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RE: Multicultural Statistics for 2013
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From: sully_at_sully-writer.com
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2014 06:01:49 -0700
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2014 06:01:49 -0700
I'd argue the bias against multicultural books is intentional, Claudia, and that it's driven largely by economics. There's still a pervading (and erroneous) belief that multicultural books will not sell well because minorities are the only ones who will buy them and that minorities do no read. This is not necessarily the belief shared among the editors who would want to acquire these books but by the accountants they have to answer to in the corporate structure they work in who care only about the bottom line. Editors with publishers that are corporate-owned cannot publish the books they want if the accountants overrule them. Indies obviously want and need to money to stay in business, too, but they are more willing to take risks which is why I think a disproportionate number of multicultural titles are published by indies.
I suppose one way smaller independent presses like Arte Publico, Cinco Puntos, and Just Us can endure is by specializing in Latino or African American literature. They carve out a niche for themselves in the market with a distinctive identity. Lee & Low specializes in multicultural books and has expanded in recent years with a YA imprint and acquiring smaller presses like Children's Book Press and Shen's Books.
I agree with you about CSK and Pura Belpre being perceived as "less important" and marginal.
Edward T. Sullivan, Rogue Librarian
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [ccbc-net] Multicultural Statistics for 2013
From: Claudia Pearson <pearsoncrz@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, February 03, 2014 4:29 pm
To: Lyn Miller-Lachmann <lynml@me.com>, sully@sully-writer.com
Cc: Merri Lindgren <mlindgren@education.wisc.edu>, ccbc-net
<ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu>
IMO, self selection is an issue, but there is also endemic, albeit unitentional bias in the children's book publishing industry. Major publishers are looking for award winners, and the existence of the CSK, Pura Belpre and other "multicultural awards, which are typically perceived as not only less important awards, but awards designed specifically to identify books perceived to have been written not for all children, but for a limited audience may play a role in how many books are acquired by publishing houses each year.Anyone who has not read the Lee & Low blog and Roger Sutton's commentary, along with the extended discussion in the posts which followed should. http://www.hbook.com/2013/07/blogs/read-roger/a-very-good-question/Claudia Pearson coRA SCBWI Southern Breeze Georgia - Alabama - Florida Panhandle pearsoncrz@earthlink.net Need a retreat? Check out the Hibbard Condos www.mtn-resorts.com/P213 www.mtn-resorts.com/P214 www.mtn-resorts.com/P215 www.mtn-resorts.com/P216 Special off-season discount for SCBWI members - email me! You are currently subscribed to ccbc-net as: sully@sully-writer.com.
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username: ccbc-net password: Look4PostsReceived on Tue 04 Feb 2014 07:02:25 AM CST
