Scholastic Backtracks on Book Fair Policy

Following widespread criticism, Scholastic will no longer put diverse books into a separate, optional catalog for school book fairs, the New York Times reported.

The catalog, which was dubbed "Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice," contained 64 titles pertaining to race, gender, and LGBTQ identities. They ranged from biographies of John Lewis to picture books depicting families with same-sex parents, and book fair organizers could choose to opt out of specific titles or the entire catalog.

Scholastic said it created the separate catalog in response to the many new state laws banning or restricting similar content in schools, and when the company acknowledged the new policy earlier this month, it said it had faced an "impossible dilemma" of either backing away from such titles entirely or exposing teachers, librarians, and book fair volunteers to risk.

The backlash was immediate and, in a letter quoted in the Times, Scholastic apologized to its authors and illustrators this week, pledging "to stand with you as we redouble our efforts to combat the laws restricting children's access to books."

Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America's free expression and education program, wrote of the reversal: "Scholastic recognized that, as difficult a bind as this pernicious legislation created, the right answer was not to become an accessory to censorship. Scholastic is an essential source of knowledge and a delight for countless children. We are glad to see them champion the freedom to read."

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