At least six children's books have been
pulled off the shelves in recent months, more than previously confirmed by the
National Library Board (NLB).
Last
Saturday, the library board's chief executive, Elaine Ng, said three titles -
And Tango Makes Three, The White Swan Express and Who's In My Family? - had
been pulled this year.
However,
The Straits Times understands that there were more.
The NLB
withdrew the children's book Who's In My Family? by Robie Harris on March 26,
and then temporarily took all 22 remaining titles by Harris off the shelves in
April.
They
were then reviewed individually by the board's selectors, and three titles
classified as non-fiction for junior readers were recommended for permanent
removal.
These
were It's Not the Stork!: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families
And Friends; It's So Amazing! A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, And
Families; and It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, And
Sexual Health.
All
three focus on sex education for children and have a page featuring various
family structures, including those with single parents and same-sex couples.
The
Straits Times understands that a note was sent out to all public libraries on
April 8, asking for the three titles to be withdrawn. They are no longer listed
in the NLB's catalogue.
All
remaining titles by Harris, which were deemed "pro-family books for young
persons", were returned to the shelves. These include Who Has What?: All
About Girls' Bodies and Boys' Bodies, and Mail Harry To The Moon, a story on
having a new sibling.
Yesterday,
the NLB declined to comment on whether it had indeed withdrawn the three Harris
titles and why it had done so.
The NLB
may also have axed another children's title, The Family Book, by Todd Parr.
Transport
consultant Paul Barter, 47, said on Facebook last Saturday that he wrote to the
NLB that day to ask if it had removed the book.
He
borrowed it several months ago, but cannot find it in the library now.
Dr
Barter, who has an adopted daughter, said he has been looking for
"age-appropriate books that have adoption as a theme, that mention
adoption in positive ways or which portray a diversity of family circumstances
in a friendly way".
He told
The Straits Times that he had wanted to borrow the book again as it was a
"useful resource to teach my daughter about her identity", but could
not find it.
Again,
the NLB declined to comment.
The
Facebook group, Singaporeans United For Family, which collected signatures to
support the NLB's action, has submitted an open letter to the Ministry of
Communications and Information, Ministry of Social and Family Development and
Ministry of Education.
According
to the group, the letter is backed by 26,000 signatures. It declined to reveal
the identities of these supporters, and would not name the person who had
written the online letter.
Ho Bee
Bee, a 42-year-old personal assistant who signed the letter, said the removed
titles "were for kids of young age".
"Making
them readily available at the children's section makes me uncomfortable,"
said the mother of two boys, aged 10 and 11. "I had trusted NLB to
purchase books suitable for young children."
Pearl
Lee
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated
in Singapore since 1994.
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