Phil Bildner

In 2024, AUTHORS AGAINST BOOK BANS, the author and creator wing of the fight to protect the freedom to read, was established.

This month, thanks to @everylibrary.bsky.social, the organization now has a fiscal sponsor and can accept tax free donations.

www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/donate/

Why Editor Andrew Karre Can’t Imagine YA Literature Without Sexual Content 'If it became impossible to publish YA novels with sex in them, I think it would effectively become impossible to publish YA novels.'

Why Sexual Content Matters in Young Adult Literature

This is such an important article from @penamerica.bsky.social. It includes a terrific interview with editor @andrewkarre.bsky.social.

Definitely worth a few minutes of your day.

pen.org/andrew-karre...

Mark your calendars!

On Thursday December 16, in Bedford, New York, @barbaradee.bsky.social and I will be leading the panel discussion following the screening of documentary film, THE LIBRARIANS.

Commencement Speakers:

Are you looking for an inspiring, engaging, and highly relevant speaker for your spring 2026 commencement ceremony?

Consider one of the authors, educators, or librarians from The Author Village.

Putting it out into the universe and wishing it into existence:

Two or three of the cowards who joined MAGA and chose to appease the petty tyrant yesterday are going to collectively announce they're changing their votes.

Capitulation is complicity.
Resist this regime. Resist relentlessly.

Appeasement never works with lawless tyrants. Caving is complicity.

Healthcare is a human right.
They are taking away our healthcare.

Caving is complicity.

A failure of leadership. A failure of resolve.

This petty mob-boss wannabe tyrant is lawless.

Appeasement is complicity.

Resist.
Resist relentlessly.

AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge "Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."

AI and the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge

This article has been making the rounds on social this week. It's not an easy or pleasant read, but it sure is an important one.

When you have a few moments, please take the time to read and process this.

www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...

They are trying to take away our healthcare, restrict our movement by cutting air travel, take away our food, ban our books, gut our schools, and disappear our neighbors.

Groceries prices are not going down. Gas prices are not going to down.

He is a monstrous evildoer. He is a vile creature.

I saw that @occupydemocrats.bsky.social and @everylibrary.bsky.social had posted this, and as a result, I believed the information was accurate, verified, and sourced.

It was not.

I need to do better. We need to do better.

Just because we want something to be true, doesn't mean it is.

(2/2)

Like so many others this week, I shared the false information that the book banning extremist group Moms For Liberty had lost all 31 of their races on Tuesday and was now 0-59 in contested school board races since 2023.

(1/2)

You know who else got sent a message on Tuesday?

Those who support book bans and censorship.

Bad people ban books.

Books save lives.

This petty, mob boss-wannabe tyrant and his cowardly followers are trying to take away our healthcare, restrict our movement by cutting air travel, take away our food, ban our books, gut our schools, and disappear our neighbors.

This is authoritarianism.

Resist.
Resist relentlessly.

Turn the Volume Up!

There are so many more of us.
Vote.
Resist.
Resist relentlessly.

This petty, mob boss-wannabe tyrant and his cowardly followers are trying to take away our healthcare, our food, our books, and our neighbors.

He has shut down our government.

If you’re still sitting this one out, it’s time to get off the sidelines and get involved.

Resist.
Resist relentlessly.

The Knicks are not my team, but I’m rooting for them this season.

I want to see Mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social ride in the parade through the Canyon of Heroes next spring during Pride Month.

Yep. I’m sure he is already. Vile and pathetic human.

Hold Them Accountable!

Thank you to @librarianjones.com for the courage and conviction to stand up to those who spread hateful lies about librarians and educators.

It was never about the money. It was always about the truth and integrity.

Thank you, Amanda Jones. Courage is indeed contagious.

They know people are going to suffer and starve. They know kids are going to suffer and starve. They know they have the power to prevent this. They know they control this.

But they don't.

Power and control. Power, control, and cruelty.

It's the cruelty. It's their cruelty.

Resist.

Thanks again to all the libraries sharing information about local food resources while the federal government isn’t functioning and SNAP may not be available.

Our library, the Newburgh Free Library, shared this verified list of local food resources.

Please share such information in your community

Thank you to all the libraries sharing information about local food resources while the federal government isn’t functioning and SNAP may not be available.

Our library, the Newburgh Free Library, shared this verified list of local food resources.

Please share such information in your community.

The gaslighting is real.

Superintendent CJ Cammack, this is your response?

Cowardice revisionism.

How dare you fail to respect the humanity of @joannahowrites.bsky.social and @carolinekpritchard.bsky.social.

More importantly, how dare you fail to respect the humanity of all the students and families in your community.

Censored in California

Authors @joannahowrites.bsky.social and @carolinekpritchard.bsky.social have issued a statement in response to the book banning and censorship situation that took place at Country Club Elementary School in San Ramon, California.

Please take a moment to read their words.

Thank you to the community who has rallied around to support!

Why Did These Authors Have Their School Visit Canceled? They Were Talking About Their Book About Book Bans. Country Club Elementary School in California's Bay Area canceled an author visit moments before it began. Why? It covered book bans.

Why did @joannahowrites.bsky.social and @carolinekpritchard.bsky.social have their author visit for their book THE DAY THE BOOKS DISAPPEARED (illus. by @dansantat.bsky.social) cancelled minutes before the school assembly was supposed to begin?

bookriot.com/the-day-the-...

This morning, a New York City friend let me know that after voting for Cuomo in the primary, he voted for Mamdani in the general.

When I asked him what made him change his mind, he told me the Adams endorsement. And he let me know he had other friends who felt the same way.

Let’s go Zohran!

The Meaning of Ms. Rachel She redefined children’s media—and built her empire—by centering empathy. Now she’s channeling that same ethos into activism.

This week, @glamour.com announced its Women of the Year.

Ms. Rachel is part of the class of 2025. If you're not familiar with her efforts and activism, please consider taking a few moments to learn about the extraordinary work she's doing.

www.glamour.com/story/ms-rac...