Gay penguin book shakes up Ill. school

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By JIM SUHR, Associated Press Writer

A picture book about two male penguins raising a baby penguin is getting a chilly reception among some parents who worry about the book's availability to children — and the reluctance of school administrators to restrict access to it.

The concerns are the latest involving "And Tango Makes Three," the illustrated children's book based on a true story of two male penguins in New York City's Central Park Zoo that adopted a fertilized egg and raised the chick as their own.

Complaining about the book's homosexual undertones, some parents of Shiloh Elementary School students believe the book — available to be checked out of the school's library in this 11,000-resident town 20 miles east of St. Louis — tackles topics their children aren't ready to handle.

Their request: Move the book to the library's regular shelves and restrict it to a section for mature issues, perhaps even requiring parental permission before a child can check it out.

For now, "And Tango Makes Three" will stay put, said school district Superintendent Jennifer Filyaw, though a panel she appointed suggested the book be moved and require parental permission to be checked out. The district's attorney said moving it might be construed as censorship.

Filyaw considers the book "adorable" and age appropriate, written for children ages 4 to 8.

"My feeling is that a library is to serve an entire population," she said. "It means you represent different families in a society — different religions, different beliefs."

Lilly Del Pinto thought the book looked charming when her 5-year-old daughter brought it home in September. Del Pinto said she was halfway through reading it to her daughter "when the zookeeper said the two penguins must be in love."

"That's when I ended the story," she said.

Del Pinto said her daughter's teacher told her she was unfamiliar with the book, and the school's librarian directed the mother to Filyaw.

"I wasn't armed with pitchforks or anything. I innocently was seeking answers," Del Pinto said, agreeing with Filyaw's belief that pulling the book from the shelves could constitute censorship.

The book has created similar flaps elsewhere. Earlier this year, two parents voiced concerns about the book with librarians at the Rolling Hills' Consolidated Library's branch in the northwest Missouri town of Savannah.

Barbara Read, Rolling Hills' director, has said she consulted with staff members at the Omaha, Neb., and Kansas City zoos and the University of Oklahoma's zoology department, who told her adoptions aren't unusual in the world of penguins.

She said the book was then moved to the nonfiction section because it was based on actual events. In that section, she said, there was less of a chance that the book would "blindside" someone.

[Sinergy 3]

Ok, im completely for it when it comes to teaching your kids about strait ppl and gay ppl, but not in elementary school and not in a book about penquins. thats going a lil too far. kids dont want to read cute lil books about penquins and learn about 2 gay penquins raising a baby. its distasteful IMO and i would have had something to say about it if my child went to that elementary school.

[Alex+R 0]

Ok, im completely for it when it comes to teaching your kids about strait ppl and gay ppl, but not in elementary school and not in a book about penquins. thats going a lil too far. kids dont want to read cute lil books about penquins and learn about 2 gay penquins raising a baby. its distasteful IMO and i would have had something to say about it if my child went to that elementary school.

What way do you think it would be appropriate to teach kids about it?

I don't see why teaching kids that there are gay couples is any more "mature" or "adult" than teaching them that people get married.

I don't see why we have to make a big deal out of it anymore in 2006. Most boys love girls but some boys love boys. End of story. My brother (born in the 90s) learned that when he was 3.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I have nothing against homosexuals or their raising children (after all, heterosexual couples have brought up some pretty terrible kids, so how bad can homosexual couples do?), but let children be children -- especially in grade school. There's no need to introduce them to heterosexual or homosexual lifestyles at that age. All elemenary school-age kids should be concerned with is adapting to their new scholastic environment, homework, and having fun during recess.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

She said the book was then moved to the nonfiction section because it was based on actual events.

That is a reasonable thing to do. The book is still available, but the 'non-fiction' label is sure to keep all but the nerdiest kids away

All elemenary school-age kids should be concerned with is adapting to their new scholastic environment, homework, and having fun during recess.

Homework is evil.

[Sinergy 3]

Ok, im completely for it when it comes to teaching your kids about strait ppl and gay ppl, but not in elementary school and not in a book about penquins. thats going a lil too far. kids dont want to read cute lil books about penquins and learn about 2 gay penquins raising a baby. its distasteful IMO and i would have had something to say about it if my child went to that elementary school.

What way do you think it would be appropriate to teach kids about it?

I don't see why teaching kids that there are gay couples is any more "mature" or "adult" than teaching them that people get married.

I don't see why we have to make a big deal out of it anymore in 2006. Most boys love girls but some boys love boys. End of story. My brother (born in the 90s) learned that when he was 3.

wonderful, but having a daughter in the 5th grade, i would RATHER have her learn it from me and my husband, not by some penquin book at school.thats what i think is appropriate. no i do not believe teachers or other school authorities should be teaching my child about gay people. that is the job of the parent if the parent chooses to do so. they will eventually find out in middle school, or in the 5th grade, my daughter learned from ME. and as i know it has never been mentioned in her school by any teacher or other personel in the school, and thats the way it should stay.

Edited November 17, 2006 by Ionescu

[Alex+R 0]

I have nothing against homosexuals or their raising children (after all, heterosexual couples have brought up some pretty terrible kids, so how bad can homosexual couples do?), but let children be children -- especially in grade school. There's no need to introduce them to heterosexual or homosexual lifestyles at that age. All elemenary school-age kids should be concerned with is adapting to their new scholastic environment, homework, and having fun during recess.

But is it something they have to be "introduced to"? With more books like these there wouldn't be an issue. Most kids will hear/read this story and have zero questions. And if there are questions, if a parent says "some boys want to marry boys" then that usually serves as enough explanation. Why should we shelter kids from some family types but not others? We let them watch sesame street which frequently features segments on kids who live with their grandma, kids who are adopted, etc. These segments teach diversity AND make kids see their families as normal.

With an increasing number of kids being raised by gay couples, there should be more books making them feel normal, too. And teaching other kids to be accepting of that.

Gay couples are not something you only encounter when you're an adult. That's just silly. Nobody has to teach the kids about ####### fisting and strap-ons.

wonderful, but having a daughter in the 5th grade, i would RATHER have her learn it from me and my husband, not by some penquin book at school.thats what i think is appropriate. no i do not believe teachers or other school authorities should be teaching my child about gay people. that is the job of the parent if the parent chooses to do so. they will eventually find out in middle school, or in the 5th grade, my daughter learned from ME. and as i know it has never been mentioned in her school by any teacher or other personel in the school, and thats the way it should stay.

Ok, but what about gay couples having children do you feel is a sensitive subject that isn't appropriate for children? I really don't understand. (Being serious here.)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

...what about gay couples having children do you feel is a sensitive subject that isn't appropriate for children? I really don't understand. (Being serious here.)

A siginificant section of American society has not yet been sold on the concept of gay == normal. Give it time.

[Sinergy 3]

I have nothing against homosexuals or their raising children (after all, heterosexual couples have brought up some pretty terrible kids, so how bad can homosexual couples do?), but let children be children -- especially in grade school. There's no need to introduce them to heterosexual or homosexual lifestyles at that age. All elemenary school-age kids should be concerned with is adapting to their new scholastic environment, homework, and having fun during recess.

But is it something they have to be "introduced to"? With more books like these there wouldn't be an issue. Most kids will hear/read this story and have zero questions. And if there are questions, if a parent says "some boys want to marry boys" then that usually serves as enough explanation. Why should we shelter kids from some family types but not others? We let them watch sesame street which frequently features segments on kids who live with their grandma, kids who are adopted, etc. These segments teach diversity AND make kids see their families as normal.

With an increasing number of kids being raised by gay couples, there should be more books making them feel normal, too. And teaching other kids to be accepting of that.

Gay couples are not something you only encounter when you're an adult. That's just silly. Nobody has to teach the kids about ####### fisting and strap-ons.

yes they should be introduced to it, at the age of the PARENTS choice and at the TIME of the parents choice. again it shouldnt be up to anyone else to teach our kids about sex, or homosexuality or anything else in that kind of manner. we as parents have certain things we need to talk to our kids about. school is for english, math, social studies and so on, NOT "lets read a book about gay penquins and then teach them about homosexuality" IMO schools are trying to take more and more parenting responsiblity away from the parents and they need to catagorize themselves back to where they are, THE SCHOOL for educational teaching, and lets the parents be parents and let us teach out kids things like sex and homosexuality on OUR decision of timing. especially at elementary school age, let kids be kids.

and if your brother new at 3, thats wonderful, but unless at 3 and asking the questions, it shouldnt be thrown up in the air to just tell them about it.

[Alex+R 0]

...what about gay couples having children do you feel is a sensitive subject that isn't appropriate for children? I really don't understand. (Being serious here.)

A siginificant section of American society has not yet been sold on the concept of gay == normal. Give it time.

Fair enough. I just think "I'll tell you when you're older" would be kind of an awkward response to "why does Steve have two moms?" Although the young kids in my family have never even asked that, come to think of it. They just accept it, as in "Steve has two moms." No reason to make something more weird that the kids themselves are not really that weirded out by.

[Sinergy 3]

I have nothing against homosexuals or their raising children (after all, heterosexual couples have brought up some pretty terrible kids, so how bad can homosexual couples do?), but let children be children -- especially in grade school. There's no need to introduce them to heterosexual or homosexual lifestyles at that age. All elemenary school-age kids should be concerned with is adapting to their new scholastic environment, homework, and having fun during recess.

But is it something they have to be "introduced to"? With more books like these there wouldn't be an issue. Most kids will hear/read this story and have zero questions. And if there are questions, if a parent says "some boys want to marry boys" then that usually serves as enough explanation. Why should we shelter kids from some family types but not others? We let them watch sesame street which frequently features segments on kids who live with their grandma, kids who are adopted, etc. These segments teach diversity AND make kids see their families as normal.

With an increasing number of kids being raised by gay couples, there should be more books making them feel normal, too. And teaching other kids to be accepting of that.

Gay couples are not something you only encounter when you're an adult. That's just silly. Nobody has to teach the kids about ####### fisting and strap-ons.

wonderful, but having a daughter in the 5th grade, i would RATHER have her learn it from me and my husband, not by some penquin book at school.thats what i think is appropriate. no i do not believe teachers or other school authorities should be teaching my child about gay people. that is the job of the parent if the parent chooses to do so. they will eventually find out in middle school, or in the 5th grade, my daughter learned from ME. and as i know it has never been mentioned in her school by any teacher or other personel in the school, and thats the way it should stay.

Ok, but what about gay couples having children do you feel is a sensitive subject that isn't appropriate for children? I really don't understand. (Being serious here.)

completely different, if your a gay couple and you have children, well duh, they will ask, and they will ask at a early age, but children who are not exposed to it at the parents choice (being gay parents) then no, i dont believe it should be brought up until asked by the child and again the parents should explain.

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

Nobody has to teach the kids about ####### fisting and strap-ons.

let's hope not..........

[Sinergy 3]

Nobody has to teach the kids about ####### fisting and strap-ons.

let's hope not..........

ewwwwww

[Mrs. Forgetful 2]

I think this book is a good idea. It shows children that there are different families, but that they still have the same amount of love for their children as hetrosexual familes do. I think it's a good idea for children to learn at an early age so they aren't so prejudice against homosexuality as they get older. I learned young, and I learned in church about it. But at that time i learned that it was straight up bad. But I had friends who had two moms or two dads, but I saw that their parents loved them as much as mine loved me. You don't need to worry about a book, you need to worry about your kids playing house or doctor.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

does the book actually cover gayness/homsexuality? it may be as simple as a story of two (male) penguins adopting an orphaned (or whatever) egg. lots of 'good' lessons can be drwned from this story to teach young children. i have no details on this book, so strictly speculation on my part here. so what if just that two mlaes love each other. that does not mean that they are gay. if the book does cover homosexuality, especially any mention of SEX, then i would agree that it isn't appropriate for elemetary kids.

Daniel

:energetic: