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Multicultural Literature
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From: kelstar71_at_aol.com
Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:34:13 -0500 (EST)
Thank you, CCBC, for facilitating this crucial discussion. As an African-American children's book author, I'm heartened that so many people care and are searching for ways to make sure diverse, authentic stories reach all children.
I want to share a resource that can be helpful to people looking for children's books by black authors and illustrators. I'm a member of The Brown Bookshelf (BBS), a blog with the focus of raising awareness of the many African-American voices writing for kids and teens.
We celebrate this work year-round. But every February, as part of our 28 Days Later campaign, we highlight an emerging or vanguard children's book creator each day. Often, they're in-depth features that explore that person's journey to publishing, road to latest deal, thoughts about the industry and buzz about their books.
Our seventh annual celebration is going on now: www.thebrownbookshelf.com. When the month closes, we will have featured nearly 200 black children's book authors and illustrators through the years. There's a search box on our blog where you can plug in the name of a children's book creator or book and pull up any BBS feature on that subject.
Here are a few other resources:
Crazy QuiltEdi: http://campbele.wordpress.com/
Teaching for Change: http://www.teachingforchange.org/
Just Us Books: http://justusbooks.com/
Lee & Low: http://www.leeandlow.com and http://blog.leeandlow.com/
Reading Is Fundamental: http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/booklists/multicultural-books.htm
Zetta Elliott's blog, Fledgling, is another one to check out. She made a list of 2013 African American Fiction for Teens here: http://zettaelliott.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/2013-african-american-fiction-for-teens/
And please remember to use the Coretta Scott King Book Award list as a resource too: http://www.ala.org/emiert/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present
I'm thankful for the dedication, sincerity and hard work of everyone who pushes for more multicultural children's books, but there's something that makes me uncomfortable in the drum beat for children's books where race is not the issue too. I know it's not intended to come across like this, but sometimes it feels like I'm being told as a writer - or consumer (I have two children) - that books that focus on race or history are not what kids need.
I feel there should not be any limits put on what authors of color write. Kids of all backgrounds need contemporary stories, fantasy and science fiction ones and books that focus on the past. I think sometimes, unintentionally, historical fiction - particularly books that explore slavery and civil rights - gets written off as more of the same in the effort to make the important point that kids of color need to see themselves in fun and every-day books too.
They need it all. We need more awareness of the wonderful books that are already out there in all genres and a commitment to kick down doors to make sure more books that speak to the beautiful diversity of our world are made and make their way into children's hands.
I'm honored to be part of this conversation. Thanks again to CCBC and all of you for making a difference.
Warm Wishes,
Kelly
Kelly Starling Lyons www.kellystarlinglyons.com
Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:34:13 -0500 (EST)
Thank you, CCBC, for facilitating this crucial discussion. As an African-American children's book author, I'm heartened that so many people care and are searching for ways to make sure diverse, authentic stories reach all children.
I want to share a resource that can be helpful to people looking for children's books by black authors and illustrators. I'm a member of The Brown Bookshelf (BBS), a blog with the focus of raising awareness of the many African-American voices writing for kids and teens.
We celebrate this work year-round. But every February, as part of our 28 Days Later campaign, we highlight an emerging or vanguard children's book creator each day. Often, they're in-depth features that explore that person's journey to publishing, road to latest deal, thoughts about the industry and buzz about their books.
Our seventh annual celebration is going on now: www.thebrownbookshelf.com. When the month closes, we will have featured nearly 200 black children's book authors and illustrators through the years. There's a search box on our blog where you can plug in the name of a children's book creator or book and pull up any BBS feature on that subject.
Here are a few other resources:
Crazy QuiltEdi: http://campbele.wordpress.com/
Teaching for Change: http://www.teachingforchange.org/
Just Us Books: http://justusbooks.com/
Lee & Low: http://www.leeandlow.com and http://blog.leeandlow.com/
Reading Is Fundamental: http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/booklists/multicultural-books.htm
Zetta Elliott's blog, Fledgling, is another one to check out. She made a list of 2013 African American Fiction for Teens here: http://zettaelliott.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/2013-african-american-fiction-for-teens/
And please remember to use the Coretta Scott King Book Award list as a resource too: http://www.ala.org/emiert/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present
I'm thankful for the dedication, sincerity and hard work of everyone who pushes for more multicultural children's books, but there's something that makes me uncomfortable in the drum beat for children's books where race is not the issue too. I know it's not intended to come across like this, but sometimes it feels like I'm being told as a writer - or consumer (I have two children) - that books that focus on race or history are not what kids need.
I feel there should not be any limits put on what authors of color write. Kids of all backgrounds need contemporary stories, fantasy and science fiction ones and books that focus on the past. I think sometimes, unintentionally, historical fiction - particularly books that explore slavery and civil rights - gets written off as more of the same in the effort to make the important point that kids of color need to see themselves in fun and every-day books too.
They need it all. We need more awareness of the wonderful books that are already out there in all genres and a commitment to kick down doors to make sure more books that speak to the beautiful diversity of our world are made and make their way into children's hands.
I'm honored to be part of this conversation. Thanks again to CCBC and all of you for making a difference.
Warm Wishes,
Kelly
Kelly Starling Lyons www.kellystarlinglyons.com
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Received on Thu 06 Feb 2014 08:35:02 AM CST
