What We're Doing

More than four decades after Banned Books Week began, the threat of censorship continues to grow. During the 2024-2025 school year, PEN America recorded 6,870 instances of books being banned, from picture books like Hair Love and All Are Welcome to classics like 1984, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and The Outsiders. This number does not reflect the growing impact of silent censorship, where educators preemptively pull books from shelves out of fear, often targeting books that center people of color and/or LGBTQ+ communities. With several federal bills recently introduced that could further restrict access to books and educational materials, the stakes are higher than ever. 

Penguin Random House and its coalition of partners continue to lead the fight to protect the freedom to read through legal action, legislative advocacy, and public engagement. The publisher’s lawsuits challenging book-banning laws in Florida, Iowa, and Idaho remain active, with a recently amended complaint filed in Iowa focusing the legal challenge on nine specific books. Penguin Random House also continues to support state-level Freedom to Read legislation and engage with policymakers across the political spectrum on the potential impact of recently introduced federal legislation. 

From protecting books in court to partnering with authors, teachers, librarians, parents and caregivers, and other industry leaders, we’re committed to getting books back on shelves and into the hands of readers who want and need them most.