Down with Lime Books! A Story About Book Banning

Zauzmer and Millán skewer censorship in this message-forward picture book told in rigid rhymes. Young Paige, portrayed with brown skin, and schoolmates rejoice each library day, but though they love to read books of arrayed colors, “not everyone thought that this rainbow was grand—/ some wanted lime-colored books to be banned.” Leading the “lime-bashing quest” is a pale-skinned adult who stokes community fear by threatening, “If we don’t remove lime, we could end up with slime!” When the zealots steal the library’s citrus-green tomes, the situation escalates into a realistic community protest. Direct messaging highlights the authoritarian tendencies driving the book-banning brigade (“This plan of ours helps us control what you think”), while the community’s emotional reactions are captured by expressive renderings with thin-lined detailing. Though playful rhymes downplay the seriousness of the endeavor, they also underscore the works’ presumed value, concluding “those lime books sure must be good!” Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3–5. (Sept.)