Banned Books: Read, Speak, Be Aware

Benjamin Franklin said: "Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech."

September 26 to October 3, 2009 is Banned Books week. It is observed since 1982 and this Banned Books week celebrate the mark of freedom to read.Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Many bookstores, libraries and schools join in. I guess the British Library in my town did organize Book Read session last week to support Banned Books week. Kidsfreesouls, every year support the Banned Books and You can find Videos on Banned Book Week in Kidsfreesouls You Tube. Find the books Top 10 books banned in 2007 and Top 100 Books banned from 1990-2000. Find ideas on How to Celebrate Banned Books week and promote the Read, speak, know banned books mostly Sex, profanity and racism, frequently challenged to protect children. However, this remains more hazardous far greater than exposure to the evil but sometimes, reading is freedom and the challenged book may be reflecting the real true picture.

Watch as Chad, Rustle, and Mooch misinterpret the meaning of Banned Books Wekk and Herb comes to the resue in a video on Kidsfreesouls You Tub

More than the book, the Banned Book Day is now challenged. ALA marked the 25th anniversary earlier of Banned Books Day and every year, it's storehouse of information on it's website. Its your ticket to freedom. Freedom to read the books that you missed out.

Find some of the banned books here of 2008 and it will surprise you to find Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Harry Potter in the list as it continues to be under banned books for 2009 too.

For the 2009 Banned Books, here is A-Z Books List for download 2009 Banned Books list.

This year, 'And Tango Makes Three' by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell is banned and becomes an Amazon.com Bestseller. The challenged book has a positive effect as it ranks top in demand. It is a children's picture book based on the true story of a zookeeper at a New York zoo, who spotted two of his male penguins attempting to hatch a stone, and "realises that it may be time for Roy and Silo to become parents for real". A story of lovable penguins with homosexual storyline according to ALA.

Lee Harper's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is objected by a reader as it speaks on how blacks are treated by members of a racist white community in an Alabama town during depression. He feared the black children would be upset reading the book. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Folleth and from Oprah's Book Club is banned from High school English class due to rape scenes and explicit sex.

Interesting is a challenged book 'A Girl's Life Online' by Katherine Tarbox. A school in Baldwinsville in NY challenged this book because of graphics language. The cautionary tale about Internet safety is one of the five books students could select for the contemporary Literature class unit on teenage struggles.

is one of the five books students could select for the contemporary Literature class unit on teenage struggles.

Well, Get-set-ready to read Books - Encourage Reading and celebrate Freedom. Make the Banned Books Project and dive into the ocean of knowledge. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids
Author of Guardian of Angels