Dive Brief:

• Parents attempted to ban the sex education book "Perfectly Normal" from Francis Howell School District libraries because they felt its illustrations were graphic and inappropriate.  
• The book —​ which is only available in e-form from the district's middle school libraries and not a part of the district's curriculum —​ contains illustrations of nude bodies, with some engaging in sexual activity.
• The school denied the request of some parents to ban the book from the library, saying, "If a parent determines that he/she does not want their child to have access to certain materials, we honor that request."

Dive Insight:

Given the fact that the book is not even apart of the school's curriculum, but rather an additional resource for families to check out, the hubbub over banning it feels a bit sensationalized.  

Missouri ranks 25th nationally for teen pregnancy rate, which has some families happy that the book is at least an option. As one parent remarked, "I feel like if the school teaches them this, and they have this information available, it's very important, and it will help keep them safe."