MENOMONEE FALLS — After a children’s book was banned in Menomonee Falls, community members are working together to bring the book back to families across the community.
The book, “Love Makes a Family” by Sophie Beer, was a part of the district’s optional 4K Family Traveling Read Aloud Books program.
The Menomonee Falls Board of Education voted to remove the book on the grounds that it did not align with the district’s Human Growth and Development Standard.
When Amanda Seppanen heard, she knew she wanted to get involved.
Watch: Local business teams up with community organization to share removed book
“After the meeting, I said I would do anything to help and to make sure any Menomonee Falls family who wants access could have a free copy,” Seppanen explained.
Seppanen is from Glendale and owns Azora Books, a small business providing books for kids and classrooms nationwide.
She is also a single parent of an adopted son.
“My own family is wonderfully unique,” Seppanen said. “Kids should go to school and feel seen.”
The children’s book was challenged by a family in the district who argued the book showed an LGBTQ couple in bed.
Seppanen is now working with Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area to acquire copies of “Loves Makes A Family” to give to others.
“It tells me this community is not okay with the decision that was made,” Hallie Schmeling, the Co-Lead of Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area, shared.
Schmeling and around 50 others were at the board meeting and expressed concerns over the removal of the book.
So far, Seppanen has received enough donations to buy 250 books. The donations come from over a dozen locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, California, and even Bermuda.
Donated copies will go to any family in Menomonee Falls who wants one for free.
“I did some math. There are 240 4k children in the school district of Menomonee Falls, so we’re ready for year one,” Schemling smiled.
“But the goal is much bigger,” added Seppanen.
Using promo code ‘BannedBook’ at checkout— AzoraBooks is waiving the shipping cost and delivering the book directly to Grassroots Menomonee Falls.
Anyone in Menomonee Falls interested in getting a copy of “Loves Makes A Family” can reach out to Grassroots Menomonee Falls through their email; grassrootsmf@gmail.com
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