Seemingly overnight, semi-autobiographical graphic novels for children have become a hit genre, dominating New York Times bestseller lists, winning industry awards, and garnering significant praise and accolades. Leading the way is Raina Telgemeier, whose fun, incredibly relatable, and heartfelt graphic novels…
As we celebrate Independence Day, we also celebrate the independent spirit of our country’s founders, men and women who fought against an oppressive regime and eventually gave us the law that CBLDF works to protect: the First Amendment. Freedom of expression…
Toronto Public Library recently released their yearly Reconsideration of Materials Summary, recapping the books and movies challenged in one of Canada’s largest library systems, and two graphic novels were among the books challenged. Similar to the American Library Association’s yearly…
Along with giving rise to some of the industry’s greatest creators and laying the foundation for what has become the independent comics scene today, the undergrounds also fostered the development of the queer comix movement — a wholly new and unique space where LGBTQ youth could, for once, express themselves and speak out freely about social issues directly impacting the LGBTQ community.
Join CBLDF in Orlando this weekend, June 24 – 28 for the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition! We’ll be at booth 509 with the debut of our Manga Book Club Handbook; the sixth issue of CBLDF Defender, our…
CBLDF Defender is our free quarterly news magazine coming to you from the front lines of the fight for free speech, and the sixth issue is now available! You can find it at comic book stores across the nation, on comiXology, and right here at CBLDF.org!…
In a recent editorial piece on The Huffington Post, author and high school teacher Peter Brown Hoffmeister discusses the hot topic of banning books and explores the dangerous implications and imminent pitfalls of censoring the materials teenagers have access to…
With every new generation, there is a new form of media that becomes both actively embraced by American youth, as well as socially stigmatized and branded as “low class,” “obscene,” and “dangerous” by the morality police (aka grown ups). It…
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has launched a new bi-weekly podcast So to Speak dedicated to tackling and talking candidly about the subject of free speech. Since its founding in 1999 by University of Pennsylvania professor Alan Charles…
Award-winning creators and free speech advocates Jennifer and Matthew Holm are very familiar with the positive and lasting impact that graphic novels can have on young children learning to read. In a recent interview with the School Library Journal the…