Teaching Contempt: How Children’s Books Instill Hatred of Israel

When we think of the very first books parents share with kids, what comes to mind are picture books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are, and Goodnight, Moon — books that take us beyond the here-and-now to the realms of the imagination.

But if you visit your public library or browse the displays at any teachers’ conference today, you’ll notice that some people have other ideas about what picture books should do. In this essay for the Foundation for Truth About Israel, children’s author and reviewer Marjorie Gann examines how picture books, alphabet books, and classroom curricula are being used to shape how the youngest readers see Israel — from P is for Palestine to the Teach Palestine curriculum.