Of Book Bans and Bunnies

Hello, friends.

I learned something interesting this week: my picture book Ogilvy, illustrated by the wonderful T. L. McBeth, was banned by two school districts last year.

You can tell how threatening Ogilvy is just by the cover, right?

I have to admit, my first reaction was a little along the lines of “I’ve finally arrived.” When I told the booksellers at my favorite bookstore, they said, “Congratulations!!” A customer at the register turned and told me, “If they’re banning you, you must be doing something right.”

I’m lucky in that this book has flown low enough under the radar that the bans haven’t gotten me hate mail or prevented me from booking school visits. Some of my author friends have been cautioned not to talk about particular books during assemblies, or have been uninvited to gigs. One was summoned to the principal’s office—no lie—during a school visit and chastised for mentioning her wife and kids.

So in the world of book bans, this one is not earth-shattering. But it does mean that in two school districts, kids didn’t have access to Ogilvy. And I suspect the kids in those districts need it.

Let me tell you about this apparently-dangerous book. Ogilvy moves to a new town, and is excited to see all the fun things going on at the park: rock climbing, knitting, ball playing, art making. But then Ogilvy is confronted by a bunny who demands to know if the garment Ogilvy is wearing is a sweater or a dress. Because sweater bunnies get to do some activities, and dress bunnies get to do others.

So each day Ogilvy said it’s a dress or a sweater depending on what Ogilvy wants to do. Until the bully bunny says Ogilvy needs to choose one and stick to it.

And Ogilvy points out the absurdity of dividing game privileges by clothing type, and says the garment is neither a dress nor a sweater, but an Ogilvy!

And the other bunnies realize Ogilvy is right about the absurdity.

And after that, everyone gets to play whatever they want to play, regardless of what they’re wearing.

And when a new bunny who is wearing something different comes along, you know what they say?

So. The book is about overcoming silly ideas and about not needing to fit into boxes and about kindness and inclusion. Terrifying concepts, right?

When Ogilvy came out in 2019, it received a starred review from Kirkus, which I think of as the toughest review publication.

But the review that meant the most to me was from a customer, who wrote, “This book was given to me by someone after she heard that my kiddo is gender nonconforming. It's FANTASTIC. My kids asked me to read it 4 times last night, and every single time, my oldest said ‘Ogilvy is like me!’”

I mean. There’s truly not much more an author could ask for.

So if you’re inclined to throw a little support behind my first banned book, and keep it in print for the kids who would enjoy it and the kids who desperately need to see themselves in it, especially now, please consider ordering it from your indie bookstore or asking that your library purchase it.

And if your community is ban-happy, please support kids and authors by speaking out against the book ban insanity.

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And since I have you and it’s almost February, I’d love to remind you of possibly my favorite of my books: Here Comes Valentine Cat. It, too, is about a changing mind and an opening heart (both contained within a grouchy cat). And it’s funny, and Claudia Rueda’s illustrations are fabulous, and I think you’ll like it whether you love or hate Valentine’s Day.

Quick note for local folks: Books Inc. is struggling financially. The Laurel Village branch in particular has been tremendously supportive of me and my work. If you’re in the Bay Area and you are able, please stop by a branch and buy stuff: books, games, notecards, puzzles. Let’s keep good stores in business, especially in this climate. We desperately need them.

That’s all for now. Thanks, as always, for your support, and an early Happy Valentine’s Day from Ogilvy and Cat and Bella and me!

Warmly,

Deborah