Censorship of Childrens Literature
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Censorship of Children's Literature
Middle class rabbits; melted tiger butter; caterpillar atop a magic mushroom; giant peaches. One might assume these are ingredients for an exotic culinary delicacy. In reality, they are the makings for literary unrest and censorship. These are aspects of the literary works Tale of Peter Rabbit, Little Black Sambo, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and James and the Giant Peach -all of which have been challenged for their context at one time or another. Many of the great children's classics have been banned over the years for a variety of reasons. Language, fantasy, and sexuality are some of the main factors parents and others note when determining if a book is suitable for children. Those opposed to the censorship of children's literature believe, along with invoking the First Amendment,that children need to eventually become aware of the world in which they live. But, at what age should children be exposed to violence, profane language, or controversial fantasy? We must first take into consideration that children's literature is defined as that which is read extensively by and written for children between the ages of one and sixteen ranging from picture books to novels (Hudson, 1). Schools nation-wide are affected by the controversy surrounding decidedly appropriate and inappropriate literary works...