Ruby Bridges blasts book bans as "ridiculous" attempts to "cover up history"
Efforts to ban books on systemic racism and discrimination target Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges' story, seen as a threat by right-wing groups. [ more ]
School board member who once championed book bans now faces death threats for changing her mind - LGBTQ Nation
Former far-right Texas school board member opposes extremist Republicans' efforts to ban books and defund schools after finding no evidence of LGBTQ+ indoctrination or critical race theory in lesson plans. [ more ]
Amid nationwide surge, one NYC high school offers a class on banned books
At the Academy of American Studies in Queens, students study books historically challenged or banned to learn about acceptance through literature.
Efforts to restrict student access to books dealing with race, gender, and sexuality are increasing, with a 28% rise in book banning cases in the first half of 2022-23. [ more ]
Bill O'Reilly is outraged that the book ban law he supports caused his own books to be banned
Bill O'Reilly is upset that two of his books have been removed from a Florida school district's library shelves.
The removal of the books is in response to a new law banning certain content, including discussions of sexual conduct, from the kids' sections of libraries. [ more ]
Bill O'Reilly is outraged that the book ban law he supports caused his own books to be banned
Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly is upset that two of his books have been removed from school library shelves in Florida for review.
The removal of the books is in compliance with Gov. Ron DeSantis's book-banning law, which bans certain content, including discussions of sexual conduct, from school libraries. [ more ]
Florida School District Bans Dictionaries and Anne Frank Under DeSantis Law
Over 2,800 books have been pulled from library shelves in the Escambia County School District in Florida.
The removal of the books is in response to a law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that allows residents to demand the removal of books that depict or describe sexual conduct. [ more ]
School district bans the dictionary to comply with Ron DeSantis's book-ban law
The Escambia County School District in Florida has removed over 2800 books from library shelves as part of a review process to comply with a book-banning law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May 2023.
Among the books removed are dictionaries like The American Heritage Children's Dictionary, Webster's Dictionary for Students, and Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary. [ more ]
UC Berkeley students combat K-12 book bans by creating their own children's books
Policies backed by U.S. legislators have contributed to a rise in the banning of books that include the history and experiences of people of color.
UC Berkeley lecturer Pablo Gonzalez is combating the exclusion of these stories by having his students write and illustrate children's books on Chicanx history. [ more ]
Lauren Groff plans to open an independent bookstore in Gainesville that will feature banned books as an act of resistance against book banning in Florida.
The Lynx bookstore will also emphasize LGBTQI+ literature and feature a wide range of books including New York Review of Books classics. [ more ]
Pink Praises Hometown for Voting Out Book-Banning School Board
Karen Smith, the newly elected president of the Central Bucks school board in Pennsylvania, was sworn in on a stack of frequently banned books in defiance of book banning policies.
Smith's symbolic gesture was a response to the previous board's banning of two books and challenges to 60 others due to 'sexualized content.'
The moment received national attention and support, including praise from singer Pink who has been an advocate for educational freedom and has donated thousands of banned books to audiences in Florida. [ more ]
School board president trolls Moms for Liberty by getting sworn in on stack of banned books
Karen Smith, the newly appointed school board president in Pennsylvania's third-largest school district, took her oath of office on a stack of frequently banned books, symbolizing her commitment to fighting for students' freedom to read.
Smith, who switched parties from Republican to Democrat in 2021, opposed the previous Republican majority's book banning and anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and ran on a slate of candidates known as Neighbors United for School Board. [ more ]
WSJ News Exclusive | Penguin Random House, Authors Sue Iowa Officials Over School Book Ban
Penguin Random House has filed a federal lawsuit to prevent book banning in Iowa schools.
The lawsuit is in response to a state law that bans books depicting sex acts and addressing gender identity or sexual orientation in school libraries and classrooms. [ more ]
Pink gives away 2,000 banned books at Florida concerts
Pink is teaming up with PEN America and Florida bookseller Books & Books to give away 2,000 challenged books at her concerts in Miami and Sunrise, Florida.
The books being given away include Beloved by Toni Morrison, Amanda Gorman's The Hill We Climb, Girls Who Code by Reshma Saujani, and Todd Parr's The Family Book.
Florida has surpassed Texas in the number of books banned in public school classrooms and libraries, with 1,406 book ban cases recorded in the state. [ more ]