Topic: issue

Children’s book on male penguins raising chick remains on list of most challenged books

September 23, 2008 |

In celebration of Banned Books Week, Clarksville Online will offer our readers articles, and Best Books lists — yes, lists — of the best in literature for both adults and children.  Have you read a banned Book? We hope so!

Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell’s award-winning “And Tango Makes Three,” a children’s book about two male penguins caring for an orphaned egg, topped the list of American Library Association’s (ALA) 10 Most Challenged Books of 2007. A year ago. This year’s tally of challenges has three more months to go.

Three books are new to the list “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes; “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman; and “TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle.“Free access to information is a core American value that should be protected,” said Judith F. Krug, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. “Not every book is right for each reader, but an individual’s interpretation of a book should not take away my right to select reading materials for my family or myself.” «Read the rest of this article»

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Banned Books WeeK: Celebrating the freedom to read

September 21, 2008 |

In celebration of Banned Books Week, Clarksville Online will offer our readers articles, and Best Books lists — yes, lists — of the best in literature for both adults and children.  Have you read a banned Book? We hope so!

Banned Books Week:  Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week  of September each year.   Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Association of College Stores. The Library of Congress Center for the Book endorses it.

Many bookstores and libraries across the nation join in the celebration with displays and readings of books that have been banned or threatened throughout history.  These include works ranging from the Bible to John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” «Read the rest of this article»

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‘Imagination Library’ puts new books in the hands of children

By Beth Britton | September 19, 2008 |

Dolly Parton is a passionate lady. She is passionate about her songs, passionate about her music, and most of all passionate about her family and her roots.

That’s why in 1996 Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library in her home county Sevier County, Tenn. She wanted Preschool children and their families to be passionate about books.

Imagination Library is a program designed for children to receive a brand new age appropriate book from birth until age five. You can sign up at any time to get your child started. The book is mailed directly to your house. This is a community funded program and the Dollywood Foundation tracks and mails the books to the families entirely for free!

In March of 2000 Dolly approached The National Press Club in Washington D.C urging other communities to take action and to pick up the program to spread the love of literacy. «Read the rest of this article»

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Great Blue Herons: wild creatures, not pets

By Beth Britton | September 11, 2008 |

The Great Blue Heron (andrea herodias)
Length: 36-54 inches; Weight: 4.8-8lbs
Wingspan: as much as 6 feet at times

Wounded Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is common in North America and can be found along water habitats such as fresh and salt-water marshes, rivers, swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, and shorelines. Their diet consists of small fish, which they spear with their long sharp beak. They are amazing creatures, able to fly at great speed from the air to the water to spear fish with powerful force.

The first time I saw one of them was beside a small creek. When it flew out in front of me up in the air screeching with its hoarse croaking squawk, I thought I had seen a long lost prehistoric pterodactyl! This bird looks tiny but is very large when in flight.

Walden’s Puddle is a wildlife refuge and rehabilitation center in Joelton,Tennessee, that takes in wildlife creatures that have been injured and helps them heal and be safely re-released into the wild. As interesting as this was to see, it was very sad to see such a magnificent creature slightly askew inside this box. However, even though it was still in the box, Elle-girl and I kept our distance. For this is a wild creature that does not understand the situation that it has been placed in. «Read the rest of this article»

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