September Caldecott Calendar: Start of School + Banned Books Week

September means back to school time (at least where we live!) and the last week of September is always Banned Books Week. It truly fascinates me which titles make the frequently challenged lists the American Library Association releases every year, as well as all the other lists they’ve compiled with the data they’ve been collecting for nearly three decades now.

I’m a firm believer that not every book is for every reader and that parents do have a say in what their own (younger) children read, but one person’s preferences or objections shouldn’t dictate other people’s access (or lack thereof) to books. And believe it or not, quite a few Caldecott books have made the various frequently challenged lists I've read (see below for links/references.)

All of my posts for this project (including updates) can be found here or by clicking on 'Caldecott Calendar' in the header up top. My personal favorites will be marked with an asterisk (*). This post may be updated to correct errors, omissions, etc. as we go. Let me know in the comments if you notice anything that should be fixed or added!

Start of School

A Pocketful of Cricket, written by Rebecca Caudill & illustrated by Evaline Ness

1965 Caldecott Honor


Banned Books Week
(Last week of September; 23rd-29th in 2018)

This list was compiled with the help of the following resources:
Frequently Challenged Children's Books (ALA website)
Challenged Picture Books (Scholastic website)
Banned and Challenged Picture Books (Edmonton Public Library website)
Books Under Fire: A Hit List of Banned and Challenged Children's Books, book written by Pat R. Scales

*Strega Nona, written & illustrated by Tomie DePaola

1976 Caldecott Honor

Smoky Night, written by Eve Bunting & illustrated by David Diaz

1995 Caldecott Medal

Saint George and the Dragon: A Golden Legend, adapted by Margaret Hodges & illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

1985 Caldecott Medal

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, written & illustrated by William Steig

1970 Caldecott Medal

*Where the Wild Things Are, written & illustrated by Maurice Sendak

1964 Caldecott Medal

Tar Beach, written & illustrated by Faith Ringgold

1992 Caldecott Honor

Little Red Riding Hood, retold & illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

1984 Caldecott Honor

Outside Over There, written & illustrated by Maurice Sendak

1982 Caldecott Honor

The Amazing Bone, written & illustrated by William Steig

1977 Caldecott Honor

In the Night Kitchen, written & illustrated by Maurice Sendak

1971 Caldecott Honor

*The Snowy Day, written & illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

1963 Caldecott Medal

Crow Boy, written & illustrated by Taro Yashima

1956 Caldecott Honor

If I Ran the Zoo, written & illustrated by Dr. Seuss

1951 Caldecott Honor

They Were Strong and Good, written & illustrated by Robert Lawson

1941 Caldecott Medal

Buckling Bookshelves is now on Instagram!

So, I finally caved and started a dedicated bookstagram account separate from my personal account. I've been having fun playing around with it so far and I'd love if you'd come check out my feed if you use Instagram! You can find me @bucklingbookshelves and I'll embed a recent post below.

I've admittedly been posting more on Instagram recently than I have been here on the blog.  But I do have a whole bunch of blog post ideas swirling around in my head I'm hoping to get out of my brain and onto the screen now that summer is over and my son and I are getting settled into his new nursery school routine. (Side note: HOW is he old enough for nursery school already?!?!?)

View this post on Instagram

My book and my tea mug match today! Isn’t @carrottoppapershop’s new Anne of Green Gables mug just beautiful! 😍😍😍 • Note to self: I need to pull out more book darts before I dive back into this wonderful story 📖 • Swipe to see all 3 Anne quotes! 📚📚📚 • Anne of Avonlea @tundrabooks edition with cover art by @elly.mackay ❤️ • • • • • #anneofgreengables #anneofavonlea #lmmontgomery #bookishmug #tea #teamug #carrottoppapershop #bookquotes #anneofgreengablesquote #lmmontgomeryquotes #classics #classicbooks #readingtheclassics #classicliterature #childrensclassics #theclassicsclub #ccwhatimreading #theunreadshelfproject2018 #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcovers

A post shared by Christine (@bucklingbookshelves) on Sep 19, 2018 at 6:06am PDT

(Side note #2: I actually finished this book last night and I'm just in love with Anne -- bring on the rest of the series!)

Earlier today I put up the first of what will be several IG posts for Banned Books Week, starting with banned/challenged classics I have on my shelves. There's more to come throughout the week on Instagram and I will also definitely be posting my next Caldecott Calendar entry here on the blog featuring all the Medal and Honor books that have been banned/challenged over the years.

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Are you on bookstagram? Leave me your handle in the comments so I can check out your feed, too!