Editing Children's literature (section)

=== Debate over controversial content ===
A widely discussed and debated topic by critics and publishers in the children's book industry is whether outdated and offensive content, specifically racial stereotypes, should be changed in new editions. Others argue instead that original content should remain but that publishers should add information to guide parents in conversations with their children about the problematic elements of the particular story.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rao |first1=Kavitha |title=Are some children's classics unsuitable for kids? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/jul/22/childrens-classics-unsuitable-kids |work=The Guardian |date=23 July 2009 |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210213919/http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/jul/22/childrens-classics-unsuitable-kids |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The New York Times Magazine">{{cite news |last1=Marche |first1=Stephen |title=How to Read a Racist Book to Your Kids |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/magazine/how-to-read-a-racist-book-to-your-kids.html?_r=3 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=15 June 2012 |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=5 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105123148/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/magazine/how-to-read-a-racist-book-to-your-kids.html?_r=3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some see racist stereotypes as cultural artifacts that should be preserved.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McCorquodale |first1=Duncan |title=Illustrated Children's Books |date=December 29, 2009 |publisher=Black Dog Publishing |location=London |page=78}}</ref> In ''The Children's Culture Reader'', scholar [[Henry Jenkins]] references [[Herbert R. Kohl]]'s essay "Should We Burn Babar?" which raises the debate whether children should be educated on how to think critically towards oppressive ideologies rather than ignore historical mistakes. Jenkins suggests that parents and educators should trust children to make responsible judgments.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jenkins |first1=Henry |title=The Children's Cultural Reader |date=1998 |publisher=New York University Press |location=New York and London |pages=31–32}}</ref>

Some books have been altered in newer editions and significant changes can be seen, such as illustrator [[Richard Scarry]]'s book ''[[Best Word Book Ever]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ha |first1=Thu-Huong |title=Spot the difference: This update to a classic children's book reimagines gender roles |url=http://qz.com/545860/richard-scarrys-update-to-a-classic-childrens-book-reimagines-gender-roles-for-boys-and-girls/ |website=Quartz |date=10 November 2015 |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=9 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209235057/http://qz.com/545860/richard-scarrys-update-to-a-classic-childrens-book-reimagines-gender-roles-for-boys-and-girls/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Roald Dahl]]'s book ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]''.<ref name="The New York Times Magazine" /> In other cases classics have been rewritten into updated versions by new authors and illustrators. Several versions of ''[[Little Black Sambo]]'' have been remade as more appropriate and without prejudice.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>