Scholastic books’ Read with Pride campaign Photo: Internet screenshot
The book publisher Scholastic has published a Pride guide giving educators and child advocates a list of LGBTQ+-themed books for children of all ages as well as support resources for mental health and fighting right-wing book bans.
The guide comes eight months after the company was widely criticized for allowing schools to opt out of offering “diverse” books on racial and LGBTQ+ issues at its school book fairs. Though Scholastic introduced the policy to help educators adhere to state legislation and district policies banning queer content and “critical race theory” in schools, it reversed the opt-out policy after authors and educators blamed the company for complying to book banning rather than challenging such bans.
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“As a teacher, librarian, educator, or caregiver, how you interact with all children and teens around queerness matters,” Scholastic’s guide states. “What literature you provide them with, and how you talk about both literature and identity, can have an immense, life-changing impact on the young people in your life…. Whether or not they are out to themselves or you, you absolutely know queer children and interact with them in your classrooms, libraries, and communities.”
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“Books and literature are never neutral,” the guide continues. “By engaging with queer literature for children and young adults, you are disrupting the status quo that implies being cisgender, heterosexual, and allosexual are the default. You are showing children an expanded way of thinking and being that validates all children and all people.”
The guide includes a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms and concepts as well as three-page resource list. The list includes national LGBTQ+ organizations, lists of award-winning queer children’s books, information about LGBTQ+ identities, advocacy groups for being a better ally, mental health resources, as well as educator and librarian resources, including free-speech organizations that fight against book bans.
“Unfortunately, many communities are experiencing significant pushback to supporting the rights and needs of queer youth and the inclusion of queer literature in classrooms and libraries,” the guide states. “If you or anyone you know needs them, make sure to utilize the links to mental health and censorship hotlines included in this guide.”
Lawmakers in over 15 states have introduced bills to punish libraries and librarians for allowing access to LGBTQ+-inclusive content, the Associated Press reported. Book-banning advocates targeted over 4,200 works in school and public libraries in 2023, according to the American Library Association — an over 61% increase from 2022. Approximately 47% of the targeted books had LGBTQ+ and racial themes.
In late October 2023, Scholastic announced that it will end its policy of allowing schools to opt out of offering “diverse” books on racial and LGBTQ+ issues at its school book fairs.
Scholastic had been placing books on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC issues into a case called “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” and allowing elementary schools to opt out of receiving the case in order to comply with policies banning queer content and “critical race theory” in schools.
After authors published by Scholastic publicly complained, Scholastic Trade Publishing President Ellie Berger apologized to all affected groups, writing, “Even if the decision was made with good intention, we understand now that it was a mistake.”
Berger said the policy would be entirely discontinued in January 2024, adding, “We will find an alternate way to get a greater range of books into the hands of children we remain committed to the books in this collection and support their sale throughout our distribution channels.” She said the company would “redouble” its efforts to combat laws restricting childrens’ access to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC books.
