In yesterday’s post, I included an image of 40 books that have been banned and today, I promised you the title of the Most Dangerous Book in America… and here it is. Drum roll please…

He’s charming. He’s bald. He’s a baby in a diaper. He’s CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS…

That’s right. The #1 spot on the Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged or Banned Books for 2012 goes to none other than the irrepressible, irreverent Dav Pilkey and his erstwhile tralala’ing Captain Underpants.

I get it. Parents don’t like potty mouth and they don’t like the word Poop. Or boogers. Or diaper-wearing babies that make fart jokes. But guess what?? Kids do! Boys and Girls do! Reluctant Readers do! And that’s all that matters, in the end, is the reading. We need to hook kids into reading, and kids love these books.

Let them read. Please. Parents and  teachers, I implore you to simply let kids read what they love. And hey, I’ll let you in on a secret: a few silly poop jokes never hurt anyone.

So go ahead. Live Dangerously and read this book or any other banned book. Celebrate your Freedom to Read!

xo, Lisa

“We shouldn’t teach great books. We should teach a love of reading.” B. F. Skinner