Yet Another Scholastic Update – with Conan O’Brien

There’s always more to do. Reader Jersey Mom astutely pointed out in a comment (as did a reader over at Change.org) that Scholastic has only agreed to carry Lauren Myracle’s Luv Ya Bunches in their middle school Book Fairs, not their elementary school ones, even though the book is listed as appropriate for ages nine to twelve. Nine years old usually means fourth grade. Not only that, but the four protagonists of the book are in fifth grade. That’s elementary school, folks, in every school system I’ve ever known.

The fine folks at Change.org are going to speak with Scholastic and see what’s up. I’ll keep you posted on what they say, and what more we might do to help make the book available to all kids for whom it is appropriate.  My own sense is that Scholastic has made a move in the right direction, and we should acknowledge that—while at the same time letting them know that it is not enough. As all parents know, sometimes eliciting the proper behavior is done one step at a time, and a little praise along the way can help, even as we keep the pressure on.

On another, unexpected note, the story even caught the attention of Conan O’Brien. At about the 4:20 mark in yesterday’s Tonight Show, he talks about a book that was banned from book fairs because it had lesbian moms. He mentions neither Scholastic nor the title, but I think it’s clear he means Luv Ya Bunches. Watch it after the jump:

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