Picture books are usually not the Supreme Court ruling. But on Friday, most justices ruled that parents have the right to pick their children out of courses that offend their religious beliefs—bringing colorful pages of books like Uncle Bobby’s Wedding and “Pride Puppy” into public records of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ruling was filed by parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, who sued their children for their rights to remove their children from classes that read aloud in primary school classes in LGBTQ+ storybooks from kindergarten to fifth grade. These books are part of the English Arts course in the region representing LGBTQ+ families.
In the 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that when a disputed storybook will be used in a child’s class, the school must “notify them in advance” so that they can temporarily delete the child. Three liberals in the court opposed it.
As part of the case’s decision, briefing and petition, the parents’ justice and attorney described the story of nine picture books in detail, as part of the new Montgomery County curriculum. In her objection, Justice Sonia Sotomayor even recreates a “Uncle Bobby's Wedding”.
Here are nine books on the case:
Proud puppy
Author: Robin Stevenson
Illustrator: Julie McLaughlin
The book “Pride Puppy” published by Orca Book Publisher.
(Orca Book Publisher)
“Pride Puppy” is an alphabetical book that rhymes for young children, depicting a little girl who lost her dog while happily visiting the Pride Parade. The story is available as a board book, inviting readers to discover projects starting with each letter of the letter, including Apple, baseball and cloud, and more specific to Pride Parade.
The lawyer representing parents said in the profile that “the students are hardly old enough to tie their shoes to find images of “underwear,” “leather, lip rings,”[drag] King' and[drag] Queen and “Marsha P. Johnson,” controversial LGBTQ activist and sex worker.
The “leather” in question refers to the mother’s jacket, while the “lingerie” is a pair of green green panties, a tights worn by a big kid on a part of a colorful outfit.
Montgomery County Public Schools stop teaching “Proud Puppy” amid the legal battle.
Love, Violet
Author: Charlotte Sullivan Wild
Illustrator: Chulene Chua
The book “Love Violet” published by Macmillan Publisher.
(Macmillan)
The story describes a little girl named Violet, who is obsessed with another girl in her class, Mira, who “smiles” and “makes Violet's heart skip.” But whenever Mira tries to talk to her, Violet becomes shy and quiet.
On Valentine's Day, Violet makes Mira a special Valentine's Day. When Violet was brave enough to give her it, Valentine's Day was eventually trampled in the snow. But Mira loves it anyway and also offers a special gift for the violet – a violet box inside. At the end of the book, the two girls take an adventure together.
Parents' lawyer description “Love, Violet” as the book “Two Young Girls and Their Same Sex Playground Romance”. They wrote: “Teachers are encouraged to have a 'thinking' moment, asking students how they feel when they are not only 'like' but “like someone.”
Born Preparation: The True Story of a Boy named Penelope
By Jodie Patterson
Illustrator: Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
The book “Born Preparation” published by Random House.
(Landon House)
In “Born Preparation,” five-year-old Penelope gave birth to a girl, but they were sure they were boys.
“Mom, I love you, but I don't want to be you. I want to be a dad. I don't want to come tomorrow because I'll look like you tomorrow. Penelope's mom told them: “We're going to make a plan to tell everyone we know,” they held a celebration.
Sotomayor noted in the objection: “When Penelope’s brother expressed doubts, his mother said: “Not everything needs to make sense. It's about love. “transparent
In the opening brief brief, the lawyers for these families said: “The teacher was told to direct students that at birth, people guess about our gender,” but 'we know ourselves best.” Transparent
Prince and Knight
Author: Daniel Haack
Illustrator: Stevie Lewis
“Prince and the Knight” is a story about a prince whose parents want him to find a bride, but he falls in love with the Knight. They fought together one-stop. When the prince fell from height, his knight rode his horse to save him.
When the king and queen discovered their love, they were “full of joy.' We finally found someone who was perfect for our boys!” A great wedding was held, “the prince and his Shining Knight will live a happy life forever.”
“The prince and the Knight Prince clearly conveyed the message that same-sex marriage should be accepted by all as a reason for the celebration,” said Judge Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, and his message about American religion telling them that same-sex marriage is wrong.
“For the goal of young children and other storybooks, this kind of celebration has the potential to be treated as having moral implications,” Alito wrote. “If this same-sex marriage makes everyone happy and leads to a joyful celebration, does that mean it is a good thing in every way?”
Uncle Bobby's wedding
Author: Sarah S. Brannen
Illustrator: Lucia Soto
In “Uncle Bobby's Wedding”, a little girl named Chloe learns that her beloved uncle is engaged to his partner, a man named Jamie. At first, she worried that marriage would change her close ties with her uncle. But she soon accepted the celebration and the joy of another uncle through the league.
In most opinions, Alito wrote that the book conveys a message to children: “Whether they are the same or the opposite sex, as long as they love each other’, two people can get married. “The view is “directly contrary to the religious principles parents want to instill in their children in this case.” He said parents were able to “transmit different moral messages” to their children, “wronged when actively strengthening the opposite message in public school classrooms at a very young age.”
In her objection, Sotomayor included the entire book, writing: “Because most people selectively excerpt the book in order to rewrite its story.”
Most people’s analysis reveals their failure to accept and illustrate the basic truth: the existence of LGBTQ people. They are literally part of every community and workplace of any considerable scale. Eliminating books that will personally accept LGBTQ happily will not eliminate students' exposure to this concept. ”
Jacob's room choice
Author: Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman
Illustrator: Chris Case
Magination Press published the book Jacob's Choice Room.
(Magination Press)
“Jacob's Choice Room” is a follow-up to “Jacob's New Dress”, a book listed as the American Library Assn. Picture book of one of the top 100 books in the past decade.
Jacob wore a dress and when he tried to use the boy's bathroom, the two little boys “stared at Jacob standing at the door. The same happened to his friend Sophie, who was a boy who was kicked out of the girl's bathroom.
Their teachers encouraged the entire class to rethink what gender really means. The course determines that everyone should be able to use the bathroom that makes them feel comfortable and create new, inclusive signs to hang on the bathroom door.
“In remarking the bathroom doors to welcome multiple genders, the kids announced “bathrooms are suitable for every rabbit” and the placard of[choose] Comfortable bathroom'” the parents' lawyer wrote.
Cross-allocation: We make room for everyone
Authors: Chelsea Johnson, Latoya Parliament and Caroline Choi
Illustrator: Ashley Seil Smith
The book “Cross Styles: We Make Space for All” published by Dottir Press.
(Dottir Press)
Written by three sociologists, “Cross Styles” is a story about characters with different identities, including one who uses a wheelchair and the other is Kate, whom he identified as a transgender person. One page shows Kate saying in a gender-neutral bathroom: “My friends defend my choice and location. Like all rooms, a bathroom should be a safe space.”
In most opinions, Alito describes the discussion guide in the book he said: “When we are born, our gender is usually determined for us based on our gender…but at any time in our lives we can choose to identify with one gender, multiple genders, or neither gender.” The guide asks readers: “What pronoun is best for you?” Alito writes.
What are your words? : Books about pronouns
Author: Katherine Locke
Illustrator: Anne Passchier
“What are your words” is a picture book about a kid named Ali, whose pronoun “like the weather. They change according to my feelings. It's OK, because they are my words.” Ari's uncle lior (using them/their pronouns) is about to visit, and Ari is working hard to decide which words to describe.
The parents' lawyer wrote: “The child spent a day in pain.” Finally, while looking at the fireworks, Ali said: “My words finally found me! them and them Make me feel warm and caring. ”
My rainbow
Author: Deshanna Neal and Trinity Neal
Illustrator: Art twink
“My Rainbow” tells the true story of a black child with autism who knows himself as a trans girl. The Trinity wants to grow hair, just like her doll, but it’s hard to grow up. “The mother decided that her child knew best and sewed his rainbow-colored wigs,” the parents' lawyer wrote.
During the lawsuit, Montgomery County Public Schools also stopped teaching “My Rainbow.”
This article is part of the Times Early Childhood Education Program, focusing on learning and development of California children from birth to 5 years of age. For more information about the program and its charitable funders, please go to latimes.com/earlyed.
