Diversity

Research by the Becker Freidman Institute at the University of Chicago shows that characters in award-winning children's books still skew male and light-skinned.

The free, virtual event features author conversations between Christina Soontornvat and Steve Sheinkin, James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, and Malinda Lo and Daniel Nayeri, as well as creator panels and a closing keynote from Traci Sorell.

Banned Books Week has its first Honorary Chair; two titles created from The 1619 Project will be released in November; free webinars on teaching Juneteenth and reopening institutions after COVID vaccines; and more in this edition of News Bites.

From Charlie Parker and Nellie Bly to Mae Jemison and Ada Lovelace, remarkable individuals get the graphic treatment in these titles recommended for grades 3 and up.

Trans and nonbinary authors Kacen Callender, Meredith Russo, Daniel Lavery, and Meredith Talusan joined moderator Kyle Lukoff for a conversation about their struggles and successes. 

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has partnered with author Meg Medina to provide a grant for Latinx writers and teamed up with the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation for a new prize for BIPOC illustrators.

A read-aloud of Kyle Lukoff's book about a transgender boy in elementary school led to parental complaints and the school calling in counselors for the students who listened to the story. 

The children's publishing world is coming together to raise money to fight anti-Asian racism, NCTE is accepting applications for the Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award, Amazon and Code.org team up to create equity-minded AP computer science course, and more in this edition of News Bites.

Parrish Turner, a transgender sensitivity reader, is tired of the tropes surrounding animal stories, particularly those involving the wish to be a different animal. For Parrish, the longing to be a more authentic version of oneself is all too human.