in 1945, Stuart Little was banned by many libraries? I haven’t read Stuart Little since I was a child, but I hadn’t realized that and I couldn’t think why it would have been banned. Why would anyone ban a seemingly harmless book about a mouse-child?
The reasons behind the ban are surprising. Banning Stuart Little was a sort of political battle between two woman in the newly developing field of children’s literature. How many other “bans” on books are simply personal?
If you are interested in children’s literature, banned books, or Stuart Little in particular, check out the article. It made me want to reread Stuart Little and see what the fuss was about.
Related Posts on Rebecca Reads:- What Are Banned Books? (Do I Favor Book Banning?)
- The End of Publishing?
- Political Reading
- Banned Books Week
- Speak, Child: The Illiad as the Infancy of Children’s Literature
- Magazines I Would Love to Read
- East of Eden by John Steinbeck
- Is Reading Online is Making Us Stupid?
- Martel-Harper Challenge (Fourth Quarter 2008)
- Tags: banned books, reading to children
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4 Responses to “Stuart Little Was a Banned Book”
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About this blog
This blog is a collection of my thoughts about books and reading and reviews of books I've read. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too. Please share!
From October 2008-July 2009, I'm hosting the Really Old Classics Challenge.
Also, as an ongoing personal challenge, I'm reading all the works on the How to Read and Why reading list compiled by Harold Bloom. I'd love for you to either join me in this challenge or to follow along with me as I try to learn to read well.
Natasha @ Maw Books
Friday, July 18, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I’ve never read Stuart Little but now I’m thinking that I’d like to.
Ann Darnton (Table Talk)
Friday, July 18, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I must go and read this article. I’ve certainly come across this sort of thing in the field of UK children’s literature. It tends to be an area where strong personalities gather disciples and have an inappropriate influence. I’m not sure whether I’m comforted that this is the same elsewhere or despairing.
Lisa
Friday, July 18, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Unfortunately attempting to restrict everyone’s reading based on one’s own personal values is prevalent everywhere. Sad, but true.
Rebecca Reid
Monday, July 21, 2008 at 1:56 pm
@Natasha: Stuart Little is one that I grew up with. Haven’t read it for 15 years, though. I see I must.
@Ann Darnton and Lisa: It is sad! I guess it’s bound to happen when a select few are the ones in charge of purchasing books for a library!