Around the Web: A Children's Lit Study, Freedom Reads, Censorship, and Neuroscience

Happy Friday! It’s time for another roundup of bookish content from across the internet. This week, we’ve got a story about children’s lit revealing cultural difference between Russia and the US, a new endeavour to bring books to prison inmates, a statement from the National Coalition Against Censorship, and a neuroscientific look at grammar.

Russian vs American Children’s Lit

A new study of children’s stories has revealed differences Russian and American approaches to emotion. Russian parents are more likely than American parents to read stories to their kids that feature negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness. Check out Neuroscience News for more on these cultural differences.

Prison Cell to Freedom Library

Thanks to the work of poet and lawyer Reginald Dwayne Betts, the prison cell that Malcolm X is believed to have occupied is set to become a micro-library. Betts' charity, Freedom Reads, is planning to set up 1000 freedom libraries across the US, with the goal of providing prisoners with access to books. Check out the full story from the Guardian.

National Coalition Against Censorship Statement

Remember when I shared the story about the spike in book banning attempts? Well, the National Coalition Against Censorship released a statement earlier this month defending students’ right to read freely. Take a look.

Emotions, Identity, and Grammar

If you’re looking for some science reading, check out this article on how emotions and identity can affect our use of grammar. It’s pretty interesting stuff!