What's all the hoopla about banning children's books?

You may be hearing a lot of information (and misinformation) about your library getting rid of children's books or your local used bookstore or thrift store no longer taking or selling kids books.

So, what's this all about anyway?

Background

In February 2009 H.R. 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), went into effect. H.R. 4040 establishes consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for children's products (especially lead-based products). The legislation works to ensure safe levels of lead and phthalates (a substance added to plastics to increase flexibility) in all products manufactured for children under the age of 12.

After February 9, 2009, all manufacturers, providers, sellers, and resellers of children’s products targeted at ages 12 and under are required to test their products for safety and unit label each product as safe. Even if the products are made from all-natural materials or if there is documentation from a manufacturer or seller stating that the items are safe, the products must still have costly unit testing and certification for each item intended for children 12 and under.

What does this have to do with children's books?

The government has deemed that any children's book printed before 1985 may have unsafe lead levels in the ink used to print the book and therefore cannot be sold to children without the proper lead testing. If the seller is caught selling books to children under 12 without the proper testing costly fines are involved.

The lead testing may be costly per unit, so many stores, libraries, and thrift stores are simply getting rid of the books instead of taking the chance on being fined.

You mean some people are throwing out books? Isn't this overkill?

Yes. Many stores, libraries and resellers have already disposed of thousands of children's books.
Yes, we believe this is overkill and a travesty.

Does this mean that we can't find any children's books before 1985 on The Book Blues webstore?

No. You can still find used children's books (1985 and before) listed under our children's collectibles. As defined by the government, The Book Blues can sell these books as collectors items. They are intended for collectors use only and not for children under 12.

Does The Book Blues believe that these books are a threat to children?

It is our personal belief that these books do not pose a threat to children. Lead paint, if it exists at all, has been shown to be negligible in books. This means that your child would have to ingest an unrealistic amount of the book in order to be affected. We have found no documented children's injuries or illnesses due to lead paint poisoning from books.

Not only that, we let our child still "read" and play with books printed before 1985. And sometimes we even find them in her mouth.

*gasp*

You will need to make your own determination if the books you have in your house printed before 1985 are suitable for your child.

You can read more about the CPSIA and children's books on our site.