[LMB] Re: OT: Very small child book recommendations

[Jacki Knight]

On 03/02/2007, at 2:54 AM, JENNIFER WALKER wrote:
>>> _Nappy Hair_ --totally nonPC, but you know, I know white people with 
>>> that kind of hair, too. Plus the story is made to be chanted, 
>>> clapped, and danced to. (no, no, mustn't write the Hermione Granger 
>>> version...)
>>>
>> I'm really curious how this is "totally nonPC."
>> It's written by an African American about hair that many kids have on 
>> their head. How can this possibly be non-PC?
>> widdy
>
>   If I remember correctly from the controversy when it came out, the 
> main objection was to the term "nappy".  It was considered by some to 
> be an offensive descriptive word.  Then a teacher read it out loud to 
> her class and got in trouble for it.  I was a children's librarian at 
> the time and remember there was a huge deal made out of it.

I've never seen the book but I assumed the word 'nappy' referred to 
what USians call a "diaper" (I've never seen one referred to by that 
name in any other country - although my experience in that respect 
could be counted as somewhat limited)).  What's offensive about a 
nappy? (presuming it hasn't been used, that is)

Kinda like 'helmet hair' for kids.

Jacki in Canberra - confused again and becoming parenthetical