Fact check: Barnes & Noble does not sell presidential parody book in children's section
The claim: The children's section at Barnes & Noble sells a book called 'If You Give a Pig the White House'
Social media users are criticizing Barnes & Noble, claiming the bookstore is selling a presidential parody book in its children's section.
"So this is in the children’s section at Barnes and Noble. Y’all ok with this? Imagine this book with Obama. This store would issue an apology and shut down. This isn’t ok guys," the post reads, featuring a photo of the cover of the book. "This Is the Commander and Chief! This is the Leader of our free world- the President of the United States of America and he’s belittled in a brainwashing children’s section of a liberally owned book store."
The claim was also shared on Twitter, where one user wrote, "I will never buy from Barnes & Nobles again until this disgusting book gets taken off the shelf."
The cover of the book being shared features President Donald Trump as a cartoon pig wearing a red tie and holding a remote, with the words "A Parody" next to it.
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Adult parody, not children's book
The book claimed to be a children's book is marketed in the adult section of Barnes & Noble. The book's listing on Barnes and Noble's site reads, "If You Give a Pig the White House: A Parody for Adults." The book is also listed under Barnes & Noble's humor section.
The bottom of the book cover reads, "This is not a children's book" and an overview of the book states "this is the adult parody of the beloved children’s cautionary tale, 'If You Give a Pig a Pancake.'"
On Macmillan's site, author Faye Kanouse is described as writing "cautionary tales for deep-thinking adults."
Other retailers don't advertise as children's book
Other major retailers such as Amazon and Walmart do not advertise "If You Give a Pig the White House: A Parody for Adults" as a children's book.
On Amazon, the book is sold under its "Leaders & Notable People" and "Biographies & Memoirs" section. On Walmart's site, the book is listed in the "Funny Books" and "Politics" category.
One social media post claimed that Target also markets the book in its children's section, however, a search of the book's title on Target's site reveals that the store does not carry the book at all.
Our ruling: False
There is no evidence to support the claim that "If You Give a Pig the White House" is being sold in the children's section of Barnes & Noble. The book is marketed to adults and explicitly states it is "A Parody for Adults." We rate this claim FALSE because it is not supported by our research.
Our fact-check sources:
- Barnes & Noble listing, "If You Give a Pig the White House: A Parody for Adults"
- Barnes & Noble Humor section
- Macmillan publishers, Kaye Kanouse
- Amazon book listing
- Walmart book listing
- AFP Fact Check, "Barnes & Noble does not shelve books satirizing Trump in children’s section"
- Reuters Fact Check, "Barnes & Noble did not market 'If You Give a Pig the White House' as a children’s book"
- PolitiFact, "Barnes & Noble isn’t selling 'If You Give a Pig the White House' in its kids section"
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Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.