Curtis M. Wong | Huff Post | March 16th, 2022
One of the world’s most beloved advocates of children’s literacy is giving his lifelong mission a timely update.
In a cheeky “Daily Show” skit that aired Tuesday, actor LeVar Burton alludes to his days as the host of “Reading Rainbow” as he urges youngsters to seek out banned books at their local library.
To illustrate his point, Burton attempts to read from several of the targeted books, but is seemingly interrupted for a “content violation” by off-screen censors before he can make it beyond the first page. The titles causing such a disruption include 2007’s “Rosa,” about civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, and 2015’s “And Tango Makes Three,” depicting a same-sex penguin couple. Though Burton grows visibly frustrated toward the conclusion of the skit, his stance is clear. “Read the books they don’t want you to,” he proclaims. “That’s where the good stuff is.” Continued
ABOUT AND TANGO MAKES THREE
And Tango Makes Three is the bestselling, heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family.
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.
Selected as an ALA Notable Children’s Book Nominee and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist, “this joyful story about the meaning of family is a must for any library” (School Library Journal, starred review). ORDER HERE