Children's books are in the news lately -- and not always for good reasons. Books for people under 18 are disproportionately the targets of bans and censorship. This is obviously a major issue for free speech, for the rights of often underrepresented groups to tell their stories and for the rights of others to be able to hear those stories. But it’s also a sign that children’s books are actually right in the middle of important political conversations, and attempts to ban them can be ignored at our peril.
This podcast is a deep dive into the children's books that have been censored over the years – and the reasons why. Because it turns out that for as long as children’s books have existed, controversy has never been far behind.
We hope you’ll come along, whether you love children’s books like us, or just enjoy a good story about sex, drugs, war criminals, government crackdowns, accusations of Satanism -- and rabbits drinking tea.
For business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
In this episode we look at Yevgeny Prigozhin — who spent 9 years in a Russian penal colony, interfered in US elections, and founded a mercenary group that has committed war crimes across the globe. And he wrote a really weird children’s book! What’s that about??We look at the 2002 picture book "Indraguzik", Adrianna has a theory, and María decides what her supervillain name would be. Send us a textCheck us out on instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
12 Oct 2024
Little Red Riding Hood
Over the years, this fairy tale has been at the centre of all kinds of conversations about sex, politics, and female agency. We take a look at five different times it’s been banned for seeming to be on the wrong side of those conversations — or, in South Africa, just for having the wrong title.María and Adrianna poke some holes in the plot of the story, wish for a badass sequel, and realize sadly that we would also probably be fooled by a wolf in an outfit. TW: rape, nazisSend...
28 Sept 2024
The Disappearance of Elena Fortún
In this episode, we explore the life of Elena Fortún, a Spanish children’s book author whose books were considered a bad example for young women by Franco’s dictatorship. There’s secret societies, whisky and cigars, and fascist nuns. It’s getting hot in here, it’s not just us, right??Also in this episode: Harry Potter is a dom confirmed.Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
16 Sept 2024
"The Giver" Was Banned For WHAT
In this episode, we take a look at Lois Lowry's The Giver -- a 90's dystopian classic that was banned for infanticide, murder, pill-popping, euthanasia -- and also some really wild stuff.------Sources:https://www.maryvillepawprint.com/banned-the-bluest-eye-and-the-giver/https://thebookwars.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/banned-books-week-the-giver/https://world.edu/banned-books-awareness-giver-lois-lowry/https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/lois-lowry-the-giver/https://www.thoughtco.com/the-gi...
14 Sept 2024
About That New York Times List ...
To start off Season 2, María and Adrianna discuss the New York Times list that's been setting the literary world ablaze, and we pitch 10 children's books that should have made the cut.Check out the full NYT list here.What books would you add to the list?? DON'T SAY ATONEMENT >>Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
7 Sept 2024
Minisode - Book Ban News & Season 2
Maria and Adrianna catch up on some news they've missed during the pod's hiatus -- including some WILD new laws. Season 2 of Tabook! begins next week!Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
31 Jan 2024
The Most Banned Book in America
María and Adrianna talk about Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, which has topped the charts in recent years as the #1 most banned and challenged book in the US. Adrianna takes the plunge and actually reads it (it's really good!). María chats One Direction fanfic ... there's something for everyone here.Buy Gender Queer here or at your local bookstore.Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
17 Jan 2024
Was Alice in Wonderland Banned in China?
The story's been repeated for almost a hundred years: in 1931, Alice in Wonderland was banned in China because it depicts talking animals. But is the story even TRUE?? Adrianna and María put on our detective hats and examine the evidence. We also take a look at some AMAZING Chinese "Alice" sequels. Alice in China is willing to die to defend a music conference and apologies to Lewis Carroll but that's an improvement 💅> Medium: "On Literary Censorship: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland">...
10 Jan 2024
The Cancellation of American Heart
María and Adrianna do a deep dive into the pre-publication scandal surrounding Laura Moriarty's YA novel American Heart. Did the book deserve the online backlash? We read through some spicy goodreads comments, and María contemplates a career change.___Sources:>> trump allies’ statements on muslim registry x x>> laura moriarty’s slate interview x>> kirkus’ statement on the review change x>> vulture interview with claiborne smith x>> laura moriarty’s npr interview&...
27 Dec 2023
The Banned Book Awards
This year has had some real unhinged *moments* in the book banning world, which tbh deserve their own awards. María and Adrianna bestow these honors in front of a totally real audience, commemorating 2023 with awards for Wildest Hate Group, Most Oppressive State, Worst Barbecue, and more. Happy holidays!Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
20 Dec 2023
Roald Dahl Isn't Horny Anymore :(
What happens when a beloved children's classic has something problematic, outdated, or just plain boring in it -- and the author isn't around to fix it? Sometimes editors take matters into their own hands. We discuss editing controversies involving Shakespeare, Roald Dahl, Doctor Seuss, and even Goosebumps, and Maria offers up a much better version of Twilight.Sources:> BBC: Roald Dahl: The fierce debate over rewriting children's classics> NYT: The Truth About the ‘Censorship’ of ...
27 Nov 2023
Smash or Pass (Giving Tree Edition)
Shel Silverstein was a beloved children’s book author, poet, illustrator, and f*ckboy. Is The Giving Tree super misogynistic? How much should an author’s life affect our judgment of his work? How bad does your childhood have be to make you hate happy endings?? And … most importantly … would you?Sources:>Carnegie Mellon University's Banned Books Project>LA Times>Banned Books Awareness Blog Post>Biography.com - Shel Silverstein>"The Early Life of the Tale...
19 Nov 2023
Rabbits and Racism
We take a wild ride through the 1950’s American South, meeting a racist state senator, some hate groups, and a badass librarian ... all fighting over a couple of rabbits getting married in Garth Williams’ picture book The Rabbits’ Wedding. Also in this episode: the undeniable body horror of Stuart Little.cw: 1950’s American racism :(Sources:>Bookriot: "The Controversy of The Rabbit's Wedding by Garth Williams">New York Times: "Banned Bunnies" Send us a textCheck us out on tik...
30 Oct 2023
The Scariest Kids' Books Ever?
With its two sequels, Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was some iconic 90's horror. They're still cult classics today -- but they were the most banned books in America in the 90’s, just for being too scary for kids.We (gulp) read them and discuss some of the gory bits. How scary is "too scary", anyway?Sources:>Smithsonian Magazine: "Why ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ Frightened So Many Parents in the 1990s">New York Times (1995): "What Johnny Can't Read">...
23 Oct 2023
Are You There, G*d?
Maria and Adrianna discuss the controversial novels of author and activist Judy Blume — from “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” and “Forever” to the slightly sus “Then Again, Maybe I Won’t”. We talk about deranged first kiss fantasies and the importance of children reading about experiences that are different from their own. Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
15 Oct 2023
Tony!
In the first episode of TabooK!, we meet Anthony Comstock, historical anti-vice campaigner and guy-who-hated-fun-children's-books. We discuss our extremely specific childhood fears, and María takes a quiz.Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
1 Oct 2023
Trailer - Tabook!
María and Adrianna introduce the podcast and hope you will join us on Sundays.Send us a textCheck us out on tiktok and instagramFor business inquiries: hello.tabook@gmail.com
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