Children’s Literature Legacy Award

My studies this week are on national awards for quality children’s literature. Here are my thoughts about a name change, now five years ago, for the Children’s Literature Legacy Award.

In its Library Bill of Rights, the American Library Association states that “Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation” (ALA, 2019). However, in the case of first naming an award in honor of author Laura Ingalls Wilder and then later removing Wilder’s name from the award, I believe that award organizers acted as they did, in recognition of the content and values expressed in Wilder’s writing.

The purpose of the Children’s Literature Legacy Award, according to its information page, is to honor “an author and/or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to children’s literature through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences” (ALSC, n.d.-b [emphasis added]).

As a field, librarianship is far more aware today concerning prejudicial attitudes than it was in 1954 when ALSC honored Wilder for her contributions to literature and established a medal in her name (n.d.-a).

When changing the award’s name, no one was disputing that Wilder’s writings were heavily influential. If anything, ALSC acknowledged that Wilder’s work “holds a significant place in the history of children’s literature” (n.d.-c).

But because of her influence, Wilder’s writing has received continual “scholarship and literary analysis” (ibid). Some of this scholarship has brought to light the works’ “anti-Native and anti-Black sentiments” (ibid). To cite one example: “multiple characters in the Little House series intone that ‘the only good Indian is a dead Indian’” (Chow, 2018).

Contributors to the discussion toward more diverse children’s literature include Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, expressing the need for “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors” that are free of distortion (1990/2015). They include Dr. Debbie Reese (tribally enrolled Nambé Pueblo), presenting ongoing attention toward racist attitudes expressed in Wilder’s books (AICL, n.d.).

Reese described the medal’s change in name as a “significant and historic moment” (2018).

Responding to the question of agreeing or disagreeing with the medal’s change in name, I wish to respond with another question, which hearkens back to the award’s stated purpose. Can an author’s writings truly demonstrate “respect for all children’s lives and experiences” if that author’s writing expresses “anti-Native and anti-Black sentiments”?

Removing Wilder’s name from a medal does not remove her books from libraries. Changing the award’s name does not mean Wilder’s name and writings are being swept away, “as though the perspectives in her books never existed,” as the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association alleges (Chow, 2018).

Changing the name of this award simply brings it into alignment with ALSC’s core values of “inclusiveness, integrity and respect, and responsiveness” (ALSC, n.d.-c). And Wilder’s name does not have to remain on a medal for children’s literature in order for children to be educated about the “context” of Wilder’s writing, as some Wilder scholars advocate (Chow, 2018).

References:
American Indians in Children’s Literature. (n.d.). [Posts sorted by relevance for query ‘little house on the prairie’]. https://bit.ly/3P4z5S4

American Library Association. (2019). Library bill of rights. Intellectual freedom: Issues and resources. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

Association for Library Service to Children. (n.d.-a). About the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. Book & media awards: Children’s Literature Legacy Award.

---. (n.d.-b). Children’s Literature Legacy Award. Book & media awards. https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/clla

---. (n.d.-c). Wilder’s legacy, and the award in context. Book & media awards: Children’s Literature Legacy Award. https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/clla/name_change_context

Bishop, R.S. (2015). Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Reading is Fundamental, Jan. 3, 2015. (Reprinted from “Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors,” 1990, Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, 6 [3]). https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

Chow, K. (2018, June 25). Little house on the controversy: Laura Ingalls Wilder’s name removed from book award. Books. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2018/06/25/623184440/little-house-on-the-controversy-laura-ingalls-wilders-name-removed-from-book-awa

Reese, D. (2018, June 24). My session is tomorrow. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE is in my remarks. The name change is a significant and [Status update]. Twitter. https://bit.ly/45IDIs9