Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is probably one of my favorite times of the year!  Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read.  The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restrictions in libraries and schools.  Banned Books Week highlights the value of free and open access to information.

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982 according to the American Library Association.  

In honor of Banned Books Week, I've set up a display highlighting banned/challenged books students can checkout, a banned books contest, and working with 8th grade on a banned books poster assignment to in preparation for them reading The Hunger Games.  Our morning news crew is highlighting a banned/challenged book each morning on the news as well.

Today was a great start to our Banned Books Week! Many of our banned/challenged books have been checked out, and so many conversations have been had on our freedom to read.