Scholastic backtracks on decision to ‘opt out’ of ‘diverse titles’ after facing criticism

The past few years have seen an alarming uptick in book bans, a move caused in no small part by certain lawmakers looking to restrict accurate and inclusive education about topics such as race, gender, American history, and LGBTQIA+ identities in several states across the country. Of course, these bans only serve to censor and suppress the types of books available to students, and they’re often baseless at best and harmful and exclusionary at worst.

Scholastic, the leading publisher and distributor of children’s books, announced last week that it was planning on allowing schools to ‘opt out’ of ‘diverse titles’ at its book fairs — namely, “LGBTQIA+ titles and books that engage with the presence of racism in our country,” as they put it — in an effort to protect book providers from being fired, sued, or prosecuted for offering them.

Thankfully, they’re now backtracking on that decision after facing harsh criticism and accusations of bending to the pressure of book bans.

🚨 We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) condemns the recent decision by Scholastic Book Fairs to segregate books that deal with race, gender, and sexuality in response to the rising spate of book bans and challenges across the country. 🚨 ⁠
⁠https://t.co/HyZOVJCVpF pic.twitter.com/FV1jEksjgf

— WeNeedDiverseBooks (@diversebooks) October 18, 2023

In their statement last week, Scholastic noted that “there is now enacted or pending legislation in more than 30 U.S. states prohibiting certain kinds of books from being in schools.” They added: “Because Scholastic Book Fairs are invited into schools, where books can be purchased by kids on their own, these laws create an almost impossible dilemma: back away from these titles or risk making teachers, librarians, and volunteers vulnerable to being fired, sued, or prosecuted.”

For those wanting more information on whats happening with @Scholastic book fairs, I have some videos.

First video shows what they are sending book fairs now, 2nd & 3rd shows the “diverse books” you must opt in to receive (which were sent days AFTER book fair started). https://t.co/uFyp7k8KbG pic.twitter.com/reCIAHF4kk

— InMinivanHell (@inminivanhell) October 16, 2023

The company’s solution: separating books with LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC characters into an optional “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” section that librarians must opt into.

USA Today confirmed that some of the 60 titles in Scholastic’s proposed “optional” collection include Alexandra Penfold’s “All Are Welcome,” a children’s book that features same-sex and interracial parents, and “Justice Ketanji,” a biography of Ketanji Brown Jackson — the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court — written by Denise Lewis Patrick. Understandably, parents, educators, authors, and librarians alike are displeased by the bucketing of these books as “controversial,” and plenty are pushing back on Scholastic for its decision.

NPR reports that Ellie Berger, the president of Scholastic Trade Publishing, apologized and announced the latest change in a letter Tuesday addressed to authors and illustrators:

“Even if the decision was made with good intention, we understand now that it was a mistake to segregate diverse books in an elective case,” she wrote. “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 said the collection that faced backlash, called “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice,” will now be discontinued starting in January. While many book fairs are already underway for this fall, many schools host book fairs in the spring. Berger said the company is actively working on a “pivot plan” for the remaining fall fairs.

“We will find an alternate way to get a greater range of books into the hands of children,” Berger wrote, before confirming Scholastic’s commitment BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors and stories. “We pledge to stand with you as we redouble our efforts to combat the laws restricting children’s access to books.”