Sept. 11 Colouring Book Sparks Controversy

Parents divided over whether kids should be taught to fear Muslims.

A new colouring book is causing quite a stir in the U.S. “We Shall Never Forget 9/11 – The Kids’ Book of Freedom” is a children’s “graphic colouring novel” released just before the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The book starts with a picture of Osama bin Laden plotting the U.S. attacks in a pose not dissimilar to Rita Repulsa on the Power Rangers. It then shows American military officials fighting armed Muslims as American forces raid bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad. On the last page, a bullet flies towards bin Laden (leaving us all in suspense as to how the story might end). The publisher said in an interview that the book is meant to be an educational tool for children, and that it was written with honesty, reverence, and integrity. The colouring book has been criticized by the Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic relations, who, in short, disagrees.