Books & Audiobooks
At Waterloo Public Library, we support the right to intellectual freedom, which includes the right to find information, the right to freedom of expression, and the right to speak about and hear different points of view. We provide information to our community through materials in our libraries, our online resources, our programs, and our services that support all members of the community.
About Freedom to Read Week
Freedom to Read Week is celebrated during the last week of February each year. During Freedom to Read Week, we encourage our customers to respect one another, to learn about the dangers of censorship, and to listen to other viewpoints. If you want more information about Freedom to Read Week, check out one of the books on our reading list below, find a book on one of our in-library displays, look for Freedom to Read Week colouring sheets and mazes in our children’s areas, or attend our Freedom to Read Panel Discussion (see details below).
Reflecting on our Collections
Waterloo Public Library’s Collection Development Policy guides how materials are added to our collection. We value your feedback on our collection. At times there are materials that are out of date, ones that have impacted your perspective on a topic or point of view, or materials with content that you found tricky. Please connect with our staff for any collection feedback. If a material is identified that you would like to have reconsidered within our collection, we have a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials form that can be completed. Each request is carefully reviewed in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Ontario Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom and the Intellectual Rights of the Individual and the Canadian Federation of Library Associations Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries.
Celebrating Freedom to Read: A Panel Discussion with Local Libraries
Thursday, February 26
7:00pm – 8:00pm
Eastside Branch
In recognition of Freedom to Read Week 2026, this panel brings together voices from Waterloo Public Library, Cambridge Public Library, and Region of Waterloo Library for a thoughtful conversation about what “freedom” really means in our reading lives. Expect an engaging, accessible evening that looks at how these ideas show up in our communities—and why they matter.
Event DetailsReading List
This book list explores censorship and its impact on access to ideas, stories, and information. These titles invite readers to reflect on the importance of intellectual freedom and the right to read, learn, and think freely.
Banned and Challenged Books
Think you know why these books were banned or challenged in Canada? Browse the covers and click to find out.
Giraffes Can’t Dance and Free to Be Elephant Me by Giles Andreae; illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees
Location and Year of Challenge/Ban: Mississippi Mills, Ontario; 2025
Reason for complaint: objectionable content, age inappropriate
Objection: The complainant objected to what they considered to be the portrayal of “frightening, verbally and emotionally abusive adults.”
Action requested: remove both
Action taken: retained both
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Phoenix Gets Greater by Marty Wilson-Trudeau; illustrated by Megan Kyak-Monteith
Location and Year of Challenge/Ban: Calgary Catholic School District; 2024
Reason for complaints: Pro-LGBTQIAS+, anti-Christian
Objections: A school administrator saw this book on a pile of recently purchased and catalogued books for their K-9 school learning commons. The administrator instructed the librarian to remove the book from their collection, explaining it did not align with Catholic teachings because it featured a main character who is two-spirited. The librarian removed the title and informed other librarians within the school district to be careful purchasing this title because some administrators may not allow it within their learning commons.
Action requested: remove
Action taken: removed
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Boobies by Nancy Vo
Locations and Year of Challenge/Ban:
- Durham District School Board, Ontario; 2024
- Thompson-Nicola Public Library, Kamloops, British Columbia; 2025
Reason for complaints: explicit content (2024, ON), age inappropriate (2025, BC)
Objections: The complainant submitted a letter detailing their concerns about the use of the term “boobies,” as they believe that the term “boobies,” as opposed to ‘proper nomenclature,’ disempowers women and girls and could potentially perpetuate feelings of shame, secrecy, and embarrassment.
The complainant also expressed concern that the book was included in the Forest of Reading program. In addition to expressing their own concerns, the complainant included comments from other concerned adults and young people who expressed similar issues with the content and terminology of the book, finding it disrespectful, offensive, and a book that does not teach good values around respecting women’s bodies and autonomy.
Actions requested: remove (2024, ON and 2025, BC)
Actions taken: retained (2024, ON and 2025, BC)
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Amazing Women of the Middle East: 25 Stories From Ancient Times to Present Day by Wafa Tarnowska
Location and Year of Challenges/Bans: Toronto Public Library; 2022
Reasons for complaint: anti-Semitic, inaccurate/misleading content
Objections: Complaintant objected to the book’s inaccurate portrayal of the Middle East, as it does not include Israel in the book’s map, believed that the omission is anti-democratic and anti-Jew as it alters the truth of the region.
Action requested: remove
Action taken: relocated from the Children’s Non-Fiction collection and transferred to the Adult Graphic Novel collection
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Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being Human by Erika Moen; illustrated by Matthew Nolan
Locations and Year of Challenges/Bans:
- Newcastle Public Library, Newcastle, NB; 2023
- Airdrie Public Library, Airdrie, Alberta; 2024
Reasons for complaint: inappropriate; explicit content, illegal behaviour/content, inaccurate/misleading content
Objections: Sexualizes children and adolescents; too explicit for target audience; promotes gender identity. Wants parents to decide if they want their children exposed to these books in public libraries (2023, NB). The complainant reported that ‘book has inaccuracies regarding medical information & gender and it gives inappropriate advice for teens’ (2024, AB).
Actions requested: relocate (2023, NB); remove (2024, AB)
Actions taken: retained (2023, NS and 2024, AB)
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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Location and Year of Challenge/Bans Pembina Trail School Division, Winnipeg; 2025
Reasons for complaint: racist against Black people; explicit content – Action4Canada distributed leaflets at the schools in this school division demanding this book (and others) be removed because it was “racist” and has “excessive profanity” and “sexual activities.”
Action requested: remove
Actions taken: retained
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Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Location and Year of Challenges/Bans: All Alberta School Boards; 2025
Reasons for complaint: explicit content
Objections: In May 2025, the Alberta Minister of Education named Gender Queer as one of four books with sexually explicit content that was unacceptable in any school library in the province. On July 4, 2025, the Minister issued a Ministerial Order that no school authority could select for inclusion in a school library, or make available to any children or students in a school library, materials containing explicit sexual content. This effectively forced any school library in Alberta that had Gender Queer in its collection to remove it and prevented any other school library from acquiring it.
Action requested: remove
Action taken: removed
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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Location and Year of Challenges/Bans: Sacred Heart School of Halifax; 2025
Reasons for complaint: explicit content, age inappropriate
Objections: The complainant expressed concern that the book, which contains explicit sexual scenes, strong language and graphic violence, was recommended to their 13-year old daughter.
Action requested: content warning
Action taken: removed by school’s principal without consultation of the school librarian
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A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas
Locations and Year of Challenges/Bans:
- Pembina Trails School Division, Winnipeg; 2025
- Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Kingston; 2025
- Airdrie Public Library, Airdire, Alberta; 2024
- Richmond Public Library, Richmond, British Columbia; 2024
- Okanagan Regional Library, British Columbia; 2024
Reasons for complaint: explicit content, age inappropriate, violence, graphic sex
Objections: Action4Canada distributed leaflets at the schools in this school division demanding this book (and others) be removed because it was “sexually explicit” and “pornographic” (MB, 2025), stating “Entire series be moved to adult fiction for graphic sexual content. Advise other libraries that it should be moved to adult section” (AB, 2024).
Action requested: remove (MB, 2025), relocate (ON, 2025 and AB, 2024)
Action taken: retained (MB, 2025 and BC, 2024), relocated (ON, 2025 and AB, 2024)
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Blankets: An Illustrated Novel by Craig Thompson
Location and Year of Challenges/Bans: All Alberta School Boards; 2025
Reasons for complaint: explicit content
Objections: In May 2025, the Alberta Minister of Education named Blankets as one of four books with sexually explicit content that was unacceptable in any school library in the province. On July 4, 2025, the Minister issued a Ministerial Order that no school authority could select for inclusion in a school library, or make available to any children or students in a school library, materials containing explicit sexual content. This effectively forced any school library in Alberta that had Blankets in its collection to remove it and prevented any other school library from acquiring it.
Action requested: remove
Action taken: removed
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Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Location and Year of Challenges/Bans: All Alberta School Boards; 2025
Reasons for complaint: explicit content
Objections: In May 2025, the Alberta Minister of Education named Fun Home as one of four books with sexually explicit content that was unacceptable in any school library in the province. On July 4, 2025, the Minister issued a Ministerial Order that no school authority could select for inclusion in a school library, or make available to any children or students in a school library, materials containing explicit sexual content. This effectively forced any school library in Alberta that had Fun Home in its collection to remove it and prevented any other school library from acquiring it.
Action requested: remove
Action taken: removed
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