When I think of children’s literature, I think of innocence and imagination. Yet, many kids books, including some of my favourites growing up, have been considered controversial at some point in time.
The following children’s banned books have been challenged, restricted or removed from libraries and classrooms for reasons ranging from political concerns to fears about morality or emotional impact.
What I think is interesting are the reasons behind every story on this banned books list for kids and students, which range from outrageous to controlling.
Whether you’re reading for Banned Books Week or beyond, here are 15 popular banned children’s books I think are worth the read and discussion:
- 1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll (1865)
- 2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain (1884)
- 3. The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling (1894)
- 4. Anne of Green Gables – L. M. Montgomery (1908)
- 5. Peter Pan – J. M. Barrie (1911)
- 6. The Adventures of Tintin – Hergé (1929–1976)
- 7. Babar the Elephant – Jean de Brunhoff (1931)
- 8. Curious George – H. A. Rey (1941)
- 9. Charlotte’s Web – E. B. White (1952)
- 10. Green Eggs and Ham – Dr Seuss (1960)
- 11. James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl (1961)
- 12. Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak (1963)
- 13. In the Night Kitchen – Maurice Sendak (1970)
- 14. The Lorax – Dr Seuss (1971)
- 15. And Tango Makes Three – Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell (2005)
- Banned Books Journal
- Why Children’s Banned Books Still Matter
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1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll (1865)
Alice falls down a rabbit hole into a strange fantasy world filled with talking animals, riddles and absurd logic, where ordinary rules no longer apply.
Why it Was Banned
In 1931, the book was banned in the Chinese province of Hunan. Authorities objected to the portrayal of animals behaving like humans and speaking as equals, which they believed undermined traditional ideas of human superiority and social order.
About the Author
Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) was an English writer and mathematician whose playful use of language and logic reshaped children’s fantasy literature.
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain (1884)
Huck Finn runs away from home and travels down the Mississippi River with Jim, an escaped enslaved man, encountering danger and moral dilemmas along the way.
Why it Was Banned
The book has been repeatedly removed from school reading lists in parts of the United States, including school districts in California and Virginia, due to its repeated use of racial slurs and concerns about racist stereotypes, despite its anti-slavery themes.
About the Author
Mark Twain (1835–1910) was an American author known for humour and social criticism, often writing about childhood and moral growth.
3. The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling (1894)
Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves, learns to survive in the Indian jungle with the help of animal allies while facing threats such as the tiger Shere Khan.
Why it Was Banned
The book has been challenged in India and the United Kingdom for its colonial attitudes and portrayal of imperial authority as natural and beneficial, which critics argue reinforces outdated political ideas.
About the Author
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was a British writer whose work reflected the British Empire and its global reach.
4. Anne of Green Gables – L. M. Montgomery (1908)
Anne Shirley, an imaginative orphan, is mistakenly sent to live with two elderly siblings and transforms their quiet lives through friendship and curiosity.
Why it Was Banned
The novel was challenged in parts of Canada and the United States in the early 20th century for using the word “bosom” and for presenting a strong-willed girl who challenged adult authority.
About the Author
L. M. Montgomery (1874–1942) was a Canadian author celebrated for portraying childhood with warmth and emotional realism.
5. Peter Pan – J. M. Barrie (1911)
Peter Pan takes Wendy and her brothers to Neverland, where they encounter pirates, fairies and eternal childhood.
Why it Was Banned
The book has been challenged in US schools and libraries due to racial stereotypes in its portrayal of Indigenous characters and concerns about glorifying violence.
About the Author
J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright whose work focused on imagination and youth.
6. The Adventures of Tintin – Hergé (1929–1976)
Tintin, a young reporter, travels the world solving crimes with his dog Snowy and a cast of recurring characters.
Why it Was Banned
Several volumes, especially Tintin in the Congo, were restricted in libraries in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia for racist imagery and colonial propaganda.
About the Author
Hergé (1907–1983) was a Belgian cartoonist who popularised modern comic storytelling.
7. Babar the Elephant – Jean de Brunhoff (1931)
Babar leaves the jungle, learns human customs and returns to rule the elephants as king.
Why it Was Banned
The book has been criticised and restricted in parts of France and the United States for promoting colonial ideology and suggesting European culture is superior.
About the Author
Jean de Brunhoff (1899–1937) was a French illustrator who created Babar as bedtime stories for his sons.
8. Curious George – H. A. Rey (1941)
A mischievous monkey is taken from Africa to live in a city, where his curiosity leads to chaos and adventure.
Why it Was Banned
Challenged in US schools for encouraging disobedience and criticised for depicting the capture of an animal from its natural habitat, with undercurrent themes of racism, colonialism, and trafficking.
About the Author
H. A. Rey (1898–1977) co-created the series with his wife Margret Rey.
9. Charlotte’s Web – E. B. White (1952)
A spider named Charlotte saves her pig friend Wilbur by weaving messages into her web.
Why it Was Banned
Removed from classrooms in Kansas and parts of Texas for discussing death and featuring animals that speak like humans.
About the Author
E. B. White (1899–1985) was an American essayist and children’s writer.
10. Green Eggs and Ham – Dr Seuss (1960)
A persistent character encourages another to try a strange meal, showing the value of open-mindedness.
Why it Was Banned
Challenged in California and Georgia schools for encouraging children to defy authority figures.
About the Author
Dr Seuss (Theodor Geisel) used rhyme and repetition to promote literacy.
11. James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl (1961)
James escapes cruel relatives by travelling inside a giant peach with insect companions.
Why it Was Banned
Restricted in UK and US schools for references to death, alcohol and frightening scenes.
About the Author
Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a British author famous for dark humour and fantasy.
12. Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak (1963)
Max imagines a land of monsters after being sent to bed without supper.
Why it Was Banned
Removed from US libraries in the 1960s for being too frightening and emotionally intense.
About the Author
Maurice Sendak (1928–2012) revolutionised picture books by addressing children’s emotions.
13. In the Night Kitchen – Maurice Sendak (1970)
A boy falls into a surreal kitchen where bakers make cake from the moon.
Why it Was Banned
Banned or restricted in several US libraries due to illustrations of child nudity.
About the Author
Sendak believed honesty was essential in children’s literature.
14. The Lorax – Dr Seuss (1971)
A creature warns about environmental destruction caused by greedy industry.
Why it Was Banned
Challenged in US schools for being anti-logging and politically biased.
About the Author
Dr Seuss often used fantasy to explore serious social issues.
15. And Tango Makes Three – Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell (2005)
Based on a true story from New York’s Central Park Zoo, this picture book tells how two male penguins, Roy and Silo, form a bond and are given an abandoned egg to care for.
They hatch the chick, Tango, and raise her together as a family.
Why it Was Banned
This book has been one of the most frequently challenged children’s titles in the United States. It has been removed or restricted in schools and libraries in states including Texas, Florida and Missouri.
Objections usually focus on its portrayal of a same-sex animal couple raising a child, with challengers claiming it promotes homosexuality or conflicts with certain religious beliefs.
About the Author
Justin Richardson is a psychiatrist specialising in child development, and Peter Parnell is a playwright and author.
A REBEL’S READING CHALLENGE
Banned Books Journal
Discover 100 banned books from around the world, then read them yourself and write down your thoughts.
Why Children’s Banned Books Still Matter
This banned books list for kids and students shows that censorship often targets stories that challenge authority and reflect social change.
What do you think of these children’s banned books: do you agree with the bans? Let me know in the comments!
Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them
For more of what to read where, check out my full Travel Books Guide, filled with book recommendations for different destinations, the most beautiful bookstores around the world, tips on how to get the best deals on audiobooks and e-books, as well as more literary travel.
