The eye catching cover is what drew me to this fun picture book first - then the meaning of the title.
In a world that is banning books in a fast fashion lately, this topic is on everyone's lips. But a book for children all about banning books? Perfect!

Beginning with hand drawn signs all forbidding reading of the book is the perfect way to urge readers to turn the page....

A succinct explanation of a banned book is waiting for the reader, and also an invitation to read the book to further understand.

Then we are straight into the very first banning - giraffes! But why? Because the hippos are upset with them of course! Onto dinosaurs who some people don't believe existed, avocadoes, that some people don't like and then more things or topics that might upset, frighten, or even cause fights over. The solution? Banned!

But of course this takes away most of the book, leaving it boring and even worse - blank!

The author finishes with a note about our books disappearing. This is happening because a few might not like even just a small aspect of a title and choose to ban it from their homes, schools & libraries.

But books are as varied across the world as people are. If a book isn't for you or your child or student - you as a parent or teacher can choose not to share it with them.

Someone else however might read it and find something truly special to them. We all know books can change lives. They need to be protected, not censored - so everyone has a chance at finding their own special read.

This Book is Banned is an assortment of illustration, collage style add ins on the pages, clear font style for the story and varied fonts and hand drawn pictures sprinkled liberally throughout.

An important topic in a super fun format.

This was such a fun book to read (even as an adult) and it does a great job talking about the ridiculous, extremist tactic that is book banning in a way that children can really understand. The illustrations were incredible and outlandish in a way that paired well with the story!

A simple and fun way of explaining how banned books can start to over-reach into the realm of absurd when it comes to what topics are and are not challenged in modern day society.

While the main message is a very important one, the way this author is able to make the story cohesive and silly is easy to digest and understand the mission of the book.

You shouldn't open this book. If you do, you may find something you don't like. But don't worry, we can ban things!

This Book Is Banned considers the many reasons why books are banned, albeit diluted to child-friendly language, and pokes fun at what could happen if banning were taken to its extreme. Admittedly, this book is based somewhat on the slippery slope fallacy, but it's an interesting conversation starter about what it means to ban a book and what it means when we're willing to say that if one person doesn't like something, then no one should have access to it. The ending did not make me happy, but that's the entire point. I appreciate the illustrations, which are quirky and silly, and the writing is easy to understand and approachable for young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is a hoot! It would fit perfectly in an introduction to a high school or college class on Intellectual Freedom and the First Amendment.

“If we only read books that we already agreed with, we’d never learn anything new!” It begins with the hippos who don’t like how tall giraffes get all the leaves, so the giraffes are banned. Dinosaurs are more exciting, but some people think they’re make believe so dinosaurs are banned too. And so continue the antics in which avocados, beds, roller skating robots, and so many other things are banned. What then will this book be about? In a humorous manner, Haldar explains book banning to children through ridiculous scenarios. The final lesson “remember, even if a book isn’t for you, it could still be perfect for someone else.” is a perfect reminder that libraries are for all and represent all.

THOUGHTS: Preferences over what we each like is the perfect way to introduce the topic of book banning to children. With giggles guaranteed, this picture book will be a great read aloud, especially to celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week.

Delightful children's book explaining what book banning is and shows how ridiculous it is in a fun and easily understandable way.

This Book Is Banned is a delightful, funny, and insightful picture book that serves as an excellent tool to educate young minds about the significance of combating censorship. Through its clever storytelling and captivating illustrations, the book invites readers to reflect on the vital role books play in expanding our minds and fostering a more tolerant and inclusive society. This engaging read is sure to be a favorite, leaving a lasting impression on both children and adults who will want to return to its pages over and over again.

This was a cute book. Great for read alouds. Great message. Cute pictures. Must for every library. Should be in every school and library. So good.

What a timely picture book! The book can be a good introduction to help kids explore the topic of censorship. The story itself is humorous. Animals are banned for annoying each other. Avocados are banned because someone finds them gross. Birthdays and birthday cakes are banned because a kid doesn’t like them. While all of these situations seem harmless, it does highlight the slippery slope of book banning. A creative and thoughtful approach to explore censorship with kids.

Some books are meaningful to some people, and some books are meaningful for all people, but not all books are meaningful for all people. Another way of putting it is some books offend some people, and some books offend a lot of people , but really, you can't offend all people all the time. Everyone has different needs and those needs determine what they read. That's is just the way the human race works. THIS BOOK IS BANNED is the story about the domino effect in book bans. Ban dinosaurs because some believe they are make believe. Ban avocados because some think they are gross. Ban roller skates because they are dangerous. Ban scary stories because some kids find them too frightening and rewrite them with unicorns. Oops, another book to ban since some some don't like magical elements . When you start banning books, a domino effect begins, and as the story illustrates, soon there is very little anyone wants to read.
Highly recommend to illustrate that everyone has a right to read books that they choose. I highly recommend.
Thank you to Sourcebooks eXplore, an imprint of Sourcebooks Kids, and Netgalley for the digital arc.

This title is a tool to explain book banning in a way that students (and staff) will easily understand.

I absolutely love when a children’s book/kid’s book is informative as well as telling a story. This was very knowledgeable and informative. I feel like the story could have been better in order to keep the child’s attention. The illustrations were nicely done. Overall, I feel this book is extremely important to all generations because it teaches that just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t mean something to others. It goes against the cancel culture. Books will always be important wether it be in paperback or digital. They hold stories, memories, knowledge, and hope. I’ll never understand why someone thinks they hold the right to ban a book. Thank you for sharing this story.

This is funny, light-hearted picture book about a topic that is anything but funny and light-hearted! On each page of the book, characters, words, and illustrations are erased, cut out, or taped/covered over. They are banned from the story for all kinds of ridiculous reasons. This is a great picture book to introduce students to the idea of book banning, and the emotions that come with such bans. I know the reasons for banning will anger my students and lead to powerful conversations. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. I will definitely be purchasing and recommending others to purchase as well.

This Book is Banned is a great introduction to the concept of banning books for silly reasons. I think it makes a good introduction to the subject, giving examples where kids can understand that there are subjects that some people like and some people won't. I do not think it makes the connection that banning books on specific subjects hurts certain people-groups. I like how at the end it it talks about how a book isn't for you, it could still be perfect for someone else. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my school library, and I do expect that some people will be offended by that. C'est la vie!

I like the gist of this book and I feel like it speaks to the soul of book banning. I like how it explains book banning and the reasons behind it to children, who may not understand why books get banned in the first place. I do think book banning people seem to generalize a group of people (particularly LGBTQ+ persons) as "groomers", and I wish there was a way to address the inherent problems of generalizing a group of people and banning based on a lack of understanding. I feel like the author laid the groundwork for this, but, in a perfect angelic 5 star world, would also have tackled it as well.

As a K-12 school librarian, I have always been in search of a book that will help in teaching the younger kids what it means to ban books and why we wouldn't want to do such a thing. Raj Haldar's "This Book is Banned," is that book. Not only are the illustrations eye catching and enjoyable to look at, but the message of the story is one that makes it comprehendible for the younger students to understand and follow along with. Haldar's book has everything a librarian needs to integrate lessons about book banning and what that means within our society and I would highly recommend this book to all Elementary School and public librarians to purchase! I know I will be purchasing this for my own personal use with my Elementary students!

5⭐️

Although my kids may not have picked up on the tongue in cheek humor they loved this book and the ridiculousness of banning things just because one person may not like it. I as a parent absolutely loved this book and the message it was relaying. That books are for everyone to enjoy and to ban a book is silly and ridiculous, how far will we let it go before none of us can enjoy it.

The illustrations of this book is fantastically fun. With silly expressions but super fun details. I would recommend this book to any parent. It's great and will span many ages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks kids for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

I will be posting my review to my Instagram page the.littlest.bookworm and retail sites close or on publication.

This was a fun read about censorship and book banning, which reframes some of the ridiculous reasons people have chosen to remove books from circulation into something that kids can understand. It was zany and amusing, but I think it might be a bit better for established readers - it's a good read but I think it would be harder for a younger or beginning reader to make the connections needed for the message to get across.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Sourcebooks Explore, and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!