Brokeback Iceberg?
Penguins … ya gotta love ‘em.
The cute, cuddly critters have long been a staple in children’s books and TV shows. They’re popular as mascots for elementary schools and hockey teams alike. Hollywood’s crazy for them, having cleaned up at the box office in recent years with “March of the Penguins,” “Happy Feet” and “Surf’s Up,” among others. And who would think of taking a trip to the zoo without a stop to view the perpetual tuxedo-wearers in their stone and water habitat?
But a trio of penguins in the Big Apple are feeling no love from certain folks in Loudoun County.
Last week, it was reported that the award-winnning children’s book, “And Tango Makes Three,” had recently been pulled from general circulation at the county’s elementary schools.
The books tells the story of two male Chinstrap Penguins, Roy and Silo, who live in New York City’s Central Park Zoo. The two penguins form a special bond together, and when given the opportunity, hatch an egg and raise the resulting chick … that would be the Tango mentioned in the title.
According to a report in the Loudoun Times-Mirror, a parent of a student at Sterling’s Sugarland Elementary “raised concerns” about the book. Sugarland’s principal reviewed the book, and judged it appropriate for the students. The parent appealed the principal’s decision, and from there it went to a district-level group for consideration. That committee, made up of a parent, a teacher, a school librarian and various administrators, reviewed the book and again deemed it appropriate for “general circulation.”
At some point, Edgar Hatrick, LCPS superintendent, got involved, and ruled that the book was not appropriate. The book was pulled from the shelves of the 11 elementary schools that had it in their libraries (currently, parents and teachers can obtain the book by request).
The book is in general circulation at the middle and high schools in the county, though published as it is under Simon & Schuster’s Books for Young Readers imprint, it’s not clear how many pre-teens and teens will want to check it out. Perhaps the current kerfuffle will make it popular.
As a writer and a lover of books, I felt loathe to criticize a book – or defend it – without reading it first. And so I did.
“And Tango Makes Three” is a short book based on a true series of events at the Central Park Zoo. One of its authors is Justin Richardson, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia and Cornell, whose advice has been featured in The New York Times and on NBC’s “Today” show, ABC’s “20/20” and NPR’s “Morning Edition.” The co-author is Peter Parnell, a playwright and co-producer of the TV show, “The West Wing.” The art is done by Henry Cole.
In 2005, the book was awarded the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award, which recognizes works that uphold the “humane ethic of compassion and respect for all living things.”
In reading the book, I found a story about families, companionship, acceptance, love, commitment and teamwork – stop me if I get to something objectionable.
It is a positive story, gently told – all the more compelling because it is a true story. With all due respect to the pleasant art of Mr. Cole, my only real quarrel is that I would have liked to see some actual photos of Roy and Silo and Tango.
But getting back to the gist of the issue, I must confess disappointment with the decision to pull the book. It seems to me that works like this have a vital and unique role to play in helping to foster understanding among young people.
Books such as this one are made to be shared, and can show children that love and family come in many different forms. This book and others like it can help shape attitudes and have a lasting impact.
Some children will have same-sex parents, many more will encounter them in their lives. Can’t we help them deal with that in a way that preserves everyone’s rights and dignity?
We always say it: “Kids can be cruel.” They can say hurtful things to their peers without thinking. They can perpetuate hateful speech or behaviors they see on the playground or on TV. They can label and exclude and belittle others, never thinking of the consequences.
We need to quit those kinds of things.
What we need in the world is more love, understanding and acceptance – not less. And we need to teach it at an early age.
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