Banned Books Week 2025

Banned Books
Written By Linda

Censorship is So 1984

Banned Books Week is October 5-11 this year. Launched in 1982 by the American Library Association, Banned Books Week raises awareness of the removal and restricting of books, supports the right to read, and advocates for free and open access to information. This year’s theme is “Censorship is So 1984.” George Takei is this year’s Honorary Chair.

 
Buy the Book
 

One book you might want to share is The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard.

Arnold didn't mean for the books to disappear—not exactly. It all started because he liked his book about airplanes best. Why would anyone want to read about tomatoes or ostriches or submarines (ew, the worst!) when they could read about planes, instead?

When Arnold realizes—POOF!—he can make the other books vanish, he goes a little too far. Before he knows it, all the books are gone…including his. Can Arnold figure out how to bring them back before it’s too late?

Here are some words you could pop out: offend, delighted, realize, reappear.

Ultimately, you know what’s best for your child. The books you choose to share are your decision. To learn more, visit bannedbooksweek.org

Linda

Linda Szakmary has five decades of experience working as a classroom teacher, a district curriculum writer, a district facilitator of K-5 writing, and as a county K-8 literacy coach. She now works for Sullivan and Orange-Ulster BOCES as a content specialist. A poetry advocate and a lover of words and children’s literature, she has been a presenter at several state-wide conferences on vocabulary and writing. Currently, she is working with the staff developers of Mossflower to study intermediate vocabulary instruction within a reading workshop. Linda lives in Stone Ridge, NY where she enjoys gardening, yoga, reading, and rooting for the Yankees. You can often find her on a beach searching for sea glass.

Next

Book Pairing: Bringing Home’s Love to School