As owner of an independent bookstore in Henderson, Nev., and someone raised in Middlebury, I read with interest the article about some parents who want to “ban” certain books from being presented to kindergarten age students.

I went to Mary Hogan school when it was Middlebury ID-4 and Mary Hogan was the principal. I remember the day she went from classroom to classroom when JFK was shot and told each teacher what had happened and the plan was for students to go home … so that gives a little perspective of “my time,” as that was my kindergarten year (at that time a half day).

We read Dick and Jane books and never knew the parents as Mother and Father. Of course, there was Puff the cat, and Spot, the dog.

Today parenting a child and being a child present so many challenges and difficult decisions daily without a parent wondering what is being “taught” to them at a tender and age when it is so easy to make a hard impression on an eager mind.

I would never want to outright “ban” a book, but would seriously consider to what age a child of limited knowledge and experience about gender is introduced to concepts that adults struggle to understand, and may be unprepared to answer questions a child may bring home about a story read to them at school.

Further, perhaps the school could offer alternative options … more generic stories and let parents decide when and if certain topics will be brought up and discussed at home. Have books that present gender identity tops on an optional reading list at a more age-appropriate time or even selections in the library with minimum age or grades to check out.

I saw one book was about a teddy bear that “knew” it was a girl (or boy) even though it was identified as the other sex. That seems to me it would be confusing as I never thought of teddy bears as male or female. (Perhaps a topic for another time).

When I was in seventh grade, there was presentation on reproduction and before a student could attend, the parent had to give a permission slip approving or declining their child’s attendance to a sensitive topic. What has changed that the school is deciding when it is the right time for them to “parent” and disseminate information that would normally be discussed in a home environment?

We have all kinds of books in our store on all topics including a robust LGBTQ section so, I am not “against” the books but would ask that the school reconsider presenting these books to such young children without the parents providing any input prior to doing so.

All this said because these words grow long, I do not think kindergarten is the time to introduce children to such topic-complex books, and that parents should definitely have a say in all that is presented to young minds; especially those that aren’t mature or old enough to understand what is really being read to them.

Wendy Pecor Marcisofsky

Henderson, Nev.