Herge's 'Tintin' Children's Series--Racist or Reflective of Period?

 "The Adventures of Tintin," a Belgian children's graphic novel and cartoon series by Herge (nom-de-plume of Georges Remi), is finding popularity with U.S. film-going families as an animated feature. However, fans of Tintin were in danger of losing one book of the series, "Tintin in the Congo," which came under threat of banning for inciting acts of racial hatred. A Brussels court has just handed down its verdict: they found Tintin did not violate Belgium's anti-racism laws, says Reuters. The Tintin fracas reflects prevailing cultural mores about what's defines bigotry." Like efforst to sanitize Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and others, it may not take into account the social and cultural milieu of the time. Can we indict authors in retrospect for not recognizing what will offent future generations. Is there a unilateral definition of racism and hatred? Or does the time period effect the author? Here are facts on Tintin and Herge to help us decide, at least in this case. Herge's 'Tintin' Children's Book Declared Not Racist

Are Fantasy Books Healthy for Kids?

Is fantasy literature safe for children? Let's look at addictive, psychological and separation issues. Opponents of fantasy literature worry about the fearful aspects of fantasy. They contend that fantasy literature threatens emotionally fragile children by its unreality. Fantasy may create an existential crisis wherein the child cannot separate fantasy from reality. Reading fantasy literature may produce what is called in special education "perseverative behavior." The concern is that kids who read fantasy literature will only read fantasy and never explore other genres. Here are some issues. Children's Fantasy Literature Concerns