15 Kids’ Books And Movies That Somehow Became Super Controversial
![15 Kids’ Books And Movies That Somehow Became Super Controversial](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/9/7/886097_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the stories of kids’ books and films banned and censored throughout history! From Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham to Disney’s 1942 short “Der Fuehrer’s Face”, from Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach to Where’s Waldo?, from Harriet the Spy to The Giving Tree, from Charlotte’s Web to Where the Wild Things Are, from The Lorax to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, from The Lego Batman Movie to Cars 2, from Beauty and the Beast to Hocus Pocus 2—these stories of censorship and controversy have been around for a long time.
It’s easy to think of censorship as a relic of the past, but it’s still alive and well today. In some cases, it’s even more insidious than it was before, as powerful forces use their influence to silence dissenting voices and protect their interests. But it’s also true that in some cases, censorship can be a positive force, protecting children from inappropriate and dangerous material.
Whatever your opinion on the subject, the stories of these banned books and films are a fascinating window into our culture and our history. They remind us of the power of the written word and the power of storytelling, and of the importance of standing up for our beliefs. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most famous kids’ books and films that have been demonized, banned or censored over the years. Enjoy!
Beware of ‘Hocus Pocus 2’!
![CRACKED HOCUS POCUS 2 A Texas mom warned parents about Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+; the movie is about witches harvesting kids for blood sacrifices, and she feared that whatever came through the TV could cast a spell.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/9/885599.jpg)
Controversy welcomed, tolerance denied.
![CRACKED BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A theater in Alabama canceled Beauty and the Beast because of its gay character, which the new Christian owners don't agree with. They said it may be controversial, but that's fine.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/0/0/885600.jpg)
Cars 2: not so child-friendly?
![CRACKED CARS 2 It got mixed reviews; some said it was too violent, had a complicated spy plot, and was too focused on oil and alternative fuels.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/8/885598.jpg)
Normalizing inclusive views: apparently a radical agenda.
![CRACKED THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Critics say it pushes an agenda with pro-gay propaganda. But it just normalizes inclusive views of gender and sexuality, which some fear. R](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/6/885596.jpg)
Alice’s adventures: too wild for some places.
![CRACKED ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND It was banned in China for portraying animals talking, and in New Hampshire for bad language, sex and mean characters.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/9/885589.jpg)
The Lorax silenced by The Truax?
![CRACKED THE LORAX The logging industry banned The Lorax from schools and libraries in timber-rich areas, and wrote a rebuttal book, The Truax, to defend timber harvesting.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/7/885587.jpg)
Too scary for ’63, but just right for today.
![CRACKED WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE When it came out in '63, it was slammed by librarians and psychologists who thought it was too scary.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/5/885595.jpg)
Death, talking animals...just another day in the barnyard.
![CRACKED CHARLOTTE'S WEB Charlotte's Web is a beloved kids' book about a pig and a spider, but it's been banned in some places because of its themes of death and talking animals, which some see as unnatural and blasphemous.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/2/885592.jpg)
Harriet’s spying got her into trouble... and therapy.
![CRACKED HARRIET THE SPY Harriet the Spy caused a stir when it came out because of its flawed main character. It was even banned in some schools. Harriet was a spy who saw and said too much, and had to see a shrink for her outbursts. INRIU](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/0/885590.jpg)
That’s a real peach of an idea.
![CRACKED JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl has been banned a lot because of its magic and scary stuff, plus drug and alcohol references (like the centipede's song).](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/1/885591.jpg)
The Giving Tree got the ax.
![CRACKED THE GIVING TREE A Colorado library banned The Giving Tree because it was seen as sexist and predatory.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/8/885588.jpg)
Where’s Waldo? Oh, there he is—and more.
![CRACKED WHERE'S WALDO? One mom was really mad when she saw that a woman's breast was showing in a Where's Waldo? book. She complained and a school had to take the book off the shelves.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/3/885593.jpg)
Not the most progressive cartoon from ’42.
![CRACKED COAL BLACK AND THE SEBBEN DWARFS This 1942 Warner Brothers cartoon parodies Snow White with African American caricatures. The NAACP condemned it in 1943 ... for its portrayal of US soldiers as dwarfs. COAL BLACK and de SEBBEN DWARFS](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/4/885594.jpg)
Donald Duck takes on Hitler.
![CRACKED DONALD DUCK Disney's 1942 short Der Fuehrer's Face used Donald Duck to mock Hitler and the Axis powers. It was a hit thanks to the song of the same name, adapted from the sheet music art by Disney Legend Ward Kimball.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/7/885597.jpg)
Forbidden ‘til Seuss’s demise.
![CRACKED GREEN EGGS AND НАМ In Maoist China, Green Eggs and Ham was banned from '65 to '91 because it was thought to have Marxist themes. It was only allowed after Dr. Seuss died.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/6/885586.jpg)