Since its initial publication in 1970, millions of children have read In The Night Kitchen, the classic picture book by celebrated author Maurice Sendak. The book is about a young boy who has a surreal dream about baking a cake that needs to be finished by morning. It was named a Caldecott Honor Book, one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature.

At least two copies of In The Night Kitchen are available in elementary school libraries in Indian River County, Florida. This concerned Jennifer Pippin, the chair of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, because the main character, Mickey, is sometimes depicted without clothes. In an interview, Pippin told Popular Information that she believes the book may be "harmful to minors." She was worried that if a "5-year-old picks up this book and has never seen a picture of a penis… [t]he parent wouldn’t be able to discuss this with the child."

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Following Pippin's challenges, which occurred in November and December of 2023, the books were removed from the library shelves.

Pippin told Popular Information that, after filing the challenges, she had a meeting with Indian River County Superintendent David Moore and other school officials concerning the books. At the meeting, one of the officials suggested the school district "draw clothes on them to cover the nudity." Pippin said that she "would be absolutely fine with that" because she challenged the books "for nudity." Now, in the copies of In The Night Kitchen in Indian River County schools, Mickey is wearing "little shorts."