The Association for Library Service to Children board voted to change the name of the Wilder Award to the Children's Literature Legacy Award on Saturday June 23. This action was taken after a year of asking for feedback, surveys, conversations, and reflection.
This award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a significant and lasting contribution to children's literature.
While Wilder books are well-loved and read, they also contain hurtful stereotypes for people of color. After our fall pre-conference last year where we looked at classics that contained stereotypes, it really opened my eyes to what many people in marginalized communities see in literature that I had never considered. I learned to do better.
Please take some time to read Leah Langby's blog about the name change.
Also here is the ALSC/ALA press release with the reasoning and process behind this exciting change.
I also invite you to bookmark this blog post at American Indians in Children's Literature to understand a native American's perspective as well as updated articles and blogposts pertaining to the name change.
Let's support our colleagues and look for ways, as Leah encourages us, to make our tent bigger and invite everyone in
Marge Loch-Wouters
WLA President
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