February 22 – February 28, 2026
Banned books, in this day and age?
Believe it. Canadians are fortunate that our freedom to choose what we read is protected but that access is often tested.
Freedom to Read Week is an annual event encouraging Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed to us under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
You may be surprised to learn that challenged books include The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the picture book Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg, and the graphic novel Blankets by Craig Thompson.
LEARN more about Freedom to Read Week in Canada. The Canadian Federation of Library Associations also has a list of Challenges to Publications in Canadian Public Libraries from September 2021 to August 2022 .
WATCH the videos in the Banned Books and Films category in Kanopy, a free streaming service for library users.
LISTEN to our Meet Me in the Stacks podcast episode 35 where Librarians Monica and Stephanie talk about the considerations and values behind Freedom to Read Week.
READ our 2026 Booklist highlighting some of the most recently challenged books in Canada.
EXPLORE further by diving into the titles below, all of which have been challenged in Canada.