Opinions divided over children’s book removed from Menomonee Falls school district

MENOMONEE FALLS – The Menomonee Falls School Board voted Monday night to remove a children’s book from the district’s 4K classrooms.

Sophie Beer’s book Love Makes a Family was questioned during a review of supplementary materials by the Curriculum and Learning Committee.

The book is part of the district’s 4K Family Traveling Read Aloud Books program.

VIDEO: Divided opinions over children’s book removed in Menomonee Falls school district

Opinions divided over children’s book removed from Menomonee Falls school district

According to public records obtained by TMJ4 News, parents Paul and Katrina Mouldenhauer objected to the book after their five-year-old daughter brought it home from Shady Lane Elementary.

The Moldenhauers argued that the book showed a transgender couple in bed, saying: “There are two men lying together in a bed.”

“The most important thing is that it shows a man waking up next to another man with pigtails and breasts. It is inappropriate to show young children in the classroom such relationships,” Paul Mouldenhauer said at the public meeting.

The school’s principal, Brad Hoffman, said the book has been in the district’s possession for at least several years and has never posed a problem.

“The claim of being a transgender man is pretty far-fetched,” Hoffman explained. “The point is that love is what makes a family. Trying to eliminate a family structure is dangerous.”

The book is an optional, supplemental resource that gives families the opportunity to read together with their children, Hoffman added.

Menomonee Falls School District Policy 871 allows parents to object to supplemental materials used in school, which results in a formal review process.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed presentations from both the challenging parents and Hoffman.

They ultimately banned the book on the grounds that it did not conform to the district’s standards for human growth and development.

According to the school district’s website, the Human Growth and Development Standard, which explains relationships, is not taught until third grade.

“In my opinion, it’s not necessarily up to standard,” said Chris Stueland, vice president of the Menomonee Falls School Board.

“Just because a child goes to public school doesn’t mean he or she has to learn about alternative relationships.”

Dozens of parents and community members also attended the meeting.

“It shows different families and different differences. We are all here to show our support for keeping the book in classrooms,” said Andy Guss, a father of two in the district.

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He is also a member of the community organization Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area, which is opposing a high school book ban in October 2023.

“In the fall, 33 books were banned from high school and now we are back here as Grassroots Menomonee Falls. It is troubling that we are back here talking about love,” Guss explained.

So many people came to the meeting that the district manager had to ask them to watch online or from the hallway.

“It’s really important to me that children have access to what serves them. It’s disgusting. It’s sad. I don’t know what to do,” said mother Hallie Schmelling.

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