The 6 Most Banned Kids’ Books – Can You Guess Why? | Top Banned Children's Books 2024

Hey, it's Natalie and welcome back to Primary Focus, the parent's guide to elementary school. We are back with another banned book game. During this game, we're going to take a look at some of the most widely banned and challenged children's books in public schools and libraries across the United States.

A quick note here, typically I cite the specific city or school district that has tried to ban the book, but because these are so widely contested, I am simply going to list the states I found that had the most bans and challenges in them. You can always go into the description below where I cite my sources.

Oh, and as we go along, make sure that you're guessing your answers in the comments down below.

The Books!

well, let's get into the books.

Marlon Bundo

Why was A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo banned in Florida?

A. Comedians shouldn't write books. This was written by John Oliver and his team as a parody. B. It makes fun of then Vice President Mike Pence. C. LGBTQ plus characters. Or D. Marlon Brando sued for the rights to his name

and that's right, the answer is C. This book is absolutely hated in Florida schools because it violates the don't say gay law.

This is a book about bunnies who fall in love and get married, but I guess we don't like gay animals at all. Look at some of the other books that I've covered. This is a satirical book that also has a heartwarming story for kids, sort of a double entendre depending on who is reading it.

And I have to say, I think some of the politics in here might be a reason why it was banned. That said though, Florida districts have shown us again and again that they do not want anything gay in their schools. So, better luck next time Marlin.

Perfectly Normal

Next one. Why was It's Perfectly Normal by Robbie H. Harris and Michael Emberley challenged and banned? A. It's smut filled pornography. B. Bodies are gross. C. It's not normal. Or D. It's sexually explicit.

And that's right, D, it's sexually explicit. And technically, I guess that is the answer, but as I was reading this, I did find a quote of a district calling this smut filled pornography.

Let's just go through and describe what this book, It's Perfectly Normal, is about. Now, I want you to see here at the title, it says very clearly for ages 10 and up. And that is because this is a puberty book. It is called It's Perfectly Normal, Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender, and Sexual Health. And so this is like a textbook for kids that are learning about their bodies.

I am all in favor for books like this because it's so important that kids have an opportunity to learn about what is going on with their bodies, what's going on with other people's bodies, and have an outlet to be curious about these things without creating uncomfortable situations for others

this book certainly goes to a farther degree than your average American puberty book, But I don't think it is teaching children to do anything disgusting.

Now, as I look through the table of contents here, it is explaining what sex is, it's explaining our bodies, it's explaining puberty, families and babies, decision making as an adult and staying healthy, it goes into detail in a scientific way, to explain all of these things to children. I would so much rather a child read from a scientific based textbook like this then go to a Spencer's Gifts and find out what these things are, or go and randomly Google these things and find out without the support of an adult.

This is a great way to. open up conversations as you are ready to with your child and read chapters so that you as the parent or adult or caretaker can use language that is inclusive and correct and scientific. and also teach your child to use that language.

Something I really liked is that this book goes way beyond sexual health and puberty. For example, on page 87 here, there's a chapter called staying healthy and it's all about being safe on the internet. It's called helpful, fun, creepy, dangerous. The internet is safe. And you,

I don't know about you, but I do think social media, the internet, chat rooms, and things like that can open up a lot of doors and a lot of trouble for kids that are. unguided and don't understand about safety rules. And if we don't have an emphasis on internet safety, we have a big issue for our next generation. it's perfectly normal, I think is perfectly normal. I don't think it is smut filled pornography.

This book sadly has been challenged or banned in states like Idaho, Missouri, Texas, Florida, Oregon, and Arizona, and so, so, so many more. A lot of the issues are parents being concerned about a child stumbling upon this book.

This says very clearly, for children 10 and up on it, so I hope that it wouldn't accidentally end up where the baby books are in another section of the library. Either way, if your child can't read, you are just looking at illustrations of anatomy, I don't think we should teach children to be ashamed of bodies or embarrassed by them.

We should be focused more on what bodies are for, privacy, and how to celebrate your body.

Yes, there are illustrations throughout, but it is pretty text heavy with these thick columns. I cannot see a child really being interested in combing through this entire thing by themselves. Instead, this is a book for when you need it.

It is absolutely something that I think a child would need support from an adult to get through or read small snippets of at a time. Just because a book isn't for you, doesn't mean that there isn't another family that needs a book like this.

Mini Game

And now it's time for a minigame!

This state has a law pending that will charge teachers and librarians with felonies for quote, pandering obscene material. Which state is it? A. Ohio, B. Indiana, C. Rhode Island, or D. Virginia? And that's right. The answer is B. A. Ohio. yes. Ohio has not one, but two extremely interesting laws that are currently being debated They proposed HB 5 56, which would charge teachers and district librarians with felonies for pandering obscene materials.

Don't you love to know that teachers could get felonies just for reading or stocking a book in their classroom? But really think about this in 2022 Ohio made it legal to conceal and carry a handgun without a permit in public But librarians can get a felony for carrying books in their library, which is literally their job so it makes me wonder, are books really that much more dangerous than guns?

Another proposed bill to keep an eye out in Ohio is 622, which is asking libraries to wrap all books that are harmful to juveniles. Yes, just like how a Playboy or Maxim might have the black up to the two third mark, they want that to happen in libraries as well. We're not talking about the kids section. We're just talking about any library, any book in that library.

Which is just absurd to me and seems like it would be impossible to keep up with this standard.

Thanks for playing our minigame. Back to the banned books

I Am Jazz

Next up, why was I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings challenged and banned in so many states? A. It was too violent. B. Jazz is music, not a name. C. LGBTQ plus characters. Or D. They just felt like it. Ah, and you got it, see, LGBTQ plus characters emphasis on the T in that Jazz is a young girl experiencing gender dysphoria and says that she has the body of a boy but the mind of a girl. girl and it is about what her life is like and how her families and friends in school support her so that she can live the happy life that she deserves to have and grow up to be an adult that is living a wonderful, safe life and being productive in society.

Yes, sadly, a lot of people seem to think being trans is like a cold, where if you're near somebody or you hear about it, you can catch it and it will happen to you and refuse to take the time to understand what it actually means.

So, of course, this is banned in Florida because of their don't say gay law, but we have seen other states follow suit, like Texas and in Utah schools. A lot of what I was reading was saying that parents were upset by the sexual content in this book, which really confused me because there is none. this is a book that is very simply about The life of jazz honestly, there's not a ton of plot in this book. It is just talking about Jazz's friends and playing dress up. what it's like to have to wear your boy clothes when you leave the house, but when you're at home, your parent will accept you.

And then jazz getting acceptance throughout the book from people. This book has a really nice short and sweet note at the end for adults that may be reading it to describe what gender dysphoria is, and what it's like for kids that are growing up with this. I think it provides some really important vocabulary words for both parents who are trying to read this book and explain something to children, and for kids, so that we can avoid using offensive language and be able to talk about things in a mature way.

To me, this book is about being seen. It might be a book that you do or don't want to read to your family. It might be something that your child does or doesn't relate to based on their own experiences growing up and the people that they know. Just because you don't like that the character is transgender doesn't mean that everybody should be prevented from reading this book.

One thing that is so clear to me about what's difficult being transgender is that transgender people are not celebrated in American society and not widely shown. If you are a kid and you are having questions and you are wondering things, there's not a lot of places that you can go. And then, when you finally do realize what is going on, you might be shunned by society, making things that much more difficult.

In fact, a study coming out of UCLA found that 81 percent of transgender adults in the United States have thought about suicide, and 42 percent have actually attempted it.

This is devastating to hear, and I would hate to think that there is a child growing up right now who is transgender that would feel like there is no one for them to talk to and nowhere for them to go. Children's books like this help people feel seen, and if you don't want this book in your home, that's you.

You do you. But don't remove this book from shelves for kids who so desperately need to be told that there is a life where it will be okay for them.

This is a book that is simply about a child's day to day life and shows that she too is deserving of love from her family, that she is deserving of safety, she is deserving of friendship, and she is deserving of the life that she has been promised.

If you were just a regular kid who has read this book, this might just be another book, it might just be about a book about opposite day or about, you know, Hey, it's all right to wear whatever you want and it might not hit the same. But if you were a child who needed this book and needed to be seen, this could be absolutely life changing.

I don't want to live in a society where we have people who feel like they have to live in the shadows because of how they were born.

Captain Underpants

Let's get into something silly. Captain Underpants. Oh goodness. Now I'm gonna talk about the entire Captain Underpants series. I remember when these came out and they're still bestsellers.

They're still coming out with more and more versions of this book. since the beginning, Captain Underpants has really ruffled some feathers.

And so why why why is the Captain Underpants series by Dave Pilkey so challenged and banned so frequently? A. Too much potty talk? B, it's too violent, C, LGBTQ characters, or D, all of the above.

And we're gonna go with D, all of the above. Now, this book has been contested for a long time. It started with the potty talk and the violence, though I don't think this is particularly violent. I think people really don't like the potty talk, which kind of adds to it. States like Iowa, Pennsylvania, Florida, West Virginia, Texas, Have all come after this book at different points in time, but more recently there is a book called Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks A Lot.

which has two gay characters that share a kiss in it and states seized on this opportunity to ban the book. So I actually couldn't get a copy of it. I have read the book, but it is popular. This was the only Captain Underpants book I could get from the library without getting on a huge waiting list.

I think that there's a little bit of give and take because yeah, I understand the potty talk thing, but listen, kids love these books. They get lost in them. They read them again and again and again. you know, what's the world without a little bit of laughter in our life.

Captain Underpants books are light. They are friendly. and I think a lot of kids can really escape in them. And I would much rather them escape in Captain Underpants than be sitting and playing video games all day.

Something Happened in our Town

Next up, Something Happened in Our Town written by Marianne Solano, Marietta Collins, and Anne Hazard. Why was this book challenged and banned in so many states? A, it teaches children about racism. B, the book is seen as anti police. C. It gives parents resources to have tough conversations, or D.

The book was boring.

And you got it. It's B. The book is seen as anti police. This book has been banned in districts in Florida and Missouri and challenged and even more. Now, technically the answer was B. It's seen as anti police, but I do think the discussions about racism in America can really play into this.

I just wanna read you the back of the book before we get into it. Something happened in Our Town follows two families, one white, one black, as they discuss a police shooting of a black man in their community. the story aims to answer children's questions about traumatic events and to help children identify, encounter racial injustice in their own lives.

This book includes an extensive note to parents and caregivers with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child friendly definitions, and sample dialogues. this book is really special, I think this is something that a child should read with the support of an adult. It's pretty complicated, and dives into some serious things. if your child is going through a situation where they have experienced racism, or you're facing racism, fearful something will happen or maybe something has happened in your town and people are talking about it and you want to frame this in a way that your child can understand it, that is educational to them, but they're also not internalizing the wrong things.

This is your child. Book you should absolutely go to it and they're not kidding about the extensive notes for parents it's longer than the actual story is and there is so much here broken down if you're at a point where you think you do need to have a conversation like this You're ready to have these conversations This is a great book for you

this is a book with a purpose the same way that It's Perfectly Normal is a book with a purpose. It might not be a book for everybody, it might be a book that you wait until your child is a certain age or going through something to buy, but it's certainly not a book that needs to be hidden from children either.

Bravo to the authors. An excellent, excellent book. I want to note here too, this is one of the only ones we'll see that they are talking about something other than porn in the schools. this is a book that will squeak through, right now a lot of legislation is focused on anti gay things, and keeping sex and porn out of schools.

Unfortunately, I think we will see more books like this being banned in the future.

Prince & Knight

And last for my stack here, the Prince and Knight series by Daniel Haack. Why were these books banned and challenged in so many public schools and libraries across the United States? A. The LGBTQ plus characters B. Fairy tales are teaching unrealistic standards for love C. Disney sued them or D. Dragons aren't real And you've got it, a LGBTQ plus characters.

This is a very cute fairy tale. I mean, it is not a modern fairy tale. It is like a classic olden days, dragons, fairy godmothers type of fairy tale. we have Prince here and he is trying to find his partner for life. And then he meets Knight and he falls in love.

it is a classic tale, it is really cute. Yes, there's some light slaying of dragons going on, a little bit of magic, a little bit of adventure, and I think anyone who's kind of into the fairy tale thing would really enjoy this. Sadly, if you are a child growing up in certain school districts in Texas, Montana, West Virginia, or Florida, you may not get to enjoy this because it has been pulled from shelves or contested.

Honestly, it's just disappointing to see that we are still fighting about whether or not it is okay to be gay in our country.

I thought that this would have been a lot simpler by now, and it's just disappointing to see that we're still worried about these things.

The same way that you can't become a beautiful fairy princess by reading about a fairy princess, you can't become gay just by knowing about gay people and reading about gay characters in books. There is nothing sexually explicit in this book beyond a single kiss, which I think if Disney can kisses in their movies, we can certainly see a kiss in a book.

it's appropriate for children to see what love looks like, you know?

Why can't we just celebrate families that are taking care of their children and people that have finally found true love against all odds?

Closing - Close Up

Here's the thing though, you guys, we have to stay on top of it and we have to stay vigilant. What started as a series that was looking at, isn't it crazy people want to pull books off shelves? Isn't this funny to see? It has become a series that's gotten more and more serious over the years as I've done these.

I've done multiple man book videos in the year 2024 because this was a year where we saw So, so, so many books being contested and pulled off of shelves. The way censorship has gone wild in American public schools really scares me. Children deserve to read what they want to and see themselves represented and understand that you can learn about things in a book, learn lessons in life from a book without having to go and try some of these things on your own.

When it comes to the children's books in particular, I think representation is so important. all people want, all children want is to be seen. And for children, they want to dream of the adult life that they can have. They want to understand that their dreams are worthy, and they, too, can do something incredible with their lives.

When I see these books, what I see for children is hope, what I see are dreams, and what I see is very important education so that they can understand how their bodies work and how they can safely use and protect their bodies as adults.

And so what I ask of you is to be a squeaky wheel. We can sit and comment and joke about these things all we want on YouTube. But if you're not paying attention to what's going on in your local community, your community may start banning books as well, many school districts have public forums where people get to go and speak out.

A lot of them have put together groups where they ask other people to read the books and decide if they need to be banned. You can get on these groups. You can start writing articles and publishing them and emailing them out to the people in office and let them know that you are outraged or you are happy with the way that they are protecting the books.

We have to stay ahead of this because it is individuals and it is small groups like Moms4Liberty that are pushing so hard for these books to be pulled off of shelves. As an adult, as a parent, as a child, you have choice in the books that you read and the books that you don't read. But just because you don't want something doesn't mean you should be taking away the freedom and liberties of others to read it.

We're going to keep making these banned book videos. I'm going to keep writing in my newsletter about education policy and news that is happening in our country because this is often an area that is incredibly under reported.

Things change in the shadows because people don't pay attention to it in the way that they do to larger news stories. Stay informed, stay vigilant, keep watching, and please, please, please be a squeaky wheel that gets in the way.

Thanks for watching today. Comment what you're thinking down below. I would love, love, love to hear. And I'll see you next time.