Controversial Anti-Semitic Cartoon Book Found on Children’s Display at Brooklyn Library Sparks Outrage

Edited by: Fern Sidman

A Brooklyn mother was left shocked and horrified after discovering a book filled with anti-Semitic and anti-American political cartoons on a children’s display at the Macon branch of the Brooklyn Public Library in Bed-Stuy. The book, titled “A Child of Palestine”, by Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, was part of a display meant to showcase world cultures, but it contained disturbing and offensive imagery, including stereotypes of Jewish people and inflammatory depictions of Israel and the United States. According to a report in The New York Post, one of the most troubling images depicted Jesus Christ on a cross kicking an Israeli soldier, alongside various other incendiary illustrations.

The book was found on Tuesday on a table among other titles like The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places in the USA and books about countries such as Tanzania, Ecuador, and Samoa. “A Child of Palestine” was placed within this collection, despite its explicit political nature and content that The New York Post noted as highly inappropriate for children. The Brooklyn mother, who made the discovery, expressed deep concern that such a book would be accessible to young readers in this context. “The fact that it is on display on a children’s table alongside books on ‘world culture’ is beyond belief,” she said, as quoted by The New York Post. She added, “I was so appalled at this being picked up by a child and read as facts about Israel and the US.”

The book, categorized as an adult read on the Brooklyn Public Library’s website, contains numerous graphic images and caricatures that rely on dangerous stereotypes. According to the report in The New York Post, some of these images include Jewish soldiers depicted with exaggerated features, such as large noses, and an American soldier strangling an Arab man. Another controversial cartoon in the book shows a dead woman, depicted as having been abused and murdered, being draped with a keffiyeh scarf—a potent symbol of Palestinian nationalism. The protagonist of the book, a child named Handala, is depicted in the cartoons witnessing the events, serving as a symbol of Palestinian defiance, with al-Ali, the cartoonist, being likened to the “Palestinian Malcolm X.”

The presence of this book in a children’s display has raised alarms about the appropriateness of such materials being made available to younger audiences. As The New York Post report indicated, the mother who found the book voiced fears about its potential exposure to children, stating, “The fact that it’s in the library means that it could be in classrooms.” Her concerns reflect the broader implications of how libraries and educational institutions curate their collections and displays, particularly when it comes to sensitive political topics.

In response to the controversy, The New York Post reported that the book has since been removed from the display and has not been returned. While it remains available in the adult section of the Brooklyn Public Library’s catalog, its appearance on a children’s table raises questions about oversight in libraries and the boundaries between free expression and ensuring that certain materials are presented in appropriate contexts.

This incident highlights a growing concern among parents and community members about the types of materials that can find their way into public spaces, especially when they carry political or inflammatory messages. As The New York Post continues to report on similar instances, this case underscores the importance of scrutinizing what is placed in spaces where children are likely to access or encounter content.