Uncle Bobby’s Wedding Author/Illustrator Sarah S. Brannen wrote and illustrated the first printing of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding in 2008 by G. P. Puttnam’s Sons Illustrator Lucia Soto illustrated the 2020 publication of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Little Bee Books Synopsis Chloe’s favorite uncle is getting married, and she’s not happy about it. But after a magical day with Uncle Bobby and his boyfriend, Jamie, Chloe realizes she’s not losing an uncle, but gaining one. Selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best picture books of 2020 and by the American Library Association as a 2021 Rainbo ..read more

An illustration for a giftschrank holding pharmaceuticals. In honor of Banned Book Week, I wanted to take a brief look at a particular type of library censorship, the Giftschrank. Censorship has been with us as long as there have been people in power who wish to squelch the voice of subversives. From banning dances to limiting what people can wear to eradicating materials and cultures with the burning of books and librarians, censorship takes on many different forms. But what if you wanted to keep visual works, particularly those in the written form, from the general public but still have them ..read more

All the Pretty Horses (1992) Synopsis All the Pretty Horses tells of young John Grady Cole, the last of a long line of Texas ranchers. Across the border, Mexico beckons—beautiful and desolate, rugged and cruelly civilized. With two companions, he sets off on an idyllic, sometimes comic adventure to a place where dreams are paid for in blood. — Goodreads All the Pretty Horses is the first volume in Cormac McCarthy’s Border Trilogy. Award Wins and Nominations Winner, National Book Awards 1992 for Fiction. Locations Challenged or Banned Overland, Kansas: 2004 – Parents at the Blue Valle ..read more

The Bean Trees (1988) Synopsis: Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle. She must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and discovering surprisin ..read more

Meena Synopsis: The children of Fly Street fear and taunt their neighbor Meena, thinking she is a witch, but when they meet her granddaughter and taste her cherry pie, they learn the truth. Reasons for Challenge: In the fall of 2021, Campbell County Public Library received 55 complaints challenging 29 titles. The challenge was led by members of MassResistance (formally Parents’ Rights Coalition and the Article 8 Alliance), who sought to have criminal charges brought against the library staff for making the titles available to the public. Reason for Challenge or Ban An exact reason for Meena be ..read more

Michelle Obama: Political Icon Synopsis: Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson loved school and her family. Driven by her parents’ passion for education and her desire to succeed, she graduated first from Princeton and then Harvard Law School and landed a job at a prestigious law firm, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Barack Obama. While raising their two young daughters, Michelle Obama committed herself to public service. She kept that commitment as her husband’s political career soared and worked hard to continue serving the public when her family landed in the ..read more

The Lorax (1971) Synopsis: “UNLESS someone like you…cares a whole awful lot…nothing is going to get better…It’s not.” Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth’s natural beauty. His classic cautionary tale is now available in an irresistible mini-edition, perfect for backpack or briefcase, for Arbor Day, Earth Day, and every day. –Goodreads.com Reason for Challenge or Ban: Political commentary. enverotimolism, anti-capatolism Location Challenged/Banned: Layton ..read more

Mary Wears What She Wants Synopsis: Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who bucked the gender expectations of her time, this is a fresh, charming picture book about a young girl who decides to wear what she wants: pants! Once upon a time (but not too long ago), girls only wore dresses. And only boys wore pants. Until one day, a young girl named Mary had a bold idea: She would wear whatever she wanted. And she wanted to wear pants! Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who was arrested many times for wearing pants, this fre ..read more

Jack (Not Jackie) Synopsis: In this heartwarming picture book, a big sister realizes that her little sister, Jackie, doesn’t like dresses or fairies-she likes ties and bugs! Will she be able to accept that Jackie identifies more as “Jack”? Susan thinks her little sister Jackie has the best giggle! She can’t wait for Jackie to get older so they can do all sorts of things like play forest fairies and be explorers together. But as Jackie grows, she doesn’t want to play those games. She wants to play with mud and be a super bug! Jackie also doesn’t like dresses or her long hair, and she would rath ..read more

The V-Word Synopsis: An honest and poignant collection of essays by women about losing their virginity in their teens. The V-Word captures the complexity of this important life decision and reflects diverse real-world experiences. Includes helpful resources for parents and teens. Losing it. Popping your cherry. Handing in your V-card. First-time sex is a big unknown. Will it be candlelight and rose petals or quick and uncomfortable? Is it about love or about lust? Deciding to have sex for the first time is a choice that’s often fraught with anxiety and joy. But do you have anyone tel ..read more