Why I Love ... Wednesday!

Why I Love ... Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Alexis over at reflections of a bookaholic. Each Wednesday is an opportunity to explore a different aspect of literature and why I love it. Today's topic: favorite banned book.

Maybe it's the rebel in me but I like a lot of the books that have been banned or challenged over the years. Today, I have the opportunity to revisit a particular favorite of mine that has become a bit of a cause for me. The book is 'And Tango Makes Three'. It is a childrens' picture book written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole. You can find my original review here.

 'And Tango Makes Three' was published in 2005 and has been on the banned/challenged list every year since. When I heard this, I ran to my library to check it out. What could be so terrible about a picture book that would be so controversial?

If you are like me (the 'before' me), you have never heard of this book and have no idea what it is about. Well, let the 'after' me enlighten you. This is a beautifully illustrated little book that tells the true (yes TRUE) story about two Chinstrap Penguins. These two penguins live in the Central Park Zoo and are a couple. Over the years, the other penguins lay eggs and raise babies but these two are never lucky enough to lay an egg. They are so instictually driven to be parents, the two actually try to hatch a rock. One day, one of the zoologists at the zoo plops a lone penguin egg into the nest of these two would be penguin parents. When the baby hatches, she is named Tango and the parent penguins prove themselves to be all that penguin parents are supposed to be. Sweet story, right. So why was it banned? The parent penguins happen to both be male.

Do you have a favorite banned book? Want to check out the banned/challenged list? You can find it here. And if you get a chance, check out 'And Tango Makes Three'. It'll warm your heart.