Over the last two years libraries and schools have faced an unprecedented number of bids to have books banned. As Jonna Perrillo writes in the Washington Post, these book bans may be even more dangerous than those of the past. The most frequently challenged books are ones that students are reading on their own accord, even if they are accessing them through […]
Defend LGBTQ Rights in School
Lawmakers in 42 states have introduced legislation or pursued other measures that attempt to require educators to lie to students about the role of racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, and other forms of oppression throughout U.S. history. Books by Black, Indigenous, authors of color, and LGBTQ+ writers are increasingly being banned, with more than 1,500 book bans enacted in U.S. […]
Native Writers Sign Letter Submitted for U.S. House Committee Hearing
By Dr. Debbie Reese, tribally enrolled at Nambe Pueblo in northern New Mexico An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People is among the hundreds of books that have been challenged and banned in schools in the United States. Today (March 19th, 2022), a letter was submitted to the U.S. Congress. I […]
Diversity in Children’s and Young Adult Books
By Paige Pagan The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) has released data on books by and about Black, Indigenous, and People of Color published for children and teens. While we are seeing steady increases in the number of children’s and young adult books written by authors of color, the number of books about BIPOC protagonists […]
The Disempowering Impact of the Little People, BIG DREAMS Series
By Paige Pagan and the Social Justice Books Team Enter the children’s section in any bookstore or library and you are bound to see a display of titles from the Little People, BIG DREAMS picture book series. Written for very young readers, they include titles on a range of activists, religious leaders, artists, and entertainers. […]
Book Bans Are Targeting the History of Oppression
Our colleague Marilisa Jiménez García wrote an article for The Atlantic about the banning of books that tackle themes of racism and imperialism, including Holocaust literature and survivor testimonies. Also, a Texas law requires teachers to present opposing views about the Holocaust in their classrooms.
