Scholastic Pulls Children’s Book from ‘Captain Underpants’ Author over ‘Harmful Racial Stereotypes’

A children’s book from Dav Pilkey, author of the popular Captain Underpants series, has been pulled from shelves because it perpetuates “passive racism.”

Last week, children’s publisher Scholastic announced they will no longer distribute Pilkey’s 2010 graphic novel, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future.

“Together, we recognize that this book perpetuates passive racism,” the publishing house said in a statement on their website. {snip}

They will also “take steps” to inform schools and libraries who have the book that they’ve decided to withdraw it from publication.

The decision was made with “the full support” of Pilkey, the statement said. The author took to his YouTube page to discuss the change, saying, “it was brought to my attention that this book also contains harmful racial stereotypes and passively racist imagery,” he wrote. “I wanted to take this opportunity to publicly apologize for this. It was and is wrong and harmful to my Asian readers, friends and family, and to all Asian people.”

Pilkey initially said the book, which tells the story of a group of friends who use martial arts and Chinese philosophy to save the world, was created to “showcase diversity, equality and non-violent conflict resolution.” However, he now sees the harm.

{snip}