I love gathering insight across different disciplines. I learned this approach from medicine where multidisciplinary patient care and research is regarded to be among the most powerful. Being a writer and a physician and a researcher makes me somewhat multidisciplinary myself! So for this talk, I read the work of fellow authors as well as work from editors, librarians, and educators from different fields.

The resounding message across all disciplines is that diversity in children’s literature is important. And not just racial/ethnic diversity–all types including gender/sexuality, ability, neurodiversity, illness, class, and more. It is important for children to be able to see themselves in books so they too can imagine overcoming the impossible and reaching for the stars. It is important for readers to see characters who are different from them so they can build empathy. And it is important that literature not perpetuate harmful stereotypes. How to do all this starts first with good writing and creating characters who are fully realized, nuanced and HUMAN, no matter their race, class, sexuality, religion, and ability. And there is work involved. You must do your research, at times, to accomplish this.

Like most, I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. Below is a list of the on-line resources I used while creating my talk. If you are a writer or a reader interested in diversity in children’s literature, these sites may be of benefit to you. The first two are checklists that educators use to assess books for inclusion. The rest are in no particular order! Remember, not all of these resources are meant for writers, but I saw value in them so maybe you will too.

Checklists:

10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books For Racism and Sexism

Children’s Literature that Includes Characters with Disabilities or Illnesses

ADL’s Anti-Bias Education: Checklist for Assessing Children's Literature

Other Helpful Websites:

Ensuring Libraries Are Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive

Milestones for Diversity in Children’s Literature and Library Services

Disability in Kidlit

Diversity and Inclusion in Children’s and Young Adult Books by Cynthia Leitich Smith (note: Cynthia has a host of different articles about this topic on her website as well as book recommendations)

Avoiding LGBTQ Stereotypes by Malinda Lo

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh, PhD

Transracial Writing for the Sincere by Nisi Shawl for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America