Scholastic to separate books on race, gender and sexuality for book fairs

Children’s book publisher will allow US districts to include or exclude separate list, a decision that has led to a backlash

The children’s book publisher Scholastic said it will separate titles in its elementary school book fairs by race, gender and sexuality, allowing school districts to include or exclude the list.

The decision is a response to dozens of state laws restricting how the topics are discussed in schools, which Scholastic has opposed. Districts can now opt out of the new list, called the Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice catalog, or choose specific titles from it.