Should we burn Babar?

the long version

The renowned author of 36 Children and, more recently, "I Won't Learn from You" and Other Thoughts on Creative Maladjustment turns his attention to children's literature and the power of stories in education. The title essay raises the question of what to do with a charming and compelling though politically and morally offensive text. In "Rosa Was Tired," Kohl points out the subtle racism inherent in the usual telling of the Rosa Parks story. Kohl provides close readings of well-known children's stories, highlighting instances of racism, sexism, and condescension. He provides strategies for detecting bias in other works for young people and offers powerful ideas for better ways to tell children stories.