The National Library Board (NLB) will not be putting back on the public libraries' shelves three titles of children's books that have been deemed not "pro-family" .

The three titles are: And Tango Makes Three, The White Swan Express, and Who’s In My Family?.

Jasna Dhansukhlal, the assistant director of Public Library Services, said during a press conference held at the children's section of the Toa Payoh Public Library, that the NLB appreciates all feedback, but the books will not be reinstated.

Jasna said that NLB’s pro-family stance “was in line with that of MOE and MSF”.

She added that the books will be pulped, in accordance to NLB’s policy for books that are withdrawn.

She also said the NLB receives 20 requests a year to remove library materials across all sections, but did not reveal how many books get removed a year.

Background of story:

Earlier this month, Teo Kai Loon had e-mailed the NLB to voice his concerns over two children’s books, And Tango Makes Three and The White Swan Express.

And Tango Makes Three is based on a true story of two male penguins who nurse and raise a young penguin together in a US zoo.

The White Swan Express is a book about children who are adopted by straight parents, gay parents, mixed race parents and a single mother.

NLB responded to Teo’s e-mail complaint in a matter of days, stating that the books have been withdrawn following his feedback that the content was not pro-family.

The removal of the books has resulted in two online petitions, calling for NLB to reinstate the two books. The petitions have generated 3,000 signatories and 1,600 supporters respectively.

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