Controversial children’s book making headlines

Anonymous Patron writes: “ Three Wishes is all over the news up in Canada. Durham District School Board says it’ll stay on the shelves, so did The Limestone District School Board though Ottawa isn’t so sure.

Globe And Mail and The Star both have commentaries saying the book should stay.

Here’s An Interview with Deborah Ellis, the author. “People are going to have their own opinions about a book with such a complex issue,” Ms Ellis said.

This All Started when Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak Out, by Canadian author Deborah Ellis, was yanked from shelves by the Toronto District School Board and it’s access restricted to students in Grade seven or higher. The Ontario Library Association is standing by its choice of Three Wishes, for a prestigious children’s reading program.

Another Anonymous Patron (or possibly the same one) adds this from The Star:

“Ontario’s literary community, led by PEN Canada, has mounted an impassioned defence of a controversial children’s book about the Middle East.

At an emotional news conference in a Toronto library yesterday, PEN representatives — joined by the Writer’s Guild, publishers, authors, librarians, parents and one young reader — pleaded with school boards to reverse their objections to Three Wishes by Deborah Ellis.

Anonymous Patron writes: “ Three Wishes is all over the news up in Canada. Durham District School Board says it’ll stay on the shelves, so did The Limestone District School Board though Ottawa isn’t so sure.

Globe And Mail and The Star both have commentaries saying the book should stay.

Here’s An Interview with Deborah Ellis, the author. “People are going to have their own opinions about a book with such a complex issue,” Ms Ellis said.

This All Started when Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak Out, by Canadian author Deborah Ellis, was yanked from shelves by the Toronto District School Board and it’s access restricted to students in Grade seven or higher. The Ontario Library Association is standing by its choice of Three Wishes, for a prestigious children’s reading program.

Another Anonymous Patron (or possibly the same one) adds this from The Star:

“Ontario’s literary community, led by PEN Canada, has mounted an impassioned defence of a controversial children’s book about the Middle East.

At an emotional news conference in a Toronto library yesterday, PEN representatives — joined by the Writer’s Guild, publishers, authors, librarians, parents and one young reader — pleaded with school boards to reverse their objections to Three Wishes by Deborah Ellis.