The eye catching cover is what drew me to this fun picture book first – then the meaning of the title.
In a world that is banning books in a fast fashion lately, this topic is on everyone’s lips. But a book for children all about banning books? Perfect!

Beginning with hand drawn signs all forbidding reading of the book an intriguing way to urge readers to turn the page….

A succinct explanation of a banned book is waiting for the reader, and also an invitation to read the book to further understand.

Then we are straight into the very first banning – giraffes! But why? Because the hippos are upset with them of course! Onto dinosaurs who some people don’t believe existed, avocadoes, that some people don’t like and then more things or topics that might upset, frighten, or even cause fights over. The solution? Banned!

But of course this takes away most of the book, leaving it boring and even worse – blank!

The author finishes with a note about our books disappearing. This of course is because a few might not like even just a small aspect of a title and choose to ban it.

But books are as varied across the world as people are. If a book isn’t for you or your child or student – you as a parent or teacher can choose not to share it with them.

Someone else however might read it and find something truly special to them. We all know books can change lives. They need to be protected, not censored – so everyone has a chance at finding their own special read.

This Book is Banned is an assortment of illustration, collage style add ins on the pages, clear font style for the story and varied fonts and hand drawn pictures sprinkled liberally throughout.

An important topic in a super fun format.

Brilliant!

Author – Raj Haldar

Illustrator – Julia Patton

Picture Book – USA Title

(2023, Sourcebooks, Book Banning, Humour, Free, Sharing, Ideas, Concepts, Control, Opinion, Funny, Dangerous, Books, Reading, Literacy)