As Book Bans Rise, Our Commitment Matters
As book bans rise across the country, our commitment to the freedom to read has never mattered more. Together, we can protect the stories that help young people think critically, imagine freely, and see one another fully.
Today, we reflect on what the freedom to read really means for all children: the freedom to learn, to think critically, to see themselves reflected in the stories they read, and to imagine their place in a more just future.
While over half of U.S. students are children of color, classroom materials still fail to reflect the full diversity of students’ lives, histories, and identities. At the same time, political efforts to ban anti-bias education are erasing key parts of U.S. history, harming academic success and emotional growth, and deepening social inequities.
The State of Book Bans in 2025
Since 2021, books authored by people from marginalized backgrounds -especially women of color – sharing stories that reflect diverse identities and experiences – have been banned at alarming rates.
According to PEN America’s latest report, Banned in the USA: The Normalization of Book Banning, 6,870 book bans were enacted during the 2024–25 school year across 23 states and 87 public school districts. Since 2021, nearly 22,810 books have been banned nationwide – a level of censorship not seen since the McCarthy-era Red Scare of the 1950s, when fear and politics silenced diverse voices.
These bans don’t just erase stories; they also erase truth. They limit students’ capacity for critical thinking, empathy, and belonging, while deepening polarization and inequality.
In honor of Banned Books Week, we’re highlighting books that have been challenged or banned – books that center identity, equity, and truth:
- Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
- Under My Hijab by Hena Khan
- When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff
- A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
- We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
- The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
- King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
- Maus by Art Spiegelman
- Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
- An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, for Young People, by Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza
- Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, by Rob Sanders and Steve Salerno
- Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
- All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Recommended picture books about banning books:
- The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho and Caroline Pritchard
- The Great Banned Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil
Why Inclusive Education Matters
Our classrooms are home to children from diverse racial, cultural, and family backgrounds, and include children with disabilities, LGBTQ+ identities, and a range of religious and personal experiences. Yet most classroom materials, teacher training programs, and instructional practices fail to reflect or honor this full diversity.
Anti-bias education benefits all children by supporting both academic success and social-emotional growth, including:
- Increased higher-level thinking and problem-solving
- Stronger sense of belonging and positive classroom climate
- Improved reading comprehension and engagement
- Greater empathy, communication, and cultural awareness
- Better mental health and emotional resilience
- Higher college-going rates and overall academic achievement
Most importantly, inclusive education doesn’t divide us – it connects us. It helps children understand fairness, equity, and justice as shared values, building the foundation for a healthier and more compassionate society.
Explore the Data
Curious about where book bans are happening in your community? Check out the Little Free Library Book Ban Map, created in partnership with the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and PEN America. This interactive map highlights areas where bans are intensifying and points to nearby Little Free Library boxes where readers can freely access books, giving everyone a chance to discover the stories that matter.
When Representation Was “Too Much”
In 2021, a kindergarten teacher requested a set of our anti-bias children’s books for her school in Northampton, Pennsylvania. She wanted students to see themselves and others reflected in the stories they read, and to have resources to navigate questions about race and identity.
One of her students, a Black child in a predominantly white district, had been struggling with anxiety about feeling different. She found a book that addressed his experience, shared it with him and his parents, and saw a transformation:
“He was seen, and he felt much better for it…Being able to see yourself really matters to kids.”
Some community members labeled the books “divisive” before even reading them. The board of the Northampton Area School District (NASD) initially tabled the donation, but after reviewing the books, they unanimously found the titles met district policy: they were high-quality, age-appropriate, and aligned with the district’s diversity goals.
Despite this support from educators and the board, the superintendent ultimately overrode the decision and blocked the books, citing concerns about potential controversy. What began as a teacher’s effort to support her students became a stark example of the resistance students face when trying to see themselves and their histories reflected in school resources.
This story underscores the critical need for programs like our Anti-Bias Book Program, which ensures that children across the country can access books that reflect their identities, experiences, and the diversity of the world around them.
What You Can Do
In response to rising book bans, The Conscious Kid’s Anti-Bias Book Program delivers critically needed books directly into the hands of children, families, caregivers, and educators; bypassing restrictive policies that block access to inclusive learning.
To date, this initiative has distributed nearly half a million books, ensuring that young learners can see themselves and others reflected in the classroom. But with book bans limiting funding and access to diverse resources, your support is needed now more than ever.
Your voice matters. Whether through reading, sharing, donating, or simply speaking up, each act of resistance helps keep stories alive.
Here’s how you can take action today:
