Scholastic Book Fairs Lets Schools "Opt Out" of Selected Diverse Titles

***UPDATE: Oct 25, 2023: Scholastic apologizes and, as reported by Publishers Weekly, "Will End Controversial Bookfair Offering."

“I want to apologize on behalf of Scholastic,” Scholastic Trade Publishing president Ellie Berger wrote in the letter addressed to authors and illustrators, which was shared on social media on October 24. “Even if the decision was made with good intention, we understand now that it was a mistake to segregate diverse books in an elective case.”

***

The new ability for school book fair organizers to opt-out of a separate collection of books primarily by Black and LGBTQ+ creators and about Black and LGBTQ+ characters and themes been much in the news (including here, here, and here.)

Scholastic made a statement defending its position, saying, in part:

“We don’t pretend this solution is perfect – but the other option would be to not offer these books at all – which is not something we’d consider.”

As of Sunday Oct 22, over 1,400 authors and illustrators* have signed a statement urging Scholastic to do better. That statement reads:

“We, the undersigned authors and illustrators, are asking Scholastic Book Fairs to discontinue their “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” program and include those books with the other books in their fairs.

“As authors and illustrators, we cannot stand by while some of our books are offered to readers, while other works are separated and deemed as possibly dangerous to children.

“While the Scholastic trade division does publish many diverse books, the fairs division must follow that through and commit to actually getting those books to kids. The books separated for optional exclusion are almost entirely written about or by people of color or the LGBTQIA+ community. Deciding that the subject matter of these books might go against a state’s law capitulates to the idea that these books are not suitable for children. That is harmful, and wrong.

“Putting diverse books in a separate, optional collection is a form of censorship that cannot be supported. All children deserve to see themselves in books so that they can become engaged and empowered readers. Children also benefit from reading about others with different experiences than their own. Authors from marginalized communities need the same opportunities as other authors to succeed and shine.

“We are asking Scholastic Book Fairs to find another solution—one that does not compromise the integrity of the product they provide, which is access to diverse books for all kids. Accommodating and making it easier to concede to book banning cannot be the answer. In times of trial, we need to work and fight for people who want to do the right thing, not defer to the oppressors.

“Scholastic Book Fairs should be using their clout to fight book banning and support the teachers and librarians who are also fighting for access to books for their kids. Simply, there has to be a better way.”

Scholastic, as reported by NBC news, "manages sales at 120,000 book fairs nationwide." and according to statistics shared by WordsRated is "the largest Children’s book publisher in the US, making over a quarter (28.6%) of the industry revenue in the market. They publish over 750 new books every year." Additionally, WordsRated reported that for its Fiscal Year 2022, “Scholastic achieved a revenue of $946.5 million in children’s book publishing and distribution."

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

*Dislosure: As an individual and author myself, I signed this statement as well.