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For the last week or so we’ve told you about books offered by the Iowa City  Library’s “Bookmobile.” The bookmobile makes weekly stops at at least seven elementary schools in Iowa City. There is some speculation about whether it is intentional the bookmobile offers a number of titles that are prohibited from being offered in the school libraries.

 

But Iowa City isn’t the only public library with a bookmobile that appears to be skirting the law as it relates to keeping inappropriate materials out of children’s hands. First, it is important to understand what is defined as not age-appropriate for Iowa schools. Here is the legal definition of what is not age-appropriate for Iowa school materials:

“Any sexual contact between two or more persons by any of the following:
1. Penetration of the penis into the vagina or anus.
2. Contact between the mouth and genitalia or mouth and anus or by contact between the genitalia of one person and the genitalia or anus of another person.
3. Contact between the finger, hand, or other body part of one person and the genitalia or anus of another person, except in the course of examination or treatment by a person licensed pursuant to chapter 148, 148C, 151 or 152.
4. Ejaculation onto the person of another.
5. By use of artificial sexual organs or substitutes therefore in contact with the genitalia or anus.
6. The touching of a person’s own genitals or anus with a finger, hand, or artificial sexual organ or other similar device at the direction of another person.”
It is also illegal to provide materials or instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation to students in grades K-6 in Iowa. But it isn’t stopping the Iowa City Public Library. And it doesn’t appear to be stopping the Ames Public Library.
The Ames “bookmobile” stops weekly at Mitchell School and Sawyer School on Mondays. It visits St. Cecilia School on Tuesday and Edwards School on Wednesday. Mitchell, Sawyer and Edwards all appear to be elementary schools. St. Cecilia is a Catholic school.
And among the books offered by the Ames Public Library “bookmobile” is a book called “Payden’s Pronoun Party.” The target audience for the book is 4-8 years old.

You can view a complete read-aloud of the book below:

Right away the book goes into confusion. Here are some of the most concerning excerpts of the book as it relates to causing gender confusion among kids.
Payden asks the veterinarian about pronouns next… The veterinarian causes further confusion by proclaiming that he is glad there are more ways to be than he or she.
Next, Payden asks an acrobatic artist who said people used to think the acrobat was a boy, but has always been a girl. The acrobat said it is important to feel your pronouns fit, encouraging confusion as it relates to a child’s biology.
Payden then asks a person who is called “they.” This person really increases the confusion by claiming they aren’t a boy or a girl.
Next, Payden asks Zoe, the dancer, how she decided to use ze and she as pronouns. Zoe says most of the time Zoe feels like a girl but sometimes they feel they don’t have a gender at all, which undoubtedly increases confusion among kids.
In the end, Payden decides “gender-neutral pronouns” personally fit best and settles on “e,” “em” and “eir” as the confusing story comes to a conclusion.
Here are some of the reviews:
“Confusing and mentally abusive for kids.”
“Quit confusing children.”
“Not for kids. Leave them alone.”

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