The Washington Post recently published a diatribe against parents “banning” children’s books, particularly picture books.

Picture books are generally used as teaching tools in preschool and elementary school classrooms. We’re talking three-years-olds to 10-year-olds — the most vulnerable and impressionable period for children. Kids in this age range will generally believe anything you tell them.

The article goes on to lament the various reasons parents objected to these books for their children’s consumption. The top three reasons for book challenges were because the content was LGBTQ+, inappropriate, or anti-police.

Let’s unpack the flawed thinking behind this perspective of The Washington Post. Most importantly, there is a distinct difference in challenging books versus a book ban. Those challenged books can still be sold at any bookstore or borrowed from many libraries. The challenges are more focused on the wisdom of introducing topics and ideas to children at inappropriate ages in their schools — an arena where teachers and administrators choose the material. Granted, some books that have made their way onto classroom shelves are not appropriate for any age. However, calling these active and concerned parents “book banners” is a massive overstatement.

The WaPo author takes for granted that readers will immediately agree with her political leanings and is completely obtuse to parents’ legitimate concerns. It prompts one to ask: Why are leftists so eager to have books in the classroom that introduce ideas like LGBTQ+ lifestyles, critical race theory, or gender theory? Because planting ideas into young children’s heads is a way of brainwashing them into an ideology. Radical gender ideology (which includes transgender ideology) and critical race theory, in particular, promote a Marxist worldview whose ultimate goal is to destroy the family. This is grooming of an underlying political ideology.

There is also an element of actual sexual grooming mixed in, particularly with the LGBTQ+ stories. Gender Queer illustrates a sexual act and Lawn Boy describes a sexual act between a man and a child. Introducing children to sex and sexuality is actually grooming in the predatory sense. Learning about these sexual concepts and their deviations too early warps children’s brains and makes them more vulnerable to predators and risky behavior.

Also, not all behaviors are morally equivalent. There is a significant moral and cultural difference between books that portray a mother, father, and children (the nuclear family) versus any other kind of family. The nuclear family is the norm and is also the one most likely to foster human flourishing.

Finally, the WaPo article implies throughout that a one-party, “certain type” of parent flags and reports these books. This is incredibly disingenuous. There are plenty of parents on both sides of the aisle who are against the political and sometimes sexual grooming that these books are promoting. Just look at Virginia, for crying out loud. It was precisely critical race theory and gender ideology that flipped the Commonwealth blue and won Republican Glenn Youngkin the gubernatorial race.

A more recent example came from Georgia, where State Representative Mesha Mainor declared that she was switching parties from Democrat to Republican. In a social media post, Mainor wrote: “I represent a blue district in the city of Atlanta so this wasn’t a political decision for me. It was a MORAL one.” In an interview, Mainor went on to explain: “For far too long, the Democrat Party has gotten away with using and abusing the black community. For decades, the Democrat Party has received the support of more than 90% of the black community. And what do we have to show for it?”

The Left understands that if it can control the books, it can control the minds of the next generation. Leftists have already shown they are willing to change the meaning of words to fit their own ends (see racism and femininity). When we can’t even agree on a common language and words, how can we have a functioning society? Answer: We can’t. And perhaps that is the ultimate goal.

For leftists, clinging to the “book ban” lies in order to undermine parents is one of the last tools they can wield to break down the family. Their stake in this game is power, but for these parents it is the hearts, minds, and innocence of their children.