The largest book fair company in the country faced criticism in October 2023 for offering a selection of books by and about people of color and LGBTQIA+ people as an optional add-on to the fairs (see “Scholastic Reverses Book Fair Policy”).
Schools who host book fairs receive a curated selection of titles and can supplement that with optional collections of particular types of books, such as books in Spanish, that may be in higher demand in their district. However, many librarians and creators objected to setting aside “diverse” books in a separate case. All the books in that collection will now be included in all elementary book fairs, “joining a number of new titles with a wide array of representation,” the company said. They are also upgrading their online book fair preview so hosts can look over the books ahead of time. Once the books are delivered, schools “will be able to make their own local merchandising decisions, as they have always done, just like any bookstore or library,” according to the announcement.
