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When Scholastic’s book fair returns to elementary schools this year, some books on race and LGBTQ+ issues might be stored in a separate box. Some might be removed entirely.
Scholastic, a children’s book publisher, hosts annual book fairs where students can purchase books during the school day. But amid a right-wing push to restrict access to certain school books, especially those that reference race or gender, Scholastic has moved some of those books to a new section in book fairs, which schools can opt out of providing.
The move has prompted backlash from librarians and authors, who accuse Scholastic of capitulating to conservative pressure. Scholastic, meanwhile, says the move is intended to protect teachers and librarians who could face lawsuits or even prosecution under some state laws.