We hear occasionally about banned and forbidden books in various countries of the world but this is not a new phenomena. There have always been those who sought to ban even the most innocuous of titles.

FATHER CHRISTMAS by RAYMOND BRIGGS

This fun children's book was published in 1979. The education officials of Holland, Michigan, removed the text from all elementary schools after a group of irate parents made a complaint. They claimed that the book portrayed Santa Claus (Father Christmas) as having a negative attitude towards the spirit of Christmas. Fortunately Raymond Briggs' story in now approved again in schools.

THE BIBLE

In 1980, Columbus County Library stopped children from reading and borrowing The Bible without the express permission of their parents to bring home and read adult books. The library claimed that the book is classified as adult because it is too difficult for children to read.

ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA

In 1986 Encyclopaedia Britannica and all its knowledge was banned in Turkey because the government claimed that the encyclopaedia contained articles which spread 'separatist propaganda'.

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by MARK TWAIN

In 1985 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was banned from school libraries in London. The educational department accused the classic of being both racist and sexist.

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE by J K ROWLING

Schools in Zeeland, Michigan, removed all Harry Potter books from their libraries after parental complaints. It was claimed that the books could lead to violence like the shooting at Columbine High School in 1998. A year later the ban was reversed and the libraries could stock them again, however, there was still a ban in place on them being read in the classroom.

These are not historical book banning sprees as they have all happened in recent years. Other famous books that were banned for varying reasons, during the 1990's, include: 'Of Mice And Men' and 'The Grapes Of Wrath' by John Steinbeck, Roald Dahl's 'James and The Giant Peach', and Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'.

There really is no telling when someone out there might decide that your favourite book is not suitable for ordinary people read and withdraw it from libraries and shops.