PEN America released a list of the most banned picture books in the U.S. during the 2023-2024 school year, with a story about two gay penguins in the top spot.
And Tango Makes Three, written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole, was banned seven times during the school year. The book, based on the true story of two bonded male penguins at the Central Park Zoo in New York, has been a longtime target of book banners, making the American Library Association’s annual lists of the most banned or challenged books nine times since 2006.
The book is one of many featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes to make PEN’s list, including Todd Parr’s The Family Book and Jessica Love’s Julián Is a Mermaid, which tied for No. 2.
The transgender-themed When Aidan Became a Brother, written by Kyle Lukoff and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, was tied at No. 4 with Eric Carle’s Draw Me a Star, which was banned because it features a drawing of a nude Adam-and-Eve-like couple.
Illustrated nudity spurred additional book bans, including Maurice Sendak’s classic In the Night Kitchen, tied for No. 5 with Unicorns Are the Worst!, written and illustrated by Alex Willan, which features a goblin’s bare behind.
PEN America’s report comes days after the U.S. Department of Education announced it would no longer investigate book bans in American schools, calling the issue a “hoax.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
