Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature

Honestly, the truth is that we don't need to tell everything. I'd have to say that, for the most part, that is true of this entire book. Do we really need to know all the secret lives of our most beloved authors and illustrators? I'd say no. And, consequently, I'd tell you, if you feel the same way, then don't bother reading this book.

This has prompt me to look up many books. I already had a banned/challenged bookshelf, but this encouraged me to seek more of those books out. I was already interested in LBGTQ+ picture books (and to a lesser extent YA, I have read Luna and heard of many that were mentioned), and this helped list titles I was unfamiliar with. I will also now be seeking out books by celebrities and books that won awards (good as well as bad awards).

I loved how the idea of censorship was presented. It's a thorny issue, yet not all bad. I was pleased to see some examples of ‘positive' censorship, such as a contemporary author changing her ending a little (by a few words) to avoid exoticizing her non-white main character. Or forwards added to long ago published works explaining why and how the original text was (or in some instances weren't) altered. In other instances it was only images that were changed. Fascinating topics, such as why some works, in some contexts should not be censored, eg works by Twain in an academic setting. I agree that history/literary texts should not be edited to make us look better and that it can (in the right setting) lead to powerful lessons and understanding. Perhaps that is somewhat of an anthropological view, but still valid.

So much good and enjoyment from this. I found it because I had enjoyed another Betsy Bird book, and I will now also consider the other two authors.

Only one minor critique, I wish that the authors had acknowledged their western view point, as it seemed that mostly western texts and ideas were discussed. I am also curious as to other view points. For example in China Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was at one time banned due to talking animals; different cultures and eras have different mores and ideology.