Kids’ ability to see themselves in books available to them is an incredibly valuable thing. Any parent, teacher, librarian, or caregiver will tell you that kids love books that reflect their daily experience. Kids with dogs like it when the kid in the book has a dog; kids with non-nuclear family structures cherish books in which families like theirs are shown.

Why are women winning fewer Caldecott medals than at any point in the 74-year history of the ALA’s top prize for picture books?

Red Feather is an online, international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal that provides a forum for scholars and professionals to interrogate representations of children in film, television, Cyberspace, video gaming or any other visual medium where the image of the child is featured. Visit the “About” link for more information regarding Red Feather’s scope and mission.

Not the best-looking website, but a very interesting point: to my knowledge, most oral-history-collecting efforts are done amongst seniors. It would be interesting to collect oral histories from children, since it’s so hard to remember your earliest memories…

Anyway, that thought was about the West. This is an interesting look at the way Iran thinks about children’s literature.

doitalex:

“He’s one of the few children’s authors who’s actually killed people…He was unequivocal that it is the good, young and kind who triumph over the old, greedy and the wicked.”

Everyone should have a place in their heart for Roald Dahl, whether you’re young or old.

shrinkinglibrarian:

“The gay penguins that ruffled feathers in Loudoun County school libraries and became the darlings of gay rights advocates and intellectual freedom fighters everywhere have taken to the stage. A play that premiered in Fairfax this summer at the Hub Theatre is based on a controversial children’s book about Roy and Silo, the real-life male penguins who hatched and raised a chick together at the Central Park Zoo. The play chronicles their family life, their rise to stardom and, as one character describes it, ‘the bird-brained behavior they caused.’”

(via Library Stuff)

Dr. Seuss, felicitator

by Aaron Ahuvia

Abstract

This article uses the life and work of Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) to discuss certain aspects of what it means to be a ‘felicitator’, i.e. a person who brings happiness to others. The focus is particularly on his promotion of creativity and social inclusion, and his critique of materialism.

Full Text: PDF

Following up on yesterday’s Banned Books Week post:

South Park: The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs
Original Air Date: 03.24.2010

The boys are given one of the most notably banned books of all time as a reading assignment. They eagerly dive in, but soon find it doesnt compare to their standard of what’s vulgar. Annoyed for having their time wasted by reading, they write an obscene book of their own to show that they can do it better. But when their parents discover their work, the boys throw all the blame to Butters, inadvertently turning him into a critically acclaimed author.

Really, only the first quarter or so is of direct interest to us banned-books-week-loving types, but the rest of the episode is good, too. Although - if you can’t handle cartoons vomiting, then I would stop after the “But when their parents discover their work” part. Happy watching!

An associate professor of English at UNC Charlotte. Seems pretty badass. Her listed interests include

Multicultural Children’s Literature
American and British Children’s Literature
Visual Images and Children’s Literature
19th Century American Literature
Images of Slavery in Literature
Film and Popular Culture

So, basically, most of my favorite topics in Children’s Literature :) Anyway, click through to see some of the cool work she’s done/doing.