Freedom to Read - by Kelley Donner (Hardcover)

About the Book

Freedom to Read is a thought-provoking page-turner that celebrates the profound value of books and their transformative impact on young readers.

Book Synopsis

Imagine a world where books are forbidden, playing pretend is not allowed, and children are taught to only "speak the truth." It's 2084 and this is Amy's world ... Or, at least it was Amy's world before she discovered a book and began to read.

Discover the captivating power of literature in Freedom to Read, a thought-provoking page-turner that celebrates the profound value of books and their transformative impact on young readers. With stunning oil pastel illustrations and a compelling storyline, children will easily be captivated by Amy's journey of self-discovery.

Against the backdrop of the current climate in the United States, where the freedom to read faces unprecedented challenges, this 56-page extended picture book serves as a powerful tool to ignite discussions on the impact of book banning while nurturing a deep appreciation for the magic of storytelling. What if all books were forbidden? What if your school's library was locked? How far would you go to protect your right to read?

Kelley Donner is the author of various children's books including The Day the Lines Changed which was featured in the Washington Post as one of the top ten children's books about the pandemic and School is More Than a Building. She has a Masters of Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art and has worked in the field of education for over 20 years. Kelley lives with her husband and three boys in Munich, Germany.

On KelleyDonner.com you'll find lesson plans, coloring pages, story-time videos, and more. Join Amy and discover the transformative power of books in this timely, must-read for young readers.

Review Quotes

"Embarking on the book-banning road turns into a slippery slope, and in the blink of an eye, you're tumbling down the mountain taking all that is creative with you. At the bottom is a world without books. Without stories. Where only the truth is spoken. Amy lives in this future. There are no books. No stories. The world is a drab and dull place. When a rusted lock leads Amy into a room abandoned for decades, she discovers a forgotten book. And it opens up her world. Freedom To Read is not just a timely reminder that the right book at the right time can change a child's life. It's also a warning and a glimpse of a future where book banning and censorship have gone into overdrive, and even playing "pretend" is forbidden." - Sandi Parsons

"A beautifully illustrated book that emphasizes the importance of reading and why having the freedom to read is so crucial to a child's development." - anonymous reviewer