How to Talk to Your Kids About Banned Books

It can feel overwhelming, even confusing, when the books we treasure (and the stories we believe every child should have the right to read) make headlines for being challenged or banned. Whether it's a picture book about inclusion, a middle grade novel tackling tough topics like grief or fitting in, or a young adult story centering voices historically pushed to the margins, book bans don’t just remove paper from shelves, they erase entire experiences and diminish our ability to learn from one another.

For parents, caregivers, and mentors who want to raise thoughtful, curious, and compassionate young people, talking to kids about banned books is more important than ever. These conversations can help them understand others, develop empathy, and build critical-thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Here's how to start.

1. Begin With What They Know

Kids notice more than we think. They may hear classmates talking about a book that got “taken away” or see a favorite book suddenly disappear from the school library. When initiating a conversation, start by asking open-ended questions:

• Have you heard anything about books being removed from your school or library?
  
  
• Why do you think it's important that books addressing different perspectives, beliefs, and interests are available in the library?
  
  
• Do you know why someone might want to keep a book away from others?
  
  

This invites them into the conversation from their own understanding and gives you an opportunity to learn what they’ve been hearing so you can meet them exactly where they are.

2. Talk About Why Books Get Banned

Kids can understand the concept of fairness early on, and banned books almost always involve issues of fairness and access. At their core, book bans happen when a person or group decides that a story should not be available to others, often because it deals openly with topics like race, gender identity, family structure, religion, or historical events.

A simple way to explain it might sound like:
“Sometimes, grown-ups get nervous about the ideas in a book, especially if those ideas are new, different, or challenge their way of thinking. But just because a book makes someone uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s harmful, and it also doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t have the chance to read it.”

3. Connect It to Values: Empathy, Inclusion, and Freedom

When discussing banned books with kids, tie the conversation to values you already model, like fairness, kindness, curiosity, and the right to make your own choices. You might ask:

• If somebody took away your favorite book just because they didn’t like it, how would that feel?
  
  
• Why is it important to have access to information about people, histories, and experiences that are unfamiliar to us? Why is it important to learn about different kinds of people and experiences?
  
  
• Should one person or group get to decide what everyone else is allowed to read?

• Reading a library book offers many opportunities for you to make decisions for yourself - from what book you will check out, to whether or not you will keep reading when the book takes a turn you maybe weren't ready for, to what lessons you will take away from what you read. What value do you find in being able to make those choices?
  
  

Use these questions to reinforce that access to information is a right, not a privilege and that learning about others helps us grow more caring and more connected.

4. Read Banned Books Together

One of the most meaningful ways to talk about banned books is to read them side by side and have a conversation afterward. Kids may have big, important questions. They might even feel strong emotions in response to what they read. Let them.

Here are some books for various ages about book banning that are excellent for reading together and discussing as a family:

• Book Comes Home by Rob Sanders
  A powerful picture book about a child who brings home a library book only to discover it’s been banned. This gentle story opens the door to a conversation about who gets to decide what books kids have access to and why every story matters.
  
  
• Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
  A middle grade book that follows fourth-grader Amy Anne, who starts a secret locker library sharing all the books banned from her school after her favorite title is challenged and removed. Through her quiet rebellion, Amy and the other kids learn the importance of standing up for their right to read and let every voice be heard.
  
  
• This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed
  A powerful young adult novel about a teen named Noor who discovers a hidden library of banned books in her town and begins to uncover the disturbing truth behind their removal. As she fights to return the books to the community, Noor learns that stories (and the people who protect them) can ignite change, even in the face of censorship.
  
  
• Banned Book Club by Hyun Sook Kim and Ryan Estrada
  A graphic memoir set in 1980s South Korea, where college student Hyun Sook joins an illegal book club that reads banned literature under an authoritarian regime. Through dangerous meetings and courageous friendships, she discovers the transformative power of books and the importance of speaking truth to power.

Banned books often tackle complex and real-world issues, like identity, racism, inequality, and personal autonomy, that many young people begin to navigate as they grow up. By reading about characters who face these challenges, adolescents gain a safe space to explore emotions, build sense-making skills, and reflect on their own experiences. These stories can become powerful tools for empathy, resilience, and critical thinking, helping teens feel less alone and more equipped for adulthood. Some books to get you started include: This Book is Banned, Finally Seen, Miles Morales Suspended, Attack of the Black Rectangles, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, and Fahrenheit 451.

5. Ask Follow-Up Questions and Make Room for Reflection

After reading, engage your child with questions that invite them to think and respond. Some ideas:

• What did you like (or not like) about this book?
  
  
• Why do you think some people didn’t want others to read it?
  
  
• How is the character’s life or experience the same or different from yours?
  
  
• What did you learn from this story?
  
  
• Do you think this book should be available in libraries or schools? Why?
  
  

Let the conversation unfold naturally. You might be surprised by the depth of insight your child brings.

6. Teach Them to Speak Up

When kids understand why banned books matter, they’re often eager to do something, whether it’s writing a book review, talking to classmates, participating in a school library club, or even speaking at a school board meeting.

You can help your child:

• Write a short note to the school librarian about why they value access to different books.
  
  
• Leave a positive review of a banned or challenged book on a platform like Goodreads or StoryGraph (for older kids).
  
  
• Make a poster or bookmark celebrating freedom to read.
  
  
• Attend a community event or read-in at your local library.
  
  

Let them know their voice matters and that even small actions help protect big freedoms.

7. Model Advocacy and Curiosity

Your advocacy sets the tone. Let your child see you reading widely, challenging assumptions, and standing up against censorship. Share your own favorite books that were once banned or challenged. Read books by authors whose voices have been historically silenced. Stay informed about local policies affecting access to books in your district.

If you want to take your advocacy a step further, download our free workbook, Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read, which includes tools, templates, and talking points for changemakers of all ages.

8. Normalize Diverse Stories

Kids should grow up seeing all kinds of families, cultures, histories, and identities reflected in books. By creating a home library with banned books and diverse stories, you're not just nurturing future readers. You’re growing compassionate citizens who understand the power of stories to build bridges, spark imagination, and connect us to our shared humanity.

9. Keep the Conversation Going

Talking to kids about banned books isn’t a one-time conversation. The landscape of censorship evolves constantly, and your child’s questions and needs will evolve, too.

Schedule regular family “book talks” or story nights. Ask them what they’re reading in class and what's missing from their school library. Make it part of your routine to choose one “banned or challenged book of the month” from a list curated by ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom or PEN America and read it together.

Let this be an ever-expanding journey of discovery, honesty, and connection.

Conclusion: Stories Are Meant to Be Shared

Books are mirrors. Windows. Sliding glass doors. When we deny children access to stories that reflect their lives or introduce them to lives different from their own, we close doors and dim the world around them.

But when we stand up for the right to read, we honor the idea that every kid deserves to explore the full, beautiful spectrum of human experience. Start the conversation. Share the stories. Protect the pages.

Your child (and our democracy) will thank you.

Want more support? Download our free guide, Turning the Page, and get tools for parents, educators, and students fighting censorship around the country.