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A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger “When A Snake Falls to Earth received a Newbery Honor, we were surprised to learn it faced challenges from parent groups. Despite the book's lack of sexual content, violence, or vulgar language, it became a target due to the author, Darcie Little Badger, identifying as asexual. In this case, Darcie's asexual identity, as well as queer representation in her novels, seems to have drawn the attention of extremist groups. Even books without explicit content can be challenged based on the author's identity. A Snake Falls to Earth is a story about community, environmental care, responsible social media use, and deep friendships – themes that benefit and resonate with children of all backgrounds. It would be a shame for some readers to miss it because adult gatekeepers were scared off by any implication of non-heterosexual identity. Download the free discussion guide for "A Snake Falls to Earth" here. |
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The Proudest Color by Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou, Illustrated by Monica Mikai At Familius, book bans are always on our minds. One of our core "Happy Family Habits" is to "talk together," and we believe that discussing tough topics with children helps them learn, grow, and build positive habits at home. The Proudest Color embodies this principle, offering parents, teachers, and caregivers a valuable resource to address race-based bullying. Unfortunately, some regions in the U.S. have banned books on race, limiting our ability to share this story. Equally concerning are the soft bans—where books aren't formally challenged but are quietly avoided or excluded due to fear of backlash. We've heard from school librarians who fear that including this book might violate restrictions on Critical Race Theory. Though The Proudest Color hasn’t been directly challenged, the impact is clear. Download the free discussion guide for "The Proudest Color" here. |
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When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita LEE & LOW BOOKS INC. is honored to be part of this inaugural group of fiercely independent children's publishers for WE ARE STRONGER THAN CENSORSHIP. Our beloved award-winning picture book When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff & illustrated by Kaylani Juanita tops our list of known banned or challenged books. It's a universal and relatable story for any child concerned about being a good big sibling that also offers readers a glimpse into the everyday life of a trans child and his family. It's for these reasons and so many more that When Aidan Became a Brother needs to be readily accessible across all communities. Lee & Low trusts our Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, and intersectional storytellers to share their truths. Lee & Low trusts librarians and educators for their professional expertise. And above all, we believe young people have the right to access and read the books in which they see themselves. Download the free discussion guide for "When Aidan Became a Brother" here. |
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Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B Schiffer, Illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
Stella Brings the Family tells the story of a young girl with two dads facing Mother’s Day—reflecting the diverse families children live in. It earned starred reviews and media praise from The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and others, and was selected as a Book of the Year by A Mighty Girl and Bank Street College. Stella Brings the Family has been targeted by book bans nationwide, becoming a focal point of the freedom to read movement when one Alabama book event inspired a protest and counterprotest, and later when a Tennessee school canceled its planned reading after pressure from a local Moms for Liberty group.
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Michelle Obama: Political Icon by Heather E. Schwartz (Lerner Publishing Group) Lerner shared about this book being challenged: “We were so dismayed to see Michelle Obama: Political Icon on a list of challenged books because it’s a straightforward biography of a newsworthy figure for elementary-aged readers. It’s hard to imagine that someone would object to a factual biography of a former First Lady. This kind of book challenge leads to soft censorship, which is so dangerous to the future of a free press and a free society. Parents have the right to be informed about what their own children are reading, but they should not have the right to prevent other children from reading newsworthy books."
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