Schools are pulling copies of the newest "Captain Underpants" book. The popular children's book series has been published since 1997. But it’s the latest installment “Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot” that has parents upset.
On one page, the storyline reveals that Harold, a main character throughout the series, grows up to marry his partner Billy.
The theme has led to uproar in school districts across the country. Just last week, the Arborwood Elementary school in Michigan pulled the book from its Scholastic Book Fair shelves. The publishers at Scholastic Books determined the content age appropriate.
Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools in Michigan took another approach and tried to get ahead of any controversy.
Dr. Michael Shibler and his staff sent out a letter to parents of Rockford elementary school students, and addressed the book’s storyline, but stopped short of discouraging parents from buying it for their children.
“The only goal right now is to be completely transparent with parents,” Dr. Shibler said. “You need to be aware of the issue on this one page.”
“If you're fine with it, buy the book,” he said. “If you're not, don't buy the book.”
