Evaluating literature and disrupting ‘single stories’

Among my studies this week, authors Tschida, Ryan, and Tichnor (2014) cited two important contributions to the practice of building diverse library collections.

Outsider perspectives in ‘diverse’ books

Citing the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, the American Library Association, and J.C. McNair; educators Tschida, Ryan, and Ticknor state that “authors and illustrators representing diverse races, classes, religions, sexualities, abilities, and other areas of marginalization” are, when they are published at all, “routinely left out of classrooms” (2014, p. 28).

Book Riot’s 2022 Read Harder Challenge

Among avid readers, who else has tackled Book Riot’s 2022 Read Harder Challenge? The purpose of these “24 tasks (an average of two per month)” is to encourage readers “to explore settings, characters, formats, genres, and perspectives [they] might not otherwise have tried.”
https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2022/

Here is my list of books to meet this year’s Read Harder Challenge.

Library collections reflect diversity

In its interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, “Diversity in Collection Development,” the American Library Association states that “Library collections must represent the diversity of people and ideas in our society” (AASL, 2018, p. 247).

‘Library and Community Analysis’

This week, in my course through Library Juice Academy, I was tasked with creating a “Library and Community Analysis.” One aspect of that analysis was to describe services and resources that the library provides to meet the needs of diverse individuals.

Letter supporting Pride displays in libraries

Someone removed all the books from a Pride display at the Rohnert Park library. In solidarity with Sonoma County Library and with other local libraries that help users to #ReadwithPRIDE, I submitted this letter to the editor of the Press Democrat. My ground-rule when writing this letter: not to validate a campaign to remove the books, nor the organization spearheading it, through any mention of their names.

Diversity in publishing : WNDB scholarships address barriers to entry

An effort by authors, readers, librarians, educators, and others to diversify publishing is a major issue affecting Library and Information Science. In its June 1 issue, Publishers Weekly reported that authors are taking matters “into their own hands” to address the lack of diversity in publishing (Maher 2020).

SOC 2: ‘Cancel culture’ in children’s and Young Adult publishing

At Santa Rosa Junior College, for Spring 2020, I am taking Sociology 2, Modern Social Problems. For this class, I am exploring the question: How does “cancel culture” affect efforts toward greater diversity in children’s and Young Adult publishing? Today, I submitted an annotated bibliography.

SOC 1: Diversity in children’s books, ideology and structural strain

For Sociology 1 at Santa Rosa Junior College, I am exploring a social movement, including its identifiable ideology and possible structural strains. For this assignment, I have chosen the topic, “Diversity in children’s books.”

Children need to ‘see themselves’ in stories

Three children’s book authors recently shared their perspectives on not being able to see people like themselves as a story’s main character. The piece’s author, Colleen R. Lee, shares an incident with a customer that underscored, for her, “how important diversity in literature is for children.” (Via Knowledge Quest, American Association of School Librarians)

School library ‘climate’ supports diversity

A school library’s “climate” goes a long way toward acknowledging and promoting diversity. Michelle Easley offers several practical suggestions to help create a library climate where everyone is welcome. (Via Knowledge Quest, American Association of School Librarians)

‘Better Nate Than Ever’ by Tim Federle

Reading this book, I could thoroughly relate to the protagonist, Nate. I’ve never auditioned for a Broadway performance, but I’ve been on job interviews where a lot was at stake — including the chance to entirely change my career from that of journalist to librarian.

Coming from that background, I could appreciate the suspense as Nate went through the process — anxiously waiting for a call-back and wrestling with the anxiety of what would happen next.

I also sympathized with Nate for what New York seemed to represent, a place where boys didn’t have to live up to a narrow standard of masculinity, where they could talk about the things that Nate cared about, and could even dance together, without being targeted by bullying.

(Bullies frequently target Nate for his perceived sexual orientation, but he describes himself as having an “undecided major” at the College of Sexuality. As Nate puts it, “Macaroni and cheese is still my favorite food — how would I know who I want to hook up with?”)

Nate, himself, is exuberant and irrepressible, truly a delightful narrator.

This book speaks to a wide range of backgrounds and relateable circumstances that readers can bring to the experience of reading it. And I was intrigued to see that it is first volume in a series. I look forward to continuing with Nate’s adventures in the series’ subsequent books.

Study examines prejudice against people on autism spectrum

A study published online in February 2017 proposes that, based upon “thin slice judgments” that occur within seconds of meeting a person who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, neurotypical peers are less likely to pursue social interaction with that person.
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Teen librarian creates ‘Black Voices’ book list

At Rincon Valley Regional Library, Teen Services Librarian Lara Mayelian shares my belief that “Everyone should be able to walk into a library and see books that mirror their own life experiences.” (That’s Ms. Mayelian writing for the Sonoma County Library blog.) She asked me to help promote a new teen book list she’s created, titled, “Black Voices, Black Lives” — and each of her selections include shelving information to help you locate these resources in the library.

Diverse book collections begin with honest assessment

Image credit: The Children’s Chalice. Books showing diversity of language

In Olympia, Wash., a church’s director of religious education took an unflinching look with her students at how diverse the program’s book collection was — discovering that while they had many books showing people with diverse skin colors, there was still “a very tall pile of books” that only had white people in them, without “anywhere near enough books that feature diversity in ability, sexual orientation, or gender.” Honest assessments like this are a great starting place for determining whether every child in a library’s (or a classroom’s) population will find books that speak to their personal experiences and validate their cultural identities. My appreciation to “DRESara” for sharing this process with her readership.

‘Whose reviews’ influence libraries’ purchasing decisions?

When library staff utilize reviews to determine books’ suitability, “whose voices are privileged and whose go unheard” among the reviews that they read? At Reading While White, Megan Schliesman addresses concern about library collection-development policies that emphasize “professional” reviews. Schliesman argues that professional review journals lean toward “traditional” publishing, which in turn has a bias toward “whiteness” in children’s and young adult literature. She highlights sources of critical discourse beyond the traditional outlets, which can help to foster the diversity of viewpoints that a library will ideally strive for.

Rudine Sims Bishop honored for lifetime achievement

Rudine Sims Bishop

Among notable recognitions during a recent presentation of the ALA Youth Media Awards: Rudine Sims Bishop received the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

From American Libraries Magazine, “2017 Youth Media Award Winners Announced“:

“Bishop is a winner of numerous awards and has served as a respected member of many book awards committees over the course of her long and distinguished career. Her influential writing, speaking, and teaching articulates the history and cultural significance of African-American children’s literature. Her globally cited work, Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors, has inspired movements for increased diversity in books for young people, and provides the basis for the best multicultural practice and inquiry for students, teachers, writers and publishing houses.”

‘Lowriders’ wins Pura Belpré Award for illustrator

Each January, I await announcement of the American Library Assoication’s Youth Media Awards, representing the top books, video and audiobooks for children. And it’s gratifying when a book that I’ve read and enjoyed receives its due acknowledgement.

The Pura Belpré Awards honor a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience, and for 2017, the Illustrator Award went to Lowriders to the Center of the Earth (Chronicle Books, July 2016).

Illustrated by Raúl the Third and written by Cathy Camper, Lowriders to the Center of the Earth is the second book in a series. The first book, Lowriders in Space (Chronicle Books, 2014), introduced the three main characters: Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria and El Chavo Flapjack Octopus.

Children’s books that support diversity, ‘connection’ and engaging in ‘the work’

Pictures from seeds, created by children in ‘Religious Explorations’

My work in library “Readers Advisory” can surface any time, in any capacity. At the church where I work part-time as administrative coordinator for Religious Explorations, I was asked to identify children’s books that reflect the church’s mission: to “Embrace Diversity, Empower Connection, Engage in the Work.”

‘Lowriders to the Center of the Earth’

In Lowriders in Space (Chronicle Books, 2014), Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria and El Chavo Flapjack Octopus achieved their dream of owning their own garage, where they could repair, detail and clean cars without having to answer to their tyrannical boss.

But the book’s closing page introduced a new crisis: their beloved cat Genie was gone. Now in Lowriders to the Center of the Earth (July 2016), the trio set out on a road trip in search of their missing cat.

Written by Cathy Camper and illustrated by Raúl the Third, this new graphic novel combines a storyline that many children can relate to — searching for a missing pet — with Aztec mythology and geological science. (Genie is being held prisoner by the Lord of the Underworld and as our heroes travel ever deeper toward the center of the earth, El Chavo Flapjack Octopus humorously scrambles the names for the various layers of rock.)