It's Banned Books Week!
Hello, everyone! It’s Fall, and the glass pumpkins are ready for harvest.
Happy Banned Books Week! October 5th - 11th.
Of all the things in the news to get worked up and do something about, book bans are mine. I mean, I’ve got kids and a writing career. I believe, as I know you reading this do, that without the freedom to read whatever we want and need, we are not going to be able to grow knowledgeable and compassionate citizens. It bothers me to no end pisses me off that there are people in this country who don’t want that sort of citizenry. I mean, just look what the Department of Education is up to. (Thanks AABB!)
So I encourage all of you to do something this week, even if it seems small. Check out what organizations are doing the work and see if they can use any help. (In Massachusetts there’s Mass Freedom to Read, for one). Check out banned books from your library (if you can). Tell the local paper how important this issue is to you. I went this weekend to my local bookstore and wrote postcards to my state senators and reps encouraging them to support freedom to read.
You know it’s not just books, though that’s bad enough. Freedom to speak and write as we like is under attack. So let’s defend it, before it’s as dead as this Labubu I found on the sidewalk.
Any plans for, say, October 18th?
Happy Spooky Season!
The family has compiled their list of seasonal watches, and Over the Garden Wall is already in the bag. Coming soon: all the Phineas and Ferb Halloween episodes, the good Simpsons Halloween episodes, that dancing skeleton short, and more! What kind of stuff are you all watching to get in the mood?
What are you reading? I did that thing where I took way too many books out of the library, so I’ll need to get to that pile. Right now I’m finishing up On Comics and Grief by Dale Jacobs. Coming up? A reread of The Skull by Jon Klassen. I also met author Leanna Renee Hieber at All She Wrote Books and she signed a copy of her and Andrea Jane’s America’s Most Gothic. So many books!
Of course, if you or a friend need something seasonal and haven’t gotten around to either of these…
Everyone stay curious and healthy out there. Get your shots if you can, and spare a thought for the people who can’t. Keep your spirits up; we’re gonna need ‘em.