September 26-October 2 is the week we celebrate the right to read what we want with Banned Books Week! Books are challenged in libraries and schools all the time, and it's important to celebrate the right to information, and the ability to choose the books that are best for you!
YA books are among some of the most frequently challenged books, with titles like Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson sharing spots with books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men.
If you don't think things like this happen today, check out this current story from York Pennsylvania, where a school board banned a whole list of materials, including biographies of Rosa Parks a picture books like Hair Love*. Here is a link from Book Riot, which does a good job of explaining what happened: bookriot.com/student-book-ban-protest
For more information about Banned Books Week, check out their website: bannedbooksweek.org
*Even if you don't have younger kids to read to, check out Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry. It is one of my favorite picture books from the past few years!
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