SKIRTING THE LAW? Iowa City ‘Bookmobile’ holds stops at elementary schools, offers books that likely violate state law if in school

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I heard rumblings from a source that the Iowa City School District and Iowa City Public Library are working around state law through the public library’s “Bookmobile” — essentially a library on wheels.

I am working to find out if there is any truth to the accusation and hopefully will be able to report what I find out soon.

But part of the concern shared with me was easily verifiable right away. To get around recent laws passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, I was told the “Bookmobile” would stop at district schools and offer books that the school library couldn’t due to new laws.

Sure enough, there are weekly stops at district elementary schools. The schedule is available here. 

I did some searching through the catalog available at the Iowa City Public Library’s website. It turns out, there may indeed be books available in the Bookmobile at these elementary schools that wouldn’t be legal inside the school’s library.

One such book is called “Grandad’s Pride.” You can pretty well guess what the “award-winning” book is all about. As of Monday, Aug. 26, the book is offered at the Bookmobile, although it is currently checked out.

The grandchild discovers a pride flag in their grandpa’s attic. And that sparks conversation about “pride.” You can see the story through a read-aloud below:

Littered throughout the book is slogans like “love is love,” “equality for all,” “it’s OK to say gay,” “trans rights now.” There are all sorts of other signs, like “AIDS: We need research, not hysteria” and “love wins.” It even promotes drag.

There’s a definite agenda. Iowa law forbids content related to gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-6. This book is encouraged for kids 3 and older.

A number of Amazon customers left negative reviews:

“Disgusting targeting of indoctrination for young children.”

“I want to throw up reading this. How dare we push this on young innocent minds. We need to stand up against this and protect our babies.”

“Nothing against acceptance and whatever, but this book is absolutely not for kids. It is trying to indoctrinate kids and displaying messages about ‘minor-attracted people,’ aka pedos in a kids’ book. How disgusting is that?”

“Zero stars. Why is a book about a grandfather’s sexuality being marketed to kids ages 3-6 years old?! Look at a page in the book! This is insane! Keep sexuality out of kid’s books! Let them be innocent!”

“This book is absolutely not age appropriate for 3-6 year olds. Showing an older man in a bondage outfit kissing another man is pushing too much sexuality on toddlers and young children.”

“This is a terrible book that has the sole intent of grooming children.”

Here are some of the images that drew the most outrage:

The MAP portion has to be up to individual interpretation. It’s worth pointing out the fact it appears multiple times. There’s an actual movement among some to “destigmatize” pedophilia by referring to pedophiles as “minor-attracted persons,” or “MAPs.”

So, whether the inclusion of that map and the very distinguishable MAP at the top of it appearing multiple times within the book is some sort of “code” is up to each person.

We will be revealing other books offered at Iowa City Elementary Schools through the Iowa City Bookmobile throughout the next couple of weeks.

Author: The Iowa Standard