Scholastic Book Fairs Under Fire for Excluding Diverse and LGBTQ+ Titles
Scholastic, the popular children's book publisher, is facing criticism for facilitating the exclusion of books featuring people of color and LGBTQ characters from its book fairs. The company has created a collection called "Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice," which allows schools to exclude these titles. Scholastic claims it is responding to pending legislation that could expose schools to liability, but critics argue that the company is going beyond the scope of these laws. In response, a publisher called Brave Books has emerged, offering alternative book fairs that promote "age-appropriate" and "anti-Biblical" ideas. Scholastic's shift in stance has raised concerns about censorship and the company's commitment to marginalized communities.