Scholastic backtracks on policy that separated books about race and gender

Scholastic has reversed a decision to allow school districts running book fairs to exclude books about race and gender after facing widespread criticism.

Scholastic has reversed a decision to allow school districts running book fairs to opt in or out of selling a grouping of books with diverse titles about race and gender after facing widespread criticism, including from those in the publishing industry, educators and parents.

The children’s book publisher had grouped 64 titles, which feature Black and brown community themes and LGBTQ+ characters, as optional, citing legislation in more than 30 states restricting what content students can access.

“I want to apologize on behalf of Scholastic,” Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic Trade Publishing, said in a letter addressed to authors and illustrators. “Even if the decision was made with good intention, we understand now that it was a mistake to segregate diverse books in an elective case.”

It continued: “We sincerely apologize to every author, illustrator, licensor, educator, librarian, parent, and reader who was hurt by our action.”

Local book fair organizers select from a catalog of different Scholastic “cases,” or groupings of books, that are shipped as units to the schools for their events. This year’s offering included 13 modules of books, such as “Fun Facts and Favorite Characters” and “Picture Book Combo.” New this year was the diversity grouping labeled “Share Every Story/Celebrate Every Voice Case.”