Topline
Scholastic will ditch plans to offer books about LGBTQ identities and race in a separate, optional collection for book fairs beginning in January after educators and literary organizations accused the company of contributing to book censorship and segregating its book fairs.
Scholastic faced backlash from educators after separating diverse titles into an optional category … [+]
Key Facts
Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic Trade Publishing, reportedly apologized in a letter addressed to authors and illustrators Tuesday, which circulated social media, stating it was a “mistake to segregate diverse books in an elective case.”
Scholastic stated Wednesday it offered a separate optional collection, called “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice,” this fall out of concern for book fair hosts who may face the consequences of state laws that restrict what books and course material can be taught in schools.
The company backtracked after facing growing backlash from educators and organizations including PEN America, which slammed Scholastic as “an accessory to government censorship,” and the group We Need Diverse Books, which urged it to “desegregate” book fairs.
Berger wrote the company is working on a “pivot plan” for book fairs already taking place this fall and will “find an alternate way to get a greater range of books into the hands of children.”
PEN America praised Scholastic for abandoning the separate collection for diverse titles Wednesday, stating: “We are glad to see them champion the freedom to read.”
Key Background
Scholastic sparked confusion and anger among educators this summer when some noticed titles focused on race and LGBTQ identities were offered in a separate, optional collection. In one Reddit thread in the “books” subreddit, which has been upvoted more than 1,600 times, a user criticized Scholastic for “capitulating to ultra-conservative groups that want to ban books.” The company confirmed it created the “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” collection in a statement on October 13, defending the policy amid increasing numbers of book bans. Scholastic stated it faced an “impossible dilemma: back away from these titles or risk making teachers, librarians, and volunteers vulnerable to being fired, sued, or prosecuted.” Authors—including India Hill Brown and Ernesto Cisneros, whose books were placed in the separate collection—criticized Scholastic, claiming it may diminish the visibility of diverse authors. Cisneros posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) he was “heartbroken” and had dreamed of his books being included in book fairs.
Surprising Fact
Some of the books included in the “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” collection included biographies of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, civil rights icon Ruby Bridges and the late Rep. John Lewis. Books written by poet Amanda Gorman, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and openly queer dancer and singer JoJo Siwa were also reportedly included in the separate collection.
Crucial Quote
“We recognize and acknowledge the pain caused, and that we have broken the trust of some of our publishing community, customers, friends, trusted partners, and staff, and we also recognize that we will now need to regain that trust,” Berger wrote in her letter.
Further Reading
Educators Criticize Scholastic For Letting Schools Opt Out Of Certain Diverse Titles At Book Fairs (Forbes)
Scholastic backtracks, saying it will stop separating diverse books for fairs in 2024 (NPR)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/10/25/scholastic-abandoning-separate-book-fair-section-for-books-on-race-and-lgbtq-identities-following-outrage/