“Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” That’s the theme of this year’s Banned Books Week. A joint effort by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Banned Books Week Coalition, this annual week of focus provides the opportunity to make a bold, collective statement about the freedom to read.
This year’s campaign features three separate illustrations that highlight the importance of libraries. According to the ALA, award-winning illustrators Hyesu Lee, Loveis Wise, and Mikey Burton created artwork that “embraces joy and creativity as acts of resilience, reminding our communities that a handful of people running organized censorship campaigns should not be allowed to dictate what the rest of us can read.” Posters and other promotional materials are available from the ALA Store.
Two award-winning authors have been selected to headline this year’s event: Bess Kalb (Buffalo Fluffalo series) and Tony Weaver, Jr. (Weirdo). Joining them will be youth honorary chairs Marshall Romero and Azeemah Sadiq.
Why does this issue matter?
In the 2024-2025 school year, Pen America recorded 6,870 instances of book bans. These bans have occurred in 23 states and 87 public school districts, affecting “the works of 2,308 authors, 243 illustrators, and 38 translators.”
Book bans exploit fears and pose a threat to First Amendment rights. Books that are most often challenged tend to feature Black and LGBTQ+ characters. They deny access, limit choice, and stigmatize literature at a time when we are seeing notable declines in students’ reading proficiency and time spent reading.
Essential Resources:
- For more information about the impact and urgency of book bans, read “The Normalization of Book Banning,” an October 1, 2025 article by Pen America.
- To learn about events, find resources, and get ideas for displays, visit ALA’s Banned Books Week event page.
- Find the Top 11 Banned Books of 2025 and watch for the list of this year’s Top 10 Banned Books, which will be announced during Banned Books Week.
- For information about how you can keep the momentum going beyond Banned Books Week, check out “Beyond the Books,” an ALA resource.
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