Participatory Readers’ Advisory for Youth: or, The Children Need Participation, Not Protection

ABSTRACT: America’s approach to book banning almost exclusively focuses on adults challenging books that they think will somehow harm the youth that read them, with even opponents of book banning insisting that only an individual child’s parents—adults again—should be allowed to determine what, when, and how children are able to access information. This phenomenon seems to be a natural outcome of how America has historically viewed and treated children, which is with a consistent, constant disregard for what is in the best interest of those children by prioritizing the wants and comfort of adults. By exploring America’s history of prejudice against children and systemic lack of support for families, and comparing and contrasting this with actual best practices regarding child development, caregiving styles, and how children actually engage with books, we can start to reframe the narrative regarding children’s access to books and work toward a different model where children are active participants in making the choices that directly impact their lives, starting with the small but significant act of choosing what books they want to read.