I LOVE my school, but what’s going on with the books they’re sending home?

I’m an elementary school teacher. New to this school this year. Before I go any further, I LOVE this school. The principal is the best I’ve ever had, the parents are supportive, the kids are respectful and good. It’s just all around great.<br>My grade level in particular gets a 30 minute block of reading workshop daily, and we pretty much follow the TCRWP method. The kids go to their book shelves and choose a book to read during this time. I pull kids to conference with and read with 1:1. It’s been very successful this year. I’ve seen my lowest kids increase in reading levels by 5-6 levels in a semester. It’s great. <br>We send home bagged up books on Monday, and parents return them on Friday. We sort them out and do it all again. We are not a Reading A-Z type school, so we (teachers) buy the books to send home. Most kids read them and bring them back, some get misplaced and I replace them, that’s fine. <br><br>Here is my issue: I don’t send home books in bags that are of a sexual nature. I don’t send books that are too hard or too easy. I don’t send home books that haven’t been read and approved by me or another educator/administrator first. We have a few graphic novels and I read through them first before allowing kids to read them. I get it. People don’t like the “sexualization of kids” (I disagree with this as the books we have are not of a sexual nature, but whatever). I am extremely strict with the books that go in bags. <br>Parents know what their kids are reading at home, because we include a list of the books in each bag. Many parents tell me they love reading with their kids and hearing about the children’s books. Many thank me for choosing books their kids love. <br><br>Lately, it’s been a trend to accuse teachers of “grooming” kids with books like “The Family Book” or “Melissa.” I don’t have those books in my classroom, but I have many other books that simply explain to young children why some families are different, or why some kids might not have both parents, or why some people are gay, or why some people look different. I get it. Some people don’t like this and think it’s inappropriate. I can get that. But you have the right to say no to your child bringing books home. I respect that. <br><br>Here is my issue: I sent home books last week as normal. A mom asked me at morning duty if I had sent a book home called “Let’s Talk About Love”. I said no, I’d never even heard of it. She asked if I could look into it with her. I said sure, let me check the title. It was not in my book inventory. I took a picture of the cover and texted it to my team, asking if any of them had it. One of them said yes, they did, and that they had sent it home to that child last week. Now, here is my issue….the book is definitely sexual in nature. The kid that got it is in 3rd grade. And if you look up information about this book, it is intended for high school aged kids. The book tells about how the author didn’t realize she was demi-sexual until later on in her life, and gives advice on how to navigate sex, etc. Now, I get if parents don’t want kids reading that. I agree, 3rd grade is way too young to be reading that. However, the mom never “approved” this book. It was sent home without her consent. She told me she read it with her kid and the kid was “confused” and had “questions”. My point is, what the hell???? My colleagues send home books in bags without parents approving of it first? I’ve never heard of this in my career. I don’t know if this is something new, or if I just didn’t know about it. <br>Now I am so confused. I don’t want to sensationalize it and go to admin, but I feel like I have to. The kids are too young for these books. I need advice on how to go about this.