Banned Books

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

The banning of books and other forms of censorship are not new. Since at least the fourth century B.C., some groups and individuals have encouraged the banning or outright destruction of reading material in the name of morality or for political or religious reasons. Here is a list of the most frequently attacked children's books in recent years and the objections to them.

Book Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Reason Too depressing.
Book Blubber, by Judy Blume
Reason The characters curse and the mean-spirited ringleader is never punished for her cruelty.
Book Bony-Legs, by Joanna Cole
Reason Deals with subjects such as magic and witchraft.
Book The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reason Offensive language.
Book Confessions of an Only Child, by Norma Klein
Reason Use of profanity by the lead character's father.
Book Harriet, the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh
Reason Teaches children to lie, spy, talk back, and curse.
Book A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich, by Alice Childress
Reason Anti-American and immoral.
Book The House without a Christmas Tree, by Gail Rock
Reason Uses the word damn.
Book In a Dark, Dark Room, and Other Scary Stories, by Alvin Schwartz
Reason Too morbid for children.
Book In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
Reason Nudity; Mickey loses his pajamas during his fall in the kitchen.
Book A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
Reason A suggestive illustration that might encourage kids to break dishes so they won't have to dry them.
Book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig
Reason The characters are all shown as animals; the police are presented as pigs.
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