In New Zealand, a humorous picture book depicting the love life of a gay male penguin couple caused a stir when it was discovered in the library of a preschool.
A woman named Lana McLean discovered the book at the Kaiapoi preschool when she visited the library with her three year old daughter.
“I was there looking at it as a prospective preschool for my child, when other kids there brought the book over to me from the shelf and asked me to read it. I looked at it and said, ‘go choose another one’.” she told The Press.
The book in question is titled ‘Gus and Waldo’s Book of Love’, and is part of a popular series centered around the titular penguins and their adventures.
McLean reportedly found one page particularly concerning. It depicts the both penguins sporting bondage gear, Gus in a leather harness and cap, and Waldo in a red corset top and spiked collar. Beside them sits a box labelled ‘Toys’ and a pair of handcuffs. “They love each other with a dash of spice” the caption reads.
According to the press, McLean took some photos of the book to show her husband, and returned to the preschool the following day to make a complaint.
On Thursday, preschool manager Brooke Philpott issued a statement through her lawyer David Beck.
“It is a humorous book depicting cartoon penguins that we had ordered wrongly thinking it was suitable for children given its use of brightly cartooned penguins. The offending bit that we did not spot until a much closer reading is that it depicts the two penguins in bondage gear.” the statement read in part.
“We now appreciate that it contains some adult themes that parents would naturally object to and have decided to immediately withdraw it but stress that young children reading it would be completely unaware of the significance of the clothing worn by the penguins.
“The book is otherwise bright and funny.”
The ‘Gus and Waldo’ series is made by London-based author Massimo Fenati and has been translated into various languages. The books are humorous in their nature and intended for adults, although Fenati told Gay Star News he didn’t think that ‘Gus and Waldo’s Book of Love’ was harmful to children.
“I have loads of straight friends with kids that not only let their children read the book, but actually encourage them to do so, as they feel that showing a positive, happy relationship of two gay characters can be a wonderful way to prevent prejudice in their offspring at a very early stage.” he said.
“When the children of my friend see that page, they obviously ask what the penguins are doing there, as they don’t understand.
“Generally their parents just say “they’re playing”, or “they are trying funny clothes on” and the children are happy with that.”
You can find out more about Gus and Waldo and their occasionally risqué adventures at their website.
