It may not be October but legislators in North Carolina have been on a witch hunt.

Their “Parents’ Bill of Rights” (S.B. 49), which was voted into law by the NC General Assembly in 2023 after being vetoed by Governor Roy Cooper, prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexuality. Now they want to extend those regulations to school libraries. What’s got them so spooked?

Children’s picture books featuring families with two moms or two dads.

Their wrath has been focused on Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS), a top performing district in the state. The Superintendent has been called in for not one, but two hearings about the inclusion of books that feature anything but the traditional nuclear family in school libraries.

When questioned about the book Grandad’s Pride, CHCCS Superintendent Trice responded, “I see community. I see two couples who appear to be in a loving relationship. They’re not breaking any laws. They’re not hurting anyone. That’s certainly something a child may see in their community.”

After last week’s hearing ended, Republican Chairman Rep. Brenden Jones announced that he had filed an amendment to S.B. 49 that would include all educational materials. If passed, this amendment would open school districts up to investigation and allow for State funding to be withheld if they’re found to be out of compliance.

For maximum drama, he named the bill the “Curriculum Honesty, Compliance, and Child Safety or CHCCS Act.” If that acronym looks familiar, you’re right. Yes, he intentionally named it after the school district and yes, we’re rolling our eyes.

Ahead of the hearing, lawmakers sent Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools a list of 155 books they believe violate the Parents’ Bill of Rights and would need to be removed from school libraries should the bill pass.

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Here are three of the books the North Carolina GOP doesn’t want your family to read.

My Mommies Built a Treehouse by Gareth Peter

A young boy achieves his dream of building a treehouse with the help of his two Moms. This book is “proof that when you have big dreams, those dreams can fill the sky.”

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

A shopping trip for party hats with her Dads turns into a grand adventure to Antarctica in this story about a young girl’s imagination.

Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer

Stella, a girl with two Dads, is worried about who she can bring to the upcoming Mother’s Day Celebration at her school. After sharing her worries with her friends, she realizes she has several family members who support her and she decides to bring them all to the celebration.

We’ve read all three books to our family. Besides our kids now wanting a treehouse in our yard that does not currently have a large tree, these books have only helped by showing our kids that families can come in all shapes and sizes.

What happens in one state, tends to show up in another. If you’re in North Carolina, now is a great time to call your reps to tell them to vote no on H.B. 1043.

Head over to your local library or bookstore to pick up a copy of these books. You can also visit our affiliate store on Bookshop.org.

There’s a lot happening in the world right now. With the endless headlines, we wouldn’t be surprised if H.R. 7661 didn’t make your newsfeed.

We want to make sure you don’t miss it.

H.R. 7661, also known as the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” was introduced to Congress last week by a group of House Republicans. If that name sounds shocking, that’s because it’s meant to distract you from the true intention. This bill is an alarming attempt to censor LGBTQ+ stories nationwide.

The bill would prohibit the use of funds provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 so schools could not “provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material.”

What constitutes “sexually oriented material”? The legislation defines it as “any depiction, description, or simulation of sexually explicit conduct” with a specific call out for “gender dysphoria or transgenderism.”

To be clear, this is not an attempt at keeping explicit content from young children. This is a blatant attempt at censoring stories with transgender representation. It’s not a stretch to think this could be used to remove LGBTQ+ books entirely in some places.

While the bill says it would not limit books used for teaching purposes including human health, books about puberty and health have been targeted by book banners for years.

This bill uses the same vague language we’ve seen in censorship attempts across the country. It opens the door for even more content to be subjected to soft censorship as educators feel increased pressure to pull back on any material that could potentially lead to accusations of violating the law.

The rise in censorship is no longer just about putting out fires locally. A bill like this passing at the federal level would result in sweeping censorship of school libraries across the country.

Representation in stories matters and if we want the next generation to be more accepting than the last, we can’t let these stories be erased.

Call your member of Congress and ask them to vote no on H.R. 7661.

If you’re feeling worn down, you’re not alone. We’re living in times where every day brings a new unprecedented event, a new depressing development. With everything that’s going on right now, censorship attempts can get missed in the headlines. Last year saw a continued surge in books bans and now publishers are releasing fewer books that could catch the eye of book banners.

It’s easy to feel a bit hopeless, but if you need a little inspiration, The Librarians, directed by Kim A. Snyder, might be what you’re looking for.

Last Saturday, the team behind The Librarians hosted an online screening followed by a freedom to read rally featuring several of the film’s participants. This documentary has been on our watch list for a while but we haven’t been able to catch an in-person screening. With the online option, we gathered some friends and made a watch party out of it.

The film follows the experiences of several librarians across the country who have faced alarming attempts at censorship in their communities. It portrays their journeys to fight for the freedom to read and protect the kids their libraries serve, even at their own detriment. Some lost their jobs for refusing to comply. Others were threatened and no longer feel safe in their communities. One librarian, Amanda Jones, author of That Librarian, shared how she has seen the impact that books can have in helping readers better understand themselves or find belonging. After seeing a number of suicides take place in her community, she said she can’t stand by and allow censorship to take away a potential lifeline for community members anymore.

The film also explores how the push to ban books is a coordinated, nationwide effort. As shown in the film, we see the same books targeted in similar ways across multiple states. It’s not just a coincidence. It’s a well organized, highly funded campaign to gain control over local elected positions and influence what content can or can’t be in the library.

To effectively quell that campaign, we need more people across the country to get involved and speak up in their local communities. Don’t let yourself get checked out. For us, having a watch party for The Librarians was a way to regroup with friends and get ready to dive back in for the year. Seeing the many film participants in action, tirelessly defending the freedom to read, was just the inspiration we needed.

Looking for a little motivation of your own? Here’s the schedule of screenings for The Librarians. You can also catch it on PBS on February 9th. Invite some friends over to watch, open the door to the conversation about censorship, and find ways that you can get involved in your community. Here are a few more suggestions for how you can get involved.

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Read and purchase banned books. Publishers put out books they think will sell. Show your support for stories with LGBTQ and diverse characters. (Looking for suggestions? The Librarians highlighted picture books Hair Love and A Day In the Life of Marlon Bundo.) Check books out at your local library and purchase them when you can.

Talk to your friends and family. The argument against books is full of buzzwords designed to create an emotional response. Make sure you’re talking to others about the freedom to read so they’re not falling for the noise.

Attend local school board meetings. As the film showed, local school boards are one of the primary targets. Get to know who your Trustees are, where they stand, and get involved even before election time. You may very well find that book banners are closer to home than you think.

What will it take for the Huntington Beach City Council to get the message?

After years of turmoil over the city’s decision to relocate select children’s books to a “restricted” section of the library, Huntington Beach citizens took to the polls and resoundingly rejected the censorship attempt on their public library. The special election, which took place in June, had two library measures on the ballot. Both measures passed with a significant majority, repealing the controversial library review board and requiring a public vote should the City Council attempt to privatize the library.

You would think a decisive loss at the polls would serve as a wake up call to the City Council. That they might realize their extreme focus on library content was not only misguided but not welcomed by their constituents.

It didn’t.

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Then, in September, the Orange County Superior Court ruled against the City of Huntington Beach, finding the review board policy to be in violation of the California Freedom to Read Act and California Constitution.  The City was ordered to return any relocated books to their proper place in the library and remove the restricted section by October.

Yet, here we are in November and the restricted section of the library remains in place. Instead of complying with the ruling, not to mention the public vote to repeal, the Council decided to double-down and voted to appeal the court’s decision during a closed session.

We spoke with Erin Spivey, a professional librarian and one of the Plaintiffs who brought on the lawsuit against the city, to get her thoughts on the matter. Our conversion took place prior to the Huntington Beach City Council voting to appeal. “I fully expect them to appeal the judge’s decision regardless of whether they have a leg to stand on or not.”

Spivey worked for years as a librarian in Huntington Beach where she witnessed the local rise in accusations against the library. “We, as professionals, are dedicated to making sure that our own biases do not show up in how we select books. So having something as nebulous as ‘sexual content’ hanging over how we are curating our collection is just antithetical to the work we do in the library.”

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Spivey didn’t let the vitriol deter her and instead she decided to take a stand. When asked why she felt compelled to go as far as taking part in the lawsuit she said, “I’m guided by my faith in a lot of ways in that I’m drawn to serving other people as a way of serving God. So whenever there’s a challenging situation, my first thought is, ‘well, if not me, then who? Who would do this?’ I’m not really one to shy away from a fight.”

While the appeal is pending, Spivey remains confident. “I think the library always wins and we have proof of that all over the country. Whenever you put a library issue on the ballot, the library usually wins. People love the library and people love the freedom to read. We will prevail. It’s just a matter of time, so we have to keep going.”

Last week, Donald Trump appeared on stage with a young boy who spoke about a time when he read a book at school that didn’t align with his beliefs. He shared how he felt ostracized by his peers when his parents spoke up against it.

Ironically, the book is about a child seeking acceptance.

The book in question was My Shadow is Pink written and illustrated by Scott Stuart. Its about a boy whose shadow, a symbol for his true inner self, is pink. The protagonist likes dresses, ponies, princesses and things that “aren’t for boys.” According to Trump, this book promotes “radical gender ideology.”

What is it about boys and pink that sets people off?

We recently read Pink is for Boys, one of the most banned children’s books in the 2023-2024 school year. If you haven’t read it, the message is that all colors are for every one. In a world where color stereotypes are prominent in everything from clothing to toys to school supplies, this book reminds us that colors are just colors. You can like any color you choose.

It’s not just colors. Stepping outside of any stereotypical gender norm seems to get books challenged. Earlier this year we featured Molly’s Tuxedo, a book about a young girl who wants to wear a tuxedo to her school picture day because it makes her feel more like herself. The book's author faced soft censorship in the form of cancelled school visits. Teo’s Tutu is a book about a boy who likes to dance and wants to wear a tutu during his recital like all the other ballerinas he looks up to. It was challenged in South Carolina.

What do all of these books have in common? They feature children that simply want to pursue their own interests.

From a young age, we tell children that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Interestingly, it used to be the exact opposite. This only changed when clothing manufacturers realized they could increase sales by assigning colors to genders. But let’s get back to My Shadow is Pink.

Where the story truly excels is when the main character's Dad, someone with a strong blue shadow, encourages the young boy to embrace his “inner most you.” He explains that everyone may not accept his true colors, but “if some don’t like you, then they are the fool.” With support from his Dad, the boy goes back to school, feeling more confident in himself and finds belonging with friends who accept him.

The display of parental support and acceptance is what makes this book so powerful. Is that actually what makes it “radical” in their eyes? The idea of acceptance outside of stereotypical norms? The idea that little boys and girls can have interests that don’t fit neatly into blue or pink?

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Author Scott Stuart recently spoke about the incident on his Instagram. My Shadow is Pink is part of a three book series. He states that his books “are not about culture wars or politics or about winning arguments. They’re about kids. They’re about helping kids be who they want to be without prejudice. Allowing kids to wear what they want to wear without being bullied. Kids believing what they want to believe and feeling safe and accepted for doing so.”

We hadn’t read this book prior to reading the news about it. It now proudly sits in our home library as an example of the power of acceptance and being true to yourself, a message that is apparently controversial.

Imagine your state legislators working overtime, straight through a holiday weekend, to pass legislation that makes it harder for public schools to purchase library books. Recently passed by the Texas State Legislature, Senate Bill 13 (SB 13) does just that - and is only the latest attempt in a statewide battle for the freedom to read.

Texas residents Anne Russey, Laney Hawes, and Frank Strong are no strangers to these attempts. The three of them connected after finding themselves in the same conversations on Twitter, realizing this was a growing problem. “When I saw this starting to happen in districts around the state, I knew this was going to spread,” said Strong. “What happens in one district, doesn’t just stay in that district.”

Hawes described the moment they decided to step up further. “We were thinking, who is going to save us? It was just that moment where the three of us were like, oh, it’s us. We’re the parents in these districts and we need to be the ones to take care of it.”

With support from PEN America, EveryLibrary and The Florida Freedom to Read Project, they launched their own statewide organization in 2023 dedicated to fighting against censorship and preserving students rights in Texas. Together, they serve as Co-Directors of the The Texas Freedom to Read Project.

We spoke with the three of them to learn more about the impact SB 13 will have on Texas school libraries and get their advice on how parents can push back on censorship in communities nationwide.

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What To Expect with Texas SB 13

The effort to ban books and censor information is on the rise across the country but SB 13 takes it to a new level. “It's not going to just keep ‘bad’ books out of schools, it's going to keep all books out of schools,” says Hawes.

SB 13 establishes that all public school library materials must be approved by the district’s Board of Trustees, shifting the authority over school library catalogs from professional librarians to elected officials. What’s more, if at least 50 parents in the district or 10% of the student population (whichever is fewer) petition the board, they must appoint a local School Library Advisory Council. This council would also have approval authority over library materials and could remove books they deem indecent, profane, or inconsistent with local community values.

If those criteria sound vague, you’re right. How each school district interprets this information will lead to major inconsistencies statewide. “There's nothing in this law to keep whoever is in the position of power in our districts from saying ‘that book can't be in our libraries because it’s inconsistent with our community values."

Russey points out that books like Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale and Freddie The Farting Snowman by Jane Bexley have already been challenged in her district. She’s worried that books about the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and other underrepresented groups will be further targeted with the new criteria. “Our communities in Texas are incredibly diverse and inclusive and you can't say that certain people don't fit with community values,” says Russey.

One of the group’s biggest concerns with SB 13 is the impact these approvals will have on the ability to purchase new library books. “They would have to approve every single title that a school district buys” says Hawes. “My children’s school district has a similar policy and we just went 16 months without buying one new title because it's caught up in this process. It's impractical.” Strong adds that “for a lot of administrators and districts around the state, it just becomes easier to not deal with library books.”

SB 13 is complicated and convoluted, and it’s intended to be. Watch the Texas Freedom to Read Project break it down further and keep reading after the video to learn more about what you can do in your community, even if you don’t live in Texas.

Stopping Censorship in Your Community

“The push to ban books is being done under the guise of parents' rights. When we talk to parents of public school students in Texas, they mostly don't know the extent of what is happening because it's not a parent's movement” says Russey. Hawes adds, “Parents are busy parenting. They aren’t deep in it because it’s not what they’re facing day to day. This is not what communities want, but it’s what political movements have been successful in doing.”

These political groups are only as successful as we allow them to be. Even if you live in a state where freedom to read laws have been passed, there are groups that are actively trying to find ways around it. So what can you do about it?

A good place to start is at your local school board meeting. “Part of the reason it’s gone beyond the local school boards is because it was always intended to, right? The school boards were the testing ground for these ideas,” says Strong.

School board meetings are often livestreamed so you can start by watching remotely. If you can manage it, going in person also helps so that Trustees know the public is engaged. As Russey points out, “If no public members show up to observe the meetings, then they feel like no one is watching and sometimes they do more shady things.”

If you’re a Texas resident, it’s not too late to take action on SB 13. The new law takes effect on September 1st, which means school boards will be voting on the adoption of the Library Materials EFB Local policy update over the next few weeks. Establishing a library review board is optional and you can advocate for your school board to adopt the policy update without it. If your district does form a review board, you can volunteer to be on it.

Want to have an even bigger impact? The filing period to run for Texas school board for this next election ends on August 18th. Many races see candidates running unopposed and that can leave the door open for more extreme candidates and policies to come to your school board.

If you’re worried that you don’t have the experience to do some of these things, we’re here to tell you to keep going. Russey, Hawes, and Strong all started as individuals who cared enough to get started and they learned how to effectively organize along the way. “We are begging parents to step up and get involved, even if they think it might not happen where they are. We exist to say, we will teach you how to do this, but we need you to do it in your own community.”

We’ll be sharing more insights from The Texas Freedom to Read Project across social media over the next couple of weeks including more advice for getting involved in your local community. Follow along on Instagram, Tiktok, or Bluesky to see more.

To keep up with the latest news from The Texas Freedom to Read Project and future calls to action, visit their website.

What started as a complaint over a Pride display has turned into a multi-year debate over the future of the Fontana Regional Library System (FRL). Despite successfully serving the community for over 80 years, some residents are now pushing for the dissolution of the system to gain more control over library content.

If you aren’t familiar with regional library systems, they’re used to combine the limited library budgets of smaller rural counties to provide more robust library services to the region. They also create additional opportunities for state-level grants, further increasing funding. The Fontana Regional Library system provides services across three counties in Western North Carolina, Macon, Swain, and Jackson. A regional library board is responsible for establishing the library collections and display policy across all locations. That has become a sticking point for some.

It all started in 2021 when Macon County Public Library put up their annual Pride display - just as they had done for years. The display included picture books like A Church for All by Gayle E. Pitman, which captures a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that accepts all regardless of age, race, gender identity or sexual orientation, and Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall, about a blue crayon in a red wrapper who learns the importance of being true to your inner self. While the majority of the feedback from the community was positive, some residents objected to the display.

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The library faced complaints for their Pride display again in 2022. This time, the complaints escalated to County Commissioners with calls for Macon to exit the FRL entirely. Fast forward to June 2025 when neighboring Jackson County Commissioners abruptly vote to exit the FRL system, citing a desire for more local control and concern over library content.

So if the issue started in Macon County, why is Jackson County the first to leave? It would take two counties leaving to fully dissolve the FRL so Macon County couldn’t do it alone.

In August 2024, after nearly two years of discussion, Macon, Jackson and Swain counties agreed to amend the FRL policies to give County Commissioners the authority to directly appoint regional library board members, opening the door for them to place individuals who align with their views.

The 2024 election saw two new Jackson County Commissioners elected. They used the new policy to replace two incumbent library board members even though they had expressed interest in continuing their roles. The new appointees do not appear to have prior library experience.

Then came the leaked emails.

The Smoky Mountain News dropped this report in February 2025 with leaked emails from a Macon County Library Board Member discussing a plan for how to exit the regional system without giving the public the opportunity to organize. The email states that “leaving the FRL needs to be discussed by commissioners in Macon and Jackson behind the scenes with a ‘surprise’ decision to leave.”

Here’s where it gets murkier. The Smoky Mountain News pointed out that while the email came from a Macon County Library Board member's government email, it was signed by her husband, who has been a vocal critic of the Pride displays at the Macon County Public Library in recent years.

The True Cost of Leaving

So what happens if Jackson County leaves their regional system?

A couple estimates have been shared on the cost of Jackson County operating their libraries independently. The estimates range from $500k to $1M more in annual costs. This likely means an increase in taxes for residents and/or reduction in the services available to the community.

In short, the move would cost residents more while reducing the value of the services provided to the community. This begs the question, is the decision truly in the best interest of residents?

Many residents believe it’s not. Several have come together to form Save the FRL, a group that aims to drive understanding of what’s happening and build community support for staying within the regional system. We spoke with two of their representatives, Kim Mason and Antoinette MacWatt, about their efforts and what’s at stake with the planned exit. “Our libraries offer an incredible amount of educational programming, and classes and gatherings are likely to be reduced. We are very rural, so many people rely on the library for internet access and technology education. We are concerned that staffing and library hours will be cut.”

The group originally represented all three counties in the FRL system, but with Jackson County being the first to vote to leave, they have shifted their focus. Their ultimate goal is to “reverse the Commissioners' decision so that Jackson County can remain within the FRL. Failing that, we hope to ensure that Jackson County maintains our libraries with the same level of services and programming that we currently have in our two libraries while fighting any censorship that new leadership may attempt to put in place.”

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So far their group has seen a swell of support, something they hope to continue to grow. To ensure their numbers show, they wear yellow at local meetings and events. “We have seen huge support for the Regional Library System from the community. At a couple of Commissioner meetings, we had so many people show up that there was a packed overflow room and there were crowds outside waiting to get in. At one meeting, people spoke in support of the FRL and our marginalized communities for 4 hours.”

Jackson County is slated to leave the regional system in July 2026. The county will need to spend the next year proving that they can manage standalone libraries if they intend to follow through with their planned exit. With local primaries happening as early as next May for three of the County Commissioner positions, public opinion on their actions may become more of a factor.

From rallies to read-ins, Save the FRL is already planning several events to connect with the community and build a strong coalition of supporters who want to see their library stay the way it’s always been. Time will tell if their efforts are successful but to quote Margaret Mead, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has."

Save the FRL has recently launched a new website under JCPL Allies as they refocus their efforts on Jackson County. Visit their website to learn more.

When we decided to start this newsletter, the plan was to remain anonymous. We’ve seen Banned Together. We’ve read That Librarian. The names, accusations, and threats toward those who stand up against censorship are truly appalling. We wanted to join the cause but were a little nervous.

That’s changed.

Over the last several months, we’ve interviewed authors who put their personal stories out there for the world to see, who refuse to back down to censorship or change what they write about. We’ve spent time with activists who put their whole hearts into protecting their communities from censorship, who embrace conversation with those who have different views.

Each of them has inspired us. If they’re not hiding, why should we? How can we make meaningful change if we’re too afraid to come out from behind the keyboard? We felt it was finally time for us to introduce ourselves.

So hi, we’re Lauren and Jared, proud parents, and big supporters of the freedom to read. We believe books play an important part in teaching our children about the world and strive to include stories from a variety of perspectives in our home library. Over time, we started to notice that many of those books had been banned around the country.

The more we read about the rise in censorship, and how the majority of it comes from highly organized groups trying to ban books in the name of “parent’s rights,” the more frustrated we became. We’re parents. Being told what books our children should or should not have access to feels like a violation of our rights more than anything.

Were other parents aware of what was happening? Would anyone notice when these books quietly disappeared from shelves? How would this impact the availability of these stories in the future? It felt like reading them at home simply wasn’t enough. We wanted to bring awareness to the rise in censorship and increase demand for these stories. That’s when we launched Once Upon a Ban.

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When we first started, we figured we’d get a handful of friends to sign up for a banned book club. Six months later, hundreds of you are on this journey with us. So here we are, more committed than ever, spending our nights, weekends, and kids’ nap times devoted to this cause.

We’ve read countless banned books with our family, trying to figure out out what to feature here, and we’ve seen firsthand just how impactful these stories can be. Banned books have helped our children think more critically about the world around them and embrace new ideas. As parents, these books have helped us find an opening to age appropriate conversations about important topics. Also, now our oldest thinks PEN America is Captain America. Pretty much the same thing, right?

So if you’ve read this far, thank you. If you’ve read our newsletter from the beginning, this is your first time, or somewhere in between, thank you. If you’ve trusted us with the opportunity to interview you about your book, your work as an activist, or shared your opinion for one of our reels, thank you. You’ve inspired us, encouraged us, and motivated us to keep going.

We’ll continue to bring awareness to the books and perspectives that they’re trying to silence. We’ll continue to look for the helpers and elevate their stories in hopes of inspiring more helpers.

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Join us on Sunday, July 13th!

Live in Southern California and free to hang out this weekend? We are organizing our first ever event and doing it in partnership with WAVE!

Join us for a family-friendly afternoon to celebrate the freedom to read. We’ll have elected officials leading a banned book storytime, a book fair with a local bookstore, crafts and more. It’s in Mission Viejo, CA and you can RSVP here. We’ll be there talking about banned books and handing out Once Upon a Ban stickers. Bring the family and say hello!

Once upon a planetoid, a stellar story about a smart, independent heroine was banned by the Department of Defense.

Serving 67,000 students, the US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is responsible for educating the children of active-duty and civilian military personnel. They operate 161 schools across the country and abroad.

In an effort to comply with several Executive Orders, the DoDEA instructed school administrators and staff to remove all books promoting “gender ideology” and “divisive concepts” from circulation. This included topics such as slavery, civil rights, race, ethnicity, immigration, diversity, sexual orientation and gender identity.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit on behalf of twelve students who attend DoDEA schools, claiming the ban violates their First Amendment right to information. While the complete list of 555 titles has not been disclosed by the DoDEA, the ACLU has released a list of 200 books that were quarantined. Interstellar Cinderella, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Meg Hunt, is one of the many books on that list.

Interstellar Cinderella, our featured book for July, is a reimagining of the classic princess story with an intergalactic twist. Cinderella dreams of becoming a spaceship mechanic. When the Prince’s ship breaks down on the way to the antigravity ball, Cinderella comes to his rescue and proves that dreams do come true.

We reached out to the book’s author, Deborah Underwood, to get her perspective on the recent wave of censorship and learn more about what inspired her to write a new take on princess stories.

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Thank you so much for chatting with us! We’d love to hear your origin story. What led you to start writing children’s books?

Thanks for having me! I tried all sorts of writing in my post-college life: I sold some magazine articles, I wrote screenplays no one wanted to buy, I wrote a terrible romance novel which never sold (I remember an editor saying that the character changing dresses didn’t count as character development; ouch!), I wrote puzzles for one of the big puzzle magazines, and I even sold a few greeting cards.

It wasn’t till 2001, after I lost my corporate job, that I realized the books I love most are children’s books. When I was a kid, I read all the time, and my childhood favorites still hold an important place in my heart. It seems silly now that it took me so long to figure out I should be writing for kids.

Interstellar Cinderella is part of a three book series where you’ve taken classic princess tales and transformed them into space-faring adventures. What gave you the idea for this retelling?

I actually remember the exact moment! A friend of mine performs theater for kids, and he did a show set in space. We were goofing around trying to think of possible sequels for his show. I heard the words “Interstellar Cinderella” come out of my mouth, and froze. I had a big piece of paper for book brainstorming hanging on my bedroom door, and I raced over and scribbled the title down.

It seemed like such an obvious idea that I figured someone had already written the book. I was delighted when I dug around online and didn’t find anything in existence that resembled what I wanted to write.

We need to issue a spoiler alert for this question. I think the exact moment we fell in love with Interstellar Cinderella was when she chose her dream job over the Prince’s marriage proposal. Can you tell us more about your decision to change the classic Cinderella story in that way?

I grew up in a small town with one indoor movie theater, so seeing movies was rare for me when I was a kid. But I got to know the Disney princess stories through the movie soundtrack LPs, which each came packaged with a large-format picture storybook retelling.

Much as I loved them, those stories seem problematic to me now. Cinderella dreams of marrying a prince, then waits around for someone to bring her a shoe. Sleeping Beauty spends the most exciting part of her story asleep. Snow White? She's asleep, too.

I wanted kids to be able to enjoy those stories, but with protagonists who have agency, who control their own fates, and who have dreams of their own that don’t require marriage.

What do you hope young readers take away from your version of these stories?

I hope they take away the fact that princesses—and all kids!—can be smart and capable and compassionate, and that they don’t need to sit around waiting for someone else to make their dreams come true.

What was your reaction to the news that Interstellar Cinderella was recently pulled from shelves at Department of Defense Schools?

It’s hard to even articulate my reaction. Dumbstruck? I would love to hear the justification from whomever made up the list.

I was shocked at first, but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Some call it a badge of honor to have a banned book. But what it actually means is that some kids won’t have access to your book, and that librarians and booksellers could land in serious trouble for handing it to kids.

Writers work so hard on our books because we care deeply about children. It’s absurd and infuriating that some adult deems a book like Interstellar Cinderella to be harmful or inappropriate.

Your book Ogilvy has also faced bans. How has the rise in censorship impacted you as an author?

I’m lucky in that I haven’t had school visits cancelled, or been instructed by schools to talk about X book but not to mention Y book. Friends who write middle grade and young adult books have, however, experienced those things.

It’s beyond distressing to think that some kids don't have access to books they want, and in some cases, books they desperately need. The people who enact bans are the ones harming children.

I don’t write about anything that I consider to be controversial. I write about kindness and inclusion and compassion and smart girls who control their own destinies and bunnies who speak out against silly rules. I’m going to keep writing what I write.

You’ve written so many wonderful children’s books in addition to Interstellar Cinderella and Ogilvy. Here Comes Valentine Cat and Walrus in the Bathtub are two favorites in our house. What can readers look forward to next?

I’m super-excited about FAIRY TALE FIXERS: CINDERELLA, my first graphic novel (graphic chapter book, really), illustrated by the wonderful Jorge Lacera! It comes out in August and is available for pre-order now.

A hard-boiled-detective-like rat, who’s actually a fairy, gets hired to step into the story of Cinderella by a mouse who’s losing sleep because of all the yelling in Cinderella’s house (that rotten stepfamily!). After quite a bit of chaos, the two of them help Cinderella find her happily ever after—just not the one readers might expect.

The book still makes me laugh, even after all the time we spent working on it. I hope kids love it!

It is officially on our TBR list and we can’t wait to read it! Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and inspiration with us.

Read Along With Us

Our kids love Interstellar Cinderella and the entire intergalactic series. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or library to read with us in July and pre-order your copy of Fairy Tale Fixers: Cinderella.

You can purchase online through our affiliate Bookshop.org store. Once Upon a Ban earns a commission from sales through Bookshop.org.

More from Once Upon a Ban

Follow us on Instagram, Tiktok, or Bluesky for more insights on the stories we cover and updates on bans happening around the country. PS If you’re in Southern California, join us on July 13th for a family-friendly afternoon celebrating the freedom to read!

Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Mahmoud V. Taylor stating that the inclusion of LGBTQ+ stories in public school curriculum infringes on parents’ religious rights and schools must give parents the option to opt their children out of lessons involving LGBTQ+ characters and themes. The majority opinion, which included several misrepresentations of the stories involved, opens the door for further censorship on any topic that doesn’t align with one’s religious beliefs. As Justice Sotomayor says in the dissenting opinion, “the damage to America’s public education system will be profound.”

We checked in with author Charlotte Sullivan Wild whose book Love, Violet is one of the nine books at the center of this case. We originally connected with her back in April before the case had been heard by the Supreme Court. She shared thoughts on the ruling and where we go from here.

We know this has been a long journey. What is your reaction to the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling?

Oof. Expected, stunning, and disturbing.

I understand the fears of some religious families; I grew up with the same terrifying stereotypes. Only coming to know LGBTQ+ friends slowly helped me let go of those false images. When a close friend was outed in college in the 1990s, I responded badly. I was unprepared. After that, I resolved to never let my personal views damage a relationship again. It’s not easy, but learning to respectfully disagree and live in difference, with mutual care for each other, is the heart of democracy. (Interfaith Alliance agrees.)

Mahmoud v. Taylor violates that principle. It declares that religious children learning that people they disagree with exist and can be happy is a religious burden. It sanctions segregating children during story times. Now parents can object to stories about people of other religions, races, experiences, or disabilities or even of women working outside of the home because discrimination is always intersectional. So is freedom.

When I read the case files, I admit that I marveled aloud, “Wow. They really hate us.” I don’t want to believe that. The petitioners’ lawyers do say they respect everyone. Yet the arguments are built on ugly, anti-LGBTQ+ stereotypes, as were comments from the conservative Supreme Court justices. After the oral arguments (Mombian’s take), I wondered how those justices could empathize with LGBTQ+ children and families when they couldn’t even discuss our picture books without inventing new plots and adding sexual layers that aren’t there. The decision speaks for itself.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Thomas suggests that schools “cabin” LGBTQ+-inclusive books into separate “units” to make opt-outs easier (12). But the Supreme Court decided about this years ago: Separate is not equal.

Teaching children to segregate themselves, to treat some classmates as dangerous, models prejudice, not how to get along. It tells LGBTQ+ children and family members they are not really welcome. School should be a place where every child is included, and where children learn how to get along with people different than themselves. That includes religious and LGBTQ+ diversity.

Just as chilling, writing for the majority, Justice Alito deems our books “coercive” because of their joy. He objects to loving scenes in which friends and families support transgender and nonbinary children, and wedding scenes that are celebratory. (3-4, 23-25) But joy belongs to everyone.

Joy was at the front of our minds as the FSG creative team discussed Love, Violet. Violet struggles with crushing shyness, so a cover of her hiding makes sense. Except that feels like the closet. Love, Violet would bring queer girlhood out of the closet as the first picture book from a major U.S. publisher to portray a crush between girls. For so long, the handful of LGBTQ+ representations mainly featured men and always ended in tragedy. So, Charlene Chua created that gorgeous joyful cover! Because happy endings should be for everyone.

It's telling that during the oral arguments and in the majority decision, Alito insisted that the plot of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding was about young Chole questioning if gay marriage is okay. THIS IS NOT THE PLOT. In obvious frustration, Justice Sotomayor included the entire book in her dissent. (Yes, read the book!) It was inconceivable to Alito that a gay wedding might simply happen, without objections, after ten years of legalization. (That’s longer than the lifetime of most children listening to this book.)

A joyful gay wedding must be offensive if one believes that happiness is only for people in heterosexual marriages. But children come from many kinds of families and deserve books about all of them.

I’m reminded of living in Texas. Several times, when my spouse and I absentmindedly held hands, men in trucks raced up, honked, and pointed. Like those men, the Supreme Court majority isn’t content to choose their own marriage type and respect other people’s legal freedoms. Instead, they’ve opted to erase LGBTQ+ children and families. LGBTQ+ existence offends them. LGBTQ+ joy angers them. My response?

I JOYFULLY DISSENT.

In the dissenting opinion, Justice Sotomayor warns about the potential impacts on the public education system. What can we do to counteract this?

Once we’ve caught our breath, it’s time to pivot from horror to positive action. Make no mistake – Mahmoud v. Taylor is intended to dismantle public school education and erase LGBTQ+ people. It’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Justice Sotomayor’s dissent (78) is a powerful explanation of what is at stake and why. What can we do? Here are ideas for adults and children. For example, writing notes to teachers and librarians about how they and inclusive books have helped you and your family can encourage them. It also provides evidence in case books or educators and librarians come under attack. There are so many ways to help, like showing up at school board meetings or checking out inclusive books. Education can still be inclusive. If we show up.

Finally, we can lead with love. Two LGBTQ+ authors reminded me of this last week when my empathy and strength were wearing thin. The harms are so real; lies have consequences; betrayals of human life and rights can shatter lives. I believe in calling out injustice and actively stopping it. I also believe the way forward is not with the same tactics used to spread prejudice and censorship. Yes, there is raw, ugly hate. I see it around the world, in government, in neighborhoods. I’ve found it smeared across the social media of some of the authors in this case. Usually, the culprit is one or two people.

Hate is loud, but love builds connections, sometimes quietly, slowly. Love is stronger. And love is the point of all of this. Love is the reason for inclusive education. Love reminds us, even on the hardest, angriest days, that we belong to each other.

Now that the ruling is in, what's next for you?

This case has deepened my resolve to create books that will support and delight children, no matter what the censors say. What children need matters most. After six months of mostly responding to this case, I’m ready to get back to picture books!

I have found it harder to sell projects about marginalized identities, especially intersectional ones or those affected by discriminatory policies. I’ve adjusted my publishing expectations – not the work. Oh, that was discouraging. But it helped me to remember that this happened with Love, Violet, too. We pulled it from submissions for several years until the culture shifted. Waiting doesn’t mean “never”; injustices now don’t have to mean “forever.”

Creating is how I cope with chaos, whether writing realism or wacky humor. So, despite the challenges and occasional bout of tears, onward…

Thanks to our readers! Thanks especially to educators and librarians, who put books into the hands of children. You are heroes. Every time someone buys, checks out, recommends, or reviews inclusive books, those votes count.

Every time people support children, everyone wins. THANK YOU.

Last, Lauren and Jared, your advocacy for children and reading liberty is inspiring! THANK YOU!

Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing your story and perspective with us throughout this case. Your passion and authenticity shine through each time we hear from you. We look forward to what you write next!

Book bans have disproportionally impacted LGBTQ+ voices. PEN America reports that 64% of banned picture books in the 2023-2024 school year had pictures or illustrations that depict LGBTQ+ characters or stories.

We’re excited to introduce you to the Rainbow Defense Coalition DMV and Books Not Bans, two organizations that are working to ensure LGBTQ+ stories remain accessible.

Rainbow Defense Coalition DMV

With rainbow umbrellas, music, and bubbles, the Rainbow Defense Coalition (RDC) helps children and families feel safe attending Drag Queen Story Hours across the D.C. Metropolitan Area (DMV).

After a local Drag Story Hour was disrupted by protestors, Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink, one of the co-founders of RDC, wanted to help. “I reached out to the organizers to see if I could bring in other friends with experience in nonviolent community defense and start recruiting and training volunteers. They were fully on board, so that’s what we did.” Within a few days they formed the Rainbow Defense Coalition.

Drag Story Hours aim to give children an opportunity to learn about creativity, freedom of expression, and bodily autonomy with story books. To ensure the community has the opportunity to attend these events uninterrupted, RDC brings volunteers together to create a physical barrier from protestors. Ramona Signal, RDC Co-Organizer, shared “we generally don't engage with protesters if they show up. People passing by often ask why we are there and for what purpose, genuinely expressing curiosity. They are almost always supportive once we explain our role.”

By using joy to overcome hate, RDC creates a safe space for attendees. Signal told us about an individual who was nervous to attend an event but ultimately came once they found out RDC would be there. “Our presence made someone feel safe and protected enough to enter a queer space. That is what RDC was formed to do, and it was so wonderful to hear that story.”

Jonathan Tuttle, a longtime RDC volunteer, shared what being involved has meant to him. “I am honored to defend my community and to make someone feel safer, and it's not something I could do by myself. RDC's many volunteers make it possible. What we do gives people hope. It gives me a way to create hope.”

Interested in supporting the Rainbow Defense Coalition? They are always in need of more volunteers to join their efforts in DC. If you live outside of the area, you can help by sharing the call for volunteers online or with your network. You can also donate directly here (please mention RDC in the comment section).

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Books Not Bans

Books Not Bans is a San Francisco based nonprofit that sends queer and banned books to states and rural areas where access to these stories is limited. The organization’s founder, Becka Robbins, started Books Not Bans while working at an LGBTQ bookstore in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, a popular tourist destination for queer and trans people from around the world. “I saw visitors gaze in awe at the huge wall of LGBTQIS books. People told me repeatedly that they had never seen so many queer books, that they didn’t know there were this many queer books at all.”

Robbins recalls one visitor in particular, a teenage boy from a small town in middle America who was “frozen in place, who turned to me and said ‘So … all these books are gay?’ I said yes. He spent the next hour touching books, pulling one after another off the shelves. He hugged me. It was moving. It also told me that there was a tremendous need for these books.”

Feeling inspired, Robbins set up a display in the store asking customers to donate queer books to communities in need around the country. “Truly, I expected to send about 50 books a year. That’s not what happened.”

To date, Books Not Bans has sent 2,245 books to 25 organizations in 16 states. The organizations they’ve partnered with include youth groups, rural Pride organizations, drag story hours, rural bookmobiles, community centers and more. Robbins says, “I’ve been lucky to get to know some of our recipients, and I’m so proud of the work they’re doing in the face of challenging and restrictive landscapes. Even in San Francisco, we have to push back against queer and trans erasure, and push for inclusion and visibility. It is much, much harder almost anywhere else.”

As Books not Bans continues to grow, Robbins hopes “to be a force multiplier in the market for LGBT books. If publishers are making more money on queer lit, they’ll publish more of it. Queer books are for everyone. There are so many, many ways that queer narratives can make a person more free to be their true self.”

Interested in helping Books Not Bans with their mission? They are looking for volunteers and remote help is welcome. If you can provide help with social media, grant writing, or leading an online queer book club, they’d love to hear from you. You can also donate directly to their efforts here.

The votes have been counted and the people of Huntington Beach delivered a resounding victory for the freedom to read Tuesday night.

The special election, which centered exclusively on the library, had two measures on the ballot. Per the Orange County Registrar of Voters, both measures passed with a significant majority of 59% for Measure A and 61% for Measure B as of Tuesday evening. The No campaign has also formally conceded.

We caught up with Carol Daus, a representative of Our Library Matters, who originally walked us through the ballot measures back in May. She shared that the volunteers gathered last night to watch the results come in. “Everyone was cheering! Some of us have been working on this for two years. We came together with different skillsets and needed all of those pieces to be included to make an impact. I think we were able to do that because of the commitment and passion for the library.”

This was not an easy victory. Accusations about explicit content in the library raised tensions in the community, sowing confusion and distrust. The Huntington Beach City Council actively campaigned against the library and placed signs around the city.

Despite all of this, the dedication of the volunteers at Our Library Matters was unwavering. We spoke with dozens of them throughout the campaign and had the opportunity to see several events in action. From read-ins, to Friday night marches, to canvassing the neighborhoods, they worked to find common ground with voters and championed their library as a vital resource for their community.

Huntington Beach has done all of California a service by ensuring that censorship doesn’t gain footing here. They’ve shown their City Council that the voices of their constituents can no longer be ignored and they’ve set an example for us all of how you can go up against censorship and win. As Daus told us this morning, “you can’t just sit back and assume things are going to be resolved on their own. You have to step up, get involved, work with different groups and that’s exactly what we did.”

Over the last few months, we’ve covered various forms of direct censorship. From outright bans, to books being placed in restricted sections, to lawsuits about parental notifications and opt out policies. But censorship isn’t always so blatant and often happens in more subtle ways.

Soft censorship, as defined by PEN America, is “when fears of real censorship may cause educators and librarians, school administrators, and school boards to self-censor or suppress speech well beyond what may have been banned or prohibited.” It can take many forms including library closures, removing or “weeding” books from circulation, not purchasing books on particular topics, and even cancelling author visits as was the case for this month’s featured book.

Our featured book for June is Molly’s Tuxedo written by Vicki Johnson, illustrated by Gillian Read, and published by Little Bee Books in partnership with GLAAD. It’s picture day at school and Molly couldn’t be more excited to have a new portrait for the family photo wall. There’s just one problem, Molly’s mom insists she wears a dress when Molly wants to wear her brother’s old tuxedo instead. Mom eventually let’s Molly make the choice, and she decides to wear the outfit that makes her look and feel her best. It’s a heartfelt story about the pressures a gender non-conforming child can face and the support of family and friends.

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After Molly’s Tuxedo was released, Johnson was scheduled to read her new book at an elementary school on National School Picture Day when the event was suddenly cancelled by an administrator. The school declined Johnson’s offer to reschedule and asked her to come pick up the 240 donated copies of her book instead.

We had the opportunity to connect with Johnson about her experience with soft censorship, the impact reading had on her as child, and her motivation to keep writing.

An Interview with Author Vicki Johnson

Your background is seriously impressive! You’re a former White House staffer, nonprofit director, and a lawyer. What led you to writing children’s books?

Thank you and I’m happy to be here in conversation with you. I’ve tried to stay curious throughout my life and that resulted in a varied career for sure. I began writing after I became a parent. Reading to my daughter every day reconnected me to stories I loved as a child. I was a voracious reader growing up and books were everything to me. They took me traveling to new worlds and gave me room to feel all my feelings in a safe place. I learned about the world and understood myself better because of books. That is so powerful. Something just clicked and I decided I wanted to give it a try.

Why was Molly’s Tuxedo the first story you wanted to tell?

I had been working on a middle grade novel for a while, but my 2020 new year’s resolution was to try writing picture books. Molly’s Tuxedo was the first picture book I wrote. I was inspired to write this story because I had recently read articles online about girls of various ages who had been bullied by peers or adults because they wanted to wear a suit instead of a dress to an event. That struck a nerve with me because I had dealt with this myself for decades, so I sat down with my feelings and wrote Molly.

You’ve shared that you’ve faced soft censorship and had a school visit canceled. Can you tell us more about that experience and how it impacted you?

It was a shocking decision by an administrator which happened to occur on my very first school visit. It’s always sad when kids are prevented from receiving a free book for their home library. I processed it in an Op Ed for the Chicago Tribune and have tried since then to move on and continue to do events, but it definitely had a major impact on me as a debut author trying to make my way.

Have there been other attempts to censor Molly’s Tuxedo that you’re aware of?

I’ve heard from a few parents directly that in their schools there were unsolicited and unpopular decisions made by administrators to engage in an opt out policy around my book. I get the occasional Google alert to an article but I try to stay focused on my writing as much as possible.

What has been the response from the public since sharing your experience with soft censorship?

The feedback I get from families and teachers and librarians and booksellers is overwhelmingly positive and supportive. Hearing from readers is the best medicine.

What advice do you have for current or future authors who have a story to share but are maybe nervous to put themselves out there in the current climate.

Everyone’s experience is different and valid. All stories are important. Try to not censor yourself in advance. And create a writing community!

Summer is around the corner which means it’s time for summer reading! We recently launched our own summer reading challenge. Did you enjoy summer reading programs as a kid and if so, what impact did they have on you?

I loved summer reading programs at our local library when I was growing up. I spent many, many hours in the hot Georgia summers, reading in front of a fan, trying to stay cool. Summer reading kept me locked in to learning and provided endless journeys into new worlds and experiences which was so important to a kid like I was, whose family never really ventured very far from home. One of my most proud author moments was when the ALA/ALSC (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children) named Molly’s Tuxedo to its 2024 Summer Reading List.

We saw that your next book, Mac Wears a Hat, is coming in 2026. We can’t wait to read it! What can you share about it with us?

Mac loves to wear hats. She has a hat for any and all occasions. As an only child, she can feel a bit lonely at times, but wearing her hats always cheers her up and helps her express herself, and her enthusiasm is infectious in creating community. It’s an inclusive book that celebrates kindness and positivity, and that what makes you different, makes you special.

I’m also excited to say that as of June 1^st MAC WEARS A HAT has a cover! It was revealed in School Library Journal. This is my second collaboration with illustrator Gillian Reid, and I love how she has depicted Mac and all her shenanigans. MAC WEARS A HAT will be on shelves in April 2026 but it is now available for preorder everywhere books are sold, and for authors pre-orders are a huge game changer.

Read Along With Us

Molly’s Tuxedo has been a favorite in our house for quite some time. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or library to read along with us in June and pre-order your copy of Mac Wears a Hat.

You can purchase online through our affiliate Bookshop.org store. Once Upon a Ban earns a commission from sales through Bookshop.org.

Another school year is (almost) in the books and nostalgic memories of childhood summer reading programs are drifting into our minds with the summer breeze.

Do you remember doing summer reading challenges as a kid? Reading what felt like countless pages during an endless summer to earn a chance to attend a puppet show or pizza party?

Let’s be real. Being a library kid was the best.

In the spirit of summer reading, we decided to put together our own challenge that is focused on banned books. We created this printable challenge tracker so you can mark your progress as you go.

You are invited to join our challenge to read 20 banned or challenged children’s books OR 1,000 pages of banned books for any age! Color in a circle each time you read a picture book or 50 pages.

Bonus activity: Head down to your local library and join one of their summer programming events!

Every week we’ll share the books that our family is reading. Join us on Instagram, Bluesky, or Tiktok to follow along. As parents of young children, we can’t wait to get them into summer reading too!

While we wish we could grab a slice of pizza with all of you at the end (that would honestly be so much fun), logistically we’re a little too spread out for that. So we’re opening our subscriber chat for summer reading and we want to hear all about the books that you enjoy reading this summer! Let us know in the chat or mention us on social media.

Download our challenge tracking sheet here!

Here are some lists of banned and challenged books to help you get started:

• PEN America: The 23 Most Banned Picture Books of the 2023-2024 School Year

• PEN America: Banned Books List 2025

• Penguin Random House: The Most Challenged and Banned Books

• PEN America Index of School Book Bans 2023-2024

Now is also a great time to catch up on books previously featured in Once Upon a Ban.

• Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

• Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty

• Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild

• Your One and Only Heart by Rajani LaRocca

Happy Summer reading season everyone! We can’t wait to hear how it goes.

Our featured book this month is Your One and Only Heart written by physician and award-winning author Rajani LaRocca. We had the opportunity to speak with LaRocca about her take on censorship, what inspires her to write for children, and her upcoming picture book Some of Us.

Since publishing her first book in 2019, LaRocca has released 20 additional titles - all for young readers. Her books range from middle grade novels like Red, White, and Whole, which was named a Newbery Honor Book in 2022, to nonfiction children’s picture books like Your One and Only Heart. LaRocca enjoys writing for kids because “you can talk about really important topics but you do it in a way that’s not too heavy. You have to make it entertaining and interesting. They can be full of so much heart and so much emotion - and I just love that.”

She credits a children’s book for inspiring her to become a physician. “When I was a kid, it was a book that made me interested in becoming a doctor. I read a nonfiction book called Ouch! All About Cuts and Other Hurts and it talked about everything that happens when you get a cut or scrape. I was so fascinated by it that I was like ‘ooh, I want to learn more about this!’ ”

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Hear the full story of how a book inspired LaRocca to become a doctor and why she believes access to nonfiction is important for young readers.

Your One and Only Heart is one of many books that was unnecessarily moved to the adult section of the Huntington Beach library after a controversial decision by the City Council. It was restricted because an illustration of a child receiving an EKG violated the library’s rule that books could not contain images of body parts that would be covered by a swimsuit. As LaRocca pointed out, “if you’re a boy, usually that would not be covered by your swimsuit. It’s your chest.”

As both a doctor and an author, she expressed concern over the restriction of nonfiction content. “It’s upsetting to think about restricting real, nonfiction work about their own bodies. Why? We’re all people, we all deserve to understand how our own bodies work. I think that they deserve to be able to have quality content so that they really understand what’s going on.”

Your One and Only Heart was moved back to the children’s section after public outcry but a handful of preteen health books remain restricted. As LaRocca explains, nonfiction books are a high-quality source of information. “In order for a book to be published, it has to go through a lot of steps. There are many many people checking on the content to make sure it’s accurate and that it’s at the right level for a child. Why wouldn’t you want that to be the source that your child looks at rather than something random on the internet?”

LaRocca spent years revising Your One and Only Heart until the right idea came along. “I couldn’t figure out how to write it in a way that was interesting. I didn’t want to dump a bunch of facts on kids and expect them to be interested in it. Then I woke up one day and I said, ‘I know how to write this book. It’s in poetry!’ I’m going to write poems that are paired that seem to be opposites of one another but they’re all true about the heart.”

In addition to writing about the human heart, LaRocca has written nonfiction books to make advanced concepts like DNA and vaccines more approachable for children. Bringing her admiration for books and their influence on her as a child full circle, she hopes these books will inspire young people to pursue science. “I hope that they get every reader, young and old, interested in science and in particular how their bodies work. I hope it demystifies some things but I hope it also makes readers ask some questions. I hope that they ask more questions than are explained in the book and that it makes them reach for the next book and the next book.”

Speaking of the next book, LaRocca’s latest book Some of Us comes out on May 27th. It’s a children’s picture book about becoming a naturalized citizen and was inspired by her own experience. It starts with “Some of us are born American. Some of us choose.” LaRocca became a US citizen at the age of 15. “My dad became a citizen when I was six and he could have had me become a citizen then, but he wanted me to make the choice for myself. I have to tell you, it was so powerful. The act of choosing was way more powerful than I, as a 15-year-old, had ever anticipated. I’m so proud of the book and can’t wait for it to be out there in the world.”

Pick up your copies of Your One and Only Heart and Some of Us at Bookshop.org, your local bookstore, or your local library. (Once Upon a Ban earns a commission from affiliate sales through Bookshop.org.)

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Huntington Beach, California is known for its great surfing, golden beaches, and iconic pier. But for many locals, what comes to mind at the moment is the Huntington Beach Public Library and the upcoming special election over its future.

Our featured book for May is one of the many books that have been swept up in this controversy. Your One and Only Heart written by Rajani LaRocca, MD and illustrated by Lauren Paige Conrad, is a nonfiction picture book about the human heart. Consisting of paired poems, the book is an engaging and educational introduction to how the heart works.

So why would a children’s book about the human heart be moved to the restricted section of the library?

In 2023, the Huntington Beach City Council voted to approve Resolution 2023-41 which asserts their belief that the children’s library contains books with “explicit sexual images.” The Resolution states those books must be moved to the adult section of the library and minors may not check them out without parental or guardian consent. Since the City Council did not list specific books to back up their claims, the decision resulted in a review that led to dozens of books being classified as restricted including Your One and Only Heart.

The move sparked outrage in the local community and led to the formation of Our Library Matters, an organization that advocates for the freedom to read. We spoke with Carol Daus, 30-year resident of Huntington Beach, former board member of the local Friends of the Library nonprofit, and volunteer for Our Library Matters to learn more. She started by showing us where the restricted books were originally stored in their age appropriate section. Watch below.

We showed Your One and Only Heart to Carol to see if she knew why it had been restricted. She said it likely violated the “swimsuit rule,” meaning it contained illustrations of body parts that would be covered by a swimsuit. The image below is our best guess at what was considered explicit about Your One and Only Heart.

We’re happy to report that Your One and Only Heart, along with most of the original books on the restricted list, is back in the children’s library after public outcry. However, a handful of reproductive and sexual health books intended for pre-teens and teens remain in the adult section of the library, as Carol shows us here.

In addition to relocating content, the Resolution also established a library review board to decide what content is appropriate for minors. The board would be comprised of 21 political appointees, three per council member, and their decisions would be final with no option for public appeal.

Many believe this to be a violation of California’s Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825), and at least one group of concerned citizens has already filed a lawsuit against the city.

Others organized to gather more than 14,000 petition signatures, enough to put the Resolution up to a public vote. “I think it’s a testament to how much people in this community love their library and they don’t want their library to change,” said Daus.

In response, the City Council announced it would hold a special election on June 10, a decision that will cost the city an additional $1.3M. There are only two measures on the ballot. Measure A would repeal the library review board and Measure B would require a public vote should the City Council attempt to privatize the library.

Since special elections often see lower turnout, Our Library Matters has launched a campaign to increase community awareness. From Friday night marches to canvasing neighborhoods, Daus and other volunteers are working around the clock to rally support for the library. “We have been holding read-ins at all five of our library branches. People bring books they’re reading at home, they hand out leaflets, and engage in conversation with the public. There are a lot of people that come to the library who don’t know what’s going on.”

Daus says this election boils down to protecting a public resource from outside political and corporate interests. “This is a public library and it’s for the people. The people are the tax payers and should have a say on what’s in the library and how their library is run. We want to keep the library the way it’s always been, a public library.”

Interested in learning more about this story? Follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, and now Tiktok to see more interviews with Our Library Matters and keep up with the latest happenings in Huntington Beach.

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In Our Next Newsletter

We had the opportunity to speak with Rajani LaRocca, author of Your One and Only Heart, to get her take on censorship and learn more about the impact books had on her as a child. We’ll also discuss her new book, Some of Us, which comes out later this month.

Check out her message below and pick up a copy of Your One and Only Heart at your local bookstore or library to read along with us! You can also purchase online through our affiliate Bookshop.org store. Once Upon a Ban earns a commission from sales through Bookshop.org.

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Our featured book this month is Love, Violet, one of nine books at the center of a lawsuit that was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

We had the opportunity to speak with the book’s author, Charlotte Sullivan Wild, to learn more about what inspired her to write Love, Violet and get her thoughts on the case.

A Conversation with Author Charlotte Sullivan Wild

Of all of the stories you’ve dreamed up, why was Love, Violet the one you chose to share with the world?

When I finally realized I was lesbian in my early thirties, I was stunned. I was even more surprised, looking back over my life, that I hadn’t known. The clues were obvious! But I’d grown up in the 70s-90s, when Q+ representation was censored. Even more important, I was an Evangelical preacher’s kid. In addition to the silence, I was pelted with cautionary tales about how dangerous Q+ people were. Every time I started to notice my orientation as a young person, I had harshly erased myself. I shut down part of my soul. Late in my teens I even stopped writing for a while. It’s impossible to create good art without truth.

But once I realized the truth, I was relieved, flooded with joy! I felt so free, so myself. If you’ve felt like you didn’t fit in your whole life, that you weren’t quite capable of full love, coming out to yourself is a profound liberation. I also remembered the joy of my earliest innocent crushes, though I lacked language for them. Those memories and stories from many loved ones about early crushes inspired Love, Violet (Chua, FSG).

But when it came to telling my family and community who I was, there was so much fear and misinformation already there—like the myth that children can’t be Q+ or that Q+ experience isn’t ordinary like heterosexual cisgender life. That made coming out terrifying. Would my grandma associate me with the worst stereotypes? In the end, my parents have become bold allies. I’m so thankful! And very lucky. But it took work and courage on their part to research, to see beyond how Q+ people had been painted.

That fear, those myths, had been carefully constructed to keep me in the closet and to inspire others to lock Q+ people out of social acceptance and civil rights. Those lies inspire bullies and some of the violence people I know have survived—my friends, students, and young people seeking shelter at Thrive Youth Center (San Antonio, TX), most of whom were rejected by their families and still face prejudice at school or work.

But what if children could grow up with ordinary, realistic images of Q+ people? Children might feel kindness is normal, rather than bullying. And Q+ children could see themselves, from the beginning, as not alone.

Out of the damage of the silence and stereotypes that had so warped my life, came this honest story of joy. Out of the joy of coming out, out of the memories of innocent young love, grew Love, Violet, the truest story of my heart, in the hope that young hearts would be filled with kindness and love.

How did it feel putting this deeply personal story out there for others to read?

It is always overwhelming to have your heart on the page! I remember feeling so vulnerable the first time I held a fold and gather version of my first book, The Amazing Idea of You (Lundquist, Bloomsbury). It’s a lyrical celebration of the potential in every young living thing, perfect for new parents and young nature explorers. Those first words: “Hidden in this apple is the idea of a tree…” captured my whole philosophy of teaching. It’s beautiful! Even in this case, it was scary to be vulnerable!

Likewise, Love, Violet captures the emotion of one of the biggest moments of my life. Violet needs the courage to share her heart, even though it’s pounding. And the reward is joy! But I, too, needed courage to come out, to write, to keep writing even when it’s hard. Again, the result has been joy!

For all that vulnerability, the greatest reward is when children love your work. That is worth more than any prize. That IS the prize! We create for children!

We watched your acceptance speech for the Stonewall Award on your website. Tell us what winning the Stonewall Book Award for Love, Violet meant to you personally.

Winning the Stonewall Book Award was humbling and the honor of a lifetime. Love, Violet is in the company of so many books that have healed, moved, and inspired me personally. I came out of a childhood and teaching career in which erasure of queerness was expected. This award meant that a queer love story would be read by so many children who would see themselves and know they are not alone! What a gift!

Love, Violet is headed to the Supreme Court this week. How did you find out that Love, Violet would be in this case and what was your reaction?

Thank you for this opportunity to throw confetti for Tasslyn Magnusson, superhero of sass, defender of reading liberty! Please follow Tasslyn and send her some love! She tracks and documents book challenges and supports those of us affected, including community members seeking to organize.

As with past challenges, Tasslyn informed and connected me with supportive organizations, including PEN America, and the other authors and illustrators (we call ourselves the SCOTUS Banned Book Club). Some in our group have been especially targeted with doxing and even death threats. This supportive community has been a gift in a challenging time!

Personally, this case has been stressful and exhausting. A few people congratulated me, which felt jarring, given the stakes. Yes, it has opened the door to speak and connect with community—I’m so grateful! But a staff member at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) confided to me that many teachers are already self-censoring, even though the plaintiffs have lost twice at court. And children in this district have been exposed to a bitter battle—which has harmed everyone—including religious and Q+ children.

It is impossible for me not to identify with the closeted Q+ children in these religious communities, even if they are invisible to the public. I know that pressure. I know what it’s like to hear horrible things said about you, to your face. To want to be devout and good… and know you won’t be accepted unless you lie. This breaks my heart.

Worst of all, I wrote Love, Violet so children might enjoy a safer, more loving and accepting world than many of us experienced. Yet this case, which might have started with genuine, benign intentions, could be used to erase Q+ representation in public schools across the nation.

That is no badge of honor.

I have much respect for the families bringing this case and for religious liberty. (My spouse is a military chaplain!) But I’m concerned that the lawsuit itself promotes bias. It repeats dangerous stereotypes that are often used to justify dismantling our civil rights, and abuse and violence against Q+ people, even if that is not the petitioners’ intention.

Specifically, the bizarre mischaracterizations of our books—and by extension, Q+ people and children—sounds eerily similar to the hate mail I’ve received. Which puts children in danger. But Dana Rudolph (Mombian) and illustrator Julie McLaughlin point out that even a quick glance at our books reveals the truth. When in doubt: Read the books!

Even if this case doesn’t go well, I’m encouraged by how many people support children and their First Amendment rights! Your efforts help! And they will especially matter if the Supreme Court opens up new restrictions on inclusive children’s literature. We will need allies in every community supporting educators, advocating for the freedom to read. Every child deserves to feel seen and to see their classmates, not through the distortions of stereotypes, but through the clear glass of authentic, humanizing stories. We are all human family. Our best books remind us of that, that kindness is the way we all thrive.

How can readers best support stories like yours that have been impacted by the rise in book challenges and bans?

I’m so moved by the myriad people already doing this work together on behalf of children! First, thank you! Also, breathe! None of us can do everything. But in our own little corners, many little things add up. Some of us involved with the Supreme Court case Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case that names Love, Violet and eight other beautiful Q+ picture books, created a “Call to Action Guide” full of ideas of how to help! Many of them are free—like requesting and checking out books, or writing thank you notes to educators and librarians. These actions really matter. Publishers need to know there is still a supportive audience, and educators need to know people will have their backs if they keep sharing inclusive books with their students!

Bring the Story to Life

Show your support for Love, Violet and the rest of the SCOTUS Banned Book Club by hosting a book event now through June (when the court’s decision will be announced). Use this Event Toolkit along with SCOTUS Book Activity Pack and Call to Action Guide to get started.

Want to hear more from Charlotte Sullivan Wild? Gather your family and join her for author story time.

What’s Next

Charlotte’s incredible journey of self discovery and unwavering dedication to LGBTQ+ representation in stories is what drew us to her book. We hope you found Love, Violet and the story behind it as moving as we did! We will continue following Mahmoud v. Taylor and the potential impact it could have on curriculum nationwide.

We’ll be back soon with our featured book for May and the story of a community where the freedom to read is currently on the ballot.

Have a story about book banning in your community? Drop us a note and share your story.

Welcome back to Once Upon a Ban - a book club for banned and challenged picture books. We’re excited to introduce you to this month’s featured book, Love, Violet written by Charlotte Sullivan Wild and illustrated by Charlene Chua.

Violet dreams of going on adventures with her grade school crush, Mira. But whenever Mira comes around, Violet’s heart races and she gets shy. On Valentine’s day, Violet decides to make a special card to show Mira how she feels. Will Violet work up the courage to give it to her?

Love, Violet is a touching story of young love and learning how to be vulnerable with your feelings. It’s sure to bring up memories of your first childhood crush and serves as a beautiful reminder that love is the greatest adventure of all.

So, how does a book about a school crush end up challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court?

Mahmoud v. Taylor

In 2022, Maryland’s largest school district, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), updated it’s elementary school curriculum to better reflect the diversity of its community. The update introduced nine stories featuring LGBTQ+ characters, including Love, Violet, to supplement the hundreds of other books included in the curriculum.

MCPS originally allowed parents to opt their children out of the new material but stopped offering that option in March 2023. In response, a group of parents filed a lawsuit against the school district claiming their religious rights had been violated. After losing in lower courts twice, the case has been appealed and will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22, 2025.

Now Love, Violet, along with eight other books are at the center of a Supreme Court case that will determine whether public schools can include LGBTQ+ stories in their curriculum without notifying parents in advance and giving them the option to opt out.

PEN America released a statement from the authors and illustrators whose books are in question: “The freedom to read means that children are free to have their own thoughts and beliefs and to make their own choices. It helps prepare them to be good citizens, to navigate and succeed in a complex and diverse world. Our most basic duty as members of society is to respect and care for each other, no matter how similar or different we may be. Children want to see themselves in books; all children need to see many different kinds of people in books.”

So, what are these stories about?

While researching this case, we checked each of the books out at our local library. We found stories filled with love, celebration, and situations designed to foster understanding. As the author bios show, many of these stories are based on personal experiences and the desire to increase both representation of and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community.

This case could have long term effects on curriculum selection across the country. Montgomery County Public Schools has stood strong in their stance to ensure the diversity of their community is accurately represented in their curriculum, but given the pushback, will other school districts choose to do the same? Will the courts prevent them from being able to do so?

We think the respondent’s brief puts it best: “In classics like Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan, young readers encounter stories about love and navigating life within families and communities. The MCPS ELA curriculum introduces students to similar stories— such as retellings of Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Goldilocks—and to a range of age-appropriate texts that touch on these same themes... The only difference between the storybooks and the other ELA texts is that the storybooks include LGBTQ characters and their points of view.”

Get Your Copy

Show Love, Violet some love! Request a copy from your local library or purchase one from your local bookstore. You can also purchase online through our affiliate Bookshop.org store. Once Upon a Ban earns a commission from sales through Bookshop.org. All proceeds will be donated to charities fighting to preserve our freedom to read.

Discussion Questions

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started at home.

• What adventures do you want to go on with your friends and loved ones?

• Why do you think Violet gets shy around Mira? What other emotions did she feel throughout the story?

• What are some ways we can express love and friendship on days other than Valentine’s day?

What’s Next

In our next newsletter, we’ll hear directly from Author Charlotte Sullivan Wilde about her journey to share Love, Violet with the world and what this story means to her. Until then, feel free to send us a note at helloonceuponaban@gmail.com and tell us what you think about Love, Violet.

Spread the Word

Know someone who shares our passion for reading challenged stories like Love, Violet? Forward them this newsletter. Together, we can increase demand for these stories!

Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to find more updates on banned books and the freedom to read.

But first, we want to highlight some recent news. In our last newsletter, we discussed how a Moms for Liberty affiliated organization called BookLooks creates summaries that make it easy to challenge books like Sofia Valdez, Future Prez without reading them.

Last week, BookLooks announced it will be shutting down, but it’s unclear why. Is this a small victory for the freedom to read or just a new beginning for the organization and its content? Read more about this update in this BookRiot article by Kelly Jensen.

Defending the Freedom to Read in Florida

In the 2023-2024 school year, Florida banned the most books of any state in the nation. Attempts at censorship became more prominent back in 2021 when passages began to be read out of context at school board meetings and books were quietly pulled from the shelves.

We spoke with Raegan Miller, Director of Development and Finance at the Florida Freedom To Read Project (FFTRP), who got involved with the movement when two books were removed in her district. She, along with Stephana Ferrell, Director of Research and Insight at FFTRP, and other concerned parents decided to organize. They spoke at school board meetings and filed FOIA requests to confirm how districts responded to challenges.

In 2022, they formally launched a nonprofit called the Florida Freedom to Read Project to further coordinate their work across counties. Their goal is to unite parent-led groups from across the state to protect every student’s right to access information and ideas.

Banned In the USA: Beyond the Shelves 2023-2024 Report | PEN America

Over the last few years, Miller has seen book challenges across all grade levels. “Picture books are a huge part of the bans and the easiest thing to combat. I love to carry them with me when I table at events and show them to people.” In addition to Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, Florida has recently banned books like Unicorns Are The Worst for nudity because the main character, a goblin, is shown from the back without clothes. “One district agreed to say if the staff draws pants on the character, it’s okay.”

The outrage over children’s picture books seems to undermine the goal of these books which is to get children excited about reading. “Picture books are so important for developing to the next level of reading. They are silly, funny books that you can check out at the library, bring home so your kids can laugh with you and develop love of reading.”

With book bans on the rise nationally, we asked Miller what advice she has for those who want to get involved. She said the first step is plugging into your community. “Start talking to library associations. Get to know them, find out what their challenges are at each grade level. Go to school board meetings. Be on the PTA. Talk to others in your community and you will start to hear things. Having children be able to read, and read what they want, should cross party lines.”

When you’re ready to start organizing, Miller says to take the information you’ve learned and focus on a local strategy. “Your ability to make change is on the ground. Each county does things completely differently. What works in one county, doesn’t always work in the next. You have to know your school board members, your superintendent, and what their level of willingness is to throw in the towel and say they don't want any trouble.”

Recently, Miller and team have taken the next step and launched a national nonprofit called The Freedom to Read Project to share what they've learned along the way. They’ve helped parents in states like Texas launch their own statewide organization. “Florida set the roadmap for what is happening now federally. We are trying to get the information out there on what to look for and help support people.“

With over 4,500 volunteer hours completed in 2024 alone, the Florida Freedom to Read Project is a strong force in the fight against censorship. ”We are volunteers. We don’t get paid for this. We truly believe students need to have the right to read to grow, learn, and become more complete humans by being exposed to different types of literature.”

Get involved with the Florida Freedom To Read Project

• Follow the Florida Freedom to Read Project on Instagram and Bluesky.

• Check out their latest blog post: The Power of Resistance: Fighting Books Bans Before It’s Too Late.

• Watch Raegan Miller speak at the 2023 U.S. Book Show about the uptick in censorship efforts.

• Support their work by purchasing their official merch or making a donation.

• Take Action: Learn about Florida State Bills SB 1692 and HB 1539 and how you can help if you live in or outside of Florida.

Introducing The Questioneers

If you’re looking for more books like Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, you’re in luck! Author Andrea Beaty and Illustrator David Roberts have developed an entire cast of characters to read along with as they learn to think critically about the world around them. Sofia’s classmates and even her teacher each star in their own picture book.

The Questioneers series offers more than just picture books. Each character has at least one corresponding chapter book to keep the adventure going. In Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote, Sofia helps her class run a mock election to decide on the perfect class pet. Each character also has a project book which gives you ideas and activities to help readers explore the same passion as the featured character.

The Questioneers have even made their way to Netflix! Ada Twist, Rosie Revere, and Iggy Peck star in their own Emmy award winning series where they work together to discover the world around them. There is even a corresponding book series for the show.

You can find these books and more at our Bookshop.org affiliate store or directly from the Author here. Once Upon a Ban earns a commission and all proceeds will be donated to charities fighting to preserve the freedom to read.

Bring The Story to Life

It only takes a few minutes to read Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, but the example that Sofia sets is one we can follow for years to come. Here are some ideas to take your reading one step further.

• Check out these free downloadable activities from The Questioneers. From coloring pages and finger puppets to designing your own campaign button, the Questioneers have plenty of resources to help young readers dive in.

• Have a listening or dance party to Sofia’s favorite musician Sade on your preferred streaming service. In the book, Sofia’s room is covered in posters of Sade, a real musician from the UK. Listen to this interview with illustrator David Roberts at the 1:00:00 mark to hear the story behind Sofia’s love for Sade. Warning, it’s a tearjerker!

What’s Next

We hope you enjoyed this month’s book, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, as much as we did! We recently heard from Author Andrea Beaty on Bluesky and wanted to share her sentiment before signing off. “I think this book can help all kids feel a little braver and understand that everyone has the power to make change. Even when it feels like they don’t!”

We also want to take a moment to acknowledge Women’s History Month and the incredible, but often overlooked, impact that women have had on our history and culture. We hope reading books like Sofia Valdez, Future Prez will help inspire future generations of women to make history!

We’ll be back in your inbox next month with our featured story for April. In the meantime, always feel free to drop us a note at helloonceuponaban@gmail.com.

Welcome back to Once Upon a Ban and special hello to those who are joining us for the first time! We’re excited to introduce you to this month’s featured book, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez written by Andrea Beaty and Illustrated by David Roberts.

Sofia Valdez is a young do-gooder and resident of Blue River Creek. After an accident at the local landfill leaves her Abeulo injured, Sofia decides it’s time to clean up her community and turn the landfill into a park. She might only be a kid, but Sofia won’t let that stop her. She summons the courage to take her idea to City Hall.

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez is a story of inspiring activism that shows us that anyone can make a difference - even a kid in grade two. All it takes is the courage to speak out. We loved how the book’s dedication reaffirms this simple yet powerful idea: “This book is dedicated to you. You are braver than you know and mightier than you can ever imagine. Be bold.”

So, why would a story about a young girl organizing to improve her community be banned? Let’s just say this one is hard to spot.

The Story Behind the Ban

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez made PEN America’s List of “The 23 Most Banned Picture Books of the 2023-2024 School Year” after being banned twice in Florida. The Clay County and Indian River County School Districts pulled the book from their shelves due to the illustrations below.

Can you see why? Here’s a clue. It has to do with what the characters are wearing.

The answers are circled below. Sofia Valdez, Future Prez was banned in these districts because the illustrations include a LGBTQ+ pride pin on Abuelo’s hat, a transgender pride pin on Sofia’s bag, and a character who has both a beard and nail polish.

Illustrations are increasingly being scrutinized by those seeking to ban books. In an article by Popular Information that examines this trend, it was pointed out that the person who challenged Sofia Valdez, Future Prez admitted in their challenge form that they had never actually read the book.

So, how does someone decide to challenge a book they’ve never read?

In the 2022-2023 school year, PEN America found that 74% of book ban cases were connected to organized efforts. One of the most active groups in the effort to ban books is Moms of Liberty, which was founded in Florida, the same state where this story was banned. Along with BookLooks, a second organization created by a former Moms of Liberty member, they provide printable summaries of books that they deem to be inappropriate, often taking content out of context.

These guides are designed to help individuals challenge a book, even if they have never read it themselves. We found the BookLooks guide for Sofia Valdez, Future Prez and it is a list of all the LGBTQ+ symbols contained in the illustrations with the corresponding page numbers.

At the very end of the book, you’ll find a note from the author that shares the inspiration for the story. It goes on to say that this book was inspired by “not one person, but many. Some small. Some tall. Some young. Some old. People from every part of the world.” We think the inclusivity of the illustrations in Sofia Valdez, Future Prez is part of what makes the story so beautiful and is something to celebrate.

Get Your Copy

Now it’s time for you to take action! Request Sofia Valdez, Future Prez at your local library or purchase a copy at your local bookstore. You can also purchase online through our affiliate Bookshop.org store. Once Upon a Ban earns a commission from sales through Bookshop.org. All proceeds will be donated to charities fighting to preserve our freedom to read.

Discussion Questions

Here are a few questions to help kick-start the conversation at home.

• If you could build a park, what would be in it?

• Sofia saw a problem in her community and came up with a solution to fix it. What is something you would like to improve in your community and why?

• When Sofia was told she couldn’t build the park because she’s a kid, how did it make you feel? Why do you think she kept trying?

What’s Next

Following Sofia’s example, our next newsletter will focus on activism. In addition to highlighting more titles written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts, we’ll share more about efforts to fight censorship in Florida.

We will be back in your inbox later this month! In the meantime, feel free to send us a note at helloonceuponaban@gmail.com to share your thoughts on this month’s story.

Spread the Word

We are now on Instagram! Follow us there or on Bluesky to join in the conversation on banned books and the freedom to read.