Eric Luper's Random Musings

When my son was in pre-K, he had a friend (I will call her Sally) who had two daddies. Dad and Poppy were among the most loving parents a kid could dream of. They doted on Sally, made sure everything was provided for her, and were both at every school event possible.

At first, my son was perplexed by the fact that someone could have two daddies, but after the initial confusion he began requesting an additional daddy for our household. Believe it or not, it was more difficult to explain to him why we couldn't have a second daddy in our family than it was to explain how Sally had two daddies and no mommies.

So what is the ridiculous controversy? It's all about penguins.

And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell (illus. Justin Richardson) is a true story picture book about two male penguins in a zoo who pair up. They build a nest from stones and attempt to care for and hatch an egg-shaped stone. When the zookeeper gives the couple a real penguin egg, the duo successfully hatches it and cares for the chick. This is a book about love, partnership, and the nurturing instinct.

Then along comes Stephanie Bramasco who ruins it all by demanding the Lodi Public Library either remove it from the shelves or label the children's picture book as containing "mature content."

Here's an article.
Here's another.

According to FOX News, Ms. Bramasco had this to say: "You don't start teaching them at three years old about two men together and adopting a baby. And just because you sugar-coat it with penguins on the cover, doesn't make it an appropriate subject matter."

I say why not? What's wrong with showing a young child a story about a penguin who is so very fortunate to be raised by two loving parents?

According to Recordnet.com, Ms. Bramasco goes on to show her true colors by saying, "I don't have a problem with the book being at the library, but it is not appropriate material for children in that (1- to 3-year-old) age group. I'd feel the same way if the penguins were murderers or rapists. Don't sugarcoat that type of material by making it pertain to cute penguins, or dogs or kittens or whatever. It's not appropriate material for a 3-year-old to see and hear."

I'm sure Ms. Bramasco would feel I am taking her quotes out of context (which is why I did not crop anything) but it sounds to me as thoguh she is equating her feelings regarding a book on the children's shelves about the true story of a baby penguin being raised by two loving male penguins in the Central Park Zoo to finding books on the children's shelves about penguins who are murderers and rapists.

I hope you are as appalled as I am that there are people in this day and age who are this ignorant. And Tango Makes Three is not just pertinent to children of same-sex couples. And Tango Makes Three is not just pertinent to children who interact with kids of same-sex couples. And Tango Makes Three is a book that is pertinent to anyone who wants to learn something about love.

And I hope that includes all of us.

Note to Self: Retract the picture book submission from your agent. The world might not be ready for Tippy the Penguin and his Murderous Rampage.

Thank you to the great blog, Bookshelves of Doom, for the heads up about this issue!