I write about gender 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!
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 - Articles about Publishing
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 
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. |
Inclusion &
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Child Development
Sleepover and Identity
Are sleepovers an opportunity for young children to think about identity - to see things through someone else's eyes; to share the experience of living in another household; to think about what it’s like to be a child living in different circumstances; to imagine what it might be like to instead live this child’s life as part of this household.
(Also on my blog if you'd like to comment) 
Consent 
How a picture book about a cat could help teach children about consent and boundaries
- article commissioned by BookTrust Empathy
Starting School or pre-school
Parents and teachers in the UK and Ireland, Lulu's First Day is the UK edition. Click here for tips for preparing your child's first day at school or pre-school.
Parents and teachers in the US and Canada, Lola Goes to School is the US edition. Click here for your tips. Click here for more information, thoughs about the story and insights for teachers. |
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 |