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Re: ccbc-net digest: February 07, 2014
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From: Lulu Delacre <luludela_at_verizon.net>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 06:42:22 +0800
It has been such an enlightening discussion offering varied viewpoints so interesting that I've felt compelled to follow it; even while on vacation in Laos and Myanmar.
Lucine's and Christine's idea of a central repository for a list of authors and/or illustrators of color signing at conferences is terrific. Advertising it on blogs and other venues will create further awareness of these creators.
Uma Krishnaswami brought attention to my Rafi and Rosi books published as I-Can-Read Books in 2004 and 2006. I'd like to chime in with my anecdotal perspective about when a publisher's view of a book does not seem to mirror the viewpoint of the book's readership.
Both titles went out of print by 2010 and all rights reverted to me. All six stories in the two books deal with the universal theme of sibling relationships. However, they are set in Puerto Rico spotlighting cultural elements. I wrote both the English and Spanish versions working with separate editors.
Both my editors told me they loved the characters and stories, however the publisher turned down the third book in the series and shortly after the books went out of print. One of my editors told me the books were deemed "too Puerto Rican" by the publisher. I also heard that in order to stay in print they needed to sell 2000 copies yearly.
It is my perception that little was done to advertise the titles when they were first published; and sing their praises later on as they were picked up by First Book and selected by The Junior Literary Guild. I understand the problem of being a little fish in a big pond, though. These titles were never meant to be blockbusters.
That said, they've consistently won the hearts of first and second graders. I must have presented programs on Rafi and Rosi to at least 3000 kids of all ethnicities throughout the years; and my audience is always enthralled by these sessions. As you know young children are an honest audience. So I wonder. How is it that titles that seem to be loved by a majority of first and second graders regardless of their ethnicity; are deemed too specific in their cultural nuances by the publisher? And what can an author of color do to avoid this pitfall?
I welcome all and any suggestions. In the meantime I'll keep working on books that I feel I must create. Books like middle grade stories about young Latinos in America or a Spanish language bilingual alphabet picture book that I'll be happy to publish with those who truly believe in these projects.
Lulu Delacre Three-Time Pura Belpré Award Honoree www.luludelacre.com
> From: Uma <uma_at_gobrainstorm.net>
> Date: Fri, 07 Feb 2014 09:47:44 -
>
> Also, not quite transitional chapter books but Lulu Delacre’s lovely Rafi and Rosi early readers which broke ground in depicting culturally specific animal characters.
>
> Uma
> --------------------------------
>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 06:42:22 +0800
It has been such an enlightening discussion offering varied viewpoints so interesting that I've felt compelled to follow it; even while on vacation in Laos and Myanmar.
Lucine's and Christine's idea of a central repository for a list of authors and/or illustrators of color signing at conferences is terrific. Advertising it on blogs and other venues will create further awareness of these creators.
Uma Krishnaswami brought attention to my Rafi and Rosi books published as I-Can-Read Books in 2004 and 2006. I'd like to chime in with my anecdotal perspective about when a publisher's view of a book does not seem to mirror the viewpoint of the book's readership.
Both titles went out of print by 2010 and all rights reverted to me. All six stories in the two books deal with the universal theme of sibling relationships. However, they are set in Puerto Rico spotlighting cultural elements. I wrote both the English and Spanish versions working with separate editors.
Both my editors told me they loved the characters and stories, however the publisher turned down the third book in the series and shortly after the books went out of print. One of my editors told me the books were deemed "too Puerto Rican" by the publisher. I also heard that in order to stay in print they needed to sell 2000 copies yearly.
It is my perception that little was done to advertise the titles when they were first published; and sing their praises later on as they were picked up by First Book and selected by The Junior Literary Guild. I understand the problem of being a little fish in a big pond, though. These titles were never meant to be blockbusters.
That said, they've consistently won the hearts of first and second graders. I must have presented programs on Rafi and Rosi to at least 3000 kids of all ethnicities throughout the years; and my audience is always enthralled by these sessions. As you know young children are an honest audience. So I wonder. How is it that titles that seem to be loved by a majority of first and second graders regardless of their ethnicity; are deemed too specific in their cultural nuances by the publisher? And what can an author of color do to avoid this pitfall?
I welcome all and any suggestions. In the meantime I'll keep working on books that I feel I must create. Books like middle grade stories about young Latinos in America or a Spanish language bilingual alphabet picture book that I'll be happy to publish with those who truly believe in these projects.
Lulu Delacre Three-Time Pura Belpré Award Honoree www.luludelacre.com
> From: Uma <uma_at_gobrainstorm.net>
> Date: Fri, 07 Feb 2014 09:47:44 -
>
> Also, not quite transitional chapter books but Lulu Delacre’s lovely Rafi and Rosi early readers which broke ground in depicting culturally specific animal characters.
>
> Uma
> --------------------------------
>
---
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Received on Sun 09 Feb 2014 04:43:03 PM CST
