Book banning? Here in France? The bewildering and upsetting
story has unfolded this month after a right-wing politician called for the
censorship of a children’s book entitled “Everybody Gets Naked” (Tous a Poil!).
You might have heard the story or seen the rather creative reaction of French
booksellers – stripping off their clothes to protest! (See photo above.)
According to the authors, the book aims to help children
feel more comfortable with their own bodies by showing drawings of regular
people taking off their clothes. The idea is we all take off our clothes at
some point and it’s OK to be ourselves.
Whether a parent feels the book is appropriate or not for his
or her child is a personal choice. In my own opinion, most Parisian children
see more daring pictures if they pass a magazine rack on their way home from
school! And as a parent myself, I’ve come across plenty of other French
children’s books that deal with nudity or other sensitive subjects. So I don’t
understand why this one is stirring up such a commotion.
In any case, what most concerns me is the idea of censorship.
I honestly don’t think that there is a big risk that this or any other book
will be banned, but the simple suggestion is just too close for comfort. If a
country starts by banning a children’s book with a lighthearted look at nudity,
where will it draw the line?
Nothing like a good bit of controversy in the book world, leading up to the Salon de Livre and to promote reading and libraries and bookstores. I don't think it is a major issue, seems to me to be more of an opportunity for publicity.
ReplyDeleteAs the photo suggests, even they have to draw the line. :)
You are right: It's a publicity game (and probably a political one too). The whole idea of censorship, especially over this sort of book, seems preposterous. It is just worrisome that the idea of banning books would even come up...
ReplyDeleteSuch great points.
ReplyDeleteI'm in absolute agreement that whether a book is appropriate is a decisions best left to the parents. I did a pretty in depth study of the First Amendment (which obviously doesn't apply in France ;>) while I was in law school but most of the Supreme Court Rulings from the 1900's and later emphasize the importance of the 'marketplace of ideas' bad ideas will be run out on a rail by better ideas - censorship is rarely the answer.
Thanks for linking up with Spread the Love!
That must have been such an interesting study... I like that idea of bad ideas being run out! Law is so fascinating!
DeleteI heard children's author Mairi Hedderwick describing the other day how a couple of British libraries had banned one of her books because - wait for it - there was a picture of a mother breastfeeding her child........
ReplyDeleteThat is terrible!! It's amazing how violence often gets by, but don't show an image that involves nudity of any kind... I'm sitting here shaking my head!
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