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

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.

Are you looking for ways to help your child with her reading? Maybe she’s a bit slower than other peers her age. Maybe she gets frustrated easily when sounding out words. Or, maybe your child is showing a strong interest in reading even before she’s been to school. Wherever your child is on his or her reading journey, there are ways you can help.

The following are a few tips, provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), to keep in mind as your child learns to read:

• Set aside time every day to read together. Many children like to have stories read to them at bedtime. This is a great way to wind down after a busy day and get ready for sleep.
• Leave books in your child’s room for her to enjoy on her own. Make sure her room is reading-friendly with a comfortable bed or chair, bookshelf, and reading lamp.
• Read books that your child enjoys. After a while, your child may learn the words to her favorite book. When this happens, let your child complete the sentences or take turns reciting the words.
• Do not drill your child on letters, numbers, colors, shapes, or words. Instead, make a game out of it and find ways to encourage your child’s curiosity and interests.

Ignore your teeth and they’ll go away. Harsh words, but oh, so true. So, how early and how often and how best should you take care of your children’s teeth? According to the AAP, dental and oral diseases continue to plague kids even with all the advances that have taken place with oral health.

Follow these tips to help your kids develop good dental habits and take a real bite out of dental diseases:

• Schedule regular check-ups with a dental professional (every 6  months)
• Get enough flouride (it can be found in or added to water and toothpaste)
• Brush and floss regularly( twice a day is ideal)
• Eat a well-balanced diet and drink lots of water

Dental cleaning should begin as soon as your baby gets his first tooth. Simply using a damp cloth or piece of gauze to wipe the first few teeth will do wonders as far as prevention of dental disease goes. The AAP recommends that all infants receive an oral health risk assessment by 6 months of age. And all kids should have a comprehensive dental exam by a dentist in their early toddler years. Hopefully, these guidelines will bring a smile to your child’s face for years to come.  And note to moms and dads: these tips for kids apply to you too!

Did you know there were safety guidelines regarding your children’s sleepwear? Did you know that they recently changed? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently released their new requirements for kid’s pajamas to help give parents safe and broader choices when it comes to sleepwear.

• Infant sizes up to 9 months may be made from flame resistant or non-flame resistant fabrics
• Infant sizes above 9 months must either be flame resistant or worn snug-fitting

Children should not sleep in oversized or loose-fitting clothing like t-shirts or sweatshirts or other garments made from non-flame resistant fabrics. It’s important to keep 2 “f” words in mind when you’re buying your children’s sleepwear:  fabric and fit!

Is there anything you can do to prevent your child from choking? The experts say there is. Of course, accidents do happen. But just being aware of some general choking hazards could help prevent a possible tragedy.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children under 4 years of age should not be fed round, firm food unless it is completely chopped. If infants and young kids don’t grind or chew their food well, they may try to swallow it whole. Avoid the following foods for little ones:

• hot dogs
• nuts and seeds
• chunks of meat and cheese
• whole grapes
• hard gooey or sticky candy
• popcorn
• chunks of peanut butter
• raw vegetables
• fruit chunks
• chewing gum

The following household items should be out of the reach of infants and toddlers at all times:

• balloons
• coins
• marbles
• toys with small parts
• toys that can fit entirely in a child’s mouth
• small balls
• pen or marker caps
• small button-type batteries
• medicine syringes

Source:  Choking Prevention and First Aid for Infants and Children (c)2006 AAP

Recent research is shedding lots of light on brain development and its link to early education. But should resources and funding be focused on infants and toddlers or traditional preschools?

The Chicago Tribune recently brought this plight to light. As reported by Jeremy Manier, Studies have suggested that intervening before children start preschool improves academic outcomes for low-income kids and may reduce the risk they will end up in prison. And some experts assert that starting schooling at age 4 or 5 just might be too late.

But not everyone agrees. Manier reports the other side of the story.

Backers of universal preschool say the evidence for even earlier is not yet solid and offering conventional prekindergarten to everyone would help build popular support for early education.

It’s definitely a tough call to make. With evidence on both sides of the debate, where do you fall on the early education situation? At least I think everyone agrees that early education can only help kids and all kids deserve the help.

When can your child face forward in the car? Good question. The answer might surprise you: your child must be at least one-year-old and weigh at least 20 pounds. However, the experts suggest that children ride rear-facing to the highest weight and/or height allowed by the car safety seat’s manufacturer.

If your little one is old enough and big enough to ride face-forward, there are 5 types of car safety seats that can be used. The AAP has provided the following descriptions of forward-facing seats that can be used…with care, of course!

• Convertible seats- “convert” form rear-facing to forward-facing seats
• Forward-facing toddler seats-can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 80 pounds (depending on the model)
• Combination forward-facing/booster seats-can be used forward-facing with a harness for kids who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds (depending on the model) or without a harness as a booster (up to 80 to 100 pounds)
• Built-in seats-some vehicles have forward-facing seats built-in; weight and height limits vary; check with the car manufacturer
• Travel vests-can be worn by kids between 20 and 168 pounds and can be an alternative to traditional forward-facing seats; useful for when a car has lap-only seat belts in the rear.

Immunizations have been controversial for some people for quite a long time. Recently, it seems the topic of immunizations has been raising even more questions. Nonetheless, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does have recommended schedules for people ages 0-18 years; the schedule has been approved by various agencies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Below, you can find the recommended immunizations for persons aged 0-6 years. As always, consult with your child’s doctor if you have questions or concerns or need clarification on any of vaccines.

The (*) indicates the range of recommended ages when the vaccine should be administered.

Birth

• Hepatitis B (HepB)

1 month

• HepB*

2 months

• HepB*
• Rotavirus (Rota)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Pneumococcal (PCV)
• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)

4 months

• Rota
• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV
• IPV

6 months

• HepB
• Rota
• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV*
• Influenza

12 months

• HepB*
• Hib*
• PCV*
• IPV*
• Influenza
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)*
• Varicella*
• Hepatitis A (HepA)*

15 months

• HepB*
• DTaP*
• Hib*
• PCV*
• IPV*
• Influenza
• MMR*
• Varicella*
• HepA*

18 months

• HepB*
• DTaP*
• IPV*
• Influenza
• HepA*

19-23 months

• Influenza
• HepA*

2-3 years

• Influenza

4-6 years

• DTaP
• IPV
• Influenza
• MMR
• Varicella

Certain high-risk groups should get additional vaccines including PPV and MCV4. Visit the AAP website for additional information and guidelines regarding the immunizations.

Gratitude journals. Oprah made them famous. You may or may not have kept one before you knew they had a name. And maybe you’ve been keeping one ever since. Have you thought about introducing the idea of keeping a gratitude journal to your kids?

The idea of a gratitude journal is simple.  Basically, people write down on a daily basis things in their lives for which they are grateful.  Of course, they are used in a variety of ways by countless people to serve any number of purposes.  People create their own rules for their gratitude journals–which means there might not be any rules. But the whole premise of the journal is to get people thinking about all that they have to give thanks for each and every day.

Appreciating what one has in his/her life is an art; I wish I had practiced it years ago. I still haven’t mastered it. But I know I can and I’m even more convinced that kids can get it a lot easier than us adults. Whether it’s two things a day, two minutes a day, or two times a day, when people take time to appreciate the world around them-and their places in it-it’s a powerful and empowering piece of the day. Kids shouldn’t be denied such an incredible experience. In fact, I bet that they’ll be grateful.