Forbidden Pages: OW OW Sound

This limited-edition letterpress, linoleum, and pressure print is part of the Forbidden Pages Collection and draws attention to one of the most absurd realities of book censorship in Florida schools: the banning of a 12-page phonics reader designed to teach vowel sounds.

A towering vertical ISBN, printed in bright yellow, dominates the left side—its exaggerated scale contrasting with the simplicity of the book it references. In layered hues of soft blue and pale gray, the background features subtle impressions of letterforms and circular textures made with pressure printing, evoking both learning materials and erasure.

At the center, playful yet pointed text reads:
"the SHORTEST BOOK Banned / 12 pages long / Cow on the town / Practicing the OW OW sound / sOuND"
Printed in deep magenta and arranged along thin gray lines, the phrasing mimics the rhythm of early childhood readers while emphasizing the absurdity of its censorship.

By elevating a basic literacy tool to the realm of protest art, Cow on the Town (OW OW Sound) spotlights the widening scope of book bans.

This print belongs to the Forbidden Pages Collection. Inspired by over 2,500 banned or challenged books in Florida's schools. Cow on the Town: Practicing the Ow Sound by Isabella Garcia is the shortest book banned, 12 pages long, published December 30, 2016.

Banned in Duval County, Florida, the publisher says it tells a funny story about a cow in a big city that children can read while “reinforcing basic phonemic sounds.” Oh, yeah, that sounds subversive!