Opinion

Reporters and editors—we at SLJ included—want to get the story right, to bear witness, and to provide readers with accurate, relevant information. But the tenor of an increasingly polarized debate, with efforts to limit discussion of racism and LGBTQIA+ topics in the classroom, challenges journalists—much less educators and students—who must navigate a volatile climate.

Reader feedback on our award winner, reading comprehension, and a book review. 

In our May issue, you’ll find an 18-by-24-inch poster promoting the freedom to read. Famed artist Rafael López created the warm, hopeful image, which ­conveys the power of reading to open minds and hearts.

Literacy development depends on many factors, including access to learning that helps students crack the alphabetic code, their community's ability to meet social-emotional needs, and engaging curriculum. 

Alongside a national rise in censorship, we've received queries about our review process. For readers experiencing a challenge to a book or anticipating one, SLJ reviews editor Shelley Diaz and a panel covered the ins and outs of what we do.  

Martha Hickson "is putting herself on the line and giving librarians strength to hold fast to their views and their values and push back against these attacks,” says Chris Finan, executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship. 

In the main, awards season will celebrate honored books and their creators. Yet such a high-profile occasion presents a unique opportunity to celebrate and honor, too, the right of kids and teens to read and access content.

In the face of rising book challenges, Michael Rady is remarkably upbeat. Program manager of the Rainbow ­Library, GLSEN’s project to distribute ­LGBTQ+–affirming titles to schools and libraries, Rady emanates a clear-eyed sense of purpose around a program that is seeing unprecedented demand.

The author of The Extended Mind writes how bustling library atmospheres can foster focus, comprehension, and creativity.