"ONCE UPON A TIME: No big screen for little
people. In 1928, children under sixteen years old
were banned from movie theatres in Quebec,
Canada, after 78 people, most of them children,
died during a fire in the city of Montreal's Laurier
Palace in 1927. The name of the movie: Get 'Em
Young. The ban remained in place until 1961."
That fact is highlighted in a sidebar from the Entertainment Interrupted section of this book that all kid readers who love facts will be happy to see in their classroom or school library. It is filled with the many laws and rules that have been put in place over the years in various parts of the world.
Following the introduction which explains that laws are created "by the government to protect people's rights and freedoms and to maintain peace and order", and rules "are created by individuals or organizations and guide how to act in particular situations", the author divides her text into four sections. They are: People Problems, Sports Zone, Entertainment Interrupted and Kid Concerns.
I went first to Kid Concerns. Kids will tell you they are often controlled by too many rules. Do they know they also have rights? Divided into SCHOOL and OUTDOOR FUN, I found many surprises. In many places around the world, schools are banning knapsacks for health and safety. In Louisiana, there is a written law that allows backpacks - "of the bulletproof kind"! Did you know that worldwide 132 million girls are not in school? The list goes on ...
Well-researched and honestly presented in text made accessible to young readers, Ms. Camlot offers much to consider while providing both laughs and anger. How did they happen in the first place, and what can be done to change some of them? Historical information is clearly provided in sidebars. Quizzes follow each section to invite readers to test their memories. An answer key for each is provided, thankfully.
In conclusion, the author encourages her readers to be curious about laws and rules: ask questions, think about how changes might be made, have discussions with friends, advocate for change if you think change is needed. Mike Deas' illustrations are appealing and add humorous context.
A glossary, an author's note, acknowledgements, endnotes, and selected sources follow in back matter.
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