Thank you for that, Mav. We sell the books but I'd never thought about reading them. Speaking of great kiddy lit, are you (is anyone) familiar with Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events? He's so good he's been banned in some US Bible-belt school systems.

Speaking of great kiddy lit, are you (is anyone

And I suppose pages torn out of kid's books, screwed up and put in a large carton in the corner is considered kiddy litter?

He's so good he's been banned in some US Bible-belt school systems.

What on earth do you mean AnnaS? They keep the kids from reading his books? What are they about? Since you say he's so good I am assuming he is not advocating racism or anything like that. Très odd, can you explain further.

If I may be allowed to extrapolate for my enigmatic friend I think she meant "They're all plumb crazy and wrong-headed in the bible belt so if they disagree with something (eg, Darwin, spherical earth, or any other Commie infiltrations of the American Way), then ipso facto it must command our attention!"

and thanks E - I shall be pleased to look it up. and btw, if anyone is tempted to dismiss Pullman because of the youth tag, don't. He is the most deeply intelligent and philosophically insightful person I have ever heard speak about their own work. His themes are massive and intricate at the same time; after reading him you may understand my reservation about Harry Potter being essentailly Bunter on Broomsticks - I know for sure which will still be around in 100 years.

"He's so good he's been banned in some US Bible-belt school systems."
I remember a cartoon in New Yorker almost sixty years ago, showing a writer waving a telegram to his firiends, and shouting "I'm a success, my book's been banned in Boston!" But that meant there was explicit sex (1930 version). Books banned in Kansas cannot make that claim. Just acceptance of evolution.

bel,

I think Mav and Dr Bill pretty much summed it up, but yes, I was being a little sarcastic there. Some US school systems have banned the Harry Potter books, for example, because they "teach Satan worship." I figure if a book is banned, for whatever reason, it's worth looking into.

My favorite banned book, for all the inherent irony, is Fahrenheit 451.

I've been googling around for a good banned books site, but haven't found one yet. There are so many of them! This I think is supposed to be the official one, but some of its links are broken. Can anyone find a comprehensive list on line?

http://www.ala.org/bbooks/

This looks like a job for Dr. Bill! Polish up your trusty magnifier and start your search engine, you are now officially a man with a mission!

This was thrown around awhile back, yet, not very comprehesive:
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/banned-books.html

My favorite banned book, for all the inherent irony, is Fahrenheit 451.