LibGuides: Banned Books Week: Children's Banned Books

Children's Books that have been Challenged or Banned Elsewhere, but are Available to Read at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson; Peter Parnell; Henry Cole (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ10.3.R414 Tan 2005

ISBN: 0689878451

Publication Date: 2005-06-01

Reason: homosexuality
And the Green Grass Grew All Around by Alvin Schwartz; Sue Truesdell (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPS477 .S39 1992

ISBN: 0060227575

Publication Date: 1992-03-01

Reason: explicit language
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Call Number: YPZ7.B6265 Ar

ISBN: 0130458562

Publication Date: 1970-01-01

Reason: sexually offensive and amoral
Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki; Dom Lee
Call Number: YPZ7.M71284 Bas 1993

ISBN: 1880000016

Publication Date: 1993-03-01

Reason: ethnic slur, fighting
Blubber by Judy Blume
Call Number: YPZ7.B6265 Bl

ISBN: 0878880720

Publication Date: 1974-01-01

Reason: ‘lack of moral tone’
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Call Number: YPZ7.S1185 Bo 2000

ISBN: 0679886222

Publication Date: 1997-04-15

Reason: youthful sexuality, and schoolyard bullying and profanity are explored in the novel
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Call Number: YPZ7.P273 Br 1977

ISBN: 0606008616

Publication Date: 1987-01-01

Reason: Parents objected to the book’s “profanity” including the phrase “Oh, Lord” and use of “Lord” used as an expletive.
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Call Number: YPZ7.C81634 Ch 1974

ISBN: 0394828054

Publication Date: 1974-03-12

Reason: adult" language, frequent sexual references, and violence
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.W655485Dad 1990

ISBN: 1555831788

Publication Date: 1990-12-01

Reason: deals with the subject of homosexual parents
The Devil in Vienna by Doris Orgel
Call Number: YPZ7.O632 De

ISBN: 0803719205

Publication Date: 1978-01-01

Reason: cultural differences, war
Dragonwings by Laurence Yep
Call Number: YPZ7.Y44Dr 1975

ISBN: 0060267372

Publication Date: 1975-01-01

Reason: frequent use of the word 'demon' in the book.
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Call Number: Holding

ISBN: 0545326982

Publication Date: 2012-09-01

Reason: features a sexually-active, gay supporting character
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Call Number: YPZ7.S68522Eg

ISBN: 0689702973

Publication Date: 1967-01-01

Reason: includes scenes depicting Egyptian worship rituals
The Fighting Ground by Avi; Ellen Thompson (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.A953 Fi 1984

ISBN: 0397320736

Publication Date: 1984-04-01

Reason: Contains Profanity
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Call Number: YPZ7.L9673Gi 1993

ISBN: 0395645662

Publication Date: 1993-04-26

Reason: suicide, sexuality, and euthanasia
The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud
Call Number: YPZ7.S92475Go 2004

ISBN: 0786818603

Publication Date: 2004-08-23

Reason: concerns that the book deals with the occult.
Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Call Number: YPZ7.P273 Gr

ISBN: 0690038372

Publication Date: 1978-03-29

Reason: bad things happen, people are treated unfairly, manipulative
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam; Lane Smith (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPS3525.E639 H34 1987

ISBN: 0027668703

Publication Date: 1987-11-30

Reason: frightening, violent, anti-Christian, and generally unsuitable for children
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling; Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.R79835 Haj 1999

ISBN: 0439064864

Publication Date: 1999-07-01

Reason: ghosts, cults, and witchcraft
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling; Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.R79835 Hal 2002

ISBN: 0439139597

Publication Date: 2000-08-01

Reason: ghosts, cults, and witchcraft
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling; Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.R79835 Halm 2003

ISBN: 043935806X

Publication Date: 2003-07-01

Reason: ghosts, cults, and witchcraft
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling; Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)
Call Number: PN1997.2 .H39 2004

ISBN: 0439136369

Publication Date: 2001-10-01

Reason: ghosts, cults, and witchcraft
Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman; Diana Souza (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.N47988 Hea 1989

ISBN: 155583180X

Publication Date: 2003-12-01

Reason: homosexual themes, promoting a dangerous and ungodly lifestyle.
I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel; Jazz Jennings; Shelagh McNicholas (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0803741073

Publication Date: 2014-09-04

Reason: dealing with typical teen drama through the lens of a transgender youth
In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.P75186 Mv 2009

ISBN: 039925076X

Publication Date: 2009-04-30

Reason: homosexuality
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.S47 In

ISBN: 0060254890

Publication Date: 1970-10-01

Reason: the book was believed to desensitize children to nudity
I Saw Esau by Iona Opie (Editor); Peter Opie (Editor); Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPR977 .I185 1992

ISBN: 1564020460

Publication Date: 1992-06-01

Reason: The book is a collection of schoolyard jokes, riddles, insults, and jump-rope rhymes and is illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
It's So Amazing! by Robie H. Harris; Michael Emberley (Illustrator)
Call Number: YR320.H37 I87 1999

ISBN: 0763600512

Publication Date: 1999-03-03

Reason: Sex
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George; John Schoenherr (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.G2933 Ju

ISBN: 0060219432

Publication Date: 1972-11-30

Reason: sexual content, offensive language, violence and being unsuited to age group.
The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter (Illustrator)
Call Number: YFE300.W56L53 2005

ISBN: 0152054456

Publication Date: 2005-01-01

Reason: promote "prayer to someone other than God."
My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier; Christopher Collier
Call Number: YPZ7.C678 My

ISBN: 0590073397

Publication Date: 1974-01-01

Reason: profanity, excessive violence and alcohol consumption
Nasreen's Secret School by Jeanette Winter (Illustrator)
Call Number: YDM300.W56 N37 2009

ISBN: 1416994378

Publication Date: 2009-10-06

Reason: parents believes the book is inappropriate for promoting another religion that is not Christianity and is too violent for young children.
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
Call Number: YPZ7.H389 Ol 2003

ISBN: 0060535431

Publication Date: 2003-08-12

Reason: sexually explicit content and offensive language
Open Minds to Equality by Ellen Davidson; Nancy Schniedewind
Call Number: HM146 .S26 1998

ISBN: 020516109X

Publication Date: 1997-09-23

Reason: presents homosexuality as "morally neutral."
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
Call Number: YPZ7.S92475Pt 2006

ISBN: 0786818611

Publication Date: 2006-01-01

Reason: concerns that the book deals with the occult.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor; Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.T21723Ro

ISBN: 0803774737

Publication Date: 1976-01-01

Reason: insensitivity , racism , and offensive language
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Call Number: YPZ7.S7376 Si 1983

ISBN: 0395338905

Publication Date: 1983-04-27

Reason: used the word squaw to refer to Native American women
The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein; Henry Cole
Call Number: YPZ7.F479195 Si 2002

ISBN: 0689835663

Publication Date: 2002-05-01

Reason: gay positive themes.
The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox; Eros Keith (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.F838 Sl

ISBN: 0878880623

Publication Date: 1973-01-01

Reason: too-graphic depiction of the slave trade
The Stupids Step Out by Harry Allard; James Marshall (Illustrator)
Call Number: UNF General Collections Curriculum Collection -- YPZ7.A413St

ISBN: 0395185130

Publication Date: 1974-04-17

Reason: Promotes Low Self-Esteem; Disobedience, and Negative Behavior
Tiger Flowers by Janet Wilson (Illustrator); Patricia Quinlan
Call Number: YPZ7.Q4194 Ti 1994

ISBN: 0803714076

Publication Date: 1994-05-01

Reason: The topic of aids
Tiger Flowers by Janet Wilson (Illustrator); Patricia Quinlan
Call Number: YPZ7.Q4194 Ti 1994

ISBN: 0803714076

Publication Date: 1994-05-01

Reason: When his uncle, Michael, dies of AIDS, Joel's dreams and thoughts of Michael keep his memory alive.
Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen (Illustrator); Sarah Brannen
Call Number: YPZ7.B737514 Unc 2008

ISBN: 0399247122

Publication Date: 2008-03-27

Reason: inappropriate for young children
Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle; Glenn Murray; Audrey Colman (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.K855 Wal 2001

ISBN: 1583940537

Publication Date: 2001-11-01

Reason: sexually uptight
The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Call Number: YPZ7.C94137 Wat 1995

ISBN: 0385321759

Publication Date: 1995-09-01

Reason: a lot of pre-teen tales
What's the Big Secret? by Laurie Krasny Brown; Marc Brown (Illustrator)
Call Number: YR320.B76 W43 1997

ISBN: 0316101834

Publication Date: 2000-04-01

Reason: gender differences, sexuality
Where's Waldo? by Martin Handford (Illustrator)
Call Number: YPZ7.H1918 Wh 1997

ISBN: 0763603104

Publication Date: 1997-10-06

Reason: per usual, women’s bodies—even the cartoon ones—ruin everything and start wars