Free People Read Freely: How Children’s Book Creatives Can Fight Book Banning
LOS ANGELES, CA September 27, 2023 – The American Library Association (ALA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) have joined forces to inform and educate the public about the challenges with book banning in the United States. The special edition SCBWI digital workshop, entitled “Free People Read Freely: How Children’s Book Creatives Can Fight Book Banning” will take place on Thursday, October 5, at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET on Zoom. Click here to register. This digital workshop is free and open to the public.
SCBWI will host speaker Joyce McIntosh, Assistant Program Director for the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), an organization dedicated to First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy. McIntosh will discuss ways creators of books for children, teens, and young adults can address the current surge in challenges to books for young people.
Sarah Baker, executive director of SCBWI, commented, “Book banning is nothing new. But all of us at SCBWI are increasingly disturbed by the ferocity and sophistication of this current wave of book banning and censorship. I’m pleased to welcome Joyce McIntosh to the event ‘Free People Read Freely: How Children’s Book Creatives Can Fight Book Banning,’ where our 21,000-plus members and the wider children’s book community can learn about the current state of book banning and acquire the tools they need to fight back. Young readers deserve nothing less.”
National Banned Books Week is October 1-7, 2023.
