Hello,

I don’t comment here (just read), but as a fellow book lover (and hopefully future librarian) this story prompted me to register.

I actually ordered a copy of ‘Baby Be-bob’. I plan on sending it to the West Bend Community Library once I’m finished reading it so they can have an extra copy on their shelves.

If you don’t want your child to read something, go to the library with them and help them choose books. If you don’t have time for that you can even go online a see what you (or your children) have checked out and even when the books are due. Or even pick out the books via the internet. You can still be a part of your children’s literary selections even if you aren’t able to make to the library with them. Like you, I don’t like that this group is trying to deem what is appropriate for every person and all children and the idea of a book burning is frightening.

I hope they get in trouble for provoking vandalism to community property.

This group is kind of working against itself. I would have never purchased this book if it weren’t for the story and I’m sure others are looking into reading it for themselves.

My little sister is in high school and last year in her English class they were supposed to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. For some reason (well, I know the reason), the school board stated that a permission slip had to be signed by the parents of every student. Two or three parents refused to sign it, and thus the teacher had to scrap the book. First of all, I thought that, in all likelihood, nobody would have ever said anything about it if it hadn't have been for the permission slip. If you have to get a parent's permission to read something, they're automatically going to assume it's super-racy. I have a sneaking feeling that the parents who didn't sign it hadn't read the book, and were just making assumptions. And second of all, the argument against Huckleberry Finn is that it's racist, and the n-word is abundant throughout the novel. I understand that attitude, and why it might make someone uncomfortable to know that their child is reading it, but I think it's important for young people to learn about a period of time when those things did happen (I think at 16 or 17 you're old enough to handle it). It is an unfortunate and regrettable history, but it's a history nonetheless, and we should always remember that. So, I second your point that it's ridiculous for parents to ban books that deal with real-life issues; you can't protect your kids from the world forever. I understand if you don't want your kid watching movies or reading books full of fantastical violence, but this is real life. Like with that book about the gay penguins at the San Diego zoo. It was a true story about two male penguins that hatched and raised an egg. I think it was called "Tango Makes Three". It was number 1 on the "most banned books" list in 2007 I think. If it's something your kid will have to encounter at some time in their life, wouldn't you want them to learn about it early on?

I remember Francesca Lia Block's work being heads and shoulders above other books aimed at teens when I read them--including Baby Be-Bop. This is so unbelievable.

When I was in fifth grade, my teacher wanted the class to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The principal told her that she had to get a permission slip signed by every single parent in order to study the book. After the teacher handed the slips over, she was informed that the school board would not purchase the book for us, because it was "offensive." However, the class could be completely free to discuss whatever books we wanted if each student produced their very own copy. Would you believe that the parents of every single kid bought a copy of that book for class, including the parents of the little Jewish girl, and my parents who could barely afford my basic school supplies. It just goes to show that most people want to be free to decide what their own children should learn.