Resources to learn about diversity in children’s books and publishing
There’s been a conversation happening loudly in the past decade (but it’s been happening without being heard for a lot longer) in publishing right now about diversity and inclusion. I feel strongly about the need for diverse stories, diverse story structures, diverse characters, diverse authors, and most importantly and wonderfully, diverse readers! Here are some of the resources I use to stay up to date and informed about these topics. I’ll continue to add to this list.
I read librarian Edith Campbell’s blog. Edi says this of herself: “I’m an academic librarian who works particularly to improve the representation of People of Color and Native/First Nations people.”
Her reviews are thoughtful and honest and enlightening. For a critical and necessary view of modern children’s books, and also some older books, read Edi’s blog. She often invites authors, librarians, teachers, and others to guest blog and these are also incredibly useful.
If you’re seeking an experienced sensitivity reader, check out Patrice Williams Marks’s database of trained and certified sensitivity readers. Creative services, including both editing and sensitivity reading, aren’t regulated so “certification” requirements aren’t universal. So as with editing, be sure you ask a lot of questions and confirm you’re working with the right reader. That said, this is the only place I’ve seen that tests sensitivity readers before adding them to their database, so this is a great starting point for your research.
Do also check out www.editorsofcolor.com, as some of the editors in this database are also sensitivity readers.
For books by and about people of color, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and neurodiverse people, check out We Need Diverse Books’s database.
Be sure to also sign up for their blog. They also have an app available on Google Play or in your browser.
Jacqueline Woodson in The Horn Book
For a thoughtful look at writing outside your lived experience, read celebrated author Jacqueline Woodson’s piece in The Horn Book from 1998 (yes, we’ve been having this conversation for a very long time).