Parents of first-grade girl angered by children's book about gay princes

Star Tribune ^ | March 18, 2004 | Associated Press

[wallcrawlr]

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The parents of a first-grader are fuming over the book their daughter brought home from the school library: a children's story about a prince whose true love turns out to be another prince.

Michael Hartsell said he and his wife, Tonya, couldn't believe it when Prince Bertie, the leading character in ``King & King,'' waves off a bevy of eligible princes before falling for Prince Lee.

The book ends with the princes marrying and sharing a kiss.

``I was flabbergasted,'' Hartsell said. ``My child is not old enough to understand something like that, especially when it is not in our beliefs.''

The 32-page book by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland was published in March 2002 by Tricycle Press, the children's division of Ten Speed Press of Berkeley, Calif. A follow-up, ``King & King & Family,'' was recently published.

The publisher's Web site lists the books as intended for readers age 6 and up.

Barbara Hawley, librarian and media coordinator at Freeman Elementary School, said the book has been on the library's shelves since early last year.

``What might be inappropriate for one family, in another family is a totally acceptable thing,'' said Elizabeth Miars, Freeman's principal.

Hawley said she couldn't comment on the book because she hadn't seen it. She declined to say whether she knowingly selected a book on gay marriage.

The Hartsells said they are keeping the book until they get assurances it won't be circulated. But Hawley said all county schools have a committee that reviews books after their appropriateness is questioned, and the Hartsells must make a written complaint and return the book for review.

The Hartsells said they intend to file such a complaint and are considering transferring their daughter.

[veronica]

I'd go ballistic if my kid came home with a book like this. It's an outrage that children are being propagandized in this manner.

[shhrubbery!]

More for the budding multi-culti's kiddie library...

[End Times Sentinel]

``What might be inappropriate for one family, in another family is a totally acceptable thing,'' said Elizabeth Miars, Freeman's principal.

 

Hmmmm... I wonder if they have a Bible in that library?

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[cloud8]

I've been saying for years that Freepers ought to stop ridiculing Massachusetts and pay attention to your own states, because this perversion is headed your way. Honest to God, what is this country coming to?

[shhrubbery!]

Heather Has Two Mommies
by Leslea Newman, Diana Souza (Illustrator)
See more product details

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Buy this book with Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite today!
Total List Price: $21.90
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[longtermmemmory]

Freepers shoulc consider running for their local school boards to expose this stuff.

These are SCHOOL libraries not public libraries.

[Houmatt]

The Hartsells said they intend to file such a complaint and are considering transferring their daughter.

They ought to consider homeschooling their child if they want to keep her away from this kind of filth.

Barbara Hawley, librarian and media coordinator at Freeman Elementary School, said the book has been on the library's shelves since early last year.

Hawley said she couldn't comment on the book because she hadn't seen it.

Hold it. This woman is putting books on the shelves of the elementary school library without knowing their content? (Like the title was not enough of a hint?)

She is either grossly incompetent (in which case she should be fired) or a terrible liar.

The publisher's Web site lists the books as intended for readers age 6 and up.

Now I want some homoapologist to come and tell me these sickos are not targeting our kids. I will enjoy pulling this out and calling them baldfaced liars.

[macrahanish #1]

Probably not. But I bet they have a Koran.

[ladylib]

The parents are going to have to transfer their daughter to a "less enlightened" public school (good luck) or a private school because homosexual indoctrination is now firmly entrenched in most public schools.

[Houmatt]

Is it me or is there something not quite right about the way those two guys are gazing upon that kid on the cover of My Two Uncles?

[mountaineer]

Freepers ought to stop ridiculing Massachusetts and pay attention to your own states

You're right. Whoda thunk this nonsense would pop up in North Carolina?

[wolicy_ponk]

Is it just me, or does it not look like the roomate is "checking out" the kid?
Does the story end in a homo-cide committed by the jealous dad?
Uh, nevermind, I really don't want to know...

[jtminton]

I'm not sure, but at least they got the shirts right.

[ladylib]

The room mate bears an uncanny resemblence to Bill Clinton.

[jtminton]

They had this book in our public library back in the early 90's. There was a special display of 'banned books in America' and this was one of them. I have to tell you, it was a pretty funny book. I was in high school at the time and more than one photocopy from this book found itself taped to some lockers. Ah. . . memories. . .

[RightOnline]

"``What might be inappropriate for one family, in another family is a totally acceptable thing,'' said Elizabeth Miars, Freeman's principal."

No, Ms. Miars...............you're just another droolingly-stupid, worthless, ultra-liberal, never-got-laid-in-college liberal educrat. Dime a dozen.

[A. Pole]

People should simply check books like this out of the library, then "keep" them for a very long time.

This might do the trick. One could also discreetly lose some key pages. Or maybe insert some new ones?

[Fiddlstix]

You may find this interesting

[17th Miss Regt]

They are trying out for the new TV series "Touched By An Uncle".

[GrandMoM]

Hold it. This woman is putting books on the shelves of the elementary school library without knowing their content? (Like the title was not enough of a hint?)

She is either grossly incompetent (in which case she should be fired) or a terrible liar. ....she is lying! Librarian's get a review of all books before they are recieved!!!!