During the Trojan War, the Greeks constructed a huge horse and hid a select group of soldiers inside. After placing it outside the walls of Troy as a gift they returned to their ship and sailed away. When the Greek ship was out of sight, the Trojans opened their gates and pulled the large horse inside. That night, while the Trojans were sleeping, the Greek soldiers exited the structure and opened the gates for the returning Greek army and Troy was defeated. Today, anything that parades as harmless on the outside, but is a threat from within is called a Trojan horse.
Parents should be aware that this Trojan horse strategy is being used against their youngest children in none other than your friendly neighborhood public library. Hidden amidst the shelves of colorful picture books are what I call Trojan Children’s Books or (TCB’s). You know the wise old saying, “Never Judge a Book by It’s Cover.” Well, just because a book looks safe on the outside, doesn’t mean that it is safe on the inside. As parents, it is important to at least skim read the books we allow through our front door.
A friend of mine shared a story from a recent library trip where his daughter’s grandmother unwittingly brought home a TCB. My friend’s six-year-old daughter pointed to a picture on the front cover of the newly borrowed picture book and asked the following question about the person depicted on the cover.
“Daddy, is this a boy or a girl?”
“That’s a girl,” He replied. He thought the question odd, given the illustration was of a girl.
A few minutes later his daughter asked another question. “Daddy, what’s ‘transdigger’ mean?”
With that, my friend reports that he sprang into action and examined the book. Without realizing it, Grandma brought home, the widely acclaimed pro-transgender storybook, I am Jazz.[1] I am Jazz tells the story of one little boy’s gender transition to become a little girl.
Here is a sample of I Am Jazz, Published by The Penguin Group, one of the top publishers in America.
“My best friends are Samantha and Casey. WE always have fun together. We like high heels and princess gowns, or cartwheels and trampolines.
But I’m not exactly like Samantha and Casey.
I have a girl brain but a boy body. This is called transgender. I was born this way!”[2]
Books that are honestly trying to help parents educate their children are up front with the lesson they look to communicate. There shouldn’t be a surprise lesson reveal for the parent. Knowing these kind of ideas are present in books for children as young as preschool makes it all the more important for caregivers to preview every book your children would like to check out from the library.
Marty’s latest book God Made Boys and Girls is designed to teach young children that our gender is God’s good gift. Check it out at NewGrowthPress.com.
[1] Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings. Dial Books For Young Readers, published by the Penguin Group New York, New York.
[2] Ibid.
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