Booklists

From the January 14, 2008 Pigeon Post essay of the same name. In this essay we were looking at books that are well loved by children but might be criticized at the time of publication or later by adults on some grounds of offensiveness. This is how we concluded the long essay.

So, moving away from some of the fields of contention, and despite TTMD being premised on identifying great books for children, I am forced to conclude that we should praise bad books. If we want more children to experience the pleasure of reading, it is not for us to tell them which books they ought to enjoy, but rather release to them the full flowering of story-telling from the good to the bad. Let us now praise bad books.

What politically incorrect or otherwise offensive books that are yet well loved by children would you name?

This book list is divided into three sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers
(3) Books for Young Adults

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use one of the following links to skip directly to either of the other two sections.
Go to books for Independent Readers
Go to books for Young Adults


Picture Books

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson Highly Recommended

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack Highly Recommended

The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese Highly Recommended

The Story of Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman Recommended

How The Moon Regained Her Shape by Janet Ruth Heller and illustrated by Ben Hodson

Independent Reader

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting and illustrated by Michael Hague Highly Recommended

Favorite Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris Recommended

Adventures of Tintin by Herge Recommended

Young Adult

Collected Essays by James Baldwin Suggested

The Histories by Herodotus Suggested