Pressed by Moms for Liberty, Florida school district adds clothing to illustrations in classic children's books

[teach1st]

Pressed by Moms for Liberty, Florida school district adds clothing to illustrations in classic children's books
Popular Info, 2/1/2024, by Judd Legum and Tesnim Zekeria

Since its initial publication in 1970, millions of children have read In The Night Kitchen, the classic picture book by celebrated author Maurice Sendak. The book is about a young boy who has a surreal dream about baking a cake that needs to be finished by morning. It was named a Caldecott Honor Book, one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature.

At least two copies of In The Night Kitchen are available in elementary school libraries in Indian River County, Florida. This concerned Jennifer Pippin, the chair of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, because the main character, Mickey, is sometimes depicted without clothes. In an interview, Pippin told Popular Information that she believes the book may be "harmful to minors." She was worried that if a "5-year-old picks up this book and has never seen a picture of a penis… [t]he parent wouldn’t be able to discuss this with the child."

...

Following Pippin's challenges, which occurred in November and December of 2023, the books were removed from the library shelves.

Pippin told Popular Information that, after filing the challenges, she had a meeting with Indian River County Superintendent David Moore and other school officials concerning the books. At the meeting, one of the officials suggested the school district "draw clothes on them to cover the nudity." Pippin said that she "would be absolutely fine with that" because she challenged the books "for nudity." Now, in the copies of In The Night Kitchen in Indian River County schools, Mickey is wearing "little shorts."

https://popular.info/p/pressed-by-moms-for-liberty-florida

[Lonestarblue]

1. In Republican minds little girls and boys should never learn that they have different genitalia until they're adults.

I am not offended by nudity, but in this case it was just gratuitous and not necessary to the story. That said, I also don’t believe in changing what authors have done.

[ExciteBike66]

2. Why would parents not be able to discuss this with their daughter?

Is she imprisoned in the school until adulthood or something? Does she never go home from school?

[hildegaard28]

3. No,

Mom's like her are terrified of natural body parts. They start to freak out at the thought of the "naughty bits". It's a wonder they managed to have children at all. And unfortunately for us, they did. Reminds me of when I learned what a penis was. I was five years old. I was babysat at by a woman who had to little girls and a baby boy. We were all in the same room when she was changing her sons diaper. I saw his penis and asked what it was. One of the girls laughed and told me that was his "weewee". I never had to discuss it with my mother. It was a simple enough explanation, lol.

[k55f5r]

4. might want to rethink that whole

terrified of natural body parts

[link:https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2023/12/05/rich-irony-moms-liberty-co-founder-caught-florida-sex-scandal-column/]

[Hope22]

6. Lol!

Kids are the best at explaining things.

[Hope22]

5. Lol, this reminds me of when my son was in sixth grade.

He was always trying to get my hackles up! He says’ We saw a movie in school today with quite a bit of nudity in it!’. Me ‘ oh, really, what did you see?’ ‘Tits' he blurted out! Me, ‘ no…what was the name of the movie?’ His reply……ohhhhh, Romeo and Juliet. Me ‘ Do you think it will scar your for life?’ Him……‘probably not’ frown face!

He would have loved for me to storm into the school and make a fuss but sadly I saved my fight for bigger problems. Thank goodness he’s grown! I would have had to speak out about underpants added to an illustration! 😁

[sinkingfeeling]

7. So, 54 years ago, America was accepting of innocent child nudity, but not now.

[love_katz]

8. Wow. So how do boy children manage with toilet training?

Are they not allowed to see their own body parts? How incredibly sad that she has been so shamed about genitals that she can't imagine talking to her own kids. SMH.

[hay rick]

9. Michelangelo all over again.

The controversy over nudity in the Sistine Chapel continued after Michelangelo’s death. The artist Daniele da Volterra was hired to cover up some of the genitals in The Last Judgement by adding fig leaves and loincloths, which earned him the nickname “Il Braghettone” (“The breeches maker”).

https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/art/nudity-and-controversy-in-the-sistine-chapel.html#