LeVar Burton Banned Books T-Shirt
I can’t quite put into words how excited I was to be asked by Out of Print to create a design for LeVar Burton’s quote: “Read the books they don’t want you to. That’s where the good Stuff is.”
No need to explain Mr. Burton or his incredible career and how he inspired generations of young readers (now adults)! This was a fun opportunity and a highlight in my career as an illustrator.
With the unfortunate removal of books loosely deemed “inappropriate” from libraries and schools, this message by Burton is incredibly important. Literature is imaginative, illuminating, and inspiring. When we read, we can tap into ideas and perspectives that we may not otherwise be exposed to; we expand and deepen what it means to live. It’s no mistake that those who want to keep us small and docile go straight to our schools and libraries. Beliefs and values are formed in the stories we keep.