From: angelica
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 11:27:59 -0800

Dear all, I'm passing on this request from a colleague. Please respond to him directly or, of course, I can forward answers to him. Thanks, Angelica Carpenter, Curator, Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature, California State University, Fresno

Dear Children's Librarians: I am a librarian and author working a project involving children's literature. As part of my research I'm trying to identify books that might resonate with gay kids. I've framed my search as it might come from a well-read parent:

"My son is 8 (or 6 or 10) years old and I think he's gay. Can you recommend any children's books for him? I've found lots of young adult novels with gay themes and characters, but they're beyond his reading level. And I've also identified picture books for children of gay parents.
 But what I want is something in between: a children's book that I can either read to him or he can read himself.
        It doesn't have to have explicitly gay characters in it, of course, although that would be nice. But it should be something that he might like because of who he is. I know this sounds like a funny request, but Bettleheim (The Uses of Enchantment) talks about the values kids get from fairy tales, and Ellen Handler Spitz (Inside Picture Books) talks about the deep messages, both good and bad, that kids get from picture books. It seems to me there might be some story out there, while not necessarily written with a gay child in mind, that might nevertheless resonate with him. Any ideas you have would be gratefully appreciated."

What books might you suggest?

My email address is damichel at krypto.net. 8 Fourth Ave, Northampton, MA 01060 and 413 582i26 are other ways to get in touch with me.

Thank you, Dee Michel.

PS My mother, Eve Merriam, wrote a lot of kids' poetry.
Received on Thu 31 Jan 2002 01:27:59 PM CST