By Karis Rogerson Books helped me figure out, in my mid-20s, that I’m queer. In fact, it was mainly young adult books aimed at teenagers that showed me parts of myself I’d been hiding from for more than two decades. So when I say that I think diverse books are important, and when I spotlight … [Read more...] about How LGBTQIA+ Book Bans Impact Kids and Teens
Opinion
You Do Not Have to Explain Your Magic
By Raquel Vasquez Gilliland When I write stories, I include magic. I was raised with magic, so this is natural to me. It’s also natural to not explain the origins of magic in my work. In my newest YA novel, How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe, I establish a similar world. Though there … [Read more...] about You Do Not Have to Explain Your Magic
Where Are the Arab Authors in Kidlit?
By Rhonda Roumani Growing up, I never saw myself in the books that I read. But as an Arab American, I was okay with that. That’s because, from a very young age, I was painfully aware that in the news and in movies, my people were the enemy. Arabs were sword-wielding, bomb-making terrorists. Or … [Read more...] about Where Are the Arab Authors in Kidlit?
Queernorm Fantasy Worlds: Writing as an Escape
By Alexandra Overy These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy is on sale now. Reading has always been my escape. From anxious late nights to hiding in the school library, it has always been my go-to method of avoiding the world. A way to get out of my own head for a while, to get completely … [Read more...] about Queernorm Fantasy Worlds: Writing as an Escape
Multicultural Idioms Are a Golden Opportunity for Language Learners
By Anneke Forzani Even if you aren’t familiar with idioms, you might be surprised how often you use them in daily conversations. Let's take a look at why it’s essential to learn idioms, how idioms vary across cultures, and how educators can bridge the cultural divide when teaching … [Read more...] about Multicultural Idioms Are a Golden Opportunity for Language Learners
Why Every State Should Require LGBTQ+ History Be Taught in Public K-12 Schools
By Sarah Prager LGBTQ+ history education is absolutely vital for LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ K-12 students alike to understand our community’s undeniable contributions to society. From Alan Turing’s invention of the computer to Glenn Burke’s invention of the high five, there is no field or culture … [Read more...] about Why Every State Should Require LGBTQ+ History Be Taught in Public K-12 Schools
Why We Need More Diversity in South Asian Representation
By Mishma Nixon The first time I attended BookExpo (formerly BookExpo America) in 2017, a random man looked at my badge and asked me, “What is Sri Lanka? Is it part of India?” I wish I gave him a smart response, but I don’t even remember what I said to him now. That was my first trip to the US … [Read more...] about Why We Need More Diversity in South Asian Representation
Why We Need More Latinx Autistic Stories
By Adriana White Being a librarian involves a lot of book lists. We group books together for displays, we recommend books for readers’ advisory, and we post book lists on our library websites. These lists serve as entry points into our collections, and without these carefully curated lists, many … [Read more...] about Why We Need More Latinx Autistic Stories
Jewish Readers Deserve to See Themselves Outside of the Holocaust and Holidays
By BrocheAroe Fabian, River Dog Book Co. “HERSHEL OF OSTROPOL!” my mother read to me in a deep, rasping voice. “Did I hear something?” Her voice had changed pitch and tone, lighter, higher, with a little quiver in it indicating fear—Hershel’s voice. “IT IS I, THE KING OF THE GOBLINS!” … [Read more...] about Jewish Readers Deserve to See Themselves Outside of the Holocaust and Holidays
