In 2013, then 12-year old Vanessa VanDyke was threatened that she would be expelled unless she cut her natural hair because it was regarded as a “distraction” by administrators. In 2017, sisters Mya and Deanna Cook were told if they did not get rid of their braids, they would be removed from extracurricular activities, banned […]
Diversity in Children’s Books Graphic
The 2018 Diversity in Children’s Literature graphic (produced by Sarah Park Dahlen and David Huyck) is available to download as JPEGs/PDFs of the image at the blog of infographic co-producer Dr. Sarah Park Dahlen. A version was available as a postcard. The back of the card can be viewed and downloaded here.
Sense of an Ending: Picture Books as an Entry to Activism
By Colleen Massaquoi The third graders huddled around the photographs, their faces filled with concern. “Whoa, that’s a lot of bags,” Sam said, scooting closer to examine a picture of a goat surrounded by towering mounds of twisted, multicolored plastic bags. “Oh no!” Claire exclaimed. “It looks like that goat is going to eat the […]
We Are Kid Lit Collective 2019 Summer Reading List
(Download 2019 Summer Reading List PDF) Are you looking for a curated summer reading list that celebrates diversity, inclusivity and intersecting identities? The We Are Kid Lit Collective selects books by and about IPOC (Indigenous and People of Color), people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities. Chosen books are thoroughly selected, discussed, and […]
The Struggle Continues: How the Endings of Children’s Literature Create False Narratives of Social Movements
By Makai Kellogg We all know what “The End” means when reading a children’s book. The story has concluded. The last sentence of a book can also indicate to a reader that there is closure. But what are the consequences of that closure when it comes to books about ongoing social movements? Isn’t there always […]
Whitewashed Colonial History Children’s Book Still in Print
On the last day of Black History Month, children at a predominantly African American elementary school in D.C. were each given a book to keep. The title given to the daughter of one of our Teaching for Change staff was If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern (Scholastic, 1992). Here is our critique […]