It might be hard to believe that the children’s book, James and the Giant Peach has been frequently banned. Roald Dahl’s 1961 story is about a boy who goes inside a giant peach and has a fantastic adventure with a few magically altered bugs inside. It has been challenged for its magical and sometimes frightening elements. Critics have also cited drug and alcohol references. There is a rhyme that a centipede sings to James: “Once upon a time/When pigs were swine/And monkeys chewed tobacco/And hens took snuff/To make themselves tough/And the ducks said quack-quack-quacko/And porcupines/Drank fiery wines.” Despite these challenges, Dahl’s books are considered children’s classics. Others including The Witches and The BFG have also been targets of censors in schools.
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