This children’s book was written by Justin Riehardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole.
I have never read this book before, but I have heard about this penguin story back when it came on the news, before the book was written. (I’m not ancient, I promise!)
Ratings: Amazon: 4.9 out of 5 stars (the highest I’ve ever seen!). Goodreads: 4.33 out of 5 stars.
Summary: (copied from Goodreads) This illustrated children’s book fictionalizes the true story of two male penguins who became partners and raised a penguin chick in the Central Park Zoo.
It has been banned from school districts because objectors believe that this story is not suitable for young children because it features a homosexual couple as parents. This book has become a target of objections since Florida passed the House Bill 1557, Parental Rights in Education Act, otherwise known as the “Don’t Say Gay” Act. House Bill 1557 (2022) – The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov) So Florida school districts like Lake County followed the state law by restricting access to 40 titles, that per The New York Times, the vast majority of the books that deal with LGBTQ issues and themes. But a few months after restricting access to this book, the school district reversed this decision. Lake County school board reverses decision nixing access to banned children’s book (mysuncoast.com) Sadly, this book is still banned in other counties and states.
My personal take: While the story does feature a homosexual couple, it does not include any sexual content. So, what makes the homosexual status of the couple too negative to be read by second graders? Personally, it leans into the 100-year-old assumption and fear mongering campaign that homosexuals are perverted deviants; because why else is it inappropriate to show the variety of parental units. Like, seriously? We had a married gay presidential candidate, who is currently the Secretary of Transportation; oh yeah, he is also a father of two children. We also have a married lesbian White House Press Secretary, who is on television every day, and she is also a mother.
Many of the homophobic attacks on literary works are based on the objectors’ Christian faith, but the problem with that base is that less people attend church now more than ever. Per CNN, “about 64% of Americans call themselves Christian today. That might sound like a lot, but 50 years ago that number was 90%, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center study. That same survey said the Christian majority in the US may disappear by 2070. The Covid-19 pandemic also hurt the church in America.” Predictions about the decline of Christianity in America may be premature | CNN The original colonists came to this country so that they could have their own religious freedoms, so shouldn’t this country allow for other cultures and religions?
I’ll leave you with that thought.
Here are a few links for those who object to accessing this book:
And Tango Makes Three: Florida School District Bans a Book on… Penguins (thedailybeast.com)
Singapore libraries to destroy copies of gay penguin book | Singapore | The Guardian
Books Challenged or Banned in 2011-2012, by Robert P. Doyle – Illinois Library Association (ila.org)
The Banned Book Reviewer 
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