Hey Arthur, it’s not a great day in sunny Florida. There’s been a bit of a commotion surrounding one of your books, Arthur’s Birthday, in the local schools. A concerned parent, Bruce Friedman, who is part of the Clay County School District community, filed a complaint about the book. He’s on a mission to “protect the children.” So, what’s the big problem? Well, it turns out Friedman takes issue with a mention of the kissing game “spin the bottle” in the book. He believes it’s inappropriate for kids in kindergarten to sixth grade. In fact, he’s filed eight book challenges in the past month. According to Friedman, letting kids read such material could harm their souls. He’s the president of the No Left Turn in Education Florida chapter, a group that opposes LGBTQ+ messaging in schools and is against critical race theory. The book is now under review, and a three-person committee will determine if it should be banned or not. Sounds like a tough situation for Arthur and his friends!
Arthur’s Birthday is part of a highly popular series that follows the adventures of Arthur the aardvark and his pals. It consists of nearly 50 books and even inspired a long-running TV show on PBS Kids. Although the story doesn’t actually depict the game, “spin the bottle” is mentioned in passing. Francine asks Arthur if they will play the game, and at the end of the book, she gives him a bottle labeled “Francine’s Spin the Bottle Game.” Nevertheless, it seems like a small reference has caused quite a stir.
The controversy surrounding banned and censored children’s books has been a hot topic lately. Even famous author Judy Blume, known for her thought-provoking books like Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, has joined the conversation. She questions the reasoning behind banning and censoring books and believes that protecting children means educating them and allowing them to make their own choices when it comes to reading.
In conclusion, the fate of Arthur’s Birthday hangs in the balance as the committee decides whether to ban the book or not. This situation has brought attention to the broader issue of censorship in children’s literature. Let’s hope that in the end, children’s creativity and freedom to explore different ideas don’t get compromised in the process.