A 2013 children’s picture book, Read Me a Story, Stella, described by Kirkus as depicting “the sweetest of sibling relationships,” was flagged for review by an Alabama library because the author’s last name is “Gay.”
Marie-Louise Gay is the author of numerous other books, including Hopscotch, The Three Brothers, and Fern and Horn. But Read Me a Story, Stella was included on a list of 233 books with potential “sexually explicit” content to be considered from removal from the children’s section of libraries in the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system, al.com reports.
Kirsten Brassard, Gay’s publicist at Groundwood Books, said it was the first time the book had been “mistakenly censored,” but pointed to the serious issues underlying what may be seen as a humorous error.
“Although it is obviously laughable that our picture book shows up on their list of censored books simply because the author’s last name is Gay, the ridiculousness of that fact should not detract from the seriousness of the situation,” Brassard said in a statement.
The library system’s list for potential removal, which also included Angie Thomas’ best-selling The Hate U Give, sends “the message to children that certain ideas—or even certain people—are not worthy of discussion or acknowledgement or consideration,” Brassard said. “This is a hateful message in a place like a public library, where all children are meant to feel safe, and where their curiosity about the world is meant to be nurtured.”
The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system’s executive director, Cindy Hewitt, said that Read Me a Story, Stella had been included on the list by mistake, triggered by the “gay.”
“Obviously, we’re not going to touch that book for any reason,” Hewitt told al.com. She also expressed admiration for The Hate U Give and said she believed it should not be removed from young-adult library shelves.
The review was prompted by a demand from a group called Clean Up Alabama, which has targeted for removal 102 books it says are “sexually explicit.” Read Me a Story, Stella was not on Clean Up Alabama’s list.
Some books on the list have already been moved to the adult section. However, following criticism that the process targeted the LGBTQ community, the review, which Hewitt insists did not target the LGBTQ community, has been halted.
Amy Reiter is a freelance writer.
