How Dark is Too Dark in Children’s Books?

The discussion of what topics are deemed appropriate and acceptable in children’s literature is certainly not a new one. In 1963, Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are was banned from many schools across the United States – it’s depiction of an unruly boy who defies his mother was seen as upsetting and potentially damaging to sensitive young readers.

More recently, the subject of age banding for children’s and young adult books has been heavily debated, both in the media and across social networking sites. Those in favour believe that children’s fiction pushes boundaries that aren’t appropriate for all readers. Those against talk about restricting children’s choices and alienating readers with a younger reading ability than their chronological age.

Get the full story at The Guardian.

Drawing by Jason Lysinger