Book banning is nothing new, but now Republicans are using it to further their political agendas. The above photo shows several banned books, many of which I have read. They range from the beloved Harry Potter to classics like To Kill A Mockingbird.

Ever since I learned to read I’ve had my nose in a book. Whether for school or just for pleasure, reading has always been and always will be something that I love. I will never let anybody tell me what I can and cannot read. If I choose to read a book that is deemed ” controversial” then that is my choice to make. If someone is offended by my chosen reading material that is their problem. Not mine .

I work as a paraprofessional at an elementary school. As we all know it’s not always easy getting a child to read. Some kids don’t like to read for a variety of reasons. They may have dyslexia which makes reading difficult. They may just be more into other things, like dancing or sports. When the Harry Potter books came out more kids than ever were reading. Book bans take away more than just books. They take away the chance for a child to use their imagination. They take away the chance for a child to grow and learn. They take away the chance to explore new worlds and travel to places we otherwise couldn’t. For people like me, who love to read, book banning takes away a simple, yet joyful part of our lives .

To me, books are like ” Rock n Roll” stars. I’m a reading ” groupie,” and I’m proud to say, ” I’m With The Banned! “