We have been extremely busy these past few weeks, which is one of the reasons why you haven’t heard from us in a while.

Since the end of May, we participated in eight events and handed out almost 3,000 banned and challenged books. We hit Grinnell College, Boone, Juneteenth, Embrace The Race, DMPL’s Grow Up Book Fair, and two Pride celebrations. Phew! We loved seeing many of you at these events. Sharing the JOY of reading throughout the state is our favorite thing to do.

But, this is not all what we do. We partner with local community groups, we participate in corporate events, and tirelessly collect data on book removals throughout the state. And, in our spare time, we fangirl over popular (often banned) authors when they come to our state. Sometimes, there is an overlap between community work and fangirling. Read on for more on that!

FOIA and Find Out

Annie’s Foundation has been working hard in the background to collect book removal data from Iowa public schools throughout the state. We sent public records requests to just about every school district at this point and have responses from 250+ to date.

Unfortunately, districts’ willingness to share book removal details has been inconsistent. Nevertheless, the information we have been able to gather indicates that Iowa public schools have removed 4,810 books so far. Remember, our data is incomplete so the number is likely much much higher.

The unfortunate title of “most banned author” goes to Ellen Hopkins.

Jodi Picoult in Iowa!

Speaking of banned authors… Bestselling author Jodi Picoult is coming to the Franklin Event Center on Sept. 23, and Annie’s Foundation will be there to support!

Picoult is a master of writing deeply empathetic stories that tackle complex social

issues, but that’s also made her a prime target for modern book banners. In fact, she is currently ranked as one of the most banned authors in public schools nationwide.

Some of her incredible, award-winning novels that have been pulled from shelves

include: Nineteen Minutes (frequently topping the nation’s most-banned list for its

powerful look at the impact of a school shooting and is currently the #1 banned book in Iowa with 94 districts having removed it), My Sister’ Keeper and Picture

Perfect.,

Censorship isn’t just about the books; it’s about control over what our community is

allowed to think, feel, and understand. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from an

author who refuses to be silenced and continues to advocate for intellectual freedom.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/DqIpkjr

1619 Freedom School Read-In This Saturday!

This is where community partnership meets fangirling!

Annie’s Foundation will be volunteering at the 1619 Freedom School Read-In this

Saturday, July 18, in Waterloo!

This event is all about “Liberation Through Literacy.” We’ll be helping hand out free

books to local families to make sure every child sees themselves reflected on the page.

Plus, attendees will hear from some absolute legends: Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas,

Renée Watson, and Waterloo’s own Nikole Hannah-Jones!

Come say hi to the Annie’s Foundation team and join this “joyful act of resistance.”

Where: Waterloo West High School

When: Saturday, July 18, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Doors open at 10:30 a.m.)

Education is our Superpower

Annie’s Foundation loves to educate our community about censorship – whether it happens at the school district level, involves attacks on our public libraries, or resulting from statewide book banning laws.

Our board members are grateful to have been invited to several events where we were able to talk about our work, the negative impact of recent legislation in our state, and and the threat of future censorship efforts.

We are always open to bring our story to your organization. If you have an idea for collaboration, feel free to email us at contactus@anniesfoundation.com.

New Annie’s Foundation Merch Available

Our tees are adorable, our stickers hilarious, and our coffee cups reusable. What Annie’s Foundation merch are you rocking? If you’re lacking in gear, check out all the great new additions to our shop. All the cool kids sport the Annie’s brand. What are you waiting for? Shop now: https://pandadm.com/collections/anniesfoundation

In the News This Week

• Ahead of their wedding weekend, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donated to a handful of their favorite charities, including one of ours – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. https://tinyurl.com/mr36vubc

• The ALA and Banned Book Coalition will host Banned Books Week 2026, Oct.4-10. The annual event draws national attention to the harms of censorship, with this year’s official theme being “Let Books Be.

• Protect the Freedom to Read.” https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned

  Utah just banned another Stephen King book from all public schools. See which one was on the list this time. https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2026/07/13/utah-banned-book-list-latest-36/

Upcoming Events

July 18: Read-In and Book Giveaway: 1619 School, Waterloo, 11a-1p

July 26: Maxwell Market at the Park – banned book giveaway, 100 Army Post Rd, Maxwell, IA 50161, 12p-2:30p

August 1: Banned Book Giveaway @ Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market, 7a-12p

August 29: World Food and Music Festival, Western Gateway Park, 11a-7p