We’re proud to announce that Freedom to Read Project has officially co-signed a letter from the National Coalition Against Censorship opposing the removal of books at the Benton School District in Arkansas without following policy or respecting students’ First Amendment rights.

We have the newest casualty of the “parents rights," movement in Texas! And we can thank Sen. Angela Paxton’s “parental rights” school library bill (SB 13) for keeping Texas kids safe from Pretty Perfect Kitty Corn in Southlake, TX (Carroll ISD). @shannonhale.bsky.social

“Schrecker, the McCarthyism expert, said the standards present “a very narrow and repressive view of American history” that reinforces the status quo and obscures historical moments that sparked social and political change.” apnews.com/article/flor...

Excellent information on the latest in book bans. 👇

This holiday season, let’s make gift-giving meaningful and activist-friendly. Dive into this guide and discover how your holiday gifts can support librarians, students, local bookstores, and the freedom to read for everyone. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/incorporatin... #FreedomToRead

CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR? by Irene Latham & Charles Waters is a powerful book of poetry that opens the door for kids to explore race, identity, & friendship, bringing necessary conversations into classrooms & homes with honesty and heart. Let’s keep stories like this on shelves, in hands, & in hearts.

Want to speak out against book censorship in your district? Emailing your school board is a powerful place to start! Here are some quick tips (below). Your voice matters. Let them hear it. #FreedomToRead #LetKidsRead #AntiCensorship

Too often, censorship activists skip reading the full book (or its context) and instead spotlight specific dramatic excerpts at school board meetings to spark fear and outrage. But books are meant to be experienced as a whole, not reduced to a few cherry-picked pages. #FreedomToRead

Rutherford County Library System (TN) shut down 2 libraries to ban books from the collections. This decision came as the Secretary of State sent them a letter demanding they "follow the law" and "follow Executive Orders" related to collections. The board *likes* this. bookriot.com/rutherford-c...

URGENT Call to Action: The Senate version of the S.2696 is moving out of committee BUT this version does not include any protections for book creators and only contains weak first amendment protections. The timing is tight: please email your senator before Wednesday, Nov. 12! More info:

Meet three of the high schoolers who saw their state reading bowl banned eight books in Georgia...and did something about it. Kids should never have to do this kind of work, but they are absolutely worth celebrating when they do: bookriot.com/teens-who-ov...

Two Rutherford County (TN) libraries just shut down amid a push to ban LGBTQ+ books. This isn’t just local, it’s about who gets to decide what stories we can read. Read the full story on Book Riot bookriot.com/rutherford-c... #BooksNotBans #LibraryFreedom

You liked, we listened... We took our popular post on how to talk to your kids about banned books and expanded it into a full-length article packed with tips, talking points, and book suggestions your family can actually use. freedomtoreadproject.org/how_to_talk_to_your_kids_about_banned_books

Toni Morrison’s THE BLUEST EYE is a masterpiece of American literature, a searing, compassionate exploration of race, beauty, identity, and the longing to be seen. It gives voice to those who are too often silenced, inviting readers to confront painful truths about how society defines worth & love.

Our free guide, “Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read,” offers practical strategies for starting tough conversations, organizing your community, and protecting access to books in schools and libraries. Download for free here: freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_page

In the 2024–25 school year, Florida led the nation with 2,304 book bans, according to PEN America. That’s 2,304 lost opportunities for students to see themselves, question ideas, and learn from diverse voices. Every banned book is a silenced story, and every silence chips away at democracy.

🎃👻 Happy Halloween from the Freedom to Read Project! 👻🎃 Tonight’s the perfect time for spooky stories, eerie adventures, and a reminder that the scariest thing of all is censorship. 😱 Stay brave, stay curious, and keep those stories alive. 💀📖 #FreedomToRead #BooksNotBans #SpookyStories

This is a great take on what happened for Banned Books Week in many places.

Florida’s newly proposed K–12 social studies standards are raising alarms among parents, educators, and First Amendment advocates. If our children don’t learn how to question authority, we’re not educating citizens, we’re training subjects. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/florida_s_ne...

SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN is a powerful, compassionate book that helps children make sense of racial injustice in their world. Told through the perspectives of two families (one Black, one white) it opens space for honest conversations about fairness, empathy, and how to stand up to wrongness.

Here’s a recap of important Texas school board races! Elect freedom to read candidates. Share with friends! franklinstrong.substack.com/p/the-book-l...

DID YOU KNOW: During the 2024-2025 school year, the works of the 10 most frequently banned authors accounted for 13% of all instances of book bans. More here: pen.org/banned-autho... #bannedbooks

Leaving a review for a banned book does more than share your opinion; it helps protect the freedom to read. Every thoughtful review helps ensure that silenced voices are still heard. So if you loved (or even just read) a banned book, leave a review today. #FreedomToRead #BannedBooks

This quote says it all. You get to decide what your child reads, but that same right belongs to other parents too. Freedom means choice, not control. When we start deciding what *other people’s* kids can read, we cross from guidance into censorship. Respect your values. Let others do the same.

You showed up. You raised your voice. You stood for something at the “No Kings” protest. Now what? The fight for intellectual freedom doesn’t end when the signs come down; it’s just beginning. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/you_went_to_...

WHITE OUT is a joyful celebration of love, friendship, and connection told through intertwining stories on one snowy Atlanta night. This book deserves to be on every shelf because it shows the beauty of diverse voices, identities, and experiences. #FreedomToRead

As book bans proliferate, Latine authors are increasingly caught in the cultural crossfire https://holacultura.com/as-book-bans-proliferate-latine-authors-are-increasingly-caught-in-the-cultural-crossfire/

Talking to Kids About Banned Books Book bans can be confusing and even scary for young readers. But open conversations help kids think critically and feel empowered to explore ideas. Because every conversation helps raise the next generation of thinkers, dreamers, and readers. #FreedomToRead

Great stuff from some young readers in Iowa with lessons for us all! Start where you are, build your community, keep pushing on policy, & have fun! And for any grown-ups in the room, sometimes the best action you can take is supporting the action of the young people in your community

A big victory for the freedom to read!

22,810 book bans. 45 states. Since July 2021, book banning has swept the nation, silencing voices, limiting learning, and eroding the freedom to read. Every statistic represents a story lost, a student denied, a community censored. It’s time to say enough. Stand up. Speak out. #FreedomToRead

YES to ALL OF THIS. thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Effective immediately, the New Braunfels Independent School District has restricted access to its libraries and library materials for secondary students as staff review the current collection to ensure it follows the standards of Senate Bill 13.

Want to turn five minutes into real change? Learn how to speak up for the Freedom to Read with clarity, passion, and purpose. Read this guide for how to make the most of brief meetings with your legislator: your story matters, your ask matters. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/how_to_talk_...

A Texas school district has just banned students from accessing secondary school libraries in order to ban books under SB 13. That’s not “regulating content,” that’s cutting off access to knowledge, ideas, and stories. Want to understand exactly what’s at stake? bookriot.com/new-braunfel...

ALL ARE WELCOME by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman is more than a picture book; it’s a celebration of kindness, community, and belonging. Banning this book doesn’t protect children, it robs them of the chance to see friendship, empathy, and inclusion modeled in a way they can understand.

According to PEN America, Florida is No. 1 for book removals and restrictions in public schools for the third year in a row. "There are no upsides to banning books ever," says PEN America Florida Program Coordinator Sophia Brown www.wlrn.org/the-florida-...

They banned book ban displays. They banned the word "Banned." They banned the word "Censorship" They banned the phrase "banned books week"

Have you downloaded our free workbook, “Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read,” yet? Whether you’re an educator, parent, student, or community advocate, this guide will help you take action with confidence and strategy. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_page

The real danger of censorship isn’t just the books we lose today, but the stories that will never be written tomorrow. When fear silences creativity, we all lose, especially young readers searching for connection, comfort, and truth. Let’s make sure every story still has a chance to be told.

Want to make a bigger impact for the #FreedomToRead movement? Start by connecting with other advocates online! The movement is stronger when we’re connected. Start building your digital coalition today and turn online advocacy into real-world change. #FreedomToRead #BookBans #AdvocacyInAction

This is more than a story about 1 banned book. In Escambia County, a court ruled that students & authors have no 1st Amendment rights in school libraries, opening the door to unchecked censorship. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/what_s_reall... When we let one removal stand on principle, we all lose.

CONCRETE ROSE by Angie Thomas is a powerful, heartfelt novel that deserves a place on every shelf. Banning this book erases critical conversations about responsibility, masculinity, and identity that matter deeply to today’s youth.

It is crucial to view book bans from the perspective of those whose voices are being hushed by censorship.

Banned Books Week Fact: 97% of book bans weren’t required by law. They happened because of fear. Fear of losing funding. Fear of political backlash. Fear of standing up for students’ right to read. This is what censorship looks like today: self-silencing, not statutes.

✨ Happy Banned Books Week! ✨ This year, make your advocacy count with “Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read.” Download it free today and turn your support for banned books into real-world action. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...

What are the top 10 most banned books in the US? See PEN America's list. https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/books/2025/10/05/top-10-banned-books-week/86498998007/ #BannedBooksWeek

With the hostility that has arisen from book banning efforts, we must learn how to recognize and help break the cycle of bullying librarians.

That report was useful in taking a moment to look at the average and median ages of the most commonly banned books in the US over the last year. Average? 22 years old, between PEN and ALA's reports. Median? 17. These aren't new books. bookriot.com/the-average-...