Monday, September 23, 2013

Author Bio: Peter Parnell & Justin Richardson

This week, we're reviewing one of the ALA's top ten most challenged books of the year... one that has been on that list 7 of the 8 years since it was published: And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.


Parnell is a playwright perhaps best known for Cider House Rules, but has authored many other works, including an episode of West Wing. Richardson was not a writer before he and Parnell wrote And Tango Makes Three. They also wrote a picture book based on the true story of Christian, the hugging lion (it's titled Christian, the Hugging Lion).

The two are a couple, and in a wonderful example of life imitating art, they have their own baby (but they named her Gemma, not Tango).

2 comments:

  1. I had to google why the book was challenged, since this article didn't mention it. I thought they were some sort of horror fiction writers since people were having such a strong response. I was surprised to see that they were authors of a children's book about a baby penguin 'Tango' who had two dads. The fact that it's based on a true story is even more interesting.

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    1. You just highlighted in the best way possible why it's so ridiculous that this book has been banned/challenged so often.

      FYI, yesterday we posted the list for all the banned & challenged books for the year, along with why they were on the list, if you're interested.

      http://reviewmetwice.blogspot.com/2013/09/and-winner-is.html

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