Is This The Beginning Of A Children's Book Ban?

Last night was World Book Night which is a celebration of reading and books. Thousands of 'givers' are distributing books throughout their communities and workplaces to encourage others to enjoy the pleasures of reading.

This year World Book Night was celebrated in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the USA.

Reading is one of the great pleasures in my life and the new technologies, such as Kindles and iPads, enhance the joy of having a selection of books at my fingertips.

My reading was encouraged from a young age. Books were expensive but libraries were prepared to lend children's books on a parent's library card. A child wasn't though responsible enough to have their own card and few libraries would issue books to minors unaccompanied by a parent with a current card. I haunted my local library so much that eventually, when I was about eleven or so, my father agreed with the librarians that I could have two books a week as long as I produced his card. I recall that day fondly because I thought I had finally been admitted into the adult world even though my choices were limited to the children's section.

I can't remember all the authors involved, but Enid Blyton featured as 'fab' for a while and I blame my childhood sleep walking on the superb tales of the Brothers Grimm. Gripping stories in faraway lands with intriguing cultures created another world to a child.

Nowadays children aren't free to read books which have been enjoyed by generations. All that's needed to ban a book is one complaint from a parent and it's removed from the shelves.  A survey of 98 library authorities took in more than 300 complaints from the last five years about 'unsuitable, inappropriate or offensive' works. Half of the complaints were about children's books.  Even some of Roald Dahl's works have been removed from the children's section or removed altogether because they 'offend'.

Why are libraries acting in this way?  I'm sure anyone could find at least one word which they may find offensive in any book. One child's meat is another child's poison and to deny every child the opportunity to borrow a book because of one parent's opinion, is ridiculous.

Is this the beginning of a children's book ban?  If so, it needs to be nipped in the bud and librarians instructed to tell the adult their complaint has been noted but until a much greater number of complaints are formally registered no action will be taken. If a parent finds one of their child's books offensive then they are quite within their rights to tell the librarian, but their actions should not deny other children the right to read it.

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Spread A Little Happiness - It's Free

Earlier this year I took part in World Book Night as a 'giver'.  Two boxes of 'One Day' by David Nicholls duly arrived at my local library - my choice of delivery address.

Arranging the distribution of 48 books wasn't quite as simple as I'd thought because one book reading circle, having heard I was taking part, decided they could relieve me of the lot and save me the effort of individual allocations and it took a certain amount of diplomacy and patience to explain the event was to encourage reading, not just a bundle of freebies. But that wasn't the reason I applied to be a giver. Part of the reason was to introduce books to those who would normally not read.

Did I find any non-readers?  Indeed I did.  My final 15 books were distributed outside a local supermarket where around 25% of those who were offered a book said they never read and refused the book. Others accepted - some reluctantly - but promised to pass it to a friend.

Most people can read but I know quite a few who aren't interested in reading a book from cover to cover except on holiday. If I'm accepted as a giver for 2012 I'll be avoiding the 'holiday only' readers again because there's little chance the book will ever be read and a slimmer chance it will be passed on to others.

Each book has a number which the recipient can register online and this allows the giver to follow its progress. Two of mine are currently in Australia, one in Mexico and four in France.

If you would like to be a giver, I suggest you register quickly or you may not receive the title of your choice.  There are 25 titles from which to choose next year so something for everyone. Spread a little happiness - it's free.

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No B,B,C Talk Here - Books are the Subject

As promised in the title there will be no talk of Blair, Balls or Coulson in this post.  

A far more interesting subject is books.  Books have always held a fascination for me from the pre-school days when my granny used to allow me to read from her range of Encyclopedia Britannicas which she purchased in the 30s from a door to door salesman, in the hope that they would interest my mother.  Never once in my life did I see my mother read a book other than those related to music in some way; so my fondness for the written word doesn't come from her.  I still possess these encylopedias - with rice paper protecting the illustrations - and enjoy an hour or so with them now and again.

This isn't to advertise the Encyclopedia Britannica though, but to let you know about a day/night, the 5 March, when I intend to give away 48 copies of a book.  No, I haven't come into money, I'm being given the book.

All I did was register at World Book Night, chose my book and have been told I'm 'highly likely to be selected' as they are choosing on a first come first served basis.  There is a choice of books, two of which I've read and some which didn't interest me, but because of the Scottish connection I've chosen One Day by David Nicholl.

It may seem as if giving away 48 books in one day will be hard going, but I intend to spend a couple of hours outside the library plus I've organised several to go to the local reading circle and more to go to friends and acquaintances.  One of my favourite bloggers has his first novel, Jessica's Trap, published in April, so this will be a great opportunity to spread the word about that too and distribute some of his superbly designed promotional material.

If you're interested, do have a look at the website. It sounds fun (as long as it isn't raining).  There are worse ways to spend a few hours.  The closing date is this Monday 24 January so be quick.  They have a number of events happening around the country on 5 March, but I'm rather distant from them all. Anyway, I should think by the time I'm finished distributing my allotted amount a glass or two of Tio Pepe will be my celebration.

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