When the world feels like a scary place, books can help us make sense of things. We've recently added a large display on Ukrainian history and regional politics, which we hope will help you feel informed. We have also ordered more works by Ukrainian writers, arriving soon, with the intention of helping you feel more connected.
On the topic of reading for understanding, book banning continues to rage across the country. The American Library Association (ALA) reports challenges have "a focus on books that address the voices and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals." As a bookseller and a parent, I am outraged seeing books stripped from shelves because their very existence somehow threatens the status quo.
We agree with the ALA: Children need challenging books, not book challenges. In fact, we can all stand to be challenged in our reading - so this month, read out of your comfort zone. Read a work by someone unlike yourself, and choose to find some common ground within it.
— Meghan, Owner
River Bend Bookshop
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