The Missing Books and the Secret Library

Jesse is a young 9 year old boy who likes to read books about adventure, magic, and fantasy. Jesse goes to the library in his neighborhood to get a new book to read. He learns that many of the books that he likes to read are no longer there. They have been banned and removed from the library. Discouraged, Jesse leaves the library and heads back home. Along the way he makes an amazing discovery!

Book banning restricts access to information and ideas. Public libraries should provide diverse literature that reflects the experiences of all people. Diverse literature promotes empathy and understanding among people from different backgrounds, develops critical thinking skills, and challenges biases. Use this book as a starting point for a conversation with children about censorship and diversity in literature. Encourage readers to challenge their assumptions and introduce them to new ideas. Thank you for supporting diverse literature in public libraries.