What Are Words For?

Book Bans

Books are under extreme attack. At this time in history, there are those that believe certain books of all kinds are the most dangerous objects in our life and must be vanquished forever. Most of the book bans are instigated by just a few individuals that have not read the books they deem harmful.If you take away all the seeds, you will have no garden. If you take away all the books, history will be suffocated and generational knowledge will cease. We will descend into a society enslaved by one way people.Books and words are the seeds of infinite knowledge.

Book Banning History

Book banning is not a new phenomenon, in fact, it has a long history. Banning books has been a tactic of dictators and authoritarian governments worldwide. Book banning is not always enacted by strongmen or prejudicial views of an author or their book. Many book bans have absolutely no reasonable explanation.The classic book Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown was banned by the New York Public Library for 25 years, from 1947 to 1972, as the head of the department Ann Carroll More disliked its lack of educational message and the focus on a single room. This blacklisting paused the books early success. Goodnight Moon is more than 75 years old, and now a classic children’s book with nearly 50 million sold and is in the Library of Congress’ “Books That Shaped America.”

Censorship

Book banning is targeted censorship, in specific communities, school districts, and by distinct categories of books. Book banning is increasing under the groups whose mission is anti a particular group such as race or LGBTQ, religious, political conservative views, or for the purpose of parent’s rights.

Classic Banned Children’s Books

A Light In The Attic by Shel Silverstein
Charolette’s Web by E.B. White
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, & Henry Cole
Hop On Pop by Dr Seuss
Draw Me A Star by Eric Carle
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts

Speak Out

Speak out against this shameful form of censorship. Organize and assemble within your community. Promote banned book clubs and encourage reading. Support the authors that are banned and local bookshops.Donate to organizations that will defend your civil agains censorship and the right to read.

PEN AMERICA

Pen America is an organization founded more than 100 years ago to support writers and their freedom to write.
Pen.org

ALA

The American Library Association develops and promotes libraries to ensure enhanced access of information for all.
ALA.org

ACLU

The American Civil Liberties Union is the leading defender of all civil rights, including censorship and book banning.
ACLU.org