Yet another school district has made a fuss over And Tango Makes Three
Developmentally, some students in the younger grades might not have been able to understand this without having an adult, such as a teacher, parent or guardian reading it with them. So we recommended that this would be a book that a child read with an adult so it can be put in context.
Developmentally, my four-year-old son is perfectly capable of understanding that a penguin has two dads. It’s an avian parallel to his two moms, and he certainly understands us (better than we understand him, sometimes). In fact, since the specifics of sexual reproduction are still vague to him, one might argue that he is more capable of understanding two penguin dads than are older children. His friends, too, seem rather blasé when they find out he has two moms, and I can’t imagine penguin dads would phase them.
On a positive note, I love that the Washington Post used a quote from a straight mom whose daughter wanted to check out the book, demonstrating that this isn’t just a “gay” issue, but one about acceptance of all types of families.
Sigh. I suspect this won’t be the last such kerfuffle. I hope someone organizes a good day of activism around this—filling the library lawn with stuffed penguin toys or holding a demonstration dressed in tuxes. (And why someone hasn’t licensed the right to sell stuffed dolls of Tango and his dads, with all profits going to an organization that educates about tolerance and diversity, is beyond me.)
it really is not a library that has made a fuss — it was a parent. The school library had a policy that was followed. The librarian, principal and a committee recommended the book be kept in general circulation. It was the superintendant who ordered the book sequestered.
You are completely correct, to my way of thinking, but please do not blame the library for the big boss’ actions.
Oh, right you are. Serves me right for staying up too late writing. I’ve changed “library” to “school district” in the first sentence.
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“why someone hasn’t licensed the right to sell stuffed dolls of Tango and his dads, with all profits going to an organization that educates about tolerance and diversity, is beyond me.”
Another stroke of Dana brilliance! There are numerous LGBT product manufacturing & marketing outfits that would be glad — I would have to hope — to be able to contribute to public education around same-sex parents. Plus folks who are currently making a mint with the anti-Bush paraphernalia have to look beyond the next year. And I’m afraid that it’ll be a while before we see the end of the tempest in this penguin pot. To bludgeon a metaphor.
My boys (three years old) have just rediscovered Tango! We did a book swap last week and they’ve become fixated. I even read it to them at lunch — reading books at the table is usually forbidden. They particularly like it when I read the “Author’s Note” at the end that explains how it’s a real story. I’ve promised them that we’ll visit Tango if we ever get to the Central Park Zoo.
PS: The real hero to me is Mr. Gramzay, the keeper who decided to give Roy and Silo a chance to be parents.