Banned Books Week! (October 1st - 7th)

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Happy Banned Books Week to you! This upcoming week marks an important time for libraries and schools to remind everyone how important it is to be able to have the freedom to read - hence for this year's theme, "Let Freedom Read!" 

(c) 2023 Banned Books Week

According to the Banned Books Week official webpage, the formal description of this week is as follows:

"Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas."

The top 10 books that were challenged last year were:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 
1. Reasons: depiction of sexual abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content

4. Flamer by Mike Curato 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

5. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content

5. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual abuse, drugs, profanity

7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity

9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit

10. (TIE) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit

10. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs

10. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity

10. (TIE) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit

How many of the above have you read? I've read two so far, and watched two movie versions of others. I read the backgrounds on all of them, but I think I am going to make it a point for each year to read at least one banned/challenged book going forward. I was lucky enough this past year to be able to read a poem from one of my favorite childhood books at the American Library Association conference - so you may see me on YouTube this week!

What else can you do to show your support?

• Check out the Celebrate Banned Books Week Handbook for ideas on how to celebrate!
  
• Attend your city’s local school board meetings and voice your concerns about book bans.
• Advocate for your local library! Sign up for a library card (if you don't already have one) and become an active visitor.
• Send emails to your local senators expressing your support for educators, librarians and booksellers.
• Read banned/challenged books and support the right to read!

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead full of interesting and fun books. Until next time - happy reading!

Buddy the Bucket Filler by Maria Dismondy & Carol McCloud, Illustrated by Julia Seal

(c) Cardinal Rule Press, 2023

Hello my fellow bookworms!

Fall is just right around the corner and many have already gone back to school! I wanted to share a new children's book that has been recently released that is beautifully illustrated, with a great message to share called Buddy the Bucket Filler, written by Maria Dismondy and Carol McCloud, illustrated by Julia Seal. 

Buddy, a little boy, goes to visit his great uncle for a week during the summer. Uncle Frank acts like a grandfather to Buddy and has him help around the farm, feeding the animals and picking cherries. Uncle Frank later talks to Buddy about helping other using the "filling buckets" concept. They go around doing good deeds and Buddy has a great time and a good story to tell his father when he goes back home.

The "filling buckets" concept is one introduced through a previously released non-fiction book, also by Carol McCloud, titled Have You Filled a Bucket Today? The basic concept is that everyone has a bucket, and sometimes that bucket is full and sometimes it is empty. Anyone can act as a "bucket filler" to treat others with kindness and respect, thus filling the other person's bucket. Negative behaviors, such as bullying count as "dipping the bucket," which shows as an image of a bucket pouring all the happiness out of it. This method is a cute and imaginative way for children to learn about being kind and being generous.

The book is recommend for children between the ages of 4 and 10, and while the younger ones may not quite grasp the "filling buckets" concept, they will definitely enjoy looking at the beautiful artwork and understand the underlying message of being kind. A perfect read if you are looking to read a story about kindness and sharing. You can find the book at your local bookstore, or online as an e-book. If you check out the book directly from the publisher's website, Cardinal Rule Press, you can also download a free Reader's Guide for children, as well as coloring pages!

See the book trailer below:

 

Thank you to Cardinal Rule Press for providing me with a free copy of the book, as well as Ms. McCloud's first book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? I enjoyed the read and will enjoy passing along the message to those I know. I also love the cherry theme, as it makes a great end-of-the-summer read and ties in the message completely!

 

Until next time - Happy Reading!

(c) Maria Dismondy, 2023

About the Author: Maria Dismondy

Maria Dismondy is the founder of Cardinal Rule Press. Before devoting her work to the publishing industry and children's mental health, Maria was a teacher. She finds inspiration for her work in her daily life and strives to make a difference in the lives of children in her work around social emotional learning. Maria can be found walking her dogs and on adventures with her husband and three children in southeastern Michigan.

About the Author: Carol McCloud

(c) Carol McCloud, 2023

Carol McCloud began the series of Bucket Books with the ever-popular Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids in 2006. Her books have sold over three million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A champion for bucket filling, Carol strives to help people of all ages lead happier lives by growing in kindness, self-management, resilience, and compassion. She lives in Venice, Florida, with her husband, Jack.

                                About the Illustrator: Julia Seal

(c) Julia Seal, 2023

Julia Seal knew from the age of five what she wanted to do for a living - draw pictures! After graduating with a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration and then working in the greeting card industry (and getting covered in glitter every day!) she finally moved onto her dream job - illustrating children's books. She lives in a small village in England with her husband and two children - who provide plenty of inspiration.