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Young Grandmaster Choi by Shequeta L. Smith, Illustrated by Qazzran Alamry “Young Grandmaster Choi is a kid's martial arts manga about an African American army brat who grows up in South Korea. The book series explores both Korean and African American history. Despite the book being a hit amongst librarians, the ongoing book bans and challenges have created doubt about carrying minority-led titles. This has made it extremely difficult for Young Grandmaster Choi to find the type of distribution that would put us on shelves across America.” Download the free discussion guide for “Young Grandmaster Choi” here. |
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Yusuf and Yusra’s Spooky Dilemma by A. Dawood “The chapter book Yusuf and Yusra's Spooky Dilemma is a part of Shaherazad Shelves's flagship series about two Muslim siblings learning about American holidays and how not celebrating them can be respectful of both their religious beliefs and American culture. As a publisher of racial and religious fiction, we've seen many challenges where racist rhetoric has called the inclusion of Muslim-sounding names/places an "agenda" and the usage of non-European words called a "fantasy language." We hope our books, like Yusuf and Yusra's Spooky Dilemma, will be a comfort to the marginalized, illustrating how differences in the way one looks and speaks can be a place of celebration and understanding.” Download the free discussion guide for “Yusuf and Yusra’s Spooky Dilemma” here. |
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Two Wings to Fly Away by Penny Mickelbury “Set against the landscape of fear created by the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the impending Supreme Court decision on Dred Scott v. Sandford, Penny Mickelbury’s powerful novel Two Wings to Fly Away offers a vivid portrait of life as a queer Black American woman that remains terrifyingly relevant to this day. Book bans have a disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC writers, and it is the focus of Bywater Books to amplify these voices that are under attack and to ensure that all readers have the opportunity to see themselves in the stories they read.” Download the free discussion guide for “Two Wings to Fly Away” here. |
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You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body by Melisa Holmes, MD, FACOG, Trish Hutchison, MD, FAAP, and Kathryn Lowe, MD, FAAP “The American Academy of Pediatrics is committed to the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body embraces an inclusive approach that normalizes puberty for all kids, including kids who are non-binary or transgender—making it a target. A diverse cast of characters adds relatability and humor to the fact-based, age-appropriate, body-positive information.” |
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Be Bold! Be Brave! 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History by Naibe Reynoso, Illustrated by Jone Leal “Book bans have impacted our title Be Bold! Be Brave! 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History by limiting access to diverse narratives that celebrate the achievements of underrepresented groups. Such bans stifle important conversations about identity, culture, and empowerment, making it harder for young readers to see themselves reflected in history. By promoting these inspiring stories, we are challenging censorship and advocating for inclusivity in education, emphasizing the necessity of diverse voices in literature.” Download the free discussion guide for “Be Bold! Be Brave!rdquo; here. |
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Chula the Fox by Anthony Perry “Chula, a Chickasaw boy, is suddenly thrown into the murky and treacherous worlds of warfare and adulthood after a traumatic ambush costs him his father. Left haunted by a restless spirit, Chula concludes, in line with the customs of his time, that only vengeance will make things right again. With the help of his Uncle Lheotubby, and armed with a brand-new musket, Chula hones his skills to become one of the revered Chickasaw warriors. He vows to join a raid against the enemy, regardless of his youth, to avenge his father and put his spirit at peace. But Chula, his heart full of questions, finds that the greatest war rages within himself. It seems he is foiled at every turn by his nemesis, Nukni, and inwardly he is ambushed by self-doubt. Is Chula destined for the path of the warrior, or will a different future await him? Chula the Fox is a middle-grade historical novel, steeped in Chickasaw language and culture and set in our tribe’s Homeland, near present-day Mississippi. It tells an honest and often frank story about Chickasaw lives and the challenges our Native American ancestors faced during the early eighteenth century.” Download the free discussion guide for “Chula the Fox” here. |
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The Day Tajon Got Shot by the Teen Writers of Beacon House: T’Asia, J’Yona, Reiyanna, Jonas, Makiya, Rose, Najae, Serenity, Jeanet, and Tamil “In March 2015, ten teen girls from Beacon House in Washington, DC started writing a novel during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. They began with one central question: What really happens in a community when a black youth is the victim of violence by police? How are those lives affected? Each writer takes on the perspective of a central character – the victim, the police officer, the witness, the parent, the friend, the officer's kids – and examines how it feels to be a human being on all sides of this event. Their stories thoughtfully explore issues of race, violence, loyalty, and justice in a community torn apart but seeking connection.” Download the free discussion guide for “The Day Tajon Got Shot” here. |
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Fire Heart: Book 1 of The Fire Heart Duology by Joyce Ch’ng “Fire Heart is a moving fantasy novel for teens that focuses on a strong-willed apprentice swordsmith finding her place in the world. When it was first published in Southeast Asia, the book's LGBT content was censored. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to publish this new edition of Fire Heart which restores the book's original themes and brings the story to a worldwide audience. Snowy Wings Publishing is proud to stand against censorship and is committed to bringing inclusive books to all readers.” |
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From Root to Seed: Black, Brown, and Indigenous Poets Write the Northeast Edited by Samaa Abdurraqib “A plethora of stories is only dangerous to those whose way of life is so rigid it cannot evolve to meet new challenges. Threatened by the very existence of other pathways, unable to win a competition of free ideas debated on their own merits, those with indefensible positions resort to attempting to pre-emptively silence their competition. Evolution has shown that such a path will eventually fail. Better to develop the skills enhanced by reading: flexibility and the open-mindedness to explore, think, and choose for oneself.” Download the free discussion guide for “From Root to Seed” here. |
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The Courage Party by Joyce Brander, Illustrated by Gerta Oparaku “Microcosm has pushed for diversity in every aspect of our operation—from what we publish to how we publish—for 30 years. So we learned that we don't need to candy coat hard realities or shy away from topics that make some people uncomfortable. We push against boundaries that don't serve their stated purpose or protect vulnerable people from harm. The Courage Party is personally meaningful to me because it's the sort of book that I needed as a young person and was written by a good adult about a topic that society would prefer to pretend isn't a problem. So naturally we face it head on.” Download the free discussion guide for "The Courage Party” here. |
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Papa’s Free Day Party by Marilyn Nelson, Illustrated by Wayne Anthony Still “For us, who grew up in segregated schools in the Jim Crow South, book banning is so reminiscent of the times when mostly White-only school boards and political leaders exercised control over the books Black students were allowed to read. Book banning is about erasure and lack of access, which is a chilling echo of a period during slavery when reading itself was illegal for Black people. Just Us Books has always published titles like Papa’s Free Day Party which is featured by WE ARE STRONGER THAN CENSORSHIP. It is a powerful story grounded in Black history, authentic culture, and experiences — the kind of books targeted in recent book bans. It is vitally important that we make books that reflect our diversity available to as many young readers as possible.” Download the free discussion guide for “Papa’s Free Day Party” here. |
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The Great Nijinsky: God of Dance by Lynn Curlee “Vaslav Nijinsky led a complicated, messy life. People are often complicated and messy. Nijinsky was also one of the greatest artists in history. He broke ballet and put it back together in a new and even more beautiful way. The Great Nijinsky: God of Dance by Lynn Curlee is a frank, mature, and beautifully told story of a man who made such an impact that, despite efforts to erase him in his lifetime, could not be forgotten. Efforts to ban this book would seem familiar to Nijinsky, but giving young readers a space in these pages to feel seen and appreciated, to explore real life, and to be given the chance to feel empathy for all humans is our hope. In his life Nijinsky was an incomparable artist, an LGBTQ+ pioneer, a man who suffered serious mental illness, and a man who broke the rules—and in his own words ‘lived like a martyr’—to create the most beautiful life he could imagine.” Download the free discussion guide for "The Great Nijinsky" here. |
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I'll Be the Moon: A Migrant Child's Story by Phillip D. Cortez, Illustrated by Mafs Rodriguez Alpide “Banning books not only negatively affects the book industry but the lives of millions of people. Books allow us access to new perspectives that not only educate readers but also give them the opportunity to change their lives. Similarly to what Phillip D. Cortez has said, we hope that by fighting against these bans and providing access to meaningful stories, like I'll Be the Moon, people will exercise their empathy and view the world around them in a new, more understanding way.” —statement from the publisher, The Collective Book Studio Download the free discussion guide for "I'll Be the Moon" here. |
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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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