A Houston father is upset over the removal of a children’s book featuring same-sex parents

The father of the spring branch after his book was taken off the school shelves

FOX 26 reporter Sherman Dessell spoke with the father about what happened.

SPRING BRANCH, Texas – A Houston father is expressing his frustration after his children’s book was removed from the shelves at the Spring Branch Independent School District (ISD).

Michael Pearce’s book The Goose Fairy and the Golden Egg, which featured illustrations of children with two daddies, has reportedly been removed after a parent complained.

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In an exclusive interview, Pearce said he wrote the book to represent families like his in the county.

“I’m going to talk. It’s bullshit,” he said. “There are many other things to be angry about. Reading a book to my daughter is not one of them.”

Published in 2016, The Goose Fairy and the Golden Egg focuses on themes of friendship and problem solving.

It was initially well received at Hunters Creek Elementary, where Pierce’s children attended. However, after a recent complaint about its content, Pierce was told that a county employee had come to Hunters Creek and removed the book from circulation.

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Pierce emphasized the personal nature of the book by sharing moments of everyday family life depicted in its pages.

“There are pictures of my daughter running home … I’m brushing her hair and we’re reading her a book … it’s the same as any other family would do,” he said.

In 2023, the Spring Branch ISD board voted to allow board members to make book removal decisions without input from teachers and librarians. The change drew mixed reactions, with some arguing that it protects children from adult content, while others saw it as a form of censorship.

“You’re erasing my husband, my daughter and me,” Pierce said. “Whoever did it, if you’re angry that there are gay families out there, you’re going to have a very unhappy life.”

At this time, Pierce has not heard back from the school district regarding the matter. He said he does not want his book to be revived, but hopes it will spark a wider discussion about the recognition and representation of diverse families.

FOX 26 reached out to Spring Branch ISD for comment on the book removal and the district’s policy, but has not heard back.