We are Back to School and already, "Book Banning" on the national front has heated up again.  Here is an article from Wade and Cheryl Hudson, authors and owners of Just Us Books Publishing.  They have been in business 35 years, writing great stories and content for our community and young people and they are one of the oldest black publishers in the U.S.  They have seen it and have continued to stand tall.  Their voices need to be heard.  As a book reseller myself, I know it is up to us, parents and educators to continue to advocate for "freedom in reading" and culturally relevant books for the classrooms.  Here are some of their books and the article. Make your voice heard!

Book bans are on the rise. In classrooms and libraries across the nation, books such as We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, which we published to provide children comfort and encouragement during difficult times, are being called divisive and discriminatory. Since the fall of 2021, PEN America has counted more than 10,000 book bans in public schools alone. Books written about Black, LGBTQ and other marginalized groups are particularly impacted by these restrictions and censorship.

But we’re fighting back. Organizations, educators, librarians, bookstores, authors, illustrators and readers are working together to counteract book banning efforts. Here are a few ways you can join this important work:

1. Stay informed. Follow organizations such as the Banned Books Week Coalition, Pen America, Authors Against Book Bans or Kids Right to Read Project and participate in Banned Books Week activities to learn about the issue in community: https://bannedbooksweek.org/events/

2. Check out a challenged book (or two or three) from the library or buy banned/challenged books from your local bookstore. Many bookstores have banned book displays. You can also check this database for banned book lists.

3. Speak out. Reading a banned book? Post about it on social media. Talk about the difference a book has made in your life. ALA also has free resources including posters and infographics, to help you champion the cause.

And remember, this advocacy isn’t limited to one week. We need to join together in frequent and consistent action to fight censorship, help keep books available in schools and libraries, and promote the freedom to read.