It’s Independent Bookstore Day! As Amanda Gorman reminds us, “Independent bookstores are vital hubs of creativity and community.” Not to mention independent booksellers' role in the battle against book banning. So, be sure to support your local indie bookstore... To find out more about independent booksellers, click on the post's title.
A record-breaking 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2023. Last year Unite Against Book Bans established a day for readers, library lovers, and advocates everywhere to stand up to censorship as part of a national day of action -- Right to Read Day, and thousands answered the call. Let’s do it again! Because the book banners are definitely still at it. For statistics to share, a guide to get you organized, and a toolkit to get you started - click on the post's title.
It's National Library Week. And this year's theme is "Ready, Set, Library!" Libraries enrich our lives, and connect our communities in ways we may not realize. From book groups to providing a safe after-school hangout space, to supplying resources for launching a business, and so much more. Discover good ways to celebrate National Library Week, and you might even win a prize. To find out how to participate - click on the post's title.
It’s the first day of Women’s History Month. It's also National Speech & Debate Education Day. So, we're celebrating with a couple of speeches by Sojourner Truth and Eleanor Roosevelt. To learn what they were so passionate about, and get the full text of their groundbreaking orations - click on the post's title.
We're over the moon about the first ever Eleanor Roosevelt Banned Book Awards Ceremony! The event celebrates the inaugural winners of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature, recognizing authors whose works focus on racial justice, LGBTQIA rights, and gender equity. To find out who is being honored, and which books have been identified as advancing human rights - click on the post's title.
Silent reading might be the norm, but reading aloud has cognitive benefits. So, what's the best form of literature for celebrating World Read Aloud day? Short stories. Here's a couple from Edgar Allan Poe... he's the one who said "There is a distinct limit, as regards length, to all works of literary art -- the limit of a single sitting. To learn about the benefits of reading aloud, and put what you've learned into practice with a couple of Poe's short stories - click on the post's title.
For our 2024 celebration we're shining a spotlight on Phillis Wheatley (the first African-American to publish a book of poetry) and William Wells Brown (who wrote the first novel by an African-American). To find out more about the origins of Black History Month, these history-making individuals, and their ground-breaking works - click on the post's title.
It’s Rosa Parks Day! Commemorating her history-making arrest. Despite efforts to silence teaching about race and racism, teachers ensure that stories like Rosa Parks’ are told. To see some of the testimony that made Rosa Parks Day a reality. And take a look at the NCTE's statement on antiracist teaching - click on the post's title.
Native American Heritage Month recognizes the contributions of Native peoples both past and present. We're shining a light on influential activist Zitkála-Šá. To earn about her and the books she wrote for the young people of her tribe - click on the post's title.
What can you do about book banning? More than you may think. Here's a list of impactful actions. To check out 2022's most challenged books - click on the post's title.
Did you know Anne Frank planned to write a book about her time in hiding after the war? What event inspired her wish? And how did her writings merge into the text we have today? To find out - click on the post's title.
Hispanic Heritage Month takes place every year from September 15th to October 15th. Celebrate with a banned book by a Hispanic author. To check out our list - click on the post's title.