An Interview with The Florida Freedom to Read Project
We interviewed Raegan Miller, the Director of Development and Finance at the Florida Freedom to Read Project, to learn more about how the organization rallies parents from across the state.
Welcome back to Once Upon a Ban! This month we are reading Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, a book banned by two school districts in Florida during the 2023-2024 school year. We interviewed Raegan Miller, the Director of Development and Finance at the Florida Freedom to Read Project, to learn more about how the organization rallies parents from across the state to stand up against censorship efforts and what we can all do to help.
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.