Writing with Pride: creating LGBTQ kids' books that don't make it an "issue."

Are you proud of who you are?

I hope so.

But as much as I wish I could say that pride was enough to create a great kids' book... it's not.  The last few years have seen a flood of LGBTQ-oriented kids' books rushed into print... not all of which are fantastic.

I want to say this up-front:  I am not LGBTQ, and I write this as a white woman married to a white man.  So some would say that we're uniquely privileged... and that members of a minority should take any opportunity they can get to show families like theirs.

I don't want to argue with that.  I want to believe, instead, that there's a way to do that that doesn't undermine the cause.  And that way is to write a great story, with characters that happen to be... well, whatever type of characters you want to depict.

Why pride isn't enough

Too many of these books, particularly the classic ones, focus on the central "issue" - that there are two mommies, two daddies, that somebody is transgendered, whatever it is.  And those kinds of books are not only generally tedious to read, but also don't appeal to children.

      

I have a mom and a mom... or a dad and a dad!

The message of these stories is usually pretty simple-minded:  yes, we're different, but we're happy and our lives are full of love.  It's certainly not an offensive message....but neither is it very interesting, or engaging to a child.

I wear a dress, even though I'm a boy!

Children, by nature, take most situations at face value.  It's us grown-ups who have trouble processing things that are new or different.  If a kid has two mommies, she knows it and doesn't usually love it or hate it - it just IS.  If somebody at school has a problem with that (probably not another kid; probably one of us closed-minded grown-ups), there are ways of reassuring kids without making a big deal out of it.

Another thing about "issues" books?  They get dated REALLY fast.

Books centred around the theme of overcoming intolerance and educating the general public are going to seem very, very odd in a decade or two when it's just Not a Thing (as my 18-year-old daughter would say).

Want to know the worst offense when it comes to "issues" books?

Read More

Creating “readers for life” – it takes a village.

There’s a lot of pressure on kids’ book authors.  Why?  Because educators and other experts love to go on and on about the importance of early reading experiences in “creating” readers for life, or, worse (pressure-wise), transforming reluctant readers into eager ones.

And lots of them seem to think it’s our responsibility to hook the kids and reel them in.  “Your book ought to be SOooo compelling,” they say (or think!), “that even kids who don’t want to read it will have no choice, it’s that good.”

Now, I do believe that books are totally magical, but that’s an awfully high standard.

That’s an awful lot of pressure.

To take the pressure off, creating readers for life is a project that’s best assigned to a whole group of people, not just fobbed off on writers.  Who can help with this important job?

• Parents
• Teachers
• Older siblings
• Family friends
• Librarians
• … and yes, authors & illustrators

As you can see, it’s a package deal!  We all have to work together to create not only fantastic books but…

• Warm, nurturing, fun early reading experiences
• Quiet places to sit and enjoy books
• Spare time to sit and enjoy books
• Role models who spend time alone with books
• An environment where books are accessible and easy to find
• An assortment of reading experiences:  classics and new favourites, board books, picture books, chapters and yes, even good graphic novels.

It takes a village to raise a reader.

Here are two excellent books that can help give you some ideas about helping kids love reading FOR LIFE, written by two of the leading advocates for children’s literature in the English language today.  If you haven’t at least glanced through them already, you should.

• Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever.  An Australian educator, Mem Fox is a children’s writer herself, author of one of my favourite early rhyming books, Where is the Green Sheep?

Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook: Seventh Edition, started out as an artist and journalist before he turned to education, giving parents and teachers a head start in reading to their kids with this essential reference book.  The first section talks about WHY you must read aloud and HOW to do it best.  The second section, continually updated (this is the seventh edition), is a list of  his top picks in every single category of children’s book.

These are the two most important that I can think of.  If you have other recommendations, I’d be thrilled to share them.

What are some of the other ingredients you can think of for creating “readers for life”?  What can writers do to make their book parts of this recipe for success?

Read More