A Chill Over Children’s Books
After years of culture war battles in school and public libraries, the campaign by conservative-leaning "parent rights" groups has succeeded in casting a nationwide chill over the market for children’s books they deem inappropriate, greatly diminishing sales and opportunities for authors to promote their work.
Book Bans and "Shadow Bans"
During the 2023-24 school year, there were more than 10,000 book bans in public schools — a 200% rise over the previous year. The books overwhelmingly included LGBTQ+ themes and characters of color, according to PEN America. Many of the same books are banned over and over across the country, through coordinated efforts by groups that share lists of titles among their members, including picture and board books for preschool children.
The Effects of Book Bans
In what some in the book publishing industry call "shadow bans" or "soft censorship," the effects are far-reaching:
- Teachers and librarians, facing threats and fearful of losing their jobs or even going to jail in states that have passed laws criminalizing certain works, are hesitating to put controversial books that include LGBTQ+ characters or discussions of racism on their shelves.
- Publishers — which depend on schools and library purchases — report that sales of such books are down significantly, even when the works receive critical acclaim.
- And authors have seen school visits canceled, leaving them without a crucial income stream.
Protecting Challenged Books
Eighteen states — including California — already have or are considering legislation to protect schools and libraries against censorship, according to EveryLibrary. And several organizations are working to fight back against book bans and the larger effects on the publishing industry.
Conclusion
The chill over children’s books is a result of a coordinated campaign by conservative-leaning "parent rights" groups. While some may see this as a success, the effects on authors, publishers, and the publishing industry as a whole are far-reaching and devastating. It will likely require a more widespread movement of support for the books being challenged to counter the effects of the chill.
FAQs
Q: What is the impact of book bans on authors and publishers?
A: Book bans have resulted in decreased sales and opportunities for authors to promote their work, and have also affected the financial stability of publishers.
Q: What are some of the most commonly banned books?
A: Some of the most commonly banned books include "And Tango Makes Three," "The Family Book," "In the Night Kitchen," and "Draw Me a Star."
Q: What are some of the organizations working to fight back against book bans?
A: Some of the organizations working to fight back against book bans include We Are Stronger Than Censorship, We Need Diverse Books, and EveryLibrary.
Q: What can be done to counter the effects of the chill over children’s books?
A: It will likely require a more widespread movement of support for the books being challenged, including attending school board meetings and speaking out in favor of diversity and inclusion in children’s literature.
