Children's literacy discussion

Due Thursday 

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words: 

As with all literature, children’s literature can provide a medium in which to discuss a variety of issues ranging from race to sexual orientation to gender stereotyping. Approaching these issues through a fictional story can allow children to become familiar with new terms and ideas in a less threatening setting.  

Should children’s literature ever be censored? If not, why not? If so, who do you think should be the censors, and how should they decide what topics are censored? 

How important is culture in children’s literature? Why should we include works from various cultures in the canon of children’s literature? How does including literature from various cultures influence the discussion on the social issues covered in children’s literature?