banned books

Renewing the Fight Against Book Banning

This week marks Banned Books Week, the American Library Association’s (ALA’s) annual celebration of the freedom to read—but this year feels more like a call to action than a celebration. Book bans and other attempts at censorship, largely targeting the LGBTQ and other marginalized communities, are raging across the country. Here’s what’s happening, how others are fighting back, and how you can help.

Banned books - Heather Has Two Mommies - Gender Queer

Fighting Back Against the Attacks on Diverse and Inclusive Books

Preschooler Heather is no stranger to opposition. Lesléa Newman’s 1989 Heather Has Two Mommies, the first picture book to depict happily coupled same-sex parents and their child, faced opprobrium from conservatives since shortly after it was published. Now, it is one of a record number of books for children and teens, largely about people with marginalized identities, that are under attack across the country.

Banned Books Week 2021

5 Ways to Celebrate Banned Books Week 2021

It’s Banned Books Week, the annual event celebrating the freedom to read! LGBTQ-inclusive children’s books are among those most frequently banned, along with books that have themes of race and racial justice. Here are five things you can do now to celebrate and support banned books.

Celebrate with a Banned LGBTQ Book This Week

It’s Banned Books Week, the annual event from the American Library Association (ALA) that “draws national attention to the harms of censorship.” This year, the ALA’s Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books list is once again full of books with LGBTQ content.

Banned Books Week 2014

Why Aren’t More LGBTQ-Inclusive Books for Kids Banned?

This week marks not only the start of fall, but also Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read. LGBTQ-inclusive books for children and young adults are often among those challenged by parents or library patrons — but many have escaped attempts to ban or restrict them. Is this good news or bad?

Create a Video for Banned Books Week

I often write about banned books here, and love the annual Banned Books Week in September. This year, the American Library Association is encouraging anyone celebrating the freedom to read to take part in a Virtual Read-Out on YouTube. School Library Journal has the details: The criteria are simple: create a video that’s less than two minutes

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