What is it about boys and pink that sets people off? It’s not just colors. Stepping outside of any stereotypical gender norm seems to get books challenged. This week we're highlighting a few incredible children's books that dare to think beyond pink and share a message of acceptance. #freedomtoread

Are parents really behind book bans? We asked @txfreedomread.bsky.social for their thoughts. 🤔 #freedomtoread #bannedbooks

We're excited to share our latest newsletter featuring @txfreedomread.bsky.social! We had the opportunity to chat with them about SB 13 and how we can all stand up to censorship in our communities. Check it out! #freedomtoread #ireadbannedbooks

Coming Wednesday! We can't wait to share our conversation with @txfreedomread.bsky.social. From SB 13 to how parents can protect the freedom to read in their communities, there's a lot to cover! Visit www.onceuponaban.com to sign up to get this week's newsletter. #freedomtoread #bannedbooks

What started as a complaint over a Pride display has turned into a multi-year debate over the future of the Fontana Regional Library System. Residents are organizing to protect their library so it stays the way it has always been, a true community center. #freedomtoread #bannedbooks #savethefrl

Last Sunday our community came together to Turn the Page and celebrate the #freedomtoread! Thank you to everyone who joined us and we hope to Turn the Page again soon! #ireadbannedbooks

Hey Orange County! Free this Sunday? Join us for our summer reading event in paternship with @wave4all.bsky.social. We’ll have storytime with community leaders, a book fair with a local bookstore, crafts and more! RSVP encouraged but not required. #orangecounty #missionviejo #ocevents

We can still save the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Here's a practical guide to what to do right now to save not just the agency's funding but its future all together: bookriot.com/we-can-still...

We decided it was time to introduce ourselves. 👋 www.onceuponaban.com/p/introducin...

Three banned children’s picture books to add to your TBR list this holiday weekend. #letfreedomread #freedomtoread #ireadbannedbooks

Incoming transmission... July's featured book has landed! Written by @underwoodwriter.bsky.social and illustrated by @meghunt.bsky.social, Interstellar Cinderella is the story of a smart, independent heroine and it was banned by the DoD. Check out our interview with the author! #kidlit #bannedbooks

With the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling last week, many of us are left wondering what’s next. We checked back in with author @cswild.bsky.social to get her take on the ruling and where we go from here. #freedomtoread #weneeddiversebooks #kidlit #lgbtqkidlit

With the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling last week, many of us are left wondering what’s next. We checked back in with author @cswild.bsky.social to get her take on the ruling and where we go from here. #freedomtoread #weneeddiversebooks #kidlit #lgbtqkidlit

Sharing some thoughts. #freedomtoread #weneeddiversebooks

Hey Southern California! Free on July 13th? We’re excited to share that we're partnering with @wave4all.bsky.social on a summer reading event to celebrate the freedom to read! We'll have storytime with community leaders, crafts and so much more. Join us for an afternoon of summer fun and community!

Reporting back on The Complete Book of Cats. #bannedbooks #cats

The @rainbowdefense.bsky.social (RDC) brings together volunteers to create a physical barrier from protestors so families in the DMV area can safely attend Drag Queen Story Hours. Link in bio to read our interview and learn how you can support their efforts. Photo credit @robinfader.bsky.social

Why though? #bannedbooks #ireadbannedbooks #cats

When the rise in censorship begins to feel overwhelming, we like to take a page out of Mr. Rogers’ book and look for the helpers. We’re excited to introduce you to @rainbowdefense.bsky.social and Books Not Bans, two organizations that are working to ensure LGBTQ+ stories remain accessible.

This month's book is Molly's Tuxedo by @vickijohnsonwrites.bsky.social. Johnson shared more with us about her love for reading and what inspired her to write Molly's Tuxedo. Link in bio to read our interview.

The votes have been counted and the people of Huntington Beach delivered a resounding victory for the freedom to read on Tuesday night. We caught up with Carol Daus, a representative of Our Library Matters, to get her perspective on the win. #freedomtoread

Residents are heading to the polls this Tuesday to vote on two measures about the library. It’s not too late to catch up on what is happening in Huntington Beach! linktr.ee/onceuponaban

Happy Pride! This month (and every month) we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, authors, and illustrators who bring stories to life. We believe representation in stories matters and we stand with you.

We’re not falling for it. #bannedbooks #freedomtoread

For #whatimreadingwednesday our family is reading Molly’s Tuxedo by @vickijohnsonwrites.bsky.social. It’s picture day at school and Molly is excited. There’s just one problem, her mom insists she wears a dress when Molly wants to wear her brother’s old tuxedo instead. What will Molly do? #kidlit

The Huntington Beach City Council says there is explicit material in the children’s library, so we asked parents what their children checked out. #freedomtoread #libraries #bannedbooks

Our featured book for June is Molly's Tuxedo by @vickijohnsonwrites.bsky.social! We had a chance to speak with Johnson about her experience with soft censorship, what motivates her to keep writing, and her upcoming book Mac Wears a Hat. Check it out! #freedomtoread #softcensorship #kidlit

With the special election days away, supporters of the Huntington Beach Public Library have been staging read-ins to bring awareness to the campaign. We stopped by to ask what the library means to them. #freedomtoread #bannedbooks

We're kicking off our summer reading challenge and sharing what our family is reading. This week it's books by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social including Your One and Only Heart, Summer is for Cousins and her newest book Some of Us! What is your family reading? #summerreading #bannedbooks #kidlit

You're invited to join our summer reading challenge focused on banned books! Read 20 banned children's picture books OR 1,000 pages of banned books for any age. Link below to get our challenge tracker and lists of banned books to get you started. #ireadbannedbooks #summerreadingchallenge

Loving the creativity of these mailers from @ourlibrarymatters.bsky.social! It has been a heated race leading up to the special election on June 10th in Huntington Beach. This mailer feels like it cuts through the noise with a touch of library magic. #freedomtoread

Inspired by a book as a child, @rajanilarocca.bsky.social now writes to encourage the next generation. Her book Your One and Only Heart was at one point restricted at the HB Library. She shared her take on censorship, why she writes for children, and her upcoming book. #kidlit #freedomtoread

We had a chance to chat with this month’s featured author @rajanilarocca.bsky.social about what inspired her to write Your Only and Only Heart, why she believes access to nonfiction is important, and her upcoming book Some of Us. Can’t wait to share our May 19th newsletter! #kidlit #freedomtoread

On Fridays, @protecthb.bsky.social walks to the Huntington Beach pier to show their support for the library. We joined them and it was exciting to see all of the support they got from people walking by! #freedomtoread #bannedbooks

Next month Huntington Beach residents will vote on whether their City Council can move forward with establishing a library review board to decide what content is appropriate for minors. It would consist of 21 political appointees and there would be no option to appeal decisions. #freedomtoread

Walk with me to the restricted section of the Huntington Beach library where health books for preteens are considered inappropriate. California has a law against book bans but that hasn’t stopped the Huntington Beach City Council from relocating content to achieve the same effect. #freedomtoread

The debate over access to children's health books has the residents of Huntington Beach, CA headed to the ballot box this June for a special election. We spoke with Carol Daus from @ourlibrarymatters.bsky.social about their work to protect their local library. #ireadbannedbooks #freedomtoread

In Monday’s newsletter, we’ll head to a town where the freedom to read is on the ballot and talk to some of the residents who are organizing to protect their library. Our featured book for May is one of the many books that have been challenged. More to come on Monday!

Thank you @cswild.bsky.social for the wonderful conversation and all of your work to increase representation in children’s stories. 🙌

We've joined Substack! We're excited to be able to chat more directly with you about the books and interviews we cover. Come join us!

This quote is on our mind today. Read our full interview with Author @cswild.bsky.social whose book Love, Violet is one of nine books at the center of the Mahmoud v. Taylor SCOTUS case. onceuponaban.com/p/once-upon-...

Mahmoud v. Taylor is being heard at the Supreme Court today and supporters of the freedom to read are holding a Rally for Inclusive Education. We stopped by to show our support! #freedomtoread #ireadbannedbooks #kidlit #booksnotbans #lgbtqkidlit

We had the opportunity to interview Author @cswild.bsky.social about what inspired her to write Love, Violet and her thoughts on the SCOTUS case. Charlotte’s incredible journey of self-discovery and unwavering dedication to LGBTQ+ representation in stories makes Love, Violet even more compelling.

All eyes are on the SCOTUS next week as Mahmoud v. Taylor is up for oral arguments. Love, Violet, our featured book of the month, is one of the stories in this case. If you haven't grabbed your copy, now's the time the show your support! #freedomtoread #ireadbannedbooks

April 22, SCOTUS will hear a case about LGBTQIA+ picture books. Join us for a Rally for Inclusive Education, 8am - 2pm at SCOTUS - OR host your own echo event! Event toolkit, activity packet, & action ideas: shorturl.at/k7AX3 #kidlit #lgbtqkids #FReadom ##SCOTUSRally2025 #Pride #LiveInYourTruth

We’re so excited to introduce you to this month’s featured book, Love, Violet written by @cswild.bsky.social and illustrated by @charlenedraws.bsky.social! It's a touching story of young love that has found its way to the Supreme Court. Learn more here: onceuponaban.beehiiv.com/p/once-upon-...

Our next newsletter goes out on Monday, April 7th and we cant wait to introduce you to our featured book for the month! There's still time to sign up to read along with us here: onceuponaban.beehiiv.com/subscribe

New to Once Upon A Ban? We're an online book club in newsletter format that focuses on reading banned or challenged children's picture books. We were started by two parents who wanted to take action after reading an article in the LA Times about the negative domino effect these bans create.

We need a list of volunteers who can be “on deck” for when the need arises to make phone calls, send emails, and/or provide in-person testimony in Austin- related to the freedom to read in TX. Please complete this form if you’re willing to volunteer in this way. www.txftrp.org/89th_leg_tes...

This is such a great documentary and now it’ll be even easier to get access to! Grab some friends and make it a movie night. The message in this film is so important and timely.