Tina Fey and her mateys may yet be the cutest bookaneers around, but they're no longer alone: Sept. 29 marked the beginning of Banned Books Week 2007, and this year they're riding on First Book's raggedy coattails with the salty theme, "Ahoy! Treasure Your Freedom to Read and Get Hooked on a Banned Book."

Sponsored in part by those crazy intellectual freedom–loving folks over at the ALA (American Library Association; see a full list of sponsors here), Banned Books Week celebrates freedom of expression and freedom of access. It's the perfect time to say thank you to your local Maria Bello — I mean, librarian — and this year it's also a good excuse to say Arrrr and Avast!, especially if you forgot to observe Talk Like a Pirate Day like I did last month.

On its site, the ALA provides lists and graphs, including information about the ten most frequently challenged books of the preceding year. The 2006 crowd welcomed a newcomer in the top spot, children's book And Tango Makes Three. … continue reading