Kids' lit, with body parts
WHY HAS ONE WORD, "scrotum," generated such controversy and heated debate over my book, "The Higher Power of Lucky"? Lucky, the protagonist, overhears the word on the first page, doesn't know what it means, and wonders -- but there's no one she can trust enough to ask about it. The tiny town of Hard Pan, Calif., hasn't many resources for a curious, vulnerable 10-year-old trying to figure out how the world works.
The problem with "scrotum," evidently, is discomfort among adults who do not wish to see references to body parts in children's literature. Also, fear of giggling. What if the teacher or librarian loses control of a class of kids, however briefly, while reading the book aloud? Even the (ludicrous) specter of a lawsuit over sexual harassment has been raised!
Ironically, my job as collection development manager (helping children's librarians in the Los Angeles Public Library's branches select, replace and weed their collections) includes responding to public objections to particular books. I also train new children's librarians in handling such complaints. We validate the parent who finds a particular book unsuitable for his child -- parents should be involved in their children's (but only their children's) reading. We do not remove the title from our collection, but we do help the patron to find other, more appropriate books.
Our guiding principle is to offer a wide selection of books, magazines, DVDs and audio books. We buy popular, light reading; "literary" books; controversial materials such as "Harry Potter," "Lemony Snicket" and "Captain Underpants," and other materials compelling to kids. We want to lure them in.
Oh yes, we librarians are driven when it comes to reading. We entice kids with computer centers, reading incentives and free programs -- magicians, storytellers and living, breathing authors. Once we have the children in our clutches, we cannot rest until they've joined the Summer Reading Club, registered for a library card and found some books we hope they'll love. We are relentless in this passionate goal of connecting kids with books.
Of course, adults are right to fear a word in a book, although not, as in this instance, because it names a body part. They are right in the implied assumption that books have enormous power and influence. Children who read widely understand more about the world; they have a foundation for making better decisions. They think, and because of that, they may even challenge their parents' beliefs. For some, a scary idea, but isn't a thinking child preferable to one who accepts the world at face value and has no aim to change it for the better?
