Sketchbook: An instant classic

It would be cool to have another perspective on Lehi's journey out of Jerusalem!

Have you ever tried to read Moby Dick? It's more challenging to get through than the Isaiah chapters in 3 Nephi!

Maybe there's a copy in the German section?

I struggled a bit with the caption on this one — can I call them Mormon kids? But then I figured that's what they're called at our high school, so I went with it. I figure we all know who they're talking about.

Literary license

They don't write the classics like they used to!

Lessons from literature

I hope it's not too early to start with Halloween-themed cartoons!

Reading time!

If you look at the list of books that have been banned, it's surprising what's on it: Fahrenheit 451, The Call of the Wild, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Grapes of Wrath, Moby Dick, Where the Wild Things Are, 1984, The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series, Captain Underpants, and, of course, the scriptures. There are a few classics in there!

Seek ye learning out of the best books

So once again, it's Banned Books Week! I'm always surprised at the books that wind up on this list, and the reasons why people complain about them.

It's always wise to use discretion, however: "if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

Literary friends

Reading has always been a major part of my life. The first book I ever bought with my own money was a Peanuts collection, Slide, Charlie Brown, Slide! I picked it up at the BYU Bookstore to keep myself entertained while my folks went to classes during Education Week. I still have it among my collection.

The first chapter book that I owned was Marguerite Henry's Brighty of the Grand Canyon. I thought it was awesome! It, too, still sits on my shelf in a place of honor.

Spend some time today with a friend: read a good book!

Banned books!

Yes, once again it's Banned Books Week! Time to celebrate the ability and opportunity to read!

Technically, I guess, Banned Books Week ends tomorrow, so you could have been celebrating this whole time. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner!

I was intrigued to discover that the book that got the most complaints last year was one by Dav Pilkey, Captain Underpants! It's a favorite in our home (which tells you a little something about us!). Other books receiving complaints include the Hunger Games, the Harry Potter books, and The Lord of the Rings. Go figure!

Movie tie-ins

Next step: catching fire.

Banned Books Week, part 2

The American Library Association has a list of books that have been challenged or banned. Some I can kind of understand the argument that they should be restricted to age-appropriate audiences. But some that are on the list are just crazy! The Hobbit, works by Maurice Sendak, Faulkner and Hemingway.

J.K. Rowling was asked if she was worried how critics might receive her new book, The Causal Vacancy. She responded with something like,"I'm not too worried about what critics say. After all, I've had my books burned!"

Today's cartoon celebrates Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games, three sets of books that have spent time on the list.

I promise I'll have General Conference stuff up here tomorrow. If you need a packet of conference activities, check out Arie Van De Graaff's stuff over on Sugardoodle.

Banned Books Week, part 1

It's Banned Books Week, Sept. 30 through Oct. 6. Time to celebrate all the literature that almost wasn't there for you and I to read. And there are a lot of excellent books on that list!

I find it ironic that books like Fahrenheit 451, 1984 and Animal Farm make the list. That's kinda what they're all about. In fact, it was Animal Farm that inspired today's cartoon.

Celebrate by reading a book you want to today!

One with nature