Press Release Fun: Happy Inaugural We Need Diverse Books Day!

That’s right! At a time when we need it more than ever, it’s the inaugural We Need Diverse Books Day!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NONPROFIT WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS LAUNCHING INAUGURAL

WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS DAY

BETHESDA, MD (March 13, 2025) –  Nonprofit We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) has helped to change what is read across America, and with their grants and programs turning ten this year, as announced by USA TODAY, WNDB is launching the inaugural We Need Diverse Books Day on April 3, 2025 to highlight the importance of reading books that reflect the beautifully diverse world. WNDB will be recommending titles for all ages, sharing resources on where to find them, and encouraging everyone to read a diverse book! And to celebrate We Need Diverse Books Day and 10 years of the nonprofit, they are donating 10,000 titles in 2025 to schools and libraries across the country. 

Diverse books have the unique power to improve literacy and build empathy, but many of these titles have been disproportionately affected by the recent surge in book bans to silence diverse voices. In this historical moment, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights dismissed 11 book ban complaints and six pending ones, under the headline “U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax.” 

Book bans are all too real. Over the last four years, thousands of books have been targeted for censorship, fueled by far-right organizations under the guise of ‘parental rights.’ Approximately four million children across the country have been affected by book bans, and challenges are ballooning in states like Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Books discussing race and racism, and LGBTQ+ and transgender identities are being targeted at consistently high rates, according to PEN America. 

The effect of this censorship has been swift and alarming. Marginalized authors are not only losing their livelihoods from declining book sales and canceled school visits, they are also receiving death threats. A quarter of school librarians now report experiencing harassment over books or displays in their library, while many teachers fear for their safety and livelihoods.

WNDB continues their integral work to diversify books and the publishing industry at large, and We Need Diverse Books Day will celebrate all voices. On We Need Diverse Books Day, WNDB Board Chair and bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton says: “We invite you to pick out and read a diverse book today—because diverse books are for everyone and these stories ought to be shared and celebrated.”

Spokeswomen:

Board Chair and New York Times bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton (Blackout, The Marvellers), Board Member and New York Times bestselling author Roxanne Gay (Hunger, Bad Feminist), and Carnegie Medal winner Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give), recipient of WNDB’s Walter Grant are available for select interview on We Need Diverse Books Day.

More on We Need Diverse Books:

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, We Need Diverse Books aims to create a world where every reader can find themselves in a book. The writers they’ve supported have won the Newbery, Carnegie, Printz, Morris, Pura Belpré, and American Indian Youth Literature awards, and renowned authors like Celeste Ng and Angie Thomas have funded these and other initiatives. Learn more at diversebooks.org.

For media inquires, please contact:

Cassie Malmo, Malmo Public Relations: cassie@malmopublicrelations.com

The landing page for the day can be found here. And be sure that if you mention this on social media to use the hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay as well.

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