Arborwood Elementary School in Monroe, Michigan has banned the most recent “Captain Underpants” novel from its book fair.
The reason is simple: One of the main characters turns out to be a homosexual.
So Arborwood Elementary School will absolutely not be stocking Dav Pilkey’s latest opus: “Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot.”
As the latest installment of the saga unfolds, we follow the continued misadventures of Harold and George, two fourth graders, and the titular superhero, who has a pronounced predilection for Y-fronts.
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The book concludes — spoiler alert — with the revelation that Harold grows up to be an artist with a domestic partner named Billy.
At the news, the school’s parent-teacher organization came together as one, swiftly deciding to remove the book from the fair.
The School Library Journal considers the book suitable for children in grades 2-4.
Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Barry Martin candidly says, “Most of the kids come in and they buy books and the parents aren’t part of the selection. In this case, we felt it was necessary that if this book was going to be purchased, the parent needed to be involved in that.”
Martin is quick to point out that “Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot” will be available for online purchase.
WDIV-TV/ClickonDetroit.com reports that the majority of parents support the ban.
One parent, Sherika Watkins, said, “I think at this kind of age, a parent should be involved with them… because they’re so young that they maybe need to be explained what this is about.”
Another parent, Kimberly Rose, ardently disagrees with anything Sherika has to say: “If you’re in this world, they should know about that regardless.”
So far, only two Arborwood students have requested the book.
Arborwood’s school motto is: “Preparing Students for a Changing World.”
h/t: WXYZ