Whew! What a relief! American kids and parents have been saved from cartoon nudity! I am so glad that U.S. publishers are on the job, protecting our delicate sensibilities from lascivious cartoon drawings of .5 mm (what is that in inches? I forget 'cause we're not metric. Oh, I remember: MINISCULE! PRACTICALLY INVISIBLE!) penises.
So, whatever, the U.S. will be like the only country in the world not to embrace the charming illustrations of author/illustrator Rotraut Susanne Berner, famous everywhere in the universe but, well, here. Who else could illustrate a children's book by Sylvia Plath and make it work?
The book in question, already a hit in Germany, contained some drawings in an art gallery setting. Where there's, you know, art and stuff. And one painting depicted, in cartoon style, a cartoonish naked woman. GASP!! And there was a tiny 7 mm (ugh, the metric thing again) statue of a naked man-person. I know! Can you believe it??! I am, like, so aghast at this. (And look at the obvious interest with which the woman examines Mr. Happy there! She's clearly looking right.at.it. And smiling!)
U.S. publishers asked Ms. Berner to make some changes to more adequately reflect the obvious prudery of the intended audience, and she wisely refused. She would have been happy placing black rectangles over the offending parts, but as that would have clued people in that hello! censorship is happening here! the publisher declined. And thus the American audience is spared the startling sight of tiny nudity in a children's book.
I know I, for one, will be sleeping better at night knowing this.
