Celebrating & promoting diversity in children's literature

© Lee & Low Books

It's times like this when I am so proud that my first picture book is published by Lee & Low Books, the largest publisher of multicultural children's books in the United States. Lee & Low has dedicated itself to creating mirrors and windows for children to see themselves and learn about others since they started 25 years ago.

Everything goes back to education and what a young child learns. Do they learn empathy, compassion and understanding? Or distrust and fear of the other? We Need Diverse Books has pushed for more diversity of views and cultures in all aspects of children's publishing, from the publishers to the creators to the consumers and gatekeepers.

The kid lit resource website I help run, Kidlit411, has a page dedicated to websites, blogs, and articles about diversity. I'm reproducing some of those links here to help spread the word. So dive on in and help be the change you want to see in the world.

Good Blogs and Websites

American Indians in Children's Literature - provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books
CBC Diversity committee of the Children's Book Council devoted to encouraging diversity in children's and YA literature
Deaf Characters in Adolescent Literature
Disability in Kidlit - reviews, guest posts, and discussions about the portrayal of disabilities in MG & YADiverse Pages promotes and discovers main characters of color in mainstream and indie publishingDiversifYA site with tools for authors to include and promote diversity in their YA work
DiversityinYA - celebrating diversity in YA
I'm Here, I'm Queer, What the Hell do I Read? (Lee Wind's blog)
Latin@s in Kidlit - exploring the world of Latino/a YA, MG, and children's literature
The Latino Author - tips and tools for authors and emerging Latino authors
Multicultural Children's Book Day - a day to celebrate multicultural books. 1/27/17
Open Book - blog of Lee & Low, publisher of multicultural children's books
Rich in Color - dedicated to reading, reviewing, and promoting YA with main characters of color or written by people of color
We Need Diverse Books - home of the campaign
Oyate - a Native American organization that evaluates books and curricula with Indian themes to ensure accuracy
 
Writing Diverse Books
Is My Character 'Black Enough'? Advice on Writing Cross-Culturally by Stacy Whitman, Editorial Director & Publisher of Tu Books
The Secrets of Writing a Multicultural Children's Book interview with Tessa Strickland, founder and co-editor of Barefoot Books
An Illustrated Guide to Writing People of Color
Pub Hub: Considerate Craft: Pitching Characters (how to pitch diversity in a query)
Diverse Characters: Corinne Duyvis on the Decline of Issue Books
Writing about Minorities for Non-minorities
First People/American Indians/Native Americans in October/November + Year Round
"You Can't do That! Stories Have to Be About White People"
Children's Books: A Middle-Class Ghetto
Diversity within Diversity: Moving Beyond Oppression
The Uncomfortable Truth about Children's Books


Diversity in Publishing

The Apartheid of Children's Literature 
Where are the People of Color in Children's Books,
Diversity 101: The Multiracial Experience
Agents Discuss Diversity Gap in Publishing 
Reviewing Race
We Need Diverse Books: Can Children's Authors End Publishing Industry Prejudice -- and Change the Way America Reads?
Perceptions of Diversity in Book Reviews
The 2015 Youth Media Awards: A Crossover Year for Diversity
The Diversity Gap in Children's Publishing, 2015
Selection is Privilege (a Librarian's View)
Dear Publishing Industry: Fix Your Own Racism Before You Beg for Diverse Books
The Diversity Baseline Survey
Diversity is Magic: A Roundtable on Children's Literature and Speculative Fiction
What's Trending? What's New, What Was, What's Soon to Be in Kid Lit 
Diversity in Reviews: Behind the Scenes with SLJ's "Gatekeeper"
Little Black Sambo and The Gingerbread Man: Rountable on Truth and Honesty in Literature
"I Just Don't Connect with the Character"
How to Support the Diverse Books Movement
When Publishing and Reviewing Diverse Books, is Expertise Overrated?


Gender & LGBTQ

Do Boys Get All the Fun? 
LGBT & You: How to Support Your Students
Gender Matters? Swedish Picture Books and Gender Ambiguity
The 22 Best Feminist Picture Books, Because You're Never Too Old To Be Saved By A Princess
Where were the Funny Women Writers?
LGBTQ Publishing: An LGBTQ Publishing Wish List
The Gender Police: A Diary
Fifteen LGBTQ-Themed Books for Readers of Every Age
Why Are There So Few Girls in Childrens' Books?


Reading List

The Best LGBT Children's Books: A Sweet and Assuring Celebration of Diversity and Difference
Best Books by or About American Indians
First Peoples in November: Kid Lit Heroes by Jan Godown Annino
A List of 20 Kid Lit Books Off the Beaten Path 
12 Children's Picture Books That Challenge Gender Roles
Beloved Books: A Might Girl Community Favorites
Ignite Her Curiosity: 20 Books Starring Science-Loving Might Girls
6 New Picture Books For and About Kids with Special Needs