Freedom to Read Storytimes

Book bans, particularly targeting picture books, have been on the rise in recent years. These bans often target books featuring diverse characters or created by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors and illustrators. Books that explore topics like race, gender identity, diverse family structures, or historical injustices are frequently challenged, sometimes even removed from shelves, often labeled as "inappropriate" or "controversial."

Soft censorship is also on the rise. It’s a subtler form of limiting access to books, like pressuring schools not to order certain titles or giving the impression that certain books are unsuitable without outright banning them. Shadow banning, on the other hand, happens when books are quietly removed or left out of libraries and curricula without public discussion, reducing awareness of their absence. Both methods can make it harder for children and families to access these stories.

Freedom to Read Storytime, an ongoing series at Brooklyn Public Library, celebrates the power of diverse stories and the fundamental right of all people, especially young people, to access books. Each session highlights picture books that have been banned, censored, or removed from libraries. These books may feature LGBTQ+ characters, different family structures, diverse perspectives on history, and social justice themes—in other words they are stories that reflect the real world and the people in it. For young children, these books are especially important as they help foster empathy, understanding, and critical thinking. They allow kids to see themselves represented in stories and to learn about the lives and experiences of others.

During each storytime, families enjoy engaging read alouds, discuss the reasons these books were challenged, and come up with practical ideas for how kids and parents can work together to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read.