Blind Author's Inclusive Children's Book About Penguins Got Banned — and Then TikTok Did Something Unexpected
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Paul Castle, a blind author and illustrator, shared that his inclusive children's book got banned by a bookstore in June before an unexpected surprise occurred.
- Paul Castle is a blind author and illustrator who wrote The Secret Ingredient, an inclusive children's book about penguins who learn the "secret ingredient" to a happy family.
- Castle, who triples as a content creator, shared on TikTok and Instagram that his book was banned from a bookstore during Pride Month and the 200 copies they ordered were sent back.
- The TikTok community rallied behind Castle and his book after the ban, and once again after it got review bombed on Amazon, in an unexpected and heartwarming turn of events.
This story about penguins will melt your heart.
Paul Castle, a blind author and illustrator who triples as a social media content creator, first shared online that his inclusive children's book revolving around the arctic animals was banned by a bookstore during Pride Month in June.
The publication, titled The Secret Ingredient, follows two penguins named Pringle and Finn on their journey to deliver birthday cakes to their "colorful animal friends," per the book synopsis, who along the way learn of the "secret ingredients" to a happy family. It was published in 2023.
Castle — who's known online for being transparent and open with his followers in all aspects of his life — uploaded an update on the book on TikTok on June 21 that left him "shocked, surprised and so heartbroken," he said. The post was titled, "The moment I found out my children's book was banned."