Alabama Library Flags Kids Book As Explicit Due To Author’s Name

Alabama continues to be effected by the nation's "book banning trend" with this recent episode in Huntsville.

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There are many states across the country that have bans on books at public libraries and even school libraries.

According to Pen America, there was an increase in books banned across the nation of 28 percent in the first half of the 2022-2023 school year. This is compared to the prior six months, January – June 2022.

Governor Kay Ivey spoke up with her thoughts on banning books.

According to the Daily Beast, Governor Kay Ivey sent a letter to the state's public library agency raising questions about specific books and asking whether “reform” was needed.

I don't think this specific kind of reform is what Governor Kay Ivey may have imagined.

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is making headlines for adding a book to their list of potentially inappropriate titles due to the author's last name being "Gay."

According to AP News, a book that has nothing to do with sexual orientation and is actually about a pair of siblings reading together and building a dog house entitled “Read Me a Story, Stella,” by Canadian author Marie-Louise Gay was flagged by the Alabama library.

That book was one of 233 books that would've been potentially moved.

AP News reports that Kirsten Brassard, Gay’s publicist at Groundwood Books, said the episode sends a “hateful message” coming from a public library,

“This proves, as always, that censorship is never about limiting access to this book or that one. It is about sending the message to children that certain ideas — or even certain people — are not worthy of discussion or acknowledgment or consideration,” Brassard told the news outlet.

What are your thoughts on the nation's "book banning trend?" Is it necessary or going too far?