Lt. Gov. Zuckerman’s Banned Books Tour visits Waterbury on Sunday
August 12, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti 
Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman speaks at a Banned Book reading event at the Norwich Bookstore on July 23. Photo by Luke Baker
On Sunday afternoon inside Bridgeside Books on Stowe Street, a unique gathering is planned with Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, several Vermont authors of children’s literature, and local librarians.
This stop on Zuckerman’s summer “Banned Book Tour” visiting Vermont bookstores was rescheduled from mid-July for 2 p.m. Sunday. Its theme, “Banned Books are books worth reading,” is a call to action as banning books -- in particular books accessible to children, has gained momentum in various parts of the United States in recent years.
Zuckerman frames these gatherings as matters of “free speech, inclusion, democracy and open dialogue.”
“Around the country, we have seen the proliferation of book challenges and bans in recent years by school districts and local governments. These bans often target books that feature LGBTQ+ characters; talk about gender and sexuality; highlight racial disparities; or talk about difficult issues such as substance abuse and police violence,” Zuckerman’s announcement of the event states. “Students, teachers, and curious minds should be able to access materials that spark critical thinking, cover difficult topics, and appeal to diverse interests without fear of government interference.”
Bridgeside Books notes that more than 2,500 titles were banned or challenged in the United States just in 2022. Reasons for their targeting include themes of violence or abuse, health and body-puberty topics, grief and death, characters of color and themes of race, sexual experiences and assault, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, abortion. “When a book is called inappropriate for things that teens experience, they receive the message that they are inappropriate,” the bookstore’s event announcement notes.
The program will include reading aloud excerpts from books that have been banned along with discussion.
The Vermont authors taking part are:
Dayna Lorentz, an award-winning fiction writer for young adults whose books include “Wayward Creatures” and “Of a Feather,” the “No Safety in Numbers” trilogy, and the “Dogs of the Drowned City” trilogy. Lortentz is also a lawyer with the Vermont judiciary.
Tanya Lee Stone, a prolific author of nonfiction books for children and young adults with more than 100 titles to her credit. Her works include narratives about historical figures and women’s empowerment and her book, “A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl,” is among banned titles. Stone directs the Professional Writing Program at Champlain College.
Sarah Dillard is an author-illustrator of award-winning picture books for young children and graphic readers including the “Mouse Scouts” series, picture books “I Wish it Would Snow” and “Blueberry Cake” along with the “Extraordinary Warren” young graphic readers.
The Waterbury Public Library promoted the event saying that its librarians planned to attend. It shared the opening to the American Library Association's Freedom to Read Statement that says: “The freedom to read is essential to our democracy.”
Sunday’s event is free but capacity is limited. Those interested in attending should RSVP using this link to be sure to get a seat.
Zuckerman has held banned book reading events so far at book stores in Burlington, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Manchester and Norwich. Other upcoming stops on the tour are planned in Rutland, Essex and Woodstock in the next few weeks. More information is online at ltgov.vermont.gov/banned-books.