In fact, two of the books, It’s Perfectly Normal and It’s So Amazing! are number 12 and number 37 respectively on the American Library Association’s Top 100 Banned /Challenged Books: 2000-2009. The reasons given for challenging It’s Perfectly Normal were: “abortion, homosexuality, nudity, religious viewpoint, sex education, unsuited to age group.” The reasons given for challenging It’s So Amazing! were: “sex education, sexual content.” (Source: American Library Association)
Robie H. Harris has a new picture book for young children, Who Has What? All About Girls’ Bodies and Boys’ Bodies, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Wescott. Just before the book’s release in the fall of 2011, I had the opportunity to interview Robie H. Harris about her three nonfiction books about sexual health, her new informational picture book, reactions to her books, and her response to those who question the value of these books and want to see them banned or censored. The 3-part interview included the following:
Robie H. Harris Interview, Part 1:
On Her Kids' Books on Sex and Sexual Health
In this segment of the interview, Robie Harris talks about how she came to write her books on sex and sexual health, the guiding principle she follows, all of the research she does, including updating the books every few years, and how important illustrations are to the books. I was interested to learn how illustrations can help to add a light touch to the book without compromising the need to get across a great deal of factual information. Everything - the research, the emphasis on age appropriate information, the illustrations - go back to Harris's guiding principle: “In the Best Interests of the Child.” This principle is also used in updating the books. For example, it led to the addition of a section on Internet safety in the latest edition of It’s Perfectly Normal.
Robie H. Harris Interview, Part 2:
On Censorship of Harris's Children's Books About Sex and Sexual Health
In this discussion, we cover "hot buttons" for parents, complaints and censorship. Harris describes some of the objections parents have to sex education books and some of the topics she covers and explains why she refuses to take out any of the topics people object to. She also explains her feelings on censorship and recommends some resources to use when books come under attack.
Robie H. Harris Interview, Part 3:
On the Latest Book by Robie H. Harris, Who Has What?
In the final portion of the interview, Robie H. Harris discusses Who Has What? All About Girls' Bodies and Boys' Bodies, her informational picture book published in 2011. Topics include how she happened to write the book, the reason for the picture book format, why a different illustrator provided the artwork, the purpose of the dogs in the book and what she hopes parents will gain from sharing the book with their 2- to 6-year-olds.
