Fans of Roald Dahl books sound off over reports that his books will be updated l GMA
We're going to turn that our GMA cover story, the controversy over the ready is a rolled all, which included James and the giant peach and Charlie and the chocolate factory. Readers and fans are sounding off after reports that many of his books will be updated with new language. We'll read here with the story. Good morning. Well, good morning, George. Over 300 million copies of rolled dolls books have sold worldwide, but now a debate over censorship stemming from backlash to the news that new copies of his beloved children's and young adult works will be changed. We're going to New York City.
Many of rolled dolls, most famous stories have been turned into classic films, including James and the giant peach, Matilda, and Charlie and the chocolate factory. Good morning, stars shine. The earth says hello. And this morning, the Telegraph reporting language in 10 of dolls, 19 books will be altered or eliminated in new editions. Words like fat to describe characters have been removed. Mother and father changed to parents or family and descriptions of women's jobs have been updated. A spokesman for the rolled all story company told ABC News.
It's not unusual to review the language used alongside updating other details, adding our guiding principle throughout has been to maintain the storylines, characters and the irreverence and sharp edged spirit of the original text. The BFG is described as wearing a black cloak. That's now been changed to dark. This is all apparently motivated by desire for greater inclusivity. Prominent literary figures like Salman Rushdie blasting the decision to change dolls words, calling it absurd censorship. The CEO of Pan America, a writing community that advocates for freedom of expression, tweeting in part, you start out wanting to replace a word here and a word there and end up inserting entirely new ideas. If you soften or make bland some of those choices of language, then perhaps you undermine the badness of the so called bad characters, which pulls the rug from under the plot.
But some parents welcome the literary revisions. One mother writing, I love the role doll books and have started reading them to my four year old. But there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful. And I'm pleased that small changes are being made. So they're more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved. Language in dolls books was reviewed in partnership with inclusive minds, which is a collective working to make children's literature more inclusive, more accessible.
The company said any changes were small and carefully considered. Well, hey there, GMA fans, Robin Roberts here. Thanks for checking out our YouTube channel. Lots of great stuff here. So go on, click the subscribe button right over right over here to get more of awesome videos and content from GMA every day. Anytime we thank you for watching and we'll see you in the morning on GMA.
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