Articles about the importance of representation in children's books
These are pieces on writing, publishing and inclusion. Click on the title to read the original piece or on the links to read on the websites that commissioned them. I'm gradually adding articles I've written in the past, so check back for more later - and don't forget to hit the refresh button!
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What inspires me to write & publish inclusively
An article commissioned by CLPE as part of the Reflecting Realities and Representation Study Why inclusive picture books need to think about class and poverty An article commissioned by BookTrust If I were in charge of the World 10 Rules for Inclusive Publishing blog for Barrington Stoke 2015 Gendered Marketing of children's books
It's NOT what kids want! Books for Keeps No. 203, Read the original here. 
On reviewing books which are marketed
in a very gendered way - a response to an article in the Independent newspaper. Read the original here. Stories for everyone and naturally including childen with disabilities.
An interview with Alex Strick for Booktrust - click here to read on the BookTrust website |
Ebb and flow: The advances and retreats in the battle to make children’s books more inclusive and diverse
IBBY Conference, key note speech 2015 or read on my blog here 
Write-4-Children - Winchester University Press
Vol IV, Issue II - Diversity, Inclusion & Equality Who Gets the Purple, Plastic Purse? Beyond inclusion in children's books Storytelling in a multi-lingual setting In Books for Keeps No 180 - IBBYLink No. 48 Spring 2017 - Marvelous Imaginations - Extending thinking through picture books Interview about What Are You Playing At? Who gets to hold the Purple Plastic Purse? Beyond inclusion in children's books In Write4Children, Vol IV, Issue II Winchester University Press |
Natual Inclusion
I care passionately about children's right to see themselves in books for no reason at all - this is called all sorts of things. I like the expression 'natural inclusion' best. The articles below (written by other people) are ones I found inspiring and though provoking.
We Don’t Only Need More Diverse Books. We Need More Diverse Books Like
The Snowy Day.
One of my favourite articles which really says everything I've ever wanted to say on the subject of 'natural inclusion'
By Rumaan Alam in Slate Magazine:
28 Black Picture Books that are not about Boycotts, Buses or Basketball
by Scott Woods
The first in a series on Scott Woods Makes Lists
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Colorblind?
When you say you 'don't see race', you're ignoring racism
by Zach Stafford in The Guardian - here 7 Reasons why 'Colorblindness' Contributes to Racism by Jon Greenberg in Everyday Feminism - here Colorblind Ideology is a form of Racism by Monnica T Williams in Phychology Today - here Best explanation for why 'All Lives Matter' is not an appropriate response to Black Lives Matter by Geek Aesthete |
Diversity in Publishing
Reflecting Realities an amazing series of reports developed at CLPE My article as part of the series is here. A Place at the Table A fabulous starting point for anyone interested in diversity from CBC Diversity A video interview with Rudine Sims Bishop, Ph.D. Ohio State University Writing Past The White Gaze As A Black Author by LJ Alonge Super super article Diverse Books: Don't Categorize as "Special Interest" by Ellen Oh in School Library Journal Guest Post by Patrice Lawrence: Understand. Support. Challenge. Jennifer Baker: When It Comes to Inclusivity in Publishing, Editors Also Play a Role |
How Cross-Racial Scenes in Picture Books Build Acceptance
by Krista Maywalt Aronson & Anne Sibley O’Brien: here |