A source told us over the summer that they believe the Iowa City School District and Iowa City Public Library are attempting to get around Iowa law by using the public library’s “Bookmobile” to make books available at elementary schools that are prohibited by law from being offered in the school library itself.
After a search of the Bookmobile’s catalog, we found a number of books that certainly would be prohibited from being in Iowa elementary schools due to Senate File 496 — which required books in Iowa schools to be age-appropriate and prohibited instruction on sexuality and gender identity in grades K-6.
On Monday, we highlighted the book “Grandad’s Pride.” Read about that here.
On Tuesday, we highlighted the book “If You’re A Drag Queen and You Know It.” Read about that here.
On Wednesday, we highlighted the book “Hooray for she, he, ze, and they! What are your pronouns today?” Read about that here.
Today we want to tell you about a book called “Pink, Blue, and You! Questions For Kids About Gender Stereotypes.” This book is in the Bookmobile’s catalog:
Like previous books we’ve highlighted, this one is intended for readers 4-8 years old. It’s intended for Pre-K through second grade.
This book starts out somewhat innocently. It starts in the first couple of pages seemingly just tackling gender stereotypes. Which, honestly, are fine to discuss. But five pages in and we read this:
“And what does it even mean to be a girl or a boy? Do we have to be one or the other? Or can we be both at the same time, or neither?”
To quote Anchorman…”that escalated quickly.”
Kids are then told about kids who were called a girl when they were born but feel like a boy. And another kid who doesn’t feel like a boy or a girl. And another who feels like they are a boy and a girl at the same time.
“How we feel inside is called our gender identity,” the book states. “How would you describe your gender?”
From there the book pivots to preferred pronouns.
“One way we can show others our respect is by calling them what they want to be called,” it states.
Another page reads:
“No matter who we are, what we like, how we feel, how we dress, and what our body looks like, we ALL deserve to be loved, protected and respected.”
And the next page…
“Unfortunately, not everybody agrees. Some people don’t believe that all humans should have the same rights.”
The book continues…
“Some governments even made laws telling people who they’re allowed to fall in love with. Men should love women, and women should love men!”
The book then asks its audience if they think people should be allowed to love whomever they want. And while laws prevented men who love men and women who love women from marrying or raising children — reality is there are “many, many different ways to be a loving family.”
Eventually kids are told about a Zuni Mexican whose sex was male but lived as a “two-spirit, which is a third gender in some cultures.”
But the kiddos are told that the “good news” is the world is changing. And then they’re asked to imagine how it would feel if things “changed even more” in the future.
Instruction regarding sexuality and/or gender identity in grades K-6 is illegal in Iowa. Yet this book is available at at least seven Iowa City elementary schools during stops by the Iowa City Public Library Bookmobile.
One reviewer wrote:
“None of this needs to be taught to children. Disgusting…To put pictures of naked children in this book is sick. If your kid makes it to puberty and has questions, by all means discuss as a parent with them. But this nonsense as no place in libraries, schools or around young children. Shame on you for pushing this on small children.”
Here is the schedule for the Iowa City Library Bookmobile. All stops are open to the public:
ACTION: If you feel compelled, contact the Iowa City Public Library and let them know there’s a reason books like this are prohibited from Iowa schools.
Iowa City Public Library Director: Eslworth Carman — [email protected]
Iowa City Public Library Community & Access Services Coordinator: Sam Helmick — [email protected]
Iowa City Public Library Board:
Bonnie Boothroy *
[email protected]
Claire Matthews
[email protected]
Dan Stevenson
[email protected]
DJ Johnk – Vice President
[email protected]
John Raeburn
[email protected]
Joseph Massa *
[email protected]
Tom Rocklin – President
[email protected]
