Are you kidding me?

So my friend Amanda just recently posted on her facebook a link about next week being Banned Books Week. And this made me wonder. What books have been banned in the past? Why were they banned? Then I found a few links that listed banned books. A few of them made sense to me, but some made me think what the hell?? Here's a few.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
This one I totally get. Has anyone ever tried to read Faulkner?? I mean really? I'd ban it too. Nuff said.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Ok, see I had to read this book for my southern literature class. Yeah, I made it through about 20 pages. To this day I still don't know why the caged bird sings, but for some reason that thing is still singing.

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Yet another one I was told to read in southern literature. Yeah, no. After my teacher tried to get me to find out about that damn caged bird I revolted and refused to read another book for that class. Thank god for Cliff notes!

Now on to the books that made me say what the hell....???

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Really? Why in the world would a kids book be considered a bad thing? Talking animals? No. It's because a pig was a policeman, and that "gave the idea that all policemen were pigs."

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr.
Yes. This was a what the hell moment for me. How could this be bad?? I used to read it when I taught to the younger kids and it helped them to learn animals and colors. The reason? Because there was a random Marxist theorist that had the same name as the author. They weren't even the same guy. Go figure.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
This one was only a little surprising to me, but what someone said about why it was banned just cracked me up that I had to post it. "It may have been (banned) because the strongest woman character marries a boring and much older man" Which is very true. I always wondered why Jo married Frederick. Laurie was always more interesting.

A Light In The Attic by Shel Silverstein
It was banned because "promotes disrespect, horror, and violence". Did they even read these books?? I loved them as a kid. Crazy.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Ok I understand that some (weird) parents wouldn't approve of the whole magic thing, but come on. This helps kids to use their imagination! I'll be the first to admit that I read all of the books, and found them to be nothing short of brilliant. And I personally will support any book that makes a kid read.

The Bible
Yes, the bible. This was a huh moment for me. You know it wasn't the bible thumpers that were throwing a fit to have this book banned.

But here is the kicker. You thought the bible was one that made you go what?? No this one is the cherry!!

Both the Merriam Webster and the American Heritage Dictionaries
Yes both, have been banned in various schools. The Merriam Webster was banned in a California elementary school in January 2010 for its definition of oral sex. "It's just not age appropriate," a district representative said. Really? I mean really? It's a freaking dictionary. Then again if you can't spell then what's the point in having a dictionary? By the way grandma, I don't need anymore dictionaries.