You are invited to come and celebrate your freedom to read during the 26th annual celebration of Banned Books Week. Join the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, and the Newberry Library in Pioneer Plaza-at Michigan Ave. and the Chicago River-on Saturday, September 29, 2007, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., for the Banned Books Week Read-Out! Local Chicago celebrities join several acclaimed authors to read passages from their favorite banned and "challenged" books.

Banned Books Week Read-Out!

Banned Books Week Read-Out! Banner

You are invited to come and celebrate your freedom to read during the 26th annual celebration of Banned Books Week. Join the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, and the Newberry Library in Chicago, IL at the Pioneer Plaza (on Michigan Ave between the Tribune Tower and the Chicago River) on Saturday, September 29, 2007, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., for the Banned Books Week Read-Out!  Local Chicago Celebrities join several acclaimed authors to read passages from their favorite banned and challenged books.  Admission is FREE.

Carolyn Mackler for BBW Read-Out! 2007

Banned and Challenged Authors Include: 

Justin Richardson

 

Chris Crutcher is the author of several challenged books Athletic Shorts, Chinese Handcuffs, In the Time I Get, Running Loose, Stotan!, Whale Talk, and many more.

Justin Richardson

 

Robie Harris is the author of two of the most frequently challenged books of 2205: It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health and It's So Amazing! A Book About, Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families.

Justin Richardson

 

Carolyn Mackler is the author of the award winning teen novel, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, which was the fourth most frequently challenged book of 2006.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

 

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is the author of the Alice series, which are third most frequently challenged titles of 2005.

Justin Richardson

 

Peter Parnell is a playwright and coauthor of the most frequently challenged book of 2006—And Tango Makes Three.

Sonya Sones

 

Sonya Sones is the author of What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know, One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies, Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy, and What My Mother Doesn't Know—the eighth most frequently challenged book of 2005.

Marilyn Reynolds

 

Marilyn Reynolds is the author young adult novels such as Love Rules and If You Loved Me, and the sixth most frequently challenged book of 2005—Detour For Emmy.

Justin Richardson

 

Justin Richardson, M.D. is the coauthor of Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They'd Ask) and coauthor of the most frequently challenged book of 2006—And Tango Makes Three.

Local Chicago Celebrities and Authors

Mary Dempsey is the commissioner of the Chicago Public Library.

Rick Kogan is the host of WGN's "Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan."

Haki R. Madhubuti is the founder of the Third World Press and author of Yellow Black, Black Men: Single, Obsolete, Dangerous? The Afrikan American Family in Transition, and more.

Sara Paretsky is the author of the V.I. Warshawski Series.

Also Featuring

Banned or censored music performed by musicians from the Old Town School of Folk Music.

AND

Theatrical readings from the City Lit Theatre Company.

To Learn More About Why These Authors' Works Have Been Banned Or Challenged

Visit Why Have These Books Been Challenged?

For Other Ways to Help Get the Word Out and Other Ideas on How to Celebrate Your Freedom to Read

Visit Aye, mateys . . . celebrate your freedom t' read! and How to Celebrate Banned Books Week 2007.