For their “picture book…about banning books”; instructed not to speak about “books with queer representation”

Book bans deemed “hoax” by U.S. Dep’t of Ed regarding removals from school libraries

By Allen D. Payton

Two authors of a book about book “banning” did not conduct a presentation to 4- to 9-year-old students at Country Club Elementary School in the San Ramo Valley Unified School District, recently because “parts of the presentation were not suited to” the “youngest learners in TK to third grade” according to a letter dated Oct. 29, 2025, from Superintendent CJ Cammack. Both sides point fingers at the other for the event’s cancellation.

The authors, Joanna How and Caroline Kusin Pritchard, were going to speak about their picture book entitled, The Day the Books Disappeared about the banning of books. According to the description on Amazon.com, “This book about books celebrates themes of empathy, interconnectedness, and the value of diverse and differing perspectives.”

But that message, according to the superintendent’s letter, “was overshadowed by a presentation focused on book banning that extended beyond the developmental level of our youngest students.”

According to the authors, when they arrived, the principal met with them in an office and told them to “only talk about the book” and “not to speak about book bans or the types of books being banned, specifically books with queer representation.”

According to the superintendent, “district staff reached out to the organization we partner with on author visits to share concerns and request that the presentation be adjusted for a younger audience before the scheduled visit to Country Club.  When no response was received, staff respectfully made the same request to the authors when they arrived on campus. The authors declined to modify their presentation to align with our requests and chose to leave without presenting.”

However, the authors claim they “were not allowed to present.”

Superintendent’s Letter

Cammack’s letter reads:

Oct. 29, 2025

Dear Parents/Caregivers, Staff, and Community Members,

I would like to address a situation regarding a recent author visit for some of our TK-3rd grade classes in SRVUSD, which has garnered some media and social media attention. On behalf of the District, I’d like to offer some important context.

Recently, co-authors of the book, The Day the Books Disappeared, visited some SRVUSD elementary schools. Concerns were voiced by site principals that parts of the presentation were not suited to our youngest learners in TK to third grade (4 years old – 9 years old).  Specifically, the book’s message of kindness, empathy, and understanding was overshadowed by a presentation focused on book banning that extended beyond the developmental level of our youngest students.

Based on this feedback, district staff reached out to the organization we partner with on author visits to share concerns and request that the presentation be adjusted for a younger audience before the scheduled visit to Country Club.  When no response was received, staff respectfully made the same request to the authors when they arrived on campus. The authors declined to modify their presentation to align with our requests and chose to leave without presenting.

SRVUSD values and supports author visits as well as inclusion of diverse books, perspectives and dialogue as meaningful educational opportunities for our students. We support and believe in the strength of our richly diverse community. We remain committed to providing engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences in the classrooms and on our campuses that reflect the best academic and social-emotional interests of our students, aligned with their developmental levels.

Sincerely,

CJ Cammack

Superintendent

——————-

Authors Respond

In a message posted on their Instagram page on Wednesday the authors wrote:

“We are deeply saddened that we were prevented from meeting with young readers at Country Club Elementary in San Ramon, California during our tour for The Day the Books Disappeared, a picture book we wrote about book banning, illustrated by Dan Santat.

When we arrived, students were waiting for us in the library, but instead of taking us to meet them, the principal pulled us into an office and told us to ‘only talk about the book.’ When pressed, she told us not to speak about book bans or the types of books being banned, specifically books with queer representation. We responded that this would be out of our integrity, and that we would not change our presentation. Despite district approval for our visit, the principal informed us the directive came from above and excused herself to call her district supervisor. Forty minutes later, students were sent back to their classrooms, and we were not permitted to present.”

The two also wrote on Instagram, “Students of Country Club Elementary, we hope you know that your community is better because you are in it. We see you. We celebrate you.

A system of fear can only be fought by an even stronger ecosystem of courage, and we’ve witnessed the ripples created by remarkable acts of bravery across the country on behalf of students and learning. We can all choose to be part of an ecosystem of courage. Together we can fight for our freedom to read.

With love,

Joanna and Caroline”

————

Books Removed from School Libraries Labeled “Banned” Deemed “Hoax” by U.S. Dept of Education

Most of the books claimed to be banned in the U.S. have merely been removed from school libraries due to their content not being age-appropriate for students. According to Pen America, the effort “predominantly targets books about race and racism or books featuring individuals of color and LGBTQ+ people and topics, as well those for older readers that have sexual references or discuss sexual violence.”

That organization’s Banned Book List of 2025 claims the top books include, A Clockwork Orange in which “teen protagonist Alex creates mayhem before undergoing aversion therapy to curb his violent tendencies;” Sold which “tells the story of Lakshmi, a 13-year-old girl in Nepal who is sold into prostitution;” Last Night at the Telegraph Club “set in 1954…when 17-year-old Lily Hu visits a lesbian bar;” Forever, which the author says she “wrote it because her daughter wanted to read something where kids could have sex ‘without either of them having to die;’” and All Boys Aren’t Blue, a memoir by “prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson” which, according to Amazon, “delves into sensitive subjects such as consent, sexual abuse, and the complexities of growing up in a society that often marginalizes queer identities…aiming to provide both a voice for young queer individuals and a guide for allies. The title itself reflects the multifaceted nature of masculinity and the societal pressures surrounding it, with ‘blue’ symbolizing traditional masculinity and the violence often faced by queer Black individuals.”

A January 2025 press release entitled, “U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax” announced a decision by its Office for Civil Rights that, “dismissed 11 complaints related to so-called ‘book bans.’ The complaints alleged that local school districts’ removal of age-inappropriate, sexually explicit, or obscene materials from their school libraries created a hostile environment for students – a meritless claim premised upon a dubious legal theory. Effective Jan. 24, 2025, OCR has rescinded all department guidance issued under the theory that a school district’s removal of age-inappropriate books from its libraries may violate civil rights laws.

“By dismissing these complaints and eliminating the position and authorities of a so-called ‘book ban coordinator,’ the department is beginning the process of restoring the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s education,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. “The department adheres to the deeply rooted American principle that local control over public education best allows parents and teachers alike to assess the educational needs of their children and communities. Parents and school boards have broad discretion to fulfill that important responsibility. These decisions will no longer be second-guessed by the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.”

Questions for District Staff Go Unanswered

District communications staff were asked where the letter can be found on the district’s website because it’s not under Newsroom and Media in the Communications and Community Relations section, the name of the organization that they “partner with on author visits” as mentioned in the letter, and why the superintendent’s letter wasn’t sent to the media, as they issue press releases on a regular basis. But they did not respond prior to publication time.

Please check back for any updates.

SFGate.com and Mike Burkholder of ContraCosta.news were sources for this report.