Articles about writing, publishing and the importance of representation
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!
NEW!! A long piece about Kanga - an East African fabric that has been inspiring us.
Writing & Publishing
Articles about Writing
Picture a Story - an author's story about letting go -
The challenge authors have when handing over a text for an artist to interpret and illustrate: for National Share A Story Month 2017 The Federation of Children's Book Groups Anna McQuinn writes about gardens and she takes Lola with her for Unabridged - Charlesbridge Publishing's Author & Illustrator blog: Anna McQuinn writes and Gardens and she takes Lola with her - July 2014 Storytelling in a multi-lingual setting
In Books for Keeps No 180 - What inspires me to write & publish inclusively
An article commissioned by CLPE as part of the Reflecting Realities and Representation Study Articles about Publishing
An Inadvertent Publisher - Alanna Books 10 Anniversary
interview with Books for Keeps 2016 Random Ramblings of a Small Independent Publisher interview for The Letterpress Project 2016 Sales of the Lola and Leo books hit $1million in the USA in 2016. Read all about it in the Bookseller by clicking here. 
Gendered Marketing of children's books
It's NOT what kids want! Books for Keeps No. 203, Read the original here. |
Inclusion & Representation
Who gets to hold the Purple Plastic Purse?
Beyond inclusion in children's books In Write4Children, Vol IV, Issue II Winchester University Press 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 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 
On reviewing books which are marketed
in a very gendered way - a response to an article in the Independent newspaper. Read the original here. |
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Articles and blogs
I've written articles for Books for Keeps, Carousel, Write-4-Children and IBBYLink and I've blogged about Gender, Play and children's books here and here I'm happy to do 'virtual' interviews - see here BookTrust Let's have a world full of books for everyone Interview with Alex Strick Books for Keeps - links to articles An Inadvertent Publisher - Alanna Books BfK No. 218 (May 2016) Gendered marketing of children’s books - It’s NOT ‘what kids want’ BfK No. 203 (November 2013) Storytelling in Multi-lingual settings BfK No. 180 (January 2010) Federation of Children's Book Groups If you want to support and encourage your own or other children in reading, if you want to learn more about children’s books or set up a family reading group, if you are a teacher or librarian who would like to share your passion and expertise about books with your local community, the Federation of Children’s Book Groups offers you the opportunity to do all of these. Picture a Story - An author's story about letting go - for National Share-a-Story Month 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 |
Here Wee Read -
At Here Wee Read, I find and share the very best diverse and non-diverse books that I read aloud with my two children. I am dedicated to shaping our family culture around books and a love for shared reading. Author Interview KidLit 411 - A one stop information shop for children's writers and illustrators Author Spotlight The Letterpress Project At the Letterpress Project we believe that there is something very special about reading books...Our project has been established to help spread an important message – that books can change everyone’s life. Publisher Interview RibbonFish - Innovative Solutions for Publishing & Media Publisher Interview about Alanna Books IBBYLink No. 48 Spring 2017 - Marvelous Imaginations - Extending thinking through picture books Interview about What Are You Playing At? Charlesbridge Blogspot - Unabridged A Red Thread Ask the Author - Lola blog tour Anna McQuinn Writes and Gardens and She Takes Lola with Her Barrington Stoke Blog - If I were in charge of the World 10 inclusive children's books laws |
Author Interviews
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On writing Lola & Leo,
Must-have Children's Books, Literacy Rituals and things parents can do to support children's reading with the wonderful site Here Wee Read 2017 Author Spotlight 2017 interview for KidLit 411 a one stop information shop for children's writers and illustrators |
Interview
with speech-language pathologist Jeanette W Stickel and her kindergarten students on her blog SpeakWell, ReadWell Author blog for Charlesbridge Unabridged - Charlesbridge Publishing's Author & Illustrator blog: Ask the Author - December 2011 |
Articles by other people - my favourite pieces on various topics
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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 explore the topic...
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 |
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 Diversity in Publishing
Reflecting Realities an amazing series of reports developed at CLPE Reflecting Realities and Representation 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 |
Strong Women -
it's complicated... 
Sophia McDougall
I hate Strong Female Characters OR Tasha Robinson We’re losing all our Strong Female Characters to Trinity Syndrome Mwangi The myth of the STRONG BLACK WOMAN Aqsa Sajjad I am not Someone’s Sister, Mother, Wife or Daughter: I am Someone, all on my Own Roxanne Feldman Diverse Thinking from Diverse Folks About Diverse Books Best explanation for why
'All Lives Matter' is not an appropriate response to Black Lives Matter by Geek Aesthete Kindness is not Justice
Teaching Kindness Isn’t Enough
Teaching kindness is a staple of elementary practice, but that isn’t the same as teaching justice by Brett Turner in Learning For Justice Kindness Is Not The Solution to Racism by Alicia Sprague at Colorado State University |