Who Moved the Penguins? A Case Study of School Board Decision-Making During a Library Book Challenge

Using case study methodology, this study explores how a Northern Virginia school district navigated a library book challenge in 2007/2008. Although this challenged occurred almost 17 years ago, And Tango Makes Three continues to be one of the most challenged books in the United States. This case study offers empirical evidence that trust between a superintendent and a school board can mitigate the codified policy regarding book challenges, especially if the board perceives budget negotiations as higher priority. There are implications for the democratic nature of school board decision-making, specifically when books are challenged for LGBTQIA+ characters.