The Stupids Series

Banned/Challenged Children's Book:

The Stupids Series

The Stupids are a fictional family which appear in a series of children's books written by Harry Allard and James Marshall. The Stupids draw their humor from the fact that they are incompetent to the point of confusing the most simple concepts and tasks.

Book #1 - The Stupids Step Out Synopsis:

The Stupids and their dog, Kitty, stepped out of their house to visit grandpa and grandma Stupid doing ridiculous things along the way.

Allard, Harry. (1974). The Stupids step out. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin.

Book #3 - The Stupids Die Synopsis:

The Stupids were watching the television when everything went dark, they thought that they were dead.

Allard, Harry. (1981). The Stupids die. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin.

This book was removed in 1998 in Michigan from Howard Miller Library in Zeeland with three other Allard books in the series for complaints that children shouldn't refer to anyone as "stupid." Challengers of the books claim that they describe families in a derogatory manner and may encourage children to be disobedient. They also claim that they promote low self-esteem and negative behavior. It ranks at number 62 on ALA's 100 Frequently Challenged Books for 2000-2009.

Banned Library. (March 8, 2015). Banned 22 - the Stupids die by Harry Allard and James Marshall. Retrieved on February 4, 2017 from http://www.bannedlibrary.com/podcast/2015/2/27/the-stupids-die

Benefits to EC-12 students:

Book Reviews:

"Unlike The Stupids Step Out, the family's second appearance is less consistently a string of moron jokes than a mixture of dumb behavior, odd taste, and bad puns; but there's no doubt that they're as stupid as ever..."

"This is a very quirky, atypical book; it is a good introductory volume to a funny series of stories by Harry Allard. I categorize this picture book loosely in realistic fiction. I have used this book as a good discussion book with multi ages in China. The Stupids take a day trip, to visit family members and to a restaurant. They do many things wrong, like take a waterless bath in their clothes. The book series tends to be light hearted and goofy. The theme of the book is that not everyone does things the same way..."

The Stupids series can be used to have the students think about the actions the Stupid family did and how do they think it should be done and why.

It can also be used to explain tolerance. Students need to know that sometimes other people may think and do things differently and that's okay.

Kirkus Reviews. (n.d.) The Stupids have a ball. Retrieved on February 4, 2017 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/harry-allard-3/the-stupids-have-a-ball/

Larasimmons2. September 25, 2013. The Stupids step out. Retrieved on February 4, 2017 from http://www.librarything.com/work/322235/reviews/102333565

"The Stupids series are a group of picturebooks that are relatively light in plot and share the silly misunderstandings the Stupid family has as they go about their day. Luckily the Stupids are cared for by their rather intelligent pets..."

"...This is in the same format as the other wonderful Stupid books: simple text on left-hand page, colorful cartoony illustration on the right. Recommended for all those who appreciate the deep belly laugh that bypasses all logical explanation."

Shel. (September 28, 2009). Banned book week review: the Stupids die. Retrieved on February 4, 2017 from http://thehungryreaders.blogspot.com/2009/09/banned-book-week-review-stupids-die.html

Marshall, James. (n.d.) The Stupids take off. Retrieved on February 4, 2017 from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-395-50068-2

Reflection:

As shallow and silly as the story plot may be,

James Marshall's illustration made the book more entertaining. Elementary kids would have fun reading this book.

I understand why there are some parents who may not want their child reading this book because they don't want their child saying the word "stupid" or reading a nonsensical book. However, we need to emphasize to our students that the word "stupid" only becomes unacceptable when you call a person, "stupid."

Personally, I don't care about this book because of its absurdity and lack of flow in the story. I find some parts too random to be included.

Book #2 - The Stupids have a Ball Synopsis:

Banned/Challenged Book Assignment by Marianne Elias

The Stupids celebrate the awful report card of the

Stupid kids. They held a costume party for the

Stupid relatives who wore outrageous clothes without

being told that it is actually a costume party.

Allard, Harry. (1978). The Stupids have a ball. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin.

Background Music

Bolden, Buddy (n.d.). Don't Go 'Way Nobody [George Lewis & His New Orleans Stompers].(mp3). New Orleans, (May 16 1943). Retrieved on February 9, 2017 from http://www.openmusicarchive.org/audio/Dont_Go_Way_Nobody.mp3

Another book by Harry Allard that was banned/challenged is "Bumps in the Night." It is #93 on the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books for 2000-2009. It is challenged in 1986 at Wasilla Library in Alaska due to occult and various supernatural issues, description of families in a derogatory manner and encourages disrespectful language and disobedience to parents.

Banned Library. (March 8, 2015). Banned 22 - The Stupids die by Harry Allard and James Marshall. Retrieved on February 4, 2017 from http://www.bannedlibrary.com/podcast/2015/2/27/the-stupids-die

Book #4 - The Stupids Take Off Synopsis:

The Stupids were avoiding a visit from Uncle Carbuncle. They flew in their airplane and met other relatives who are just as foolish as they are.

Allard, Harry. (1989). The Stupids take off. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin.