To the Editor:

So, some folks at the BOE have decided to ban books. They say that these books are too disturbing for our children.

But what about the violence and disturbing things that happen in the real world? What about the school shootings? What about the mass shootings? What about the terrorism?

Those things are real, and they’re happening every day. But we’re not banning books about those things, are we? No, we’re not.

Because we know that books can help us understand the world around us. They can help us learn about different cultures and different perspectives. They can help us develop empathy and compassion. And they can help us make sense of the chaos and the violence of the world.

So, I say this to you: Don’t ban books. Instead, read them. Read them to your children. Let them learn about the world around them. Let them develop empathy and compassion. Because that’s what books are for.

Tulio Lopez

Newtown