The American Library Association recently released their list of the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2007. For the second straight year, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell’s award-winning children’s book about two male penguins who care for an orphaned egg–And Tango Makes Three–topped the list.

When schools or libraries receive formal, written complaints requesting that a certain book be removed because of content or appropriateness, the book is considered a “challenged book.” According to the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF), they received 420 reports from libraries and schools of efforts to have books removed last year.

However, they also note that the majority of challenges go unreported. 

How do you feel about it as a parent? Is it different than how you feel about it as a regular ol’ American citizen? When should people/children have access to information and the freedom to choose for themselves and when should it be denied or controlled? It appears that these questions present themselves over and over again each year when it comes to children’s literature.

Taken from the ALA website, here is the list of the “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007.” You’ll see that they reflect a range of themes and are challenged for a variety of reasons:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell 

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3. Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language

4. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Reasons:  Religious Viewpoint

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Reasons:  Racism

6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7. TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit

9. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Reasons:  Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons:  Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Today, May 7th, is National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) points out that although teen pregnancy rates are the lowest they’ve been in 30 years, they’re not low enough.

Before age 20, 31% of teen girls will get pregnant.

The AAP, along with 200 other national organizations, is promoting National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy through a variety of ways.

If you’re comfortable talking with your teen about sex and pregnancy, visit the StayTeen.org website and take the quiz with your child to see what your teen would do in a risky sexual situation.  This should prove to open up a great dialogue. Also, pediatricians across the country are talking with their teen patients about this national campaign and encouraging them to think about what to do “in the moment” before the moment arises.

Much more information about the national campaign can be found at the campagin’s website. While all parents don’t agree on how to and what to discuss in regards to sex with their teens, all parents probably agree that preventing teen pregnancy is a must.

Here’s a startling statistic for you: there are more fetal deaths due to car crashes than there are child fatalities due to bike accidents or infant deaths in car crashes in the first year of life.

The question is why?

It seems that many pregnant women don’t buckle up for fear that the pressure from the taut seat belt would harm their baby if they were in a car crash. Studies have shown that although this sounds logical, it’s completely wrong. In car accidents involving pregnant women, 80% of women who didn’t use seat belts lost their babies; yet, only 29% of fetuses whose mothers were wearing seat belts properly were seriously injured or died.

A recent study from the University of Michigan suggests that the proper use of seat belts by pregnant women could prevent over 200 fetal deaths annually and probably prevent numerous brain injuries in the fetuses that survive.

While only 7% of pregnant women are generally involved in car accidents during their pregnancies, you want to be as safe as possible if you’re in the 7 percent! According to safety experts it’s best for pregnant women to buckle up and position the lap belt under the abdomen to best protect the baby.

A woman recently wrote into Oprah’s magazine, O, looking for advice on a topic that I found interesting. Basically, she and her family have a favorite restaurant and it just opened a section within the restaurant that is especially for families. The woman likes to go out to eat with her kids but apparently she doesn’t want to go out to eat in a room with everyone else’s kids.

She thinks the restaurant is wrong for implementing this room for families. What do you think? I can tell you what the expert, Faith Salie, at O thinks.

Salie simply told the woman that the restaurant is allowed to have this policy-whether it’s right or wrong. It’s their restaurant; they make the rules. And Salie pointed out that probably every parent at the restaurant thinks that their own child is fabulous even though others might not agree. Salie’s solution-which I thought was great-was to keep that favorite restaurant for date nights so she and her husband can enjoy their dinner…for two.

Looking for a family-friendly outdoor adventure? Look no further than REI. REI stores nationwide are giving families what they need to get outside and have fun.

REI has implemented a Passport to Adventure program at stores throughout the country. Families can visit their local REI store and pick up a passport along with a list of 5 family-friendly hikes or bike rides, complete with directions and maps. As your family takes their hikes or rides throughout the spring and summer, have your kids fill out information on their passport about each adventure.

Once your family has completed 3 hikes or bike rides, bring the passports back to your REI store. Kids will get cool stamps for each outing, a certificate of completion, and a free water bottle. Best of all, the family will have memories to last a lifetime.  You can find your closest REI store by checking out their website at rei.com. This sounds like a great way to get the family together for some fun in the sun this spring and summer!

It’s pretty common knowledge by now that while plastic water bottles may be convenient for us, they’re a nightmare for the earth. Plastic water bottles can be recycled but many don’t make it to the recycling bin and they do no one any good sitting in landfills.

So, what’s a mom to do with all those empty bottles hanging around the house? Tess Patalano wants you to get crafty. Patalano wrote an article, ”Thirsty for More,” for Parent & Child magazine recently on how to put plastic water bottles to good use with simple and creative crafts. 

With Mother’s Day less than a week away and long summer days ahead, you and the troops could make any of the following out of your empty bottles:

• piggy banks
• flower vases
• stained “glass”
• rainstorm “snow” globes
• message in a bottle
• magnetic magic tricks

Go to the Scholastic website to get the specifics on how to complete each of these easy (and inexpensive!) crafts. Save your bottles. Save some money. Save the earth. What could be better?

Know a new mom who could use a little help? Or maybe you know an old mom who could use a good laugh. Parade magazine recently suggested two gifts that could give a mom you know a little lift.

Surviving Motherhood is a TLC series that comes in a two-disc set and costs $25. On the videos, a group of moms bond over coffee and kids. The Rookie Mom’s Handbook might be the perfect fit for a novice mom in your life who needs a break. Lots of laughter and fun ideas can be found inside.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Parade magazine has even more gift ideas at parade.com. And remember, there’s no rule that says you can’t treat yourself to a gift or two too!

I’m bored. There’s nothing to do. How many times have you heard that? Probably too many. The next time you hear that same old, same old saying, see if your kids are up for disc golf.

Disc golf, or Frisbee golf, is a fun activity that is fun for kids of all ages but especially teenagers. You may or may not have seen it played but it’s a pretty simple premise. The object is to land small discs in strategically placed metal baskets in as few throws as possible. Part Frisbee. Part golf. All fun.

It’s easy enough for your teens to set up their own course in the neighborhood or a local park. If they want an official course, pdga.com can tell them where to find one. So, next time your teens tell you that they have nothing to do, tell them you have an idea…

Yes, April showers bring May flowers. But May showers just bring you…indoors. If you find yourself and your kids stuck inside on a rainy day this May, a DIY project is just what you need.

Fitness magazine included directions for a simple how-to project in their last issue that you and the kids could enjoy. Make your own egg-carton herb graden and watch the good times grow.

What you’ll need:

• an empty egg carton with a few small drainage holes punched in the bottom of each well
• different herb packets like basil chives dill thyme oregano and sage
• potting soil
• popsicle sticks
• plastic wrap

What you’ll do:

1. Read instructions on packs-some seeds need to be soaked before planting.
2. Spoon potting mix into wells and plant seeds at depth required for each herb. Sprinkle with water.
3. Write the name of each herb on a popsicle stick and place in backs of wells.
4. Cover carton tightly with plastic wrap and set on a warm sunny windowsill.
5. When herbs sprout, remove plastic wrap, and water every few days. Move to larger pots as necessary.

Who doesn’t want their children to behave well? Margie Markarian figured that most people do so she wrote an aritcle, “Positive Parenting: How to Encourage Good Behavior,” for the latest issue of Heatlhy Children magazine. In the article, Markarian includes a list of discipline don’ts for parents when it comes to getting good behavior out of kids. Here’s a quick summary of Markarian’s big no-nos for moms and dads:

• No hitting or spanking–Using physical force shows kids that violence is an okay way to solve problems. Markarian, as well as many other experts, strongly oppose hitting kids.
• No labels–Calling a behavior bad is fine, but telling your son he’s a “bad boy” is no good for anyone.
• No unreasonable expectations–If you set the bar too high, you’re setting your child up for failure. Don’t expect perfect behavior from your daughter late in the afternoon when she hasn’t napped all day.
• No idle threats–Mean what you say and say what you mean. Kids learn quickly if moms and dads don’t follow through with their warnings or threats.
• Avoid inconsistencies–Don’t let the kids play you against your spouse or partner or co-parent.  Divide and conquer is bad here. Always present a united front.