Those were the words that preceded – “LISTEN WITH MOTHER”, a programme of which I was an avid listener, when I was a mere scrap of a lad.

At 1:45 each afternoon I used to curl up on my mother’s lap to listen to what I used to call, ”the quarter to 2 story”.

Now, of course in those days, all the stories were very innocent so I was astonished to learn that in ALABAMA, a book entitled, “READ ME A STORY, STELLA”, was at risk of being placed on a list of sexually explicit books, nearly resulting in all copies being removed from the children’s section of the library.

The book, which was written in 2013 was actually about a brother and sister who read books together and built a doghouse.

So why you may well ask would this book be singled out in this way?  

Well believe it or not, it was all down to the name of the award-winning Canadian author – MARIE-LOUISE GAY. And it her last name Gay that caused all the rumpus.

The move to remove the book was all part of a growing trend in the US, where just last year alone there were demands to censor, or remove1296 books, the highest number of attempted book bans since censorship in US libraries started 20 years ago.

Around 48% of the “challenges” affected libraries, and 41% schools!

The most common reason given for a “challenge” involved sexually explicit content or offensive language.

Mind you situations escalated during Banned Books Week, which ironically “celebrates the freedom to read, and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools”, proudly states the American Library Association on its website.

Banned books week took place between 1st and 8th October when those concerned announced, “The decision has been made, there’s to be no debate or conversation. This is what’s happening. End of story.”

In some cases even THE BIBLE has been banned – probably due to too much BEGETTING going on!

Now of course, being a Tuesday, I was joined once more by Margaret Mills.

You may remember that last week Margaret looked at evidence that suggested that an Essex man, Sir Walter Tyrell, might have had a hand in the death of King William II, also known as “WILLIAM RUFUS, so this week Margaret decided to take a closer look at the Tyrrell family of whom many members, had at one time or another, held positions of some prominence in Essex.

Listen again here to what Margaret told me today: –

All being well I hope to be back with you again next week,
Scott