Danger: Books!

Breaking Out Banned Books • Coming January 2024

DANGER: BOOKS! is a program that sends actors out to schools, libraries, community centers, and other cultural spaces in Washington State to perform a series of readings from books that have been banned or challenged in the United States and then facilitate a discussion on what that process entails and how that impacts their freedom of speech.

Book bans are escalating at an alarming rate, nationwide.

In a report released in April, PEN America recorded 1477 separate instances of book bans across the country, encompassing a staggering 874 unique titles in 182 school districts in 36 states. Book bans, coupled with growing legislative efforts to restrict teaching about topics such as race, gender, American history, and LGBTQ+ identities, undermine students’ ability to read, learn, and think critically about important issues facing them today.

In response to the growing problem of book banning, Book-It is reviving this program to ensure our next generation is a part of the vital conversations about First Amendment rights, and promote the joy of reading, telling diverse stories, enhancing student learning, and inspiring the imagination.

For questions and inquiry, please contact info@book-it.org