Censored: Lindsey Gardiner and the offending scenes
Posted on 11/18/2007 1:58:49 PM PST by Stoat
A leading children's author was told to drop a fire-breathing dragon shown in a new book - because the publishers feared they could be sued under health and safety regulations.
It is just one of the politically correct cuts Lindsey Gardiner says she has been told to make in case youngsters act out the stories.
As well as the scene showing her dragon toasting marshmallows with his breath, illustrations of an electric cooker with one element glowing red and of a boy on a ladder have had to go.
Ms Gardiner, 36, who has written and illustrated 15 internationally successful children's books, featuring her popular characters Lola, Poppy and Max, says such editing decisions are now common.
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Censored: Lindsey Gardiner and the offending scenes
In Who Wants A Dragon? - published by Orchard Books last year - Ms Gardiner says: "I was told, 'You can't have the dragon breathing fire because it goes against health and safety.'
"It doesn't really make any sense.
"Sales and marketing departments are worried something might offend somebody, or that a child might copy something in a book and their parents will sue the publisher."
Pointing out that classic fairy tales such as Hansel And Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood would not get published today, Ms Gardiner said: 'It's a sad reflection of modern society."
In When Poppy And Max Grow Up, published by Orchard Books in 2001, Max was originally shown on a ladder "They didn't allow that because they thought it was precarious," said Ms Gardiner.
"Then I had to change the element on a cooker from glowing red to green.
"It is crazy. When I go to book signings, I sometimes take with me some colouring pictures, and the kids draw the elements as red because the cooker is on and it's hot. They are not stupid.
"I've had books published in Japan, France, Spain and Holland and they don't ask for the same changes.
"It seems to be in Britain and the U.S. that there are problems."
Nobody from Orchard Books was available for comment but a spokesman for the Publishers Association said: "We are aware of some concerns by authors and it is something we can talk about in the industry."
The “children” need to know that there is no “bad” in the world.
Other than white Anglo-Saxon males, of course.
So much for "its for the children"! /chuckle
Yet, flaming fags is ok. Lovely.
I think I’ll start grabbing up non-PC books. Someday they’ll be worth a great deal of money...maybe. That is if they don’t confiscate them from us.
Thumb-sucking nanny-state doo-gooders...
Yet, flaming fags is ok. Lovely.
Still proudly in print:
Amazon.com Heather Has Two Mommies (Alyson Wonderland) Books Leslea Newman,Diana Souza
Amazon.com Daddy's Roommate (Alyson Wonderland) Books Michael Willhoite
Amazon.com Who's in a Family Books Robert Skutch,Laura Nienhaus
Amazon.com One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads Books Johnny Valentine,Melody Sarecky
Amazon.com And Tango Makes Three Books Peter Parnell,Justin Richardson
and there are many, many more, oftentimes specifically targeted at children as young as three years old.
and....
With Padded Rooms for All
I'm surprised that Ernest Hemingway hasn't been banned yet.....tales of hard drinking, going to bullfights and ravaging vivacious, sultry and enthusiastic women under the hot sun simply can't be permitted in an "enlightened" society.
Love it!!
If it included pictures that were suitably graphic and explicit and suggested that this activity provided a link to homosexual behavior, it would most likely not only be well-received, but it would win numerous literary awards as well.
I had a boss like that too.
I have vivid memories of that poem and picture from when I was a very, very young stoat....you probably couldn't get that published at all nowadays.
I've heard of wives like that.....Not saying I have one.
(She may walk into this room while I am typing)
...and in some cases, it should be considered a public service, resulting in a free gift card.
Most of our problems would disappear, if citizens were allowed one free shot during their lifetime.
Phil, The Prince of Insufficient Light, is the ruler of Heck (for sinners whose transgressions aren't serious enough for Hell). He pops up about once a year to impose mild sanctions for mild sins. For example, once he punished Dilbert by making him eat lunch with the accountants.
(Did I type that right dear?)
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