The Bobcat Nation

Penguin book moved from children’s section
Parents complained about story depicting two male birds raising baby

Updated: 10:50 p.m. ET March 4, 2006
SAVANNAH, Mo. - A children’s book about two male penguins that raise a baby penguin has been moved to the nonfiction section of two public library branches after parents complained it had homosexual undertones.

The illustrated book, “And Tango Makes Three,” is based on a true story of two male penguins, named Roy and Silo, who adopted an abandoned egg at New York City’s Central Park Zoo in the late 1990s.

The book, written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, was moved from the children’s section at two Rolling Hills’ Consolidated Library’s branches in Savannah and St. Joseph in northwest Missouri.


Two parents had expressed concerns about the book last month.

Barbara Read, the Rolling Hills’ director, said experts report that adoptions aren’t unusual in the penguin world. However, moving the book to the nonfiction section would decrease the chance that it would “blindside” readers, she said.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Why do we need to indoctorin children that homosexuality is "normal"

I just wish that schools would go back to TEACHING the core basics.

I dont want a Geography teacher, teaching polotics.
I dont want a homosexual gym teacher
And I dont want the schools teaching MORALS

Those are the parents jobs, NOT THE SCHOOL

Go Scats Go wrote:Why do we need to indoctorin children that homosexuality is "normal"

I just wish that schools would go back to TEACHING the core basics.

I dont want a Geography teacher, teaching polotics.
I dont want a homosexual gym teacher
And I dont want the schools teaching MORALS

Those are the parents jobs, NOT THE SCHOOL

And GSG illustrates exactly the "hysteria" mentality that Rebecca eluded to in the subject line of her post about people freaking out about a nonfiction children's book about two male penguins raising a chick.

actually Brad two male jackass penguins at a zoo did take over raising a chick, and "love" each other. I think that's why the book was written to show that homosexuality happens at all levels of life - therefore - not a choice rather endorsing the "pre programming" of the brain to find attraction to the same sex.

and my header should have read TOO far - oops

but the reaction by GSG is why I posted it - so yes to that

Go Scats Go wrote:Why do we need to indoctorin children that homosexuality is "normal"

I just wish that schools would go back to TEACHING the core basics.

I dont want a Geography teacher, teaching polotics.
I dont want a homosexual gym teacher
And I dont want the schools teaching MORALS

Those are the parents jobs, NOT THE SCHOOL

The public outrage about homosexuality is kind of funny to me. The outrage from most is because many view it as a sin. But the "sin" of homosexuality has suddenly become a worse sin than any other, while biblical doctrine indicates that no sin is greater than another. So why isn't there concern over teachers that are of a different faith, or commit adultrey? Its a double standard.

There's this mass public hysteria stirred up against homosexuality mainly done by those who are supposed to teach or should know that all sin is equal.

Re/Max Griz wrote:

Go Scats Go wrote:Why do we need to indoctorin children that homosexuality is "normal"

I just wish that schools would go back to TEACHING the core basics.

I dont want a Geography teacher, teaching polotics.
I dont want a homosexual gym teacher
And I dont want the schools teaching MORALS

Those are the parents jobs, NOT THE SCHOOL

The public outrage about homosexuality is kind of funny to me. The outrage from most is because many view it as a sin. But the "sin" of homosexuality has suddenly become a worse sin than any other, while biblical doctrine indicates that no sin is greater than another. So why isn't there concern over teachers that are of a different faith, or commit adultrey? Its a double standard.

There's this mass public hysteria stirred up against homosexuality mainly done by those who are supposed to teach or should know that all sin is equal.

Any endorsement of "free sexuality" needs to be monitored as those of us from the enlightened 70's can attest. There is no free lunch and contrary to Austin Powers, Freedom with Responsibility "isn't groovy". There is no free lunch, and morality does indeed matter.

CRB76-

since you are F&W have you seen this going on with other wildlife? i hear a lot about it happening (homosexual) behavior in wildlife, and have UNFORTUNATELY witnessed it with both my boston terrier and two very confused male Beluga whales - UGH not a site for kids

just curious - i just try and explain it in a very scholastic way to my kids. they are too young to dive into the whole sex thing.

briannell wrote:CRB76-

since you are F&W have you seen this going on with other wildlife? i hear a lot about it happening (homosexual) behavior in wildlife, and have
UNFORTUNATELY witnessed it with both my boston terrier and two very confused male Beluga whales - UGH not a site for kids

just curious - i just try and explain it in a very scholastic way to my kids. they are too young to dive into the whole sex thing.

What we call homosexual behaviors in animals are simply dominance behaviors and are not about sexual copulation.

Obviously animals do not "love" and bond around the same criteria that we do. Sorry Desmond Morris,we are not advanced animals who have evolved to higher levels of copulatory discernment. We bond to a mate that attracts us, not because they are the most musclebound, big lipped, wide hipped, tight butted ( contrary to glandular responses to such attributes) individuals. We marry out of compatibility and mental/emotional and spiritual unity.

Homosexuality is a moral issue ONLY because we are not animals seeking dominance status in the group. We are wired by a moral God to bond with a mate who is compatible with us on every level, emotionally, spiritually, and yes physically. I hope that helps Rebecca.

thanks - yeah those young male belugas sure gave us a show that no one there will ever forget. So when all the little ones on the field trip started to point certain parts out and ask why the one boy whale was "doing THAT" to the other boy whale, well it was time to rush the class off!


as for my Boston and his obsession with hank next door to us, well, i'm glad it's dominance funny, hank sort of seems to enjoy the humping

i still don't know why this was removed from the children's section, i think depending on the age of the child it's easier to use animals that are cute to explain things, rather than goto the "sex" section of Barnes and Noble and pick up, well, should we just describe it as "graphic" book to us as a discussion tool for kids. Since the topic wont poof away anytime soon I'd rather take the softer approach to the topic, rather than raw adult material.