t is a great honor to be standing here all his work within ALSC on behalf of before you to deliver the 2010 May Hill children’s librarians, children, and books. IArbuthnot Lecture. When Arbuthnot Chair Kristi Jemtegaard first called me As soon as I got the news that Riverside way back in August of 2008 to give me County Library System had been selected the news, her first words after identifying as the host site, I contacted Mark to 2010 herself were, “I bet you can guess why I’m find out why, exactly, they had applied calling.” to host a lecture that I would write and May Hill deliver. He told me that it was due to my Actually, I couldn’t. The only thing I could work in multicultural literature, since the think of was that it had something to do community here is a diverse one, and Arbuthnot with the 2009 Arbuthnot Lecture, hosted they, too, are passionate about books that by the Langston Hughes Library at the reflect that diversity. I was very happy Honor Alex Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennessee, to hear this from Mark because—if you because I had written a letter of sup- don’t know it by now you will within the port for Theresa Venable and her wonder- hour—multicultural literature is my pas- Lecture ful committee who had submitted what sion, and I love to talk about it. turned out to be the winning applica- Can Children’s Books tion. I actually thought that Kristi might I told Mark that I was thinking of using have a question about the feasibility of a the title “Why Multicultural Literature Save the World? shuttle bus from the Knoxville Airport to Matters.” There was a little silence on the farm. his end of the phone, and then he told Advocates for me he’d like to run it by his Planning But Kristi quickly reminded me that, Committee and he came back to me a Diversity in no, she was actually chair of the 2010 few weeks later with an alternative title Children’s Books committee, not the one that had chosen that they had agreed on. They wanted Walter Dean Myers for this honor the year something with a bit more punch. How and Libraries before. And she was calling to inform about “Can Children’s Books Save the me that I had been selected as the 2010 World?” I thought about it for a few days lecturer. That was a lot to take in. And and decided I could take that on. Kathleen T. Horning then the next thing she told me was that I would have to keep this news a secret It’s a rather grand title, perhaps, that con- until January of 2009. jures up images of children’s authors and artists in capes with superpowers, flying So before I begin my speech, I’d like to in to save the day. But when you think thank Kristi Jemtegaard, and the mem- about it, isn’t that why we’re all here, bers of the 2010 Arbuthnot Committee those of us who care about children and with whom she worked—Marian children’s books? Creamer, Peter Howard, Joyce Laoisa, and Lauren Liang—for giving me this great I have found over the years that children’s honor, and for selecting the Riverside librarians have an almost missionary-like County Library System as the host. It’s zeal about getting books into the hands been a pleasure working with Mark of children. I think it’s because we hear Smith, whom I’ve known for several years so many stories in our profession about for his amazing work with El día de los how a book changed someone’s life. Just niños / El día de los libros, the annual a few weeks ago, for example, I was hav- celebration of family literacy, created by ing dinner with a group of people, seated the author and advocate Pat Mora and next to a seventy-four-year-old woman members of REFORMA and administered I had never met. She had just returned by ALA’s Association for Library Service to from serving in the Peace Corps in Peru, Children. Mark’s commitment to diver- so I immediately knew I was in for some sity and to serving all families in his com- interesting conversation. Kathleen T. Horning is Director of the munity is an inspiration. The members of Cooperative Children’s Book Center the local planning committee have also When she asked me what I did for a liv- at the University of Wisconsin-Madison been very helpful in making this hap- ing and I told her I was a librarian, she and a past president of ALSC. She pen. I’d also like to thank everyone in the said quite soberly, “A librarian saved my delivered this lecture May 13, 2010 at ALSC office, most especially Executive life.” Well, I was thinking that maybe a the University of California Riverside Director Aimee Strittmatter, as well as librarian had rescued her from falling off Extension Center. ALSC President Thom Barthelmess, for a mountainside in the Andes, perhaps, or
8 Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture had performed some such heroic deed. “Can Children’s Books Save the World? . . . It’s a But then she elaborated. rather grand title, perhaps, that conjures up images “I grew up in rural Montana, and there was nothing for miles around. of children’s authors and artists in capes with But there was a bookmobile that came every two weeks, and the superpowers, flying in to save the day. But when you librarian would bring me new books think about it, isn’t that why we’re all here, those of to read. I used to ride out into the countryside on my horse, far away us who care about children and children’s books?” from home, and I would just lie on top of my horse and read for hours at the right time.” I like the precise clar- We live in a world where elected officials, on end. That’s how I learned about ity of the phrase. We children’s librarians members of our representative govern- the world. And that saved me.” spend a lot of our time and energy select- ment, feel free to state publicly that one ing the “right books” and in knowing can identify undocumented workers by Now, we’ve all heard stories like that—maybe them and the communities we serve so the way they dress. And policy can be not from seventy-four-year-old Peace Corps we can place the right book into a child’s passed to exclude people with foreign volunteers—but there are other stories, just hands right when it is needed. accents from teaching English in pub- as dramatic or compelling. lic schools—never mind that they often But let’s consider for a moment this idea speak the language better than the native I think that every children’s librarian I of a “right child.” Just who is the right English speakers. Still, one would hope to have ever known has had a firm belief child? To me, the implication is that if see progress in the past sixty years, given that children’s books have the power to there is a right child, then there must also the hard lessons we learned from World save—if not the whole world, at least indi- be a wrong child. But is there? Is there War II, from the Holocaust in Germany, vidual children. Like much in our field, ever a wrong child whom we would pass and from our own national disgrace, the this can be traced back to Anne Carroll over and exclude? Not if we expect chil- Japanese-American internment camps. Moore, the formidable head of children’s dren’s books to save the world. That’s why, services at New York Public Library from as children’s librarians, another key part In looking specifically just at multicul- 1906 to 1941. of our philosophy is to include all chil- tural literature, we see the same sort of dren in the services we provide. issues being grappled with today that we If you know anything about Anne Carroll saw generations ago. To demonstrate this, Moore, you probably know about her And, in fact, I was so troubled by this I want to give you all a brief overview of eccentricities, such as her strong dis- idea that our foremothers in the field multicultural literature for children and like for Charlotte’s Web, which allegedly of children’s librarianship started with a teens: how it developed, what challenges kept the book from winning the Newbery concept of “the right child” that I sought we faced, how it was promoted—or not Medal back in 1952 . . . in spite of the fact out the original quote from Miss Moore, promoted, as the case may be. she wasn’t on the committee that year, and found that she never said anything and that, by then, she had been retired about a “right child.” Instead she said from her position at New York Public that librarians must assure that “every Library for ten years. child [be given] the right book at the right time” (italics are my own).2 That’s much You may have heard stories about more in keeping with the values of the Nicholas, the little wooden doll she car- children’s librarians I know, and it was ried with her everywhere. You may have true a hundred years ago, as well. heard that she spoke to other people through this doll and expected them to I believe that the best way to put these respond to him. But you may not know beliefs into action is by sharing books with that she supposedly coined that famous children that reflect the diversity they see phrase, “The right book for the right child in their everyday lives, and in the world at the right time.” Getting great books around them. As it turns out, that’s harder into children’s hands. This, in fact was her than it sounds. There simply are not many guiding philosophy, first articulated back multicultural books out there to select in 1902, before she even started working from and to put into children’s hands. And at New York Public, when she was teach- we’re also paralyzed by attitudes about ing a summer course in children’s librari- race and ethnicity in this country that anship for the Iowa Library Commission.1 keep us from moving forward, even in 2010—and maybe most especially in 2010, It quickly became the children’s librarian’s given the tenor of the political conversa- mantra. “The right book for the right child tion swirling around these days.
Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 9 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture not revealed until June, at the Newbery is the book’s young protagonist’s first Banquet, and the author of Gay-Neck impression of her: could not have remained anonymous in a crowd of mostly white women. His That afternoon, a special guest came brown skin and turban would have made to Hildamar and Santiago’s class. She him immediately recognizable, so poor was a tall, slender woman with dark Dhan Gopal Mukerji had to stay hid- eyes that sparkled like luceros in the den behind a bush on the hotel grounds night sky. When she spoke her hands where the banquet was being held until moved through the air like the wings the announcement was made.3 of a bird.
Although it would be nearly fifty years “Buenos días, good morning,” she before another author or illustrator of said. “My name is Pura Belpré. I color won either the Newbery or the come from the public library and I Caldecott (and there really weren’t many bring stories and puppets to share children’s books published at all that with you today.” were by people of color), the literature of the 1920s and 1930s—and certainly that Ms. Belpré told stories with puppets, selected by the Newbery Committees of in English and in español. Everyone that time—shows that there was defi- laughed at the end of the story of silly nitely an appreciation of cultural and Juan Bobo chasing a three-legged ethnic diversity. In fact, many if not pot. At the end of the show. Ms. I think many of us—myself included, at most of the children’s novels published Belpré invited the children to visit one time—have a tendency to believe in those years were set in other coun- the library during winter vacation. that authentic multicultural literature was tries—and not just in Europe. I have invented in the 1970s. Perhaps this is often suspected—although I haven’t yet “The library is for everyone, la because we measure so much by “firsts” been able to find proof—that publish- biblioteca es para todos,” she said.5 in our field, and we all know that Virginia ers in the early years of the children’s Hamilton was the first African-American book industry, the 20s and the 30s, were One of the most tantalizing tidbits I came author to win the Newbery Medal in 1975 encouraged and rewarded for publishing across when doing the research for this for M. C. Higgins, The Great, and Mildred D. books reflecting diversity so that librar- lecture was found in Frances Clarke Taylor two years later for Roll of Thunder, ians could put them into the hands of Sayers’ biography of Anne Carroll Moore. Hear My Cry. At around the same time, children from the various immigrant Sayers mentioned that, in its early years, in 1976 and 1977, Leo and Diane Dillon populations who were coming into the the Central Children’s Room of the New won back-to-back Caldecott Medals for library. York Public Library was funded privately, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears and and so Moore did not have to abide by the Ashanti to Zulu, marking the first—and We know, for example, that Anne Carroll personnel rules of the New York Public second—Caldecott Medal that went to an Moore hired a young Puerto Rican Library System. Essentially, she could hire African-American artist. woman named Pura Belpré and sent her whomever she wanted to hire, even people to work at the 115th Street Branch of New who had no formal professional training But they were not the first authors of color York Public Library in 1929 to meet the as librarians (but who would certainly get to be so awarded. Dhan Gopal Mukerji, needs of the growing Latino population it under her direction!), and, most interest- an East Indian-American, had won the in the neighborhood. There she offered ingly, people who were not citizens of the Newbery Medal nearly fifty years earlier bilingual story hours and advocated for United States, as was required by the sys- for Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon, back Spanish-language book collections. She tem. She strategically placed her employ- in 1928. I have read a lot of critical articles even published a picture book herself, ees in communities where they would have and reviews from the 1920s about the Perez y Martina, from her own storytelling the greatest affinity—an Italian librarian in children’s books of that era for a book on repertoire, in both Spanish and English, an Italian neighborhood, a Russian librar- the history of the Newbery Medal that I and in 1932 it became the first book pub- ian in a Russian neighborhood, and so on. am working on, and never have I found lished in English in the United States by a As Frances Clarke Sayers described them, anything in the literature that suggests Puerto Rican writer.4 “They were young women with unusual the choice of Mukerji was considered gifts, aptitudes, manifold backgrounds, unusual or surprising in its time. The We get a good portrait of Pura Belpré and and varied educational experiences.”6 In closest thing I have found is a description her impact on Spanish-speaking families a word, diverse. They were the right librar- of the lengths librarians had to go to keep in New York City with Lucía González’s ians to put the right book at the right time his winning a secret. excellent picture book from 2008, The into children’s hands. Storyteller’s Candle / La velita de los cuen- In those years, the winner, although tos—which incidentally was an honor One of these women was a young African- the decision was made in March, was book for the Pura Belpré Award. Here American librarian named Augusta Baker,
10 Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture whom Miss Moore had summoned to her scious fiction of the 1950s and 1960s, Inside it was cool. Tomás had never office in February of 1937. She was looking written mostly by white authors, as “how seen so many books. The lady for someone for the children’s department to behave when the Black folks move in.”9 watched him. “Come,” she said in the Harlem branch at 135th Street, In 1955, Augusta Baker published her own again, leading him to the drinking twenty blocks uptown from the branch version of this, addressed to her white fountain. “First some water. Then I where Pura Belpré had been working for colleagues. This article appeared in Top of will bring books to this table for you. the past eight years. The African-American the News, the professional journal of the What would you like to read about?”11 librarian who had been working there as a Children’s Services Division of the ALA, children’s librarian had left to become what is today known as the Association Mrs. Baker’s article had not yet been pub- a school librarian, and somehow Miss for Library Service to Children. It was lished, but the librarian in this small town Moore found out that Augusta Baker had entitled “The Children’s Librarian in a in Iowa knew instinctively to let a warm, a library degree. In fact, she had already Changing Neighborhood.” After describ- sincere smile come to her face, and to go applied three times to the New York Public ing a typical library in a white, middle over to him and welcome him. She even Library, and had been passed over, she class neighborhood with a homogenous let him take books back to his family, believed, because of her race. user group, she wrote: checked out on her own card. The boy grew up to be a famous author, poet, and In the midst of her interview with Anne Then, one day, you notice a group of educator named Tomás Rivera. I know Carroll Moore in the personnel office at your “old regulars” standing together, those of you from around here have heard New York Public Library, Miss Moore got up whispering and watching the stairway. of him, since he was the chancellor here and went next door to the director’s office, As you have worked at the desk, you from 1979 until his death in 1984, and and tore a strip off of him, loudly scold- have been unaware of someone there is a campus library named after him. ing him for not passing the application intently watching you. A round, on to her, as he was supposed to do with brown face peeps in the doorway— But who was the librarian? If Dr. Rivera applicants who expressed an interest in eyes wide, frightened, questioning— ever knew her name, he had forgotten children’s work.7 Well, you probably know the rest of the body comes into view, it by the time he grew up. My friend that Augusta Baker was indeed hired and poised for instant and headlong flight. Tim Wadham, an amazing librarian in his she went on to become head of children’s How do you look? Does a really warm, own right, traveled to Hampton, Iowa, services at New York Public Library in 1961. sincere smile come to your face or to try to track her down when he was does a quick frown shadow it? Do you doing background research for a chil- I don’t want to give the impression go over to that child and welcome him dren’s play based on the book while he that all the influential children’s librar- or do you continue with your work, was working as a youth services librarian ians worked in New York City. There were hoping he will go away?10 at the Maricopa County Library District many, many others, and among those in Phoenix, Arizona. None of the people who most strongly stressed the impor- Augusta Baker’s description of the way he talked to in Hampton was exactly sure tance of serving all children by offer- a welcoming librarian should behave who it could possibly have been until ing authentic multicultural literature, we reminds me of the librarian in Pat Mora’s Tim mentioned one detail Dr. Rivera had can count Charlemae Rollins, who was 1997 picture book Tomás and the Library remembered—that she had worn ten- at Chicago Public Library and Effie Lee Lady who welcomed a young Chicano nis shoes. And then everyone thought of Morris at San Francisco Public. They all boy from a migrant family into the public the same person. The tennis shoes were not only advocated for diversity, but each library in Hampton, Iowa, in the early one shaped many, many of the children’s 1940s. The following passage from the librarians with whom they worked. Each book sounds eerily like the scenario Mrs. one trained dozens of young librarians, Baker played out in her article, but from and they imbued all of us with a sense of the perspective of the child. the importance of our work. They con- vinced us of our ability to save the world Tomás stood in front of the library through children’s books. And of our abil- doors. He pressed his nose against ity to change children’s books through the glass and peeked in. The library careful selection. Anne Carroll Moore was huge! liked to quote an ancient Persian proverb, “Choosing is creating.”8 Through criti- A hand tapped his shoulder. Tomás cal analysis and careful selection, they jumped. A tall lady looked down at helped to shape children’s literature. him. “It’s a hot day,” she said. “Come inside and have a drink of water. In her groundbreaking book, Shadow and What’s your name?” she asked. Substance: Afro-American Experience in Contemporary Children’s Fiction, Rudine “Tomás,” he said. Sims (now Rudine Sims Bishop) char- acterizes the theme of the socially con- “Come, Tomás,” she said.
Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 11 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture a dead giveaway. A librarian who had written for Negro children or about them head bite and carrying a old raggedy worked there named Bertha Gaulke was for other children, the objective should be suitcase didn’t look like he belonged known for the tennis shoes she always the same. They should interpret life. They around here. wore when she walked to and from the should help young people live together library, although she never wore them with tolerance and understand each other The only hope I had was the north while on duty. This suggests that she may better.”14 side library. If I got there, maybe Miss have interacted with young Tomás while Hill would be able to help me, maybe the library was closed, perhaps even Mrs. Rollins was president of the Children’s she’d understand and would be able opening the doors after hours to let him Services Division in 1957 and, as such, to tell me what to do.17 in. The truly odd thing was that Bertha was also a member of the 1958 Newbery Gaulke wasn’t a children’s librarian at all. Committee. Among her personal papers And, of course, I can’t leave this discus- And she wasn’t even particularly friendly, in the Black Librarians Archive at the sion of early pioneers in the library field as those who had known her recalled. But University of North Carolina, Professor without mentioning Effie Lee Morris, who she had been a German immigrant and Holly Willett found fascinating correspon- started out at Cleveland Public Library in those who had known her thought that dence between her and Elizabeth Riley, 1946 and was hired as the first children’s perhaps she might have empathized with the children’s book editor at Crowell. The services coordinator at San Francisco a young child who was also a stranger in a correspondence demonstrates how she Public Library in 1963. Miss Morris sadly strange land.12 worked quietly behind the scenes to try to passed on several months ago, and one improve the image of blacks in books. The of the last conversations I had with her In “The Children’s Librarian in a Changing book in question was Rifles for Watie, writ- was about May Hill Arbuthnot herself. Neighborhood,” Mrs. Baker also wrote ten by Harold Keith and edited by Elizabeth We were sharing a cab together between about the books these children would Riley, which had just won the 1958 Newbery meetings at the annual ALA conference find on library shelves. Medal. In her correspondence, Mrs. Rollins in Anaheim a couple of years ago, and gently but firmly outlines the concerns that I brought up the upcoming Arbuthnot Are there books on the shelves she and other African American children’s Lecture at the Langston Hughes Library, which will hurt and alienate your librarians had about specific lines in the which we were both planning to attend. newcomers while at the same time book, for example, an African American She told me that at Case Western, she had they perpetuate stereotyped ideas woman in the story was described as hav- studied children’s literature with her. in the minds of your regular library ing teeth “like a row of white piano keys,” users? Get a good list of recommended and about a young African-American male “May Hill Arbuthnot,” she said in her books in the area of your minority character the author had written, “He even characteristically clipped, emphatic groups and use this list with your smelled clean.”15 voice. “I could tell you a thing or two book stock. Learn the criteria for this about May Hill Arbuthnot.” It was one of literature and discard the titles which She knew the book would be going into a those rare times I wished a cab ride could may be obsolete in their ideas. Watch second printing after it won the award, and have lasted for hours, instead of minutes. the illustrations for caricature, the this would provide an excellent opportu- language for unnecessary epithets nity for a slight revision. Ms. Rollins even These amazing women devoted their and dialect, the characterization for supplied the suggested text to use in the careers to promoting diversity, in librar- stereotype. Make your book stock revision. The fact that the editor agreed to ies and in literature, helping to shape the inviting and worth while for all groups make the suggested changes for the sec- future. who may use your room.13 ond printing is a testament to the power and respect Charlemae Rollins garnered, Two years after Charlemae Rollins retired, Ah, but where to get the aforementioned at least within the publishing world. I say Nancy Larrick published an article in the criteria for evaluation and the “good list of “at least” because once author Harold Saturday Review that got white people— recommended books?” Well, that’s where Keith got wind of the changes that were particularly those in the publishing indus- Charlemae Hill Rollins comes in. Another made, he demanded they be changed try—to pay attention to the issues that African American pioneer of children’s back for the third printing.16 had been raised by librarians of color for services, Mrs. Rollins joined the staff nearly thirty years. “The All-White World of the Chicago Public Library in 1927, She was also highly regarded by the com- of Children’s Books” outlined the problem and throughout her career she strove to munity she served, and Christopher Paul by providing statistics. Ms. Larrick looked eliminate painful stereotypes and pro- Curtis paid tribute to her in his 2000 at 5,206 children’s books published by mote authentic children’s literature. Newbery Medal winning book, Bud, Not 63 publishers from 1962 through 1964, She published what I believe is the first Buddy. When ten-year-old Bud runs away and found that only 349 of them, or 6.4 booklist of recommended multicultural from his foster home, he turns toward the percent, included one or more Blacks in literature—specifically African American library, hoping to find his friend, the chil- the illustrations. Of these, 60 percent were literature—in 1941, with her pamphlet dren’s librarian, Miss Hill: placed outside the United States or took We Build Together. In the introduction place before World War II, which meant to the book’s second edition, published I knew a nervous-looking, stung-up that only four-fifths of one percent of the in 1948, she wrote, “Whether books are kid with blood dripping from a fish- children’s trade books published in the
12 Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture United States from 1962–64 were about At the end of Nancy Larrick’s article, she Flynt Greer and Mabel McKissack, and contemporary African-Americans.18 talks about a new organization that had publisher John Carroll, were discussing just come into being, called the Council the sad fact that no African American The feeling of what it’s like for a child on Interracial Books for Children. The author had ever been awarded a Newbery of color to be completely omitted from council, or CIBC as it was known, pub- or a Caldecott Medal, and it was out of this the cultural life of the nation during this lished a regular newsletter that offered discussion that the idea for the Coretta time period is vividly captured in Rita critical reviews and articles. The CIBC Scott King Award grew.21 The award was Williams-Garcia’s brilliant new middle- didn’t cloak any of their criticism in nice- established to encourage and acknowl- grade novel set in Oakland, California, ties. To give you an idea of their per- edge African American authors and illus- in 1968, One Crazy Summer. Here is the spective, here’s a sentence from Elinor trators, in the same way the Newbery eleven-year-old protagonist, Delphine, Sinnette, one of the CIBC founders who Award had been created nearly fifty years talking about how she and her younger was quoted in “The All-White World of earlier, to help create a body of distin- sisters experienced the all-white world of Children’s Books” about the all-white guished children’s literature. Remember: network television: world of children’s books: “Publishers choosing is creating. have participated in a cultural lobot- Each week, Jet magazine pointed out omy.”20 There was no beating around the The 1970s were a time of great growth and all the shows with colored people. My bush for the Council on Interracial Books change in children’s literature. Thanks to sisters and I became expert colored for Children. Many in the children’s book the efforts of the Council on Interracial counters. We had it down to a science. world found their tone strident, and even Books for Children and the Coretta Scott Not only did we count how many hurtful. But it was necessary for us all to King Award, as well as a growing social colored people were on TV, we also take a good hard, critical look at ourselves consciousness in our nation as a whole, counted the number of words they and where we were going in order to move we began for the first time to see African were given to say. For instance, it was forward. American literature flourish, and to a
“Thanks to the efforts of the Council on Interracial Books for Children and the Coretta Scott King Award, as well as a growing social consciousness in our nation as a whole, we began for the first time to see African-American literature flourish, and to a lesser extent, we saw a bit of development in other areas of multicultural literature, as well. This all happened in the midst of a sea of change in children’s literature as a whole, as the romanticism that marked children’s books of the first half of the century started to be replaced by what was then called the ‘new realism.’”
easy to count the number of words the In addition to its critical articles and lesser extent, we saw a bit of development negro engineer on Mission Impossible reviews, the CIBC held annual contests in other areas of multicultural literature, spoke as well as the black POW on for unpublished authors of color. There as well. This all happened in the midst of Hogan’s Heroes. Sometimes the black was the promise of a $500 cash prize, a sea of change in children’s literature as POW didn’t have any words to say, so and the attention brought to the authors a whole, as the romanticism that marked we scored him a “1” for being there. We usually got the manuscript read by a chil- children’s books of the first half of the counted how many times Lieutenant dren’s book editor, which often led to century started to be replaced by what Uhuru hailed the frequency on Star a publishing contract. As a result, the was then called the “new realism.” Trek. We’d even take turns being her, field of children’s literature was greatly although Big Ma would have never let enriched—and when I say enriched, I do At the Cooperative Children’s Book Center us wear a minidress or space boots. mean enriched. Authors who got their where I work, there has always been an But then there was I Spy. All three of start in children’s books as a result of win- interest in multicultural literature since us together couldn’t count every word ning the contest include Kristen Hunter, the center’s founding in 1963, but we Bill Cosby said. And then there was a Walter Dean Myers, Sharon Bell Mathis, got into it on a greater scale in the mid- new show, Julia, coming in September, Mildred D. Taylor, Virginia Driving Hawk 1980s. I have spent my career working as starring Diahann Carroll. We agreed Sneve, Minfong Ho, and Ai Ling Louie. a librarian at the CCBC, an examination to shout “Black Infinity!” when Julia center and research library that is part of came on because each episode would Not long after the CIBC was founded, the School of Education at the University be all about her character.19 two African American librarians, Glyndon of Wisconsin-Madison.
Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 13 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture I am pleased and proud that my friend to Choices. Before long, we had people thing that had been published. Most of it, and mentor for many years, Ginny Moore calling us, asking us for the statistics on as I recall, came from small presses, such Kruse, is here with us today, and I am African American books. USA Today even as Children’s Book Press and Margarita’s so glad Ginny could be here with us for did a feature story on the subject in 1989 Books for Brown Eyes. But soon after this event because so much of what I that quoted our statistics in a colorful bar that, things started to change. Perhaps know about multicultural literature has graph designed to look like the spines of the ongoing national dialogue about been part of a lifelong journey I have books lined up on a shelf—for those who issues raised by the Columbus quincente- shared with Ginny. So you may be won- couldn’t visualize how a shelf of eighteen nary brought this to the forefront for the dering how these two white, middle-class books would look in comparison to a corporate publishers, but in any case, I women from a predominantly white, shelf of thirty books.23 always mark 1992 as the year the publish- middle-class city in the middle of the ers discovered we have a Spanish speak- country came to be known for their work We also began to experience the phenom- ing population here in the United States. in multicultural literature. enon we have come to call “The Great We began to see Spanish/English bilin- Information Loop,” where our colleagues gual books from the corporate publishers, It all started with a phone call from a from around the country, in libraries as well as Spanish-language editions of school librarian. She had started a new and publishing houses, would quote popular titles from their back lists. job at a predominantly African American the statistic back to us, not realizing we school and had found the existing library were the source. It started a buzz, just And certainly the Pura Belpré Award for collection to be lacking. What few African as Nancy Larrick’s 1965 article, “The All- Latino literature has had an impact. This American books they did have that were White World of Children’s Books,” had award, conceived by Oralia Garza de still relevant were worn and tattered, and done twenty years earlier. I don’t know Cortés and established in 1996, is spon- when she had tried to replace them, she if it’s that we both had statistical data or sored jointly by ALSC and REFORMA, and found that they were out of print. the fact that white people were making it has done for Latino authors and illus- noise about a problem that caused the trators what the Coretta Scott King Award When she looked for new titles that had spotlight to be cast on the issue. Whatever did for black authors in the 1970s. And as been published in the past few years, the case, we began to see the number of 2009, it’s gone from being a biennial she couldn’t find much. “I must be miss- climb slowly over the next few years, from award to an annual one, as there are now ing something,” she said. “Where are the eighteen books in 1985 to seventy-four in enough books to consider in any given books?” We looked, too, and didn’t have 1993. During the same time, the number year. In recent years, both the American any better luck than she did. In fact, I of children’s books had nearly doubled, Indian Library Association and the Asian/ remember clearly the moment of revela- but even so, the percentage of books by Pacific American Librarians Association tion when I looked up “Blacks—Fiction” African American authors and illustrators have established children’s book awards in the subject guide to Children’s Books in did go up a bit. to encourage more publishing in these Print and found less than a column of list- areas. ings of in-print titles. But when I flipped By 1995, we were being asked for the statis- back just a bit, there were pages and tics for other authors of color, and because With all these hopeful signs in multicul- pages of books with the subject heading at the CCBC we receive review copies of tural literature since the mid-1980s, there “Bears—Fiction.” nearly every children’s and young adult is still the reality of those statistics. We book published in the United States, we hear from our friends in the publishing The point was driven home for us even were able to provide them. The number world that multicultural books are a hard further the next year when Ginny Moore of books by authors of color have gone up sell. They have trouble pushing a book Kruse served on the Coretta Scott King and down over the years, but none of the with a multicultural theme past their Award Committee in 1985 and learned four groups we track—African-American, marketing department because market- the exact number of books that were eli- American Indian, Asian-Pacific, and ing claims the mega-bookstores won’t gible for the award in that year, since she Latino—none of these groups has ever stock the books. And yet we all know the received copies of all eligible books, that topped one hundred children’s or young demand is there. We have to get that mes- is to say, books written or illustrated by adult books in any given year. And the sage across by buying multicultural books African Americans. There were just eigh- overall statistic for all children’s books by and by putting them into the hands of all teen books by black authors and illustra- and about people of color has never risen children. As the poet Alexis De Veaux once tors in 1985, out of about 2,500 children’s above five percent during the time we said, “Buying a book is a political act.” books published in total. And, of those, have been documenting the numbers.24 only twelve had the necessary cultural Walter Dean Myers once published an content to be considered contenders for The biggest change we saw in the 1990s eloquent editorial in the New York Times the award. We were so shocked by the was with Latino literature for children. entitled “I Actually Thought We Would statistic that we decided to put it into In 1991, I spoke about Latino literature Revolutionize the Industry.” It was pub- print in our annual publication of the in the United States at a day-long work- lished in 1986, but his words are still year’s best books, CCBC Choices.22 And shop for bilingual teachers at Columbia sadly true today. He speaks of the hope every year thereafter, we documented the University, and in the hour that was allot- that was raised with the development of number and printed it in the introduction ted to me, I was able to speak about every- African American children’s literature in
14 Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture the 1970s, only to be quashed in the 1980s about Number the Stars.” Erin was small I have observed this desire to match read- by the dwindling numbers. Disillusioned for her age. She had that classic Irish look, ers exactly to book characters in action by what he saw, he wrote: and her cheeks would turn as bright red with preschoolers during story hour at as her hair whenever she spoke. “Well,” the public library. Each week, I would put I have changed my notion of the she said, “the Nazis hated the Jews but the out books by the same authors or illustra- obligation of the book publishing author never told us why. Why did they tors, or on the same themes, as those I industry. While it does have the hate them so much? They’re just people, planned to read in the story hour. I would responsibility to avoid the publishing aren’t they? Aren’t they just like all of us?” put them face out, around the room, of negative images of any people, I no propped up along the walls of the story longer feel that the industry has any Erin’s question was more perceptive than hour room, at the preschoolers’ eye level. more obligation to me, to my people, any answer I could have given her. And What I noticed, again and again, is that to my children, than does, say, a fast- it was a good reminder that children can the children would pick up whatever book food chain. It’s clear to me that if any find themselves in books about other interested them, without regard to the race, any religion or social group, children whose lives seem, on the surface, ethnicity or the gender of the character elects to place its cultural needs in to have nothing to do with theirs. pictured on the cover. But the adults with the hands of the profit makers then the children would nearly always choose it had better be prepared for the Early in my career, I heard the British a book where the character on the cover inevitable disappointment.25 author Penelope Lively say something looked like his or her child. A white father in a public lecture that has always stuck with white daughter, for example, would And going back twenty years earlier to with me. “The great children’s books help select a book with a white girl on the Nancy Larrick’s words, written in 1965, free children from the prison of egotism.” cover. An African American mother would which still ring true today, “White suprem- Children are so naturally and necessar- select a book with an African American acy in children’s literature will be abol- ily egotistical, and breaking out of that child on the cover, and so on. Often times, ished when authors, editors, publishers prison of egotism is an important part I even saw a parent take a book out of his and booksellers decide they or her child’s hands and put need not submit to bigots.”26 it back, if the character didn’t “Children can find themselves in books match. Over the years, I have learned a lot about book evaluation about other children whose lives seem, These were progressive parents from listening to the chil- on the surface, to have nothing to do in Madison, Wisconsin, acting dren themselves. I love noth- with the best of intentions, ing better than to discuss a with theirs.” wanting their children to see good book with third graders. themselves reflected in their They’re not always articulate, library books. I can understand but they are often perceptive, and always of their development. Great books can that and appreciate it. But what were they eager to share their opinions. One of the help them to do just that, as Number the really doing? Were they subconsciously most memorable discussions I ever had Stars did for Erin. And it seems to me that teaching their child that they should stick with children was one in which we dis- multicultural literature stands especially to their own kind? So much of the conver- cussed Number the Stars by Lois Lowry poised to do just that. It brings charac- sation about multicultural literature over when it was first new. We’d had a remark- ters to life who are both different and the the years has focused on the need for chil- able discussion in which the children had same. A variation on a human theme, so dren of color to see themselves reflected in discovered, on their own, what a literary to speak. And they are books to share with books—and the need certainly is there. But allusion was, due to Lowry’s expert and all children, all year round. multicultural literature is important for all child-friendly embedding of the little-red- children—white children, too. riding-hood tale into the story. Why do so many insist on giving chil- dren books that show them only them- Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman’s 2009 They had found parallels I had missed selves, sometimes ridiculously so. I once book Nurture Shock includes an entire between the main character’s younger had a mother ask me for a book for her chapter on why white parents don’t talk sister, Kirsti, and the young man, Peter, daughter who was just starting fourth to children about race, and the effect who was a member of the Resistance grade, who wasn’t a great reader but who it has on them. They’ve culled together Movement. Both, they noted, had stood enjoyed historical fiction set in the United the results of several studies on young up to the Nazis, but they decided only States. She was looking for a short chapter children’s perceptions of and attitudes Peter could qualify as truly heroic because book, preferably with a strong female toward race, and have found that the vast he alone understood the consequences of character. I suggested Sarah Plain and majority of white parents have never dis- his actions. Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. The mother cussed race with children, beyond vague looked at me as if I had suggested Valley principles such as, “We’re all the same I was just getting ready to wind down the of the Dolls for her daughter. “Oh, no, that underneath the skin,” believing that they discussion when eight-year-old Erin piped won’t do,” she said. “My daughter is short are raising their children in a color-blind up, “There’s one thing I don’t understand and beautiful.” environment.
Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries 15 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture In one study, white children between the can save the world. He wrote, “Let’s tell 14. Charlemae Rollins, We Build ages of five and seven, who had been young people the best books are yet to be Together: A Reader’s Guide to Negro raised in this sort of progressive environ- written; the best painting, the best gov- Life and Literature for Elementary ment where their parents didn’t discuss ernment, the best of everything is yet to and High School Use (Chicago: race were asked directly “Do your par- be done by them.”29 They will be the ones NCTE, 1948): 25 ents like black people?” Fourteen per- to save the world—the next generation 15. Harold Keith, Rifles for Watie (New cent answered, “No, my parents don’t like of children like Hildmar and Santiago, York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1957), black people,” and 38 percent answered Delphine and Bud, and Tomás—if we quoted in Holly G. Willett, “Rifles for “I don’t know.” The children were draw- can just give them what they need to do Watie: Rollins, Rifles, and Racism” ing their own conclusions from their it—the right book at the right time for Libraries and Culture 36, no. 10 parents’ silence on the issue of race.27 every child. & (2001): 495. 16. Holly G. Willett, “Rifles for Watie: But you can’t really blame these parents. Rollins, Riley, and Racism,” Libraries We live in a society where race is a highly References and Culture 36, no. 10 (2001): 487- charged subject. Most adults can’t talk 505. about it, even with each other, without get- 1. Annie Carroll Moore, A List of Books 17. Christopher Paul Curtis, Bud, Not ting defensive and sometimes downright Recommended for a Children’s Buddy (New York: Delacorte, 1999): nasty. And not everyone can be invited Library (Des Moines: Iowa Library 36. to the White House to discuss it over a Commission, 1903). 18. Nancy Larrick, “The All-White World beer with President Obama. But books 2. Ibid, 6. of Children’s Books,” Saturday can be a bridge to understanding. For 3. Irene Smith, A History of the Review 48, no. 37 (Sept. 11, 1965): adults wanting to open a discussion with Newbery and Caldecott Medals (New 64. children about race, I’d suggest starting York: Viking, 1957). 19. Rita Williams-Garcia, One Crazy with Sandra and Myles Pinkney’s Shades 4. Rose Zertuche Treviño, The Pura Belpré Summer (New York: Amistad/ of Black. It’s not just black children—all Awards: Celebrating Latino Authors HarperCollins, 2010): 118–19. children are the right child for this book. and Illustrators (Chicago: ALA, 2006). 20. Larrick, “The All-White World of Try it. You’ll find that children are eager to 5. Lucía González, The Storyteller’s Children’s Books,” 85. talk about the differences they observe all Candle / La velita de los cuentos. 21. Henrietta Smith, The Coretta Scott around them, in skin color, eye color, and Illus. by Lulu Delacre (San Francisco: King Awards Book: From Vision to hair texture. They’ll be relieved to learn Children’s Book Press, 2008): 11 Reality (Chicago: ALA, 1994). that you have noticed the differences, too, 6. Frances Clarke Sayers, Anne Carroll 22. Kathleen T. Horning and Ginny even though you’ve told them all along Moore: A Biography (New York: Moore Kruse, CCBC Choices 1985 that race doesn’t matter. Atheneum, 1972): 143–44. (Madison, Wis.: Cooperative 7. Robert V. Williams, “Interview with Children’s Book Center, 1985). Years after I heard Penelope Lively talk Augusta Baker” (May 7, 1989), 23. Gaynelle Evans. “Requested about the prison of egotism, I learned University of South Carolina Reading: Parents Lead Push for that the expression hadn’t actually origi- School of Library and Information Storybooks that Reflect Race,” USA nated with her. She had probably cited Studies, www.libsci.sc.edu/ Today, Feb. 21, 1989. John Erskine in her lecture as the source histories/oralhistory/bakertran.htm 24. Kathleen T. Horning, “Behind for the phrase; I wouldn’t be surprised if (accessed Mar. 25, 2010). the Statistics: Keeping Track of I had been too dazzled by the concept to 8. Sayers, Anne Carroll Moore, 86 Multicultural Literature,” Teacher have remembered that she did. 9. Rudine Sims, Shadow and Librarian 36, no. 13 (Feb. 2009): Substance: Afro-American 13–14. John Erskine was the founder of the Experience in Contemporary 25. Walter Dean Myers, “I Actually Great Books program, and he first used Children’s Fiction (Urbana, Ill.: Thought We Would Revolutionize the term in writing about the underlying National Council of Teachers of the Industry,” New York Times Book philosophy of the program. He wrote that English (NCTE), 1982): 19. Review, Nov. 9, 1986. “great books would help people to free 10. Augusta Baker, “The Children’s 26. Larrick, “The All-White World of themselves from the prison of egotism Librarian in a Changing Children’s Books,” 85 and take part in the complete citizenship Neighborhood,” Top of the News 11 27. Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, of mankind” and that they would lead to (Mar. 1955): 40. Nurture Shock: New Thinking fellowship and human understanding.28 11. Pat Mora, Tomás and the Library about Children (New York: Twelve/ Lady, Illus. by Raul Colón (New Hachette, 2009) He probably should have been a chil- York: Knopf, 1997): 9–11. 28. John Erskine, Prohibition and dren’s librarian. 12. Tim Wadham, personal Christianity, and Other Paradoxes of communication with the author, the American Spirit (Indianapolis, I’m going to close with a quote from May 11, 2010. Ind.: Bobbs-Merrill, 1927): 250 Erskine because with these simple words, 13. Baker, “Children’s Librarian in a 29. Ibid. he really did tell us how children’s books Changing Neighborhood,” 41.
16 Winter 2010 • Children and Libraries