Supporting Kid Lit Equality
Last spring #WeNeedDiverseBooks came into being as a result of the lack of progress in diversifying the children's publishing industry, as exemplified by a major BookCon panel that featured only…
The Violence in Missouri: Writers and Artists Respond
Writers and artists respond to the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the ensuing violence with works that encourage empathy.
“We’ve Lost a Library”: Walter Dean Myers, 1937-2014
A tribute to African-American author Walter Dean Myers, with reflection on his writing and leadership on behalf of diverse books.
Home Is Where the Art Is: A Profile of Illustrator Elizabeth Zunon
A profile of local African-American artist and picture book illustrator Elizabeth Zunon, whose signature style includes cut-paper collages and African motifs.
Developing Characters: The Lesson of Fruitvale Station
I use the movie Fruitvale Station as an example of how writers can go beyond stereotype to create sympathetic, multidimensional characters.