ABSTRACT
Most discussions of the relationship between censorship and children's literature focus on attempts to ban controversial children's books from libraries, but a recounting of such attempts tells only one part of a far larger story. A children's book can be censored in many different ways. Even before its actual publication, a book can be subjected to censorship pressures. A cautious editor may require that potentially controversial passages be deleted from the book before clearing it for publication. Sometimes further deletions are made by the publisher of the paperback edition, especially if the paperback publisher markets books through the schools. Once a book is in print, efforts may be made to restrict children's access to it. These efforts can include banning it from libraries, but there are other ways that restrictions can be imposed. A parent group may pressure their local bookstore not to sell it, or a worried librarian may not allow children to check it out without parental permission. A school principal may prohibit teachers from using it in the classroom, or a religious organisation may instruct its members not to allow their children to read it.
