Banning Books: An embargo on brain power

“WHEREAS, the freedom to read is essential to our democracy, and reading is among our greatest freedoms” ~ Opening sentence of Banned Books Week Proclamation ~

It’s that time of year again, Banned Books Week, September 25 to October 2, 2010, when we salute the American Library Association and our First Amendment rights that celebrate the freedom to read whatever we choose.

Since 1982, this annual event has promoted public awareness for precious intellectual freedom.

Over the years, some of the greatest classics in literature have been challenged or banned by special interest groups and individuals, for being deemed “offensive,” “unsuited,” or “too explicit.”

Thank goodness, libraries, librarians, teachers and booksellers uphold our right to choose, and challenge those who (because of special interests) would seek to have books removed from libraries, classrooms or booksellers.

This past year, Stephanie H. Meyer’s “Twilight” series was challenged along with the classic, "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl," and even the "Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary" received flack along with many other surprising titles.

Robert P. Doyle, executive director of the Illinois Library Association and noted authority on the First Amendment has conveniently kept track with his “Books that Were Challenged or Banned 2009-2010,” which can be viewed by clicking on the link.

You may or may not agree with the selection of books, or the reasons for challenging or banning, and even the outcomes, but if you embrace this year’s Banned Books Week motto, “Think for yourself and let others do the same," IMHO you’ll get the point.

The humorous video below, from 2009, drives it home even more effectively. HAPPY READING!

The selling of childhood: Have commercials and product placements gone too far?

As a couple of my regular readers know, recently I began reporting for EXAMINER.COM as their National Children's Entertainment Examiner. I've not been able to post here as often as I would like, but as I ease into my new role I will be back here to post on a variety of grown-up oriented subjects as well as sharing some of the more interesting stories I am covering. I hope you will bear with me for a little while as I make this transition. I would also like to invite each of you to follow me along as I report on entertainment that makes a positive difference in the lives of children.

The article below was published on Friday, May 22, 2009 and it was an eye-opening labor of love, which I want to share with you. The link at the bottom of this post will take you to Part 2 of this article. Please feel free to post your comments on either page, and thanks so much for visiting. Hope you all enjoy the holiday weekend.

Years ago, children would learn about the latest doll, game or toy when a parent plopped down a catalogue for them to peruse for Christmas, or just before their birthday.

Sometimes, it took a trip to a local toy store or hobby shop to reveal a fascination for model airplanes, or paint-by numbers kits, but over the last 50 years, marketing to children has changed, and become immediate and seemingly all pervasive, because it provides an unparalleled source of revenue for entertainment generating corporations.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2009, the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Worldwide division, a traditional purveyor of quality cultural programming, both here and abroad, announced the appointment of Tom Keefer as Senior Vice President of Global Licensing for BBC Worldwide.

Keefer, a former Mattel executive will be spearheading BBC Worldwide’s growth in product licensing opportunities for their children’s as well as adult brands.

Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director BBC Worldwide Children's and Licensing said: "One of our core objectives when restructuring the business last year was examining untapped potential in territories outside the UK, especially the US where such a high proportion of the world’s licensing revenue is made.”

Entertainment corporations everywhere are constantly on the lookout to produce additional streams of revenue from ancillary markets, which for some corporations provide their only profit, and for others much more. It is part and parcel of doing business, but what does that say about our society when corporations specifically target children as consumers?

Profit making is a benchmark of capitalistic societies - it is the engine that drives economies, however, our current global recession is forcing consumers to closely scrutinize what they invest their money in, as well as why they invest it, and what is the return on that investment.

When it comes to children, parents are generally the ones that do the “buying,” but more often than not, it is because a child has demonstrated a preference for a particular product that they have encountered through some form of media promotion.

Toys, games, DVDs, books, clothing and even food products are marketed to children through television commercials and shows, product placements in movies, mentioned in music and in pop-up ads on the Internet and even offered at schools with the intent of creating brand loyalty to a generation of customers who are too young to make informed purchasing decisions.

For many parents this translates into the “gimme syndrome” or “nag factor,” which has started a grass roots rebellion among parents and caregivers, who are questioning not only if these products represent the family values they wish to impart to their children, but are these specially branded items worth the added cost to their budgets?

Is it appropriate to be marketing to children when they are vulnerable to sales manipulation, which in fact, may not always be in their best interests – educationally or emotionally?

Have the reach of commercials and entertainment product placements gone too far?

Later today, part two of this series and the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, an organization that is making a positive difference in the lives of children and their families.

If you enjoyed this article, you may want to read:

The selling of Childhood: Part 2

How to use Common Sense Media: Making informed choices for your child's entertainment

Internet art with your youngster: Wrapping artistic genius in tissue paper

How do you get the little children in your life interested in reading and art at the same time?

It’s been 40 years since Eric Carle, the beloved children’s book illustrator and author created one of the most time-honored children’s classics, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” and Carle’s instructive web site is an ideal starting point for garnering pint-sized interest, and sparking creative exploration along with a trip to your local library or bookseller.

This year marks a milestone of sorts for the evergreen story - it has been translated into 47 languages and has sold over 29 million copies worldwide.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” actually began as “A Week with Willi the Worm,” and fortunate for Carle that he took his editor’s suggestion to heart (to transform a plump, green Willi into a multi- color-splashed caterpillar) because it was the caterpillar that has become his most famous work, even though to date he has illustrated or authored a combined total of 70 other books.

Carle, a grandfatherly image, says about his littlest fans, “Growing up can be very difficult – I like to help children along.” And, that he does, as he shares his techniques in a step-by-step fashion that can be mimicked by moms, dads, extended family or caretakers, (who incidentally will probably have just as much fun as the youngsters) painting colorful tissue papers and assembling your very own collage.

This year Carle celebrates another milestone – his 80th birthday. He keeps engaged and active - commuting between two households; the museum of picture book art that bears his name in Western Massachusetts; a host of book signings and even writing his own blog.

How many of you have treasured memories of being read Carle’s wonderful tale?