Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor, involving a group of parents who sued the Montgomery County (Md.) school district seeking to opt their children out of elementary school lessons that include story books with LGBTQ+ characters, arguing that not being able to opt out violates their religious beliefs. While justices' questions and comments don't necessarily indicate how they will vote, the conservative majority "signaled support" for the parents, according to the AP. A decision is expected in a few months.

The books at issue are Pride Puppy! by Robin Stevenson, illus. by Julie McLaughlin (Orca), Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen, illus. by Lucia Soto (little bee books), IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi, illus. by Ashley Seil Smith (Dottir Press), My Rainbow by DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal, illus. by Art Twink (Kokila), Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illus. by Stevie Lewis (little bee books), Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illus. by Charlene Chua (Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers), and Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope by Jodie Patterson, illus. by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Crown Books for Young Readers).

Earlier this month, Penguin Random House, the Educational Book and Media Association, and the Authors Guild filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the school district. The friend of the court brief states in part that the parents "view books as instruments of indoctrination. They cloak their claims in the rhetoric of coercion--'compelling instruction designed to indoctrinate'--but there is no evidence in the record that any students are being compelled to affirm a belief contrary to their religion. Instead, the alleged 'indoctrination' is merely that educators have included books with LGBTQ characters and themes in a language arts curriculum. Petitioners argue that the mere exposure to books that represent this community violates their free exercise rights under the First Amendment."

The brief argues that creating an opt-out procedure, which the school district used to have and found "administratively infeasible," would "effectively result in censorship" because the district's "only viable option will be to remove diverse story books and other potentially objectionable texts from the curriculum, rather than be forced to implement an impractical opt-out system. In short, would-be censors will have succeeded in subverting the free speech rights of the rest of the school community, in the name of protecting the purported free exercise rights of a few members of the school community. Such a result is anathema to the exercise of both freedom of religion and freedom of speech, which require tolerance of dissenting viewpoints."

The brief also said, "The mere inclusion of a book in a public school's curriculum cannot be, on its face, coercive. For example, it is perfectly appropriate for a high school history teacher to assign students to read Mein Kampf and write a rebuttal, but not to demand a defense of it. Context matters. It also defies logic to assert that simply reading a story book is tantamount to conversion to the author's values. Reading The Communist Manifesto does not require one to become a Marxist. And, no matter the epic poet Homer's timeless brilliance, reading The Iliad does not compel worship of Zeus. Similarly, reading the story books does not compel anyone to adopt their perspectives if their personal conscience dictates otherwise. Love, Violet does not compel anyone to adopt or endorse its perspective on the intensity of friendships between young girls. And reading Born Ready does not compel adoption or endorsement of its characters' views on gender identity.

"These books remain the speech of their authors, not the government. Any theory that mistakes mere exposure to ideas with forced indoctrination is inconsistent with the First Amendment's free speech guarantee. Anyone--including children--can read about characters and events beyond their experiences, even if they disagree with the themes or characters in the story."

Penguin Random House v-p and associate general counsel Dan Novack commented: "We are proud to publish a wide range of books reflecting many viewpoints, and we stand with our authors. We ask the Supreme Court to recognize the expertise of professional educators and allow students to see themselves and their neighbors in books."

Old Fox Books, Annapolis, Md., and a retired Navy commander are working together to provide access to many of the 381 books recently removed from the U.S. Naval Academy's Nimitz Library after an order by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office resulted in a purge of titles, many related to race or gender.

Jinny Amundson, owner of Old Fox Books, was one of many Annapolis-area residents and Naval Academy alumni who were upset about the situation. The Washington Post reported that recently "the group formed a coalition to counteract the Navy's decision by making the targeted books as available as possible to Naval Academy students. The project is called 'Operation Caged Bird,' an homage to Maya Angelou's autobiography, which was one of the works on the removed-books list."

The effort began when retired Navy commander William Marks, a 1996 Naval Academy graduate and former spokesperson for the Defense Intelligence Agency, launched a GoFundMe campaign on April 5 to purchase the books for the students. The initial fundraising goal for the project of $3,810 was reached in less than a week, and that figure has grown to nearly $50,000. 

The day after he started the fundraiser, Marks called Amundson and asked if she would help, not knowing that she had already begun ordering the books--about $1,500 worth--to provide to Naval Academy student shoppers for free.

"These are dedicated young men and women who we're trusting, some within a few months, to go out and lead our Navy and lead the Marine Corps," Marks said. "I think this is about suppressing knowledge, erasing history and limiting opportunities for education."

Old Fox Books functions as an unofficial bookstore for the Naval Academy, Amundson told the Post, noting: "Our students very much think of this as a safe space, especially our younger mids--the plebes. They don't really have a lot of time off the yard, so a lot of them find solace here."

The bookstore displayed its first batch of the removed books on a decorative staircase propped up against a wall. "The idea is that midshipmen will browse, select books and have their total zeroed out at the cash register when they present their IDs. Amundson plans to place a sign there to signal to the academy students that these are the removed titles," the Post wrote.

Marks said he is working with other small businesses in Annapolis to display and distribute some of the books. He also plans on showing up with volunteers to major Naval Academy events to set up tables with the books on display.

"I do think it's important to be visible for anyone resisting [authority]. A lot of this is encouraging freethinking," he noted, adding that in the military, "we don't want blind followers. We want freethinkers."

Marks told Capital Gazette: "My wish is to not only make sure midshipmen have access to these books, it's to inspire people. People need to know there is a resistance, there are those who oppose book bans and there are those who oppose overreach by the executive branch.... It's not about protecting anyone, midshipmen don't need protecting. This is about suppressing knowledge, about limiting education, about diminishing viewpoints."

Amundson added: "We knew we wanted these books, especially when we noticed fiction titles and books that there was just really no reason for them to have been taken off. There's no discernment, rhyme or reason for the books that have been chosen."

Christine Bollow, co-owner and director of programming at Loyalty Bookstores, Washington, D.C., and Silver Spring, Md., will be relocating to Tucson, Ariz., in May. Bollow, who joined Loyalty in 2020 and became a co-owner, with Hannah Oliver Depp, in 2023, will transition into an advisory role and continue to spearhead the organizing for Loyalty's larger partnerships, including the Awesome Con Book Fair and Liwanag Filipino Lit Fest DC. She will steward Loyalty's events programs through the summer.

Christine Bollow

Depp and Bollow have worked together to make sure the store's programming and quality of service experience no gaps during and after this transition. 

"Christine and I share a vision of how bookselling can grow with our communities wherever they are found," Depp said. "Christine has forever impacted the definition of Loyalty Bookstores and the publishing industry at large. I am so glad we will continue our relationship in a sustainable way for Christine and for the bookstore as the publishing industry and storefront retail evolve.". 

Bollow added: "I'm incredibly grateful to be able to prioritize my health and my family by relocating to an environment that's better suited for my well-being. While this has been a challenging decision, knowing Hannah and the store have my back means the world to me. I will miss the friendships and wonderful bookish folks I've gotten to know these past few years, but I will forever be loyal to Loyalty."

Barnes & Noble is opening a bookstore at 9 Jackson Ave. in Naperville, Ill., today, April 23, just up the street from its former location. At the official launch, author Mary Kubica will cut the ribbon and sign copies of her books.

"We are very happy to return to Naperville, where for 25 years we were a community staple," B&N said. "Our longtime booksellers are as eager to be back in town as they are to welcome customers into their brand-new Naperville Barnes & Noble."

Also today, B&N will open a store in the Palms of Carrollwood Shopping Center at 13123 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Fla. The grand re-opening celebration will feature authors Tony & Lauren Dungy cutting the ribbon and signing copies of their books. The bookstore will also house an updated B&N Café.

"We are very pleased to be back in Carrollwood only eight months after closing our previous bookstore," B&N noted. "For 28 years we were a gathering place for this community, and our longtime booksellers are as eager to return as they are to welcome customers into their brand-new Carrollwood Barnes & Noble."

Dennis McDougal, "a prolific author, Hollywood muckraker and Peabody Award-winning documentarian," died March 22, the New York Times reported. He was 77.

McDougal was the author of more than a dozen books, including Angel of Darkness (1991), Fatal Subtraction: How Hollywood Really Does Business (with Pierce O'Donnell, 1992), Mother's Day (1998), The Last Mogul (1998), Blood Cold, McDougal and Mary Murphy (2002), Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times (2008), Bob Dylan: The Biography (2014), Operation White Rabbit: LSD, the DEA and the Fate of the Acid King (2020), and Citizen Wynn: A Sin City Saga of Power, Lust, and Blind Ambition (2024).

He was also a consulting producer of Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times (2009), a Peabody Award-winning PBS documentary based on his book, Privileged Son: Otis Chandler and the Rise and Fall of the L.A. Times Dynasty (2001). The book won the Fordham University Anne M. Sperber Award as the nation's best media biography in 2002. His book In the Best of Families (1994) was a Best Fact Crime nominee for the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Awards.

"He was the consummate investigative reporter," Alice Martell, his literary agent, said. "He was relentless. He didn't leave any pebble or grain of sand unturned."

Early in his career, McDougal wrote for two small California newspapers--the Press-Enterprise, in Riverside (1973-1977) and the Press-Telegram in Long Beach (1977-1981)--before spending a decade as an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. He also wrote about Hollywood for the New York Times, TV Guide, and other publications in the 2000s. 

Steve Weinstein, a former reporter for the L.A. Times, said, "Dennis was not only a dogged and brilliant reporter, but he was also unceasingly generous with his time and expertise." When Weinstein was a young reporter working in the Calendar section of the newspaper, McDougal would read his copy and make suggestions "that drastically improved my work. He liked to pose as a grizzled curmudgeon, but he was one of the loveliest humans that I have ever met."

Oprah Winfrey has chosen Matriarch by Tina Knowles (One World) as the latest Oprah's Book Club Pick, Oprah Daily reported, noting that the author "writes candidly about her family history, her time on the road with Destiny's Child, watching her iconic children take flight on the global stage, overcoming infidelity, and coming into her own at age 70."

"Some of you might know Tina Knowles as the mother of a superstar--as in Beyoncé--but she is also a highly successful entrepreneur, fashion designer, philanthropist, and now author of this fascinating memoir of her journey to become the global figure she is today," Winfrey said. "You're going to want to clear your schedule as you're going to be totally riveted by the twists and turns of this deeply personal and compelling story."

"Writing a book about your life is a scary thing. It's almost like having a baby," Knowles said, adding: "I had no idea that I would be talking to Oprah when she called. They tricked me and told me that it was the printing company.... I mean, it's Oprah! She is the queen of many things but definitely the quintessential queen of books. Being told that my book would be a pick for her Book Club, I thought I had died and gone to heaven." 

Winfrey interviewed Knowles for the most recent Oprah's Book Club: Presented by Starbucks podcast, available here.

Independent Bookstore Day Spirit Week continued yesterday with Plaid Tuesday: 

At Aaron's Books

Once Upon A Time Bookstore, Montrose, Calif.: "Sharing our Plaid Tuesday spirit as we gear up for Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday, April 26th! Join us in celebrating all that indie bookstores bring to the community.... Hope to see you for all the bookish fun!"

Subterranean Books, St. Louis, Mo.: "Umm, we absolutely do it better! Spirit Day 2 and we are decked in plaid, even little Ricky T. We are ALWAYS ready to go toe to toe with a certain company that shall not be named! 3 days until party time!... "

Aaron's Books, Lititz, Pa.: "Sam, Todd, and Lindsey in their plaid were just too cute not to share! Celebrate #IndieBookstoreDay Spirit Week with us all week long."

Simon & Schuster will handle global sales and distribution for AMP Comics to the book trade beginning with its first graphic novel releases, effective in November.

AMP Comics is a new trans-media production house involving comics, games, TV, and film across every platform. Collaborators include Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort, Will Smith's Westbrook, Stampede Ventures, and former Sony Television head Jeff Frost. Thunder Comics and top creators Andy Serkis (Venom 2) and Jim Kouf (National Treasure, Rush Hour) are on board, alongside partners like manga titan Kodansha Japan (AKIRA, Attack on Titan) and tabletop game leader The Op. AMP Comics makes its debut next month with Prodigal Son, a cowboy saga co-written by Cobra Kai star Martin Kove, with three alternate endings, each with its own variant cover, so readers can choose their own ending ("Good, Bad or Ugly") or collect all three. Prodigal has been picked up for TV development by Jeff Frost through his Bristol Circle Banner.

Don Handfield, CEO of AMP Comics, said, "Partnering with Simon & Schuster gives AMP Comics the global reach our stories deserve as we revolutionize cross-platform storytelling. With our upcoming NeverWars series and innovative titles like Prodigal Son already generating industry buzz, this distribution deal ensures our graphic novels will reach readers worldwide through publishing's most respected channels. This is exactly the kind of strategic alliance that supports our vision of bridging comics, film, television, and gaming under one creative roof."

Alana Bonfiglio has been promoted to publicity and marketing manager for Workman, Artisan, and Black Dog & Leventhal. Previously, she was senior publicity & marketing associate.

Under the Gulf Coast Sun by Skip Rhudy (Stoney Creek Publishing).

Tomorrow:
CBS Mornings: David Zweig, author of An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions (The MIT Press, $39.95, 9780262549158).

Also on CBS Mornings: José Andrés, co-author of Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs (Ecco, $26.99, 9780063436152).

Tamron Hall: Tika Sumpter, author of I Got It From My Mama (Genius Cat Books, $18.99, 9781962447232).

Watch What Happens Live: Kristen Kish, author of Accidentally on Purpose (Little, Brown, $30, 9780316580915).

Greg Kinnear (As Good As It Gets, Little Miss Sunshine), Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live, Shrill), and Shay Rudolph (The Baby-Sitters Club, Lethal Weapon) are joining the cast of the Disney+ pilot Holes, based on Louis Sachar's 1998 book, Deadline reported.

Additional new cast members include Flor Delis Alicea (Love the Skin You're In), Anire Kim Amoda (The Penguin), Noah Cottrell (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Iesha Daniels, Sophie Dieterlen, Alexandra Doke (City on Fire), and Maeve Press (Everything's Gonna Be Okay). 

Holes is written by Alina Mankin with Liz Phang as showrunner. Jac Schaeffer is directing. Sachar's novel was previously adapted into a film in 2003, directed by Andrew Davis and starring Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, and Jon Voight.  

Christopher Merrill, director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa and an award-winning poet, writer, and editor, will receive the 2025 Ottaway Award for the Promotion of International Literature, Words Without Borders announced. Merrill will be honored at a ceremony on June 3 in New York City. A recording of the event will be made available on the WWB website. 

"As we celebrate the twelfth anniversary of the Ottaway Award, we are particularly delighted to recognize Christopher Merrill and the vital work he has done to promote international literature as director of the IWP over the past quarter century," said WWB's board chair, Samantha Schnee. 

The Ottaway Award recognizes Merrill's "extraordinary work as an advocate of international literature who has advanced its reach in the anglophone world through cultural diplomacy and by uplifting international writers. Founded in 1967, the International Writing Program is a cornerstone of global literary exchange, awarding Iowa City residencies to talented writers from around the world, bringing international authors into classrooms, and introducing American writers to other cultures, Over 1,600 writers from more than 160 countries have been in residence at IWP, including three Nobel laureates in Literature: Han Kang, Orhan Pamuk, and Mo Yan," WWB noted.

Merrill has published eight collections of poetry, including Watch Fire, for which he received the Lavan Younger Poets Award from the Academy of American Poets; and On the Road to Lviv. He is also the author of many edited volumes and translations and six books of nonfiction. His writings have been translated into nearly 40 languages, and his honors include a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the French government and numerous translation awards. 

photo: Tara Shupe

Sue Lowell Gallion is the author of the nonfiction Our World board book series, illustrated by Lisk Feng and published by Phaidon Press, including Our Galaxy: A First Adventure in Space. Gallion lives in the Kansas City area with her dog, Pippi, and considers herself very lucky to have her three grandkids nearby to share her stacks of library books.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

Our Galaxy: A First Adventure in Space takes kids on a voyage through our solar neighborhood and beyond in a beautifully illustrated globe-shaped board book for all ages.

On your nightstand now:

The Bookshop by Evan Friss

Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson--I began reading the Moomin books last year, before I shared them with my grandkids. I adore the whimsy and language. They are a wonderful bedtime read for any age.

The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez

The Northwomen by Heather Pringle

Beti and the Little Round House by Atinuke, illustrated by Emily Hughes--I keep rereading this chapter book collection of stories set in the little round house in the green woods under the mountains. It's enchanting.

Favorite book when you were a child:

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illustrated by Tasha Tudor.

Favorite book to read to a child:

This question is nearly impossible for a children's author! My list is very long. One of my favorites is Froodle by Antoinette Portis. One day, Little Brown Bird gets tired of singing the same old song (don't we all!) and comes out with "Froodle sproodle" instead. The book gets sillier with every page turn and it's so much fun to do all the voices. And there's the classic line "Crow was not amused."

Your top five authors:

Jane Yolen
Patricia MacLachlan
Geraldine Brooks
Ruta Sepetys
Heather Cox Richardson

Book you've faked reading:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien--I like fantasy now more than I did as a kid, though, so I should add it to my nightstand stack.

Book you're an evangelist for:

One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome. This compelling verse novel, told by three intergenerational female voices, brings the untold history of the Black homesteader movement to life. It received a Newbery Honor, which will introduce it to so many more people. If you're looking for wonderful writing, middle-grade verse novels are a gold mine now.

I'm also an evangelist about nonfiction for kids--we're in a golden age of nonfiction picture books for a variety of ages. There's so much creativity and innovation in topics, writing, illustration, and design. The best advice I got when I had a reluctant reader at home was to check out interesting books from the library and leave them laying around at home.

Book you've bought for the cover:

Snow Horses by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Micha Archer.

Book you hid from your parents:

Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective. I grew up a Midwestern baby boomer, and this frank look at women's health and sexuality was eye-opening. I loaned it to some of my friends, too.

Book that changed your life:

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

Favorite line from a book:

"Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." --E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Go as a River by Shelley Read. I couldn't believe it's a debut novel.

Five books you give as baby gifts:

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee--beautiful rhyme, fantastic art, a book of wonder and family and celebration.

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox, illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist--this book is so much fun to read aloud. The very youngest child can find the hidden ladybug on every page. It's a great one for new parents to sharpen their read-aloud skills, too.

Peek-a-Boo Zoo or any other board book by Joyce Wan--Joyce's adorable art and colorful palette are so appealing. Their chunky size is just right for little ones.

Rainbows in Bloom by Taylor Putnam and Michael Putnam--this book shows gradation of colors, not just the basics, and has gorgeous photography. It's a great example of Phaidon's innovative books for kids.

You Nest Here with Me by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Melissa Sweet--I am so fortunate to count Jane as a mentor. She has had a tremendous impact on my second career writing life. This book she wrote with her author daughter, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, is a perfect board book to read in a rocker at bedtime. The rhyme is snuggly and soothing, the illustrations are captivating, and there's even nonfiction back matter.

And of course I give my books, too!

Five favorite books for kids learning to read:

Moo! by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka--this book gives every kid the satisfaction of being a reader, including the youngest. There are only six words in the whole book, but the design makes "moo" so much fun to read and voice.

Ice Cream Soup by Ann Ingalls, illustrated by Richard Watson--humor goes a long way in making learning to read fun, and this book for the very beginner reader is a grand example.

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli--another picture book with spare, easy-to-read text. Kids love being in on the joke.

Fox versus Winter and the whole Fox series by Corey R. Tabor--these early readers have engaging stories with plenty of surprises from their cast of characters.

Worm and Caterpillar are Friends by Kaz Windness. This title is a fantastic early graphic reader. The story and the art are so appealing to kids.

Thai American Matt Braly, creator of Disney's Amphibia animated series, makes a debut with the first installment of his marvelously energetic graphic novel Family Force V, which introduces 15-year-old Maise Shiraki, the oldest of three children in a Thai Japanese American family. Chinese American character designer Ainsworth Lin vividly illustrates Braly's kaiju-filled contemporary Los Angeles.

"Decades ago, alien invaders attacked Tokyo." Their "demonic appearance" earned them the moniker the Mazoku, meaning devil tribe. The universe sent mankind the "Moon Computer [which] gifted five young Japanese siblings incredible powers" that transformed them into "the Moon Troopers." The Mazoku spread, and the original five Moon Troopers scattered to helm new divisions worldwide. Maise belongs to the L.A. branch, led by her father, Ken, "a real 'honor and duty' kinda guy." Her mother, Savisa, daughter of Thai immigrants, has fully adapted to--and excels at--this superhero life. The younger twins, Axl and Alex, are small but impressively mighty. Only Maise is reluctant about her inherited identity: she's more interested in illustrating, hanging out with friends, and trying to "be a normal kid."

Lately, Maise hasn't been entirely dependable when family duty calls. Six tardies (just this month) to life-and-death situations understandably require parental confrontation: "I keep telling you guys--I don't want this responsibility." Her father insists, "you don't always get to choose your responsibilities--sometimes they choose you." His final words to her the next day, "take care of this family," will both haunt and motivate her "to be the best Moon Trooper the world's ever seen!" Meanwhile, Maise's first love, a non-binary teen named Citlalli, has vowed to help their journalist mother unmask the Moon Troopers' secret identities.

Braly is a brilliant storyteller who impressively balances family drama, teenage independence, and social interactions with plenty of fantastical adventure. He does on the page what he did on screen with Amphibia: features a Thai American protagonist as an antidote to never seeing Thai representation growing up. Lin gives the narrative fabulous shape and form; his marvelous full-color art highlights distinct, expressive characterizations, including Maise's beanie with the power on/off symbol, Citlalli with that half-swoop hair, arrogant Daichi with his K-pop aura, and even a nod to L.A.'s elderly Asian women with their overly wide-brimmed hats. Audiences will surely be ready and waiting for Book Two. --Terry Hong

Shelf Talker: Amphibia creator Matt Braly teams up with character designer Ainsworth Lin to introduce Family Force V, a fabulous, fantastical man vs. monster graphic series.