Bring them gently to the point where they'll make the right decisions when faced with the things they'll need to decide. While it might seem easier to just make all of the evil books disappear, in the long run, it really isn't. You won't always be able to be clearing shelves for your children, but the values you impart will last a lifetime. Challenged offenders here include the aforementioned The Color Purple and Snow Falling on Cedars as well as John Steinbeck's oft-maligned Of Mice and Men . Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, agrees.
Book banning and challenging has a domino effect.
If we stand by quietly and let the first book come off the shelf, we run the risk they all will come tumbling down. Celebrate Your Freedom to Read. The event is being supported by many book stores, libraries and, of course, by the ALA itself. I can't think of a nicer way to celebrate Banned Books Week than by running out and reading a banned book. That would amount to thumbing your nose at censorship.