10/08/2026
It’s Banned Books Week! We’re celebrating the freedom to read all week long by sharing some fascinating backstory behind titles that have faced challenges over the years.
Did you know? John Steinbeck’s dog literally ate his homework! In May 1936, Steinbeck’s Irish setter, Toby, got into his writing den and chewed the original, handwritten first draft of Of Mice and Men into confetti. Steinbeck wrote to his agent that while he was devastated, he couldn't stay mad because the dog "may have been acting as a literary critic." He had to rewrite the entire first half from memory.
Come browse our banned favorites at East Texas Book Company, located inside Finders Keepers on Main at 304 N. Main Street in Winnsboro, Texas. Open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM!