Discussion: In the Night Kitchen (2/6) Page 10

10/15/2015

49 Comments

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The book In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak has previously been listed as a banned book and stirred up some controversy due to depictions of a boy’s anatomy. While the author and publisher support the First Amendment rights of the author’s creative works, some librarians and parents disagree and have even painted a diaper on Mickey.

An optional YouTube Video of In The Night Kitchen can be found here.

What is your opinion?

49 Comments

Kim

12/21/2017 05:10:50 pm

I'd probably ask my parents for permission before reading this one to their kids, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

shirin mirza

12/22/2017 02:04:04 am

I think the illustration of body parts in a book should be ok but i think, there might be some parents objecting. Children look at each other body parts all the time during potty training anyway.

Rachel

12/27/2017 12:52:41 pm

I don't really mind that he chose to illustrate the boy that way. Why would a young boy's nether regions be a thing to freak out over in the first place? In my toddler room, for example, kids are all still in diapers and just learning how to use the toilet on their own. We can't close the door on them or go into a darkened corner of the building to change their clothing or diapers, so the young children all know about how changing babies works. It's a natural part of life, and if he wishes to depict that for broader audiences to see, so be it.

Jeff Sagmoen

12/28/2017 11:46:30 am

I don't think people, let alone children, should be told what to think, let alone what to draw when it is innocent. The night kitchen is innocent.

Lauri Walker

12/28/2017 04:50:05 pm

I never had an issue with the nudity. Honestly, I don't think I ever noticed it until I watched the interview with Martha Stewart in this lesson. It is a drawing. It is not explicit. It is a cartoon of a little boy for heaven's sake.

Rikki

12/29/2017 11:06:44 am

I personally don’t see anything wrong with the story book. I don’t feel it was horrible enough to get banned, either or at all. If you have a problem with it, simply just don’t buy/read it.

Michela Crawford

12/29/2017 10:19:48 pm

I feel that it is the author's and illustrator's right to portray their character they way they like. Human anatomy is not something to be shunned and silenced when brought up in discussion. Instead we can use it as a great teaching moment.

Sherry Howard

12/30/2017 03:27:00 pm

I feel there is nothing wrong with this and it should not have been banned. I have read the book in my Pre-K class and they laugh and giggle for a moment but that just opens up the opportunity to talk more. When children are shown there is nothing bad about such a picture they learn to accept it as art.

Sangeeta

12/31/2017 09:02:59 am

I had never heard of this book till I now. I do not think anything is wrong with showing anatomy. I think my kids will get a kick out of it and open doors for further discussions,

Linda Levack

12/31/2017 04:31:34 pm

This would be a book where I would get a parents permission to read it first, even through I have no problem with it.

Andrea

12/31/2017 10:05:02 pm

I hadnt heard of that book but honestly, I think that when society makes a huge deal about something like that, then it becomes an issue. Kids may ask questions, but that is the job of a child.

Katelynn Harper

1/2/2018 10:18:02 pm

Personally I don't have an issue with this book. My mother in law actually just gave us my husband's copy of the book from when he was young. She had drawn a blue diaper on the boy.

Faith Fisette

1/3/2018 04:46:18 pm

I think that it is up to you if you want to put a diaper on the little boy or leave it the way it is, i have no problem with it but i would talk to my parents about it first before reading it to my class.

Faith Fisette

1/3/2018 04:57:00 pm

I think that it it up to you whether you want to put a diaper on the little boy or not. I have no problem with it, but would talk to the parents before reading it to my class.

Mischelle Strauser

2/6/2018 09:17:18 am

I have two opinions on this... little kids don't have much awareness of covering their bodies. I think this is why he illustrated it like he did. He said that he didn't grow up in a way where this picture would have been abnormal. On the other hand, would the book be just as valuable if he hadn't drawn it that way, did the boy's nudeness add to the book or did it add controversy to the book? Whether this was the authors intention or not would be interesting to know. I think in this day and age having pictures of a child's nudeness may distract a young reader with giggles and pointing. Would it be a book that I could read to my students up in front of the class, probably not "as-is". I have not read the book, but no doubt it is probably a very good book. My thought is though, could it have been just as interesting without the nudeness?

Derek

2/28/2018 11:33:50 pm

In the Martha Stuart interview, when Sendak talked about this book, he explained that he expected children to know what their own bodies look like. I think that is a reasonable explanation of what that image might mean to a child. It's simple.

While we might set boundaries about when it is important to wear clothes, I don't think the nudity in this book would compromise what appropriate boundaries can achieve. It's just a picture. It's just a body.

Manolita

3/29/2018 07:13:52 pm

I have not read In the Night Kitchen so I am not sure if nudity is central to the story, or if putting diaper on Mickey would change the theme. If nudity is central to the theme, I can understand the controversy because we live in a very diverse society. Needless to say, nudity will scandalize some culture.

Nancy Awamura

4/18/2018 06:44:51 pm

I have actually never read this book so I would have to check it out first. I expect that my 3-4 year olds will laugh and get quite distracted. It might be a great teaching tool however. We could discuss the difference between a simple picture of a nude baby in a book and exposing and/or asking others to expose themselves on the playground.

Mackenzie link

4/24/2018 04:37:04 pm

I have not read this book so i would have to look into it and check it out, but maybe it would be a good teaching tool just not the nudity part.

Michelle

6/5/2018 03:15:39 pm

I think it is ridiculous that this book would be banned. That is a human body. Here in america a natural thing that kids should be appropriately curious about, we ban..... There is nothing sexual about the pictures, it the anatomy of a boy

shilpa

6/17/2018 12:42:50 am

I'm not against the book. It helps kids learn about their bodies.

Connie

6/29/2018 07:05:52 am

I think it sad that we teach our children to be nothing less that thrilled with the body they were born with. I think if there were more books like this that it would help children understand their body is nothing to be ashamed of. Teaching modesty might be a more valuable lesson.

Elizabeth Itaya

7/18/2018 01:29:35 pm

My opinion is that people overreact to everything these days. People need to stop coddling and sheltering their children from everything because when they enter the real world they are going to go into shock.

Krima

8/28/2018 10:35:36 pm

I am all about mainstreaming and normalizing something that IS normal in the first place. Anatomical awareness should be a natural thing that children are exposed to. This includes identifying private body parts which they already see on a daily basis anyway, seeing them illustrated in books, hearing their actual names (penis, vagina) used in a totally neutral and non-malicious way.

Atsuko

9/2/2018 03:12:55 pm

I will read this book to children without asking their parent's permission because I do not think anything wrong with this book. I don't know why some people make big problems from something innocent and pure. Children will giggle and laugh and some questions about picture of little boy, but that's okay it is also natural kids know they should wear their cloths except bath time.

Kristyn Hoffmann

9/3/2018 09:02:35 am

I think it is ridiculous to ban a book just because of anatomy. Children hage a healthy curiosity about body parts and I think having age appropriate books is a great way to let them seek information on their own. I think it gives the children an opportunity to ask questions and talk to trusted adults.

Jennifer

9/15/2018 10:36:24 pm

I haven't read the book, but ran across the video story in a preschool where I worked. My initial reaction was of surprise, but we let the kids watch it and at that age they didn't even respond. A little bit older and they probably would have giggled and commented, but it then becomes something we can have a conversation about.

Megan

9/30/2018 05:07:09 pm

Margret Sanders

10/4/2018 05:00:26 pm

Prior to this course I was not familiar with this book, but I think it is up to the author to depict their characters how they want to. I know some people may feel offended by the way the character is shown, but I do think it anatomy is natural and simply a part of life. I think people have a right to their own opinion and should choose to read it if they're comfortable with it.

Tami Shigeta

10/21/2018 03:49:30 pm

This is such a relative question. I don't believe it should be 'banned'. It is up to us to make that choice to read it or expose any books to our children or students. This is a choice made individually just like every other choices that we may need to make for our children.

Porscha

10/28/2018 04:24:04 pm

I don't believe it should be banned. It depicts human anatomy, which is a natural part of life. Children are very curious. Maybe reading this book will allow open dialogue for important questions or thoughts children may have.

Kylie Jessup

11/11/2018 09:55:28 pm

I do not have a problem with the illustration. In saying that, however, I choose not to read books with nudity at my circle time as it creates a distraction. I have skipped certain pages of books, so that I can still read them at circle.

Tristi Moody

11/12/2018 04:14:53 pm

My feeling about this, is children would find this amusing, or funny or inappropriate, only because society has taught children to think that way. We have taught them that it is shameful to show those parts of their bodies, and they must be kept private. However, not all cultures mimic this belief, and not all humans mimic this belief. As a teacher and a mom, I am fine with Maurice's illustrations. How would I approach that as a teacher or a mom? Yes that's a part of his body... its a part of the human body... now lets move on.
Many of my children in class draw anatomically correct drawings of people. I dont think we should put shame around how children observe the world or human bodies.

Kimmai Than

12/2/2018 09:51:04 pm

I think nothing wrong with the book, children can learn the body through this book and they will learn why people have anatomy.

Samantha Lucas

12/3/2018 05:23:01 pm

Literature in all its forms are a source for learning. Not everyone is going to agree. I think the book is just fine.

Beverly Henry

12/6/2018 05:49:16 pm

Because it is a very simple drawing I don't feel it is inappropriate because children are very open about there bodies. that being said does it add to the story? I don't think so and therefore why draw controversy unnecessarily to a very engaging book.

Lydia

12/7/2018 10:18:05 am

I think that in order to satisfy the wants of the majority of people, he should have put some pants on the child as I think that it is a little too much to put that in a book. It's just not necessary and does not serve a kind of worthy purpose.

Tiffany

12/9/2018 08:08:00 pm

I don't mind that he chose to have frontal nudity. Children shouldn't be ashamed of their bodies. But I also can see why some other parents choose not to show their children. It can stir up questions that might be unwanted.

Amy Lewandowski

12/16/2018 03:20:36 pm

I believe that the book is absolutely fine the way it is and the illustrations should not be censored. I have seen the drawing, and it is not done in a vulgar or insulting manner. Children should not be taught to be ashamed of their bodies. While I do believe their is definitely a difference between what is appropriate and what is not, these illustrations of Mickey are of a small child. Most children are curious about the difference between boys and girls, and if they ask questions because of this book it is an opportunity for the adult to teach in a nonthreatening and natural way.

Douglas W Hansen

12/17/2018 12:34:20 pm

This is the first time I have read this book. Pride of ownership! Loved the story and pictures and while the pictures might cause some distraction during a group presentation, it's simplicity and lack of shame are refreshing.

Anna

12/27/2018 03:28:28 pm

The only problem I've ever had with it is being worried that a parent will object after I've read it or shown it (we have a set of scholastic books on DVD that are narrated over pictures of the book--so fun!) to my class. It's not graphically anatomically correct and is generally only an issue if someone-kid, parent, or teacher-makes it a big deal. Once the kids get past it, it is incidental to the fun story.

Stella Washburn

12/27/2018 05:52:36 pm

While in preschool, children are already aware of each other's body parts. Sendak is courageous enough to not be afraid to express something so natural as to not even be considered in some cultures. it is only through adult suppression that self consciousness about body image is created.

Shelley Lekness

12/28/2018 12:08:37 pm

I personally do not have a problem with this story or how the boy is depicted. I would ask permission from my parents before id read to their children just in case they felt otherwise.

Pamela Miller

12/30/2018 09:30:00 pm

It's unfortunate that this book was banned because of its illustrations. Nudity is nothing to be ashamed of and children for one have no reason to feel this way unless they are taught it from an adult. It is important to embrace what is good and pure and not create anxiety and fear within our children.

Honor

12/31/2018 10:02:27 am

I think that this book shouldn't be banned. As many others have said, body parts are just a part of every day life here in a toddler room. I think creating an environment where kids have a sense of understanding is good. Not only that, but at such a young age, those things don't really phase them. During potty training or diaper changing, being naked is just something normal. It's nothing to be ashamed of or giggled at. However, I can understand parents not being comfortable with it, because they may want to share some of those things with their kids instead of them learning it at daycare or school.

Gina Howard

1/2/2019 01:42:23 pm

I don’t have a problem with it as it is a normal feature of the body. However, some parents might take issue so in our center I would opt for covering it up. If I was in a smaller center I think I would just get parental permission. I think the children would really enjoy this book.

Yolanda

2/6/2019 01:52:16 pm

I think its a wonderful book, but I would not feel comfortable reading it to my students even with parent approval. It would be a great book for parents to read to their children at home.

sharon

7/2/2019 01:33:52 pm

I haven't read the book, but I do feel that the nude boy should cover his body parts. I don't see any value in showing everything. I feel it would distract from the story theme.

Deirdre

12/3/2019 07:06:48 pm

I was never bothered by this book and it's illustrations. Nor do I think the book should be banned because of them. That being said, in todays age of co existing hyper sexualization and hyper prudism ( for lack of better terms to explain) needing to coexist, I would probably cover up the genitalia when reading this to my classroom.

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Discussion: In the Night Kitchen (2/6) Page 10

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