Recently, there’s been a groundswell of discontent over the lack of diversity in children’s literature. The issue is being picked up by news outlets like these
two
pieces in the
NYT
,
CNN
,
EW
, and many more. But while we individually care about diversity, there is still a disconnect. BEA’s Bookcon recently announced an all-white-male panel of “luminaries of children’s literature,” and when we pointed out the lack of diversity, nothing changed.
Now is the time to raise our voices into a roar that can’t be ignored. Here’s how:
On May 1st at 1pm (EST), there will be a public call for action that will spread over 3 days. We’re starting with a visual social media campaign using the hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks. We want people to tweet, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, blog, and post anywhere they can to help make the hashtag go viral.
For the visual part of the campaign:
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Coffee. Write. Repeat. 
I saw this on tumblr yesterday, and it got me so excited. Hopefully I can include my books in those “diversity in lit” tags one day. :]
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Yes! Do it 🙂 People always say how far we’ve come, but we still have so far to go. I want every kid to be able to have a character they can relate and look up to! That’s so important.
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Are you gonna do the picture and everything, too?
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I don’t know yet! Possibly
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Oh, and good role models, i.e. strong heroines who are independent and save themselves instead of waiting around for a boy! That’s part of the reason I loved Tamora Pierce’s books so much when I was younger.
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