We're a newsletter that covers attempts to censor children’s picture books around the country. Part journalism, part book club, we talk to activists and authors about the freedom to read. https://www.onceuponaban.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lyvkz2sctk25What is it about boys and pink that sets people off? It’s not just colors. Stepping outside of any stereotypical gender norm seems to get books challenged. This week we're highlighting a few incredible children's books that dare to think beyond pink and share a message of acceptance. #freedomtoread https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/why-are-people-so-afraid-of-pink15 Sep 2025 19:45 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyvkz2sctk25https://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lvvnct3ft22oAre parents really behind book bans? We asked @txfreedomread.bsky.social for their thoughts. 🤔 #freedomtoread #bannedbooks08 Aug 2025 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvvnct3ft22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lvr3wh25ek27We're excited to share our latest newsletter featuring @txfreedomread.bsky.social! We had the opportunity to chat with them about SB 13 and how we can all stand up to censorship in our communities. Check it out! #freedomtoread #ireadbannedbooks https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/dont-mess-with-texas-libraries06 Aug 2025 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvr3wh25ek27https://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lvmeqkzogs2yComing Wednesday! We can't wait to share our conversation with @txfreedomread.bsky.social. From SB 13 to how parents can protect the freedom to read in their communities, there's a lot to cover! Visit www.onceuponaban.com to sign up to get this week's newsletter. #freedomtoread #bannedbooks04 Aug 2025 23:43 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvmeqkzogs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3luip3qew6k2vWhat started as a complaint over a Pride display has turned into a multi-year debate over the future of the Fontana Regional Library System. Residents are organizing to protect their library so it stays the way it has always been, a true community center. #freedomtoread #bannedbooks #savethefrl https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/library-at-risk-over-pride-display?r=5gu9l7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false21 Jul 2025 19:12 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3luip3qew6k2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lu233zjsuk2nLast Sunday our community came together to Turn the Page and celebrate the #freedomtoread! Thank you to everyone who joined us and we hope to Turn the Page again soon! #ireadbannedbooks15 Jul 2025 23:37 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu233zjsuk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3ltkqujnzn22qHey Orange County! Free this Sunday? Join us for our summer reading event in paternship with @wave4all.bsky.social. We’ll have storytime with community leaders, a book fair with a local bookstore, crafts and more! RSVP encouraged but not required. #orangecounty #missionviejo #ocevents09 Jul 2025 21:24 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltkqujnzn22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3ltfmwdnmoc2qWe decided it was time to introduce ourselves. 👋 https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/introducing-ourselves07 Jul 2025 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltfmwdnmoc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lt5xffxxsc24Three banned children’s picture books to add to your TBR list this holiday weekend. #letfreedomread #freedomtoread #ireadbannedbooks04 Jul 2025 19:17 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lt5xffxxsc24https://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lsyrre7ftk27Incoming transmission... July's featured book has landed! Written by @underwoodwriter.bsky.social and illustrated by @meghunt.bsky.social, Interstellar Cinderella is the story of a smart, independent heroine and it was banned by the DoD. Check out our interview with the author! #kidlit #bannedbooks https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/interstellar-cinderella-quarantined02 Jul 2025 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsyrre7ftk27https://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lstoqqgn4k2hWith the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling last week, many of us are left wondering what’s next. We checked back in with author @cswild.bsky.social to get her take on the ruling and where we go from here. #freedomtoread #weneeddiversebooks #kidlit #lgbtqkidlit https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/i-joyfully-dissent?r=5gu9l7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false30 Jun 2025 17:15 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lstoqqgn4k2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lstolppg4c2hWith the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling last week, many of us are left wondering what’s next. We checked back in with author @cswild.bsky.social to get her take on the ruling and where we go from here. #freedomtoread #weneeddiversebooks #kidlit #lgbtqkidlit https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/i-joyfully-dissent?r=5gu9l7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false30 Jun 2025 17:12 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lstolppg4c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lsrclhgdd22zSharing some thoughts. #freedomtoread #weneeddiversebooks29 Jun 2025 18:32 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsrclhgdd22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lsjiyfla3s2aHey Southern California! Free on July 13th? We’re excited to share that we're partnering with @wave4all.bsky.social on a summer reading event to celebrate the freedom to read! We'll have storytime with community leaders, crafts and so much more. Join us for an afternoon of summer fun and community!26 Jun 2025 16:05 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsjiyfla3s2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lsfqou6gic2aReporting back on The Complete Book of Cats. #bannedbooks #cats [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Jun 2025 04:13 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsfqou6gic2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3ls4z5zarzs2mThe @rainbowdefense.bsky.social (RDC) brings together volunteers to create a physical barrier from protestors so families in the DMV area can safely attend Drag Queen Story Hours. Link in bio to read our interview and learn how you can support their efforts. Photo credit @robinfader.bsky.social21 Jun 2025 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3ls4z5zarzs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lryil5nxi22uWhy though? #bannedbooks #ireadbannedbooks #cats19 Jun 2025 21:43 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lryil5nxi22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lrqmofh5hc26When the rise in censorship begins to feel overwhelming, we like to take a page out of Mr. Rogers’ book and look for the helpers. We’re excited to introduce you to @rainbowdefense.bsky.social and Books Not Bans, two organizations that are working to ensure LGBTQ+ stories remain accessible. https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/finding-the-helpers16 Jun 2025 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrqmofh5hc26https://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lrgpl4utms2qThis month's book is Molly's Tuxedo by @vickijohnsonwrites.bsky.social. Johnson shared more with us about her love for reading and what inspired her to write Molly's Tuxedo. Link in bio to read our interview.12 Jun 2025 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrgpl4utms2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lre7pp3vzc2iThe votes have been counted and the people of Huntington Beach delivered a resounding victory for the freedom to read on Tuesday night. We caught up with Carol Daus, a representative of Our Library Matters, to get her perspective on the win. #freedomtoread https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/victory-in-huntington-beach11 Jun 2025 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lre7pp3vzc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lr7y4ajsgs27Residents are heading to the polls this Tuesday to vote on two measures about the library. It’s not too late to catch up on what is happening in Huntington Beach! linktr.ee/onceuponaban10 Jun 2025 03:44 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lr7y4ajsgs27https://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lr75jlrkrk2rHappy Pride! This month (and every month) we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, authors, and illustrators who bring stories to life. We believe representation in stories matters and we stand with you.09 Jun 2025 19:49 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lr75jlrkrk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lqut2pqvf22xWe’re not falling for it. #bannedbooks #freedomtoread05 Jun 2025 17:15 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqut2pqvf22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lqstsxmof22iFor #whatimreadingwednesday our family is reading Molly’s Tuxedo by @vickijohnsonwrites.bsky.social. It’s picture day at school and Molly is excited. There’s just one problem, her mom insists she wears a dress when Molly wants to wear her brother’s old tuxedo instead. What will Molly do? #kidlit04 Jun 2025 22:23 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqstsxmof22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lqpvxxwrw22oThe Huntington Beach City Council says there is explicit material in the children’s library, so we asked parents what their children checked out. #freedomtoread #libraries #bannedbooks03 Jun 2025 18:23 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqpvxxwrw22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lqnhnwhrmc2hOur featured book for June is Molly's Tuxedo by @vickijohnsonwrites.bsky.social! We had a chance to speak with Johnson about her experience with soft censorship, what motivates her to keep writing, and her upcoming book Mac Wears a Hat. Check it out! #freedomtoread #softcensorship #kidlit https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/mollys-tuxedo-and-soft-censorship02 Jun 2025 19:02 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqnhnwhrmc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lqkqbalefk2zWith the special election days away, supporters of the Huntington Beach Public Library have been staging read-ins to bring awareness to the campaign. We stopped by to ask what the library means to them. #freedomtoread #bannedbooks01 Jun 2025 16:58 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqkqbalefk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lqaz7wbv522hWe're kicking off our summer reading challenge and sharing what our family is reading. This week it's books by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social including Your One and Only Heart, Summer is for Cousins and her newest book Some of Us! What is your family reading? #summerreading #bannedbooks #kidlit28 May 2025 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqaz7wbv522hhttps://bsky.app/profile/onceuponaban.bsky.social/post/3lq6glt64xc2bYou're invited to join our summer reading challenge focused on banned books! Read 20 banned children's picture books OR 1,000 pages of banned books for any age. Link below to get our challenge tracker and lists of banned books to get you started. #ireadbannedbooks #summerreadingchallenge https://www.onceuponaban.com/p/join-our-summer-reading-challenge27 May 2025 19:33 +0000at://did:plc:2iysktccpiwqmchdp5ugkr2g/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq6glt64xc2b