Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Appealingly silly story shows absurdity of book bans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THIS BOOK IS BANNED opens by introducing giraffes that the hippos resent for eating all the tasty, high leaves; excessively whiny hippos; avocados that someone thinks are gross; and the big bad wolf, which scared a kid, amongst other topics that are banned, banned, banned until there's nothing left to finish the story. The book's front and closing pages contribute to a complete reading, offering a simple explanation of what a book ban is and a helpful take-away at the end.
Is It Any Good?
This hilarious picture book effectively makes a meaningful point about the importance of sharing ideas. Though a given book might not be right for everyone, it will almost certainly be important to someone, and we all benefit from having a wide variety of books available to choose from. Younger readers will love defying the pleas of This Book Is Banned's narrator to stop reading, as well as the silly drawings, and adults will appreciate the irreverent but impactful introduction to a very timely issue.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why some of the animals, things, and ideas were banned in This Book Is Banned. For example, the dinosaurs were banned because some people think they're make-believe. What were the other reasons things are banned? Are any of them good reasons to ban a book? Why, or why not?
Books are an important way to communicate new and different ideas. What ideas or topics do you like to learn about in books? How do you best communicate your ideas and thoughts? Why do you think some people want to keep some ideas secret? Who should decide what kids read?
This story uses humor to show why attempts to ban certain topics or themes in books are silly. Do you think learning about things in a funny story gets the point across better than in a serious one? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Julia Patton
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement )
- Character Strengths : Communication
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks Exlpore
- Publication date : September 26, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 31, 2025
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