Reviewed by Tara Matruolo
Review Source: Reading Is Resistance
Book Author: Aya Khalil
“Some books are so powerful that they intimidate people” — Aya Khalil
The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil is a powerful picture book confronting social justice issues head-on. Readers are reconnected to Kanzi, featured in Khalil’s The Arabic Quilt, a young protagonist who takes pride in her Egyptian heritage. The book’s central themes revolve around inclusivity and the crucial need for representation in literature, especially for children from the global majority. The book showcases a diverse cast of characters through vibrant illustrations, urging readers to embrace differences and celebrate individuality. However, the story takes a turn when Kanzi and her classmates excitedly head to the school library only to be confronted with the disheartening truth that the shelves that once held a rich collection of diverse books now stand barren, stripped bare by the oppressive act of book banning.
Upon learning the reasons behind the removal of the books, Kanzi’s teacher enlightens the class about nationwide protests against book bans. Inspired by this knowledge, Kanzi proposes a plan to raise funds for buying banned books through a bake sale, a grassroots protest showcasing collective action’s power! The story highlights how the classroom teacher, librarian, children, and community members unite to express their dissatisfaction with book bans, standing together against censorship. Although the book doesn’t delve into the root causes of book-banning, it effectively portrays the consequences of removing diverse books from children’s hands. Khalil draws from her connection to the theme, as her work, The Arabic Quilt, was banned in a school district in Pennsylvania. Together with other affected authors, Khalil joined a collective action to raise awareness and reverse the bans, advocating for a more inclusive literary landscape.
The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale presents a world where banned books become a catalyst for creativity, community-building, and social change. At an age-appropriate level, the book instills the notion that action can be taken when injustice occurs. It showcases how the collective protests and efforts of Kanzi and her allies lead to a positive transformation as the bans are reversed. By emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity and cherishing our differences, the book encourages young readers to become agents of change. The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale is recommended to teach children about book banning, the detrimental effects of such bans, and how peaceful protests can bring about transformative change!
GREAT BANNED BOOKS BAKE SALE by Aya Khalil
Published by Tilbury House Publishers and Cadent Publishing on August 1, 2023
Genres: Activism
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Grade K
ISBN: 9780884489696
Review Source: Reading Is Resistance
Also by this author: The Night Before Eid, The Arabic Quilt
Publisher's Synopsis: Kanzi, the immigrant girl of Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan’s bestselling picture book The Arabic Quilt, has come to feel welcome in her American school — that is, until an entire shelf of books about immigrant kids and kids of color suddenly disappears from the school library.
Upon learning that the books with kids who look like her have been banned by her school district, Kanzi descends into fear and helplessness. But her classmates support her, and together — with their teacher’s help — they hatch a plan to hold a bake sale and use the proceeds to buy diverse books to donate to libraries. The event is a big success; the entire school participates, and the local TV station covers it in the evening news. Prodded by her classmates to read the poem she has written, Kanzi starts softly but finds her voice. “You have banned important books, but you can’t ban my words,” she reads. “Books are for everyone.” The crowd chants, “No banned books! No banned books!” and the next week, the ban is reversed.
Aya Khalil appends a note about how The Arabic Quilt was briefly banned from the York, Pennsylvania, school system, and the backmatter also includes a recipe for baklawa, the Egyptian pastry that Kanzi prepares for the bake sale.
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