Red: A Crayon's Story
by Michael Hall
Censorship Status
Banned in Various US schools
Reason: LGBTQ+ themes, gender identity metaphor
A picture book about a crayon labeled red who is actually blue.
Why Red: A Crayon's Story Was Banned
Censorship Concerns
Even children's literature isn't safe from censorship when it contains themes deemed inappropriate by authorities.
Specifically, Red: A Crayon's Story was targeted for: LGBTQ+ themes, gender identity metaphor. The book's themes and content were deemed threatening to the social, political, or religious order in Various US schools.
Why Read Red: A Crayon's Story Today?
- ✓ Historical Significance: Understand why this book was considered dangerous enough to ban.
- ✓ Intellectual Freedom: Support the right to read diverse perspectives and challenging ideas.
- ✓ Critical Thinking: Engage with ideas that authorities didn't want people to consider.
- ✓ Cultural Understanding: Gain insight into the fears and concerns of different societies and eras.
Other Banned Books You Might Like
All Boys Aren't Blue
by George M. Johnson
This powerful memoir about growing up Black and queer in America has been targeted by Republican lawmakers in at least 14 states. Johnson's honest discussion of sexuality, identity, and intersectionality has made it a lightning rod in current culture wars. The book's frank exploration of what it means to be both Black and queer challenges readers to understand multiple forms of marginalization simultaneously.
Gender Queer
by Maia Kobabe
The #1 most banned book in America 2022-2024. This graphic memoir explores gender identity and what it means to be non-binary and asexual. Kobabe's honest depiction of gender dysphoria, sexual awakening, and the search for identity has made it the center of Republican-led censorship battles nationwide. The book's visual format and frank discussions of anatomy have particularly triggered conservative opposition.
Call Me by Your Name
by André Aciman
This acclaimed novel about a summer romance between two young men has been removed from Hillsborough County, Florida, and other districts over 'pornographic' content and LGBTQ+ themes. The book's lyrical exploration of first love and sexual awakening in a same-sex relationship has made it a target for Republican school boards implementing anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
Don't Let This Story Be Silenced
Support intellectual freedom by reading the books that challenged the powerful. Get your copy of Red: A Crayon's Story today and discover why it's still being banned.
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