The Contributions of Small Presses to the Field of Multicultural Children's Books Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Parker, Ann Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 27/09/2021 18:36:22 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194282 THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SMALL PRESSES TO THE FIELD OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOKS by Marie Ann Parker _________________________________ A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Department of Language, Reading and Culture In Partial Fulfillme nt of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2006 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Marie Ann Parker entitled The Contributions of Small Presses to the Field of Multicultural Children’s Literature and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ___________ ____________________________________________________________ Date: March 27, 2006 Dr. Kathy Short _______________________________________________________________________ Date: March 27, 2006 Dr. Perry Gilmore _____________________________________ __________________________________ Date: March 27, 2006 Dr. Emory Sekaquaptewa Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate’s submission of the final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I here by certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ________________________________________________ Date: March 27, 2006 Dissertation Director: Dr. Kathy Short 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Br ief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: ___________M. Ann Parker_______________ 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the members of my doctoral committee, Dr. Kathy Short, Dr. Perry Gilmore, and Dr. Emory Sekaquaptewa, for their help and guidance during this process. I w ould also like to thank all of the people involved in creating and selling multicultural children’s books who were willing to be interviewed for this dissertation. Keep up the good work! Finally, to all my coworkers, friends, and family for your support of and belief in me over the years, and especially to Angelo. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES .....................................................................................9 ABSTRACT ...............................................................................................10 1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................12 Purpose of Study ........................................................................................15 Research Questions....................................................................................17 Significance of the Study ...........................................................................18 Definitions of Terms ..................................................................................19 Limitations of the Study .............................................................................20 Dissertation Organization ..........................................................................21 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ..........................................................................24 History and Current State of Children’s Books .........................................25 Books As Brands ....................................................................................27 The Effect Of Conglomerate Publishing Companies .............................29 Changes In Marketing............................................................................32 Current Problems In Children’s Book Publishing.................................33 The Role Of Small Presses .....................................................................34 History and Current State of Multicultural Children’s Literature .............35 Support For Books By People Of Color ................................................37 Multicultural Children’s Literature Today............................................41 The Need For Books By People Of Color..............................................43 The Debate Over Cultural Authenticity .................................................45 Bilingual Books .........................................................................................48 Benefits Of Bilingual Books ...................................................................51 Problems With Translations ..................................................................53 Which Spanish to use? .......................................................................54 Selecting a Translator........................................................................56 Small Publishing Companies and Multicultural Children’s Literature...... 58 Contributions By Small Presses .............................................................60 Conclusion .................................................................................................63 3. METHODS ................................................................................................66 Selecting A Qualitative Research Approach ..............................................66 Selecting The Publishing Companies ........................................................67 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS – Continued Page Children’s Book Press ...........................................................................68 Piñata Books ..........................................................................................70 Cinco Puntos Press ................................................................................71 University of New Mexico Press ............................................................72 Kiva Publishing......................................................................................73 Salina Bookshelf .....................................................................................73 Rising Moon/Luna Rising ......................................................................74 Preparing For The Interviews ....................................................................75 Conducting Interviews ...............................................................................79 Determining Themes ..................................................................................82 Conclusi on .................................................................................................89 4. ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEWS ................................................................91 History and Mission of Selected Companies .............................................91 Cinco Puntos..........................................................................................92 Children’s Book Press ...........................................................................93 Piñata Books .........................................................................................95 Rising Moon/Luna Rising ......................................................................96 Salina Bookshelf .....................................................................................97 University of New Mexico Press ............................................................97 Conclusion .............................................................................................98 Markets and Marketing for Multicultural Children’s Books ...................101 The School/Library Market ..................................................................102 Disadvantages To Selling To The Educational Market ...................105 The Need For Culturally Authentic Multicultural Books ....................106 Minority Mark ets .................................................................................107 Marketing To Individual Buyers ..........................................................109 Selling To Your Audience .....................................................................111 Conferences And Book Fairs ...........................................................112 Wholesalers ......................................................................................112 Bookstores ........................................................................................114 Marketing Multicultural And Bilingual Children’s Books ..................115 Using Print Media ............................................................................116