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Special Storytime: Banned Books Week

Artists & Authors
For Families
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Reading Library

Free with Museum Admission

Various award winning and bestselling authors will read their favorite books that have faced censorship. Books read will include And Tango Makes Three, Everywhere Babies, and more. Readers include: Mk Smith Despres, Lesléa Newman, Michelle Cusolito, and more. 

Book signing to follow program. Can’t make the event? You may reserve signed books online.

Learn more about Banned Books Week here.

This event is free with museum admission. Free and discounted admission options are also available.

Who You'll Meet
Author Mk Smith Despres

Mk Smith Despres

Mk Smith Despres is the author of There’s That Sun Again, illustrated by Julie Benbassat, Night Song, a 2024 New England Book Award Finalist, illustrated by Hyewon Yum, and the First Friends board book series, illustrated by Aya Watanabe and Libby Burns. They write, teach, and read lots of books with their family in western Massachusetts.

Author website
Photo of Lesléa Newman

Lesléa Newman

Lesléa Newman is the author of 75 books for readers of all ages. In 1989 Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children’s book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children’s books on lesbian and gay families.
Author website
Author Michelle Cusolito

Michelle Cusolito

Michelle Cusolito is the author of A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone: Twenty-Four Days of Science at Sea, Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean, and Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin, which also won the 2016 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award. She has been exploring natural places since she was a child growing up on a farm in Massachusetts. 

Author website
Explore Further
A photograph of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art with its sign in the front.
Event

Celebrate the Freedom to Read With Your Favorite Authors

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September 22 marks the first day of Banned Books Week 2024.

A colorful pile of collage papers with different textures and patterns on them.
Event

Special Art Activity: Banned Books Week

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Create colorful collage postcards to send to librarians, thanking them for their incredible work!

Green mural painting by Eric Carle
Event

Celebrate The Freedom To Read: Picture Books

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Join us for a presentation and reading of award-winning picture books and elementary level graphic novels that have faced challenges. 

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Event

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: YA and Middle Grade

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Join us for a presentation and reading of award-winning Young Adult and Middle Grade books that have faced challenges. 

Visit the shop

In the Bookshop

Cover of Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman

Heather Has Two Mommies

Cover of Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN by Michelle Cusolito

Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN

Cover of Night Song by Mk Smith Despres

Night Song

Cover of Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman

Sparkle Boy

Cover of Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean by Michelle Cusolito

Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean