Thanks to the First Amendment, all people in the United States—even kids—have the right to read whatever they choose. The First Amendment protects the freedom of all Americans by making sure that the government cannot stop the expression of an idea, even if that idea is unpopular.
Sometimes people challenge the right of a library or school to keep a book on the shelves. When a challenge results in a book being completely removed from the library, it is considered a banned book. The American Library Association's Banned Books Week celebrates our freedom of speech and the First Amendment by highlighting books that are frequently challenged or banned.
Celebrate your own freedom to read by taking a look at one of these frequently challenged titles. Whether you have read one, some or none at all, the topic of what makes a book controversial is great to discuss as a family.
And Tango Makes Three is based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins in New York's Central Park Zoo who were given an egg to raise together.
If you love comics and graphic novels, check out Bone, which tells the story of the Bone cousins, who find themselves mysteriously trapped in scary land filled with adventures beyond their wildest dreams.
You're bound to giggle when Captain Underpants, a superhero from George's homemade comic book, accidentally comes to life in The Adventures of Captain Underpants!
Read (or re-read) how it all began for Harry, Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Which books were you surprised to find on the banned books list?
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