“This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials. Readers, particularly students, are losing access to critical information, and librarians and teachers are under attack for doing their jobs.”
- Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom
Banned Books Week brings awareness to the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. In 2020, there were 273 books challenged. But in 2021, that number quadrupled and as of right now, we are looking at 2,571 challenged books. Banning books closes all doors on reading, learning, and expanding a person's thoughts and opinions.
We all really need to become familiar with Banned Books Week, especially as our children get older and are able to read and choose books on their own. We want to be ready, informed, and be able to talk with anyone about why it is so important to protect your/our right to read.
Here are some ways to start talking about Banned Books Week:
- Talk about what Banned Books Week means, when it began, who it supports, and how we can spread awareness.
- Talk about why books are challenged and/or banned, who is doing it, and what it means.
- Talk about what might happen if every single challenged book was banned.
- Talk about why authors might write about controversial topics.
- Talk about why authors might include offensive language in a text.
- Talk about some of the books that have been challenged: Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey; Harry Potter (series) by J. K. Rowling; Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss; The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Check out the American Library Associations website for more.
When we ban books, we're closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives. But when we stand up for our right to read, we unleash the power that lies inside every book. We liberate the array of voices that need to be heard and the scenes that need to be seen. “Let freedom read!”