Dear Mr. Warwick and the Scholastic Books team,

We, the undersigned, are concerned parents, educators, students, and allies who believe in the power of literature to shape young minds, foster empathy, and champion diversity. We are writing to express our deep concerns regarding Scholastic Books' recent decision to move 64 titles featuring racial and LGBTQ+ themes to a separate section of its elementary school book fairs, titled "Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice."

While the sentiment of celebrating every voice is commendable, segregating these books into a separate section, which schools can opt out of, sends a harmful message. Here's why:

Marginalization: Segregating these books implies that stories highlighting racial and LGBTQ+ themes are not a part of the mainstream or that they're 'special interest'. This perpetuates feelings of marginalization and otherness.
Reduced Accessibility: Schools can opt out of this section, potentially depriving students of the chance to encounter diverse narratives. For many students, the school book fair is their primary exposure to new literature.
Undermining Education: Schools are meant to be places of learning and growth. By allowing them to opt out of sharing stories that reflect a diverse world, we hinder their educational mission.
The Message it Sends: What message are we sending to children when we place stories about certain identities or experiences in a separate section? It suggests to them that these stories, and by extension, the people they represent, are different or less than.
We urge Scholastic Books to:

Reintegrate the 64 titles featuring racial and LGBTQ+ themes back into the main section of the book fair, ensuring equal representation and visibility.
Commit to championing diverse voices, not by setting them apart, but by weaving them seamlessly into the tapestry of the literature you offer.
Engage in dialogue with educators, parents, and students to understand the impact of your decisions and to work collaboratively toward a more inclusive future.
Literature has the power to change minds, to build bridges, and to reflect the beautifully diverse world in which we live. By reintegrating these books into the main section of the book fair, Scholastic has an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the values of inclusion, diversity, and representation.