So we’ve all heard the rumours, Walt Disney was part of the Illuminati and some of our favourite Disney classics are riddled with subliminal messages. And then there are the conspiracy theories behind our beloved nursery rhymes. Decades after book burning was all the rage, some of our favourite childhood books are still banned in parts of the world. What could possibly be wrong with a group of talking animals, getting along as friends, having a tea party?
Here are a few of the ridiculous reasons why some of the greatest children’s books of all time have been removed or restricted from schools and libraries.
James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Schools in the US (like you couldn’t guess) kicked up a fuss, claiming Dahl sexualised a spider, (no we didn’t know that was possible either), the grasshopper was a racist, and he also managed to promote drug use and communism in there as well.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L.F. Baum
Dorothy the trendsetter with her fashionable red brogues was banned from libraries in Detroit for having no value to children and was seen to influence impressionable minds to negativism.
‘Winnie-The-Pooh’ series by A.A Milne
This giant bear and friends are number 22 on the most banned books in America, and have also been removed in Turkey and Russia. Apparently speaking animals is a major insult to God and they also happen to be very pro-Nazi. Awk Pooh!
Alice in Wonderland by L. Carroll
Alice, Alice, what the f*ck is wrong with Alice? Banned in China back in 1931 due to the presence of talking animals, Alice in Wonderland was also recently challenged for promoting drug use.
What will they take away from us next? They needn’t think of touching Darby O’ Gill and the Little People, that’s all we’re saying…