Picture Books for Banned Books WeekLike this list

19 items

• This Day in June

  Pitman, Gayle E.

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  This book celebrates an LGBTQ+ Pride parade and teaches kids about love, acceptance, and inclusion. It was challenged in Hood County, Texas, because some people didn’t want books with same-sex couples and Pride content in the library.

• Milo Imagines the World

  de la Peña, Matt

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  Milo draws the people he sees on the subway and imagines their lives, learning not to judge others too quickly. It was banned from school libraries in Escambia County, FL, for including a same-sex wedding and mentioning a parent in prison.

• And Tango Makes Three

  Richardson, Justin, 1963-

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  This is a true story about two male penguins at a zoo who raise a baby penguin together. It was banned or challenged in several Florida school districts for showing same-sex parenting.

• Sulwe

  Nyong'o, Lupita

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  Banned in Northampton, PA for promoting racist beliefs, this story is about a young girl who is learning to appreciate her dark brown skin

• Dreamers

  Morales, Yuyi

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  This beautifully illustrated story follows a mother and child who come to the United States, discovering the power of books and libraries. It has been challenged for its themes of immigration.

• I Am Every Good Thing

  Barnes, Derrick

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  This empowering story celebrates everything good about being a young Black boy. It was challenged in the Northampton, PA school district for promoting Critical Race Theory, despite the book's message not being related to the theory.

• Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

  Beaty, Andrea

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  Sofia tries to convince her town to build a new park. Book banners in Central York, PA, zeroed in on a pin on her grandfather’s hat that appears to resemble a Pride symbol.

• Pride

  the Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

  Sanders, Rob, 1958-

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  This book tells the true story of how the rainbow flag became a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride. It was challenged in Hanover County, Virginia, and was also removed from curriculum materials in Temecula Valley, California.

• Hair Love

  a Celebration of Daddies and Daughters Everywhere

  Cherry, Matthew A.

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  A dad helps his daughter style her natural hair for a special day, celebrating love, confidence, and family. It was challenged in Northampton, PA for promoting Critical Race Theory, despite the book's message not being related to the theory.

• Thunder Boy Jr.

  Alexie, Sherman, 1966-

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  A boy wants a name that fits who he really is, not just the one he shares with his dad. It was temporarily banned in Duval County, Florida in 2023.

• The Family Book

  Parr, Todd

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  A fun book that shows how all kinds of families are special. It was banned from schools in Erie, Illinois, because of the line, “some families have two moms or two dads."

• A Is for Activist

  Nagara, Innosanto

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  An ABC book that teaches kids about fairness, equality, and standing up for others. It was challenged in Alachua County, Florida, because some adults thought the messages were too political for kids.

• Book Comes Home

  a Banned Book's Journey

  Sanders, Rob, 1958-

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  This sweet book tells the story of a banned book that finally finds its way back to the library.

• The Librarian of Basra

  a True Story From Iraq

  Winter, Jeanette

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  The true story of an Iraqi librarian trying to protect the books in her library was challenged in Duval County, FL in 2015 for "promoting a non-Christian religion" and "being too violent for young readers."

• Julián Is a Mermaid

  Love, Jessica

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  Julián dreams of being a mermaid and finds joy in being himself. The book has been banned in several school districts because it explores gender identity and self-expression.

• In the Night Kitchen

  Sendak, Maurice

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  A boy dreams of a magical kitchen adventure where he floats through a surreal world. It’s been challenged and removed in many libraries because the boy is shown nude in some pages.

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

  Martin, Bill, 1916-2004

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  A classic book that teaches kids about animals and colors. It was briefly banned in Texas because someone confused the author with a different person who wrote a book about Marxism!

• Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

  Steig, William, 1907-2003

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  Sylvester the donkey finds a pebble that grants wishes—but a wish goes wrong. This book was banned in the 1970s in several cities because it showed police officers as pigs.

• This Book Is Banned

  Haldar, Raj,

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  This silly book talks about what it means to ban a book—by pretending to ban things on every page!