Banned Book Week 2013 Gets A New, Silly Mascot: Captain Underpants!


It’s Banned Book Week, a yearly event during the last week of September during which the rebellious American Library Association’s Office Of Intellectual Freedom reminds us all that the books we read often face challenges from those who might find any number of topics offensive — and that banned books are cool, okay?

For Banned Book Week 2013, the ALA is rallying lit fans on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites to promote the risk of book bans and the threat they pose to American readers.

On their site, Banned Book week is explained:

“Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”

In addition to many shares, quizzes, and other information about Banned Book Week being posted across the social web, a Google Hangout featuring the rebellious authors of banned works are a planned part of the festivities. The ALA writes on Facebook:

[fb link=”https://www.facebook.com/bannedbooksweek/posts/10151668483901662?][/fb]

While the Harry Potter series is the unofficial House Champions of Banned Books Week, the children’s series has a new challenger in the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey.

As Banned Book Week 2013 is upon us, what banned books are your favorites of all time? Do you encourage your children to read controversial material, or do you agree with the censorship of libraries and institutions of learning?

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