Talk Story Grant Applications Open

The 2025 Talk Story Grant is now open for applications.

Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture is a family literacy initiative that connects Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI),and American Indigenous or Alaskan Native (AIAN) communities across generations.

The Talk Story micro-grant celebrates and explores AANHPI and AIAN stories through books, oral traditions, and cultural arts to provide interactive and enriching experiences for all ages.

Eligibility: Libraries and community organizations that serve AANHPI or AIAN children and their families are eligible to apply.

Grant Amount: $500

Due Date: March 15, 2025 11:59pm AoE

Apply: www.apalaweb.org/talkstorytogether/grant

For more info contact:

familyliteracy@apalaweb.org
talkstorygrant.aila@gmail.com

Kindness to Gender Diverse Youth

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Last month, ALSC blogger Chelsey Roos, wrote a brilliant post about ways we can show respect, kindness and support for gender diverse youth in our communities.

They wrote: "Transgender and gender-diverse youth deserve safety, respect, and kindness within your library, just like any other young person in your community. In 2020, ALA issued a statement affirming the rights of transgender people, stating that ALA “unequivocally and emphatically stands in solidarity” with both transgender library staff and transgender members of our communities. However, we have to acknowledge that there seem to be more and more obstacles to supporting our young patrons. Depending on your service area, you may be facing book challenges, programming bans, and also outright hostility towards children who just want to be themselves. But there are resources at hand and choices you can make to welcome all young people, regardless of their gender identity."

Their post, full of tips, ideas and a wealth of resources can be found here. [No One Can Stop You from Being Kind: Supporting Gender-DiverseYouth in Your Library. Roos, Chelsey. ALSC blog. December 7, 2024]

A Look Back at 2024 on the YSS blog

Image by Igor from Pixabay

It's been a fun year for the Youth Services Shout-out blog. Thanks for joining us. Here's a look at some of the year's highlights.

• During 2024, we shared 288 posts. 
• These 2024 posts had over 11,000 views.
• Overall this year, we had over 170,000 views of all of our blog content - 3,446 posts from 2010 to the present - during 2024.
• We've had a total of 1,194, 530 views overo the life of the blog!

What were the most viewed posts that were published in 2024? They were a mixture of diversity and inclusion topics; advice and tips from the field; Summer reading program thoughts; and YSS/WAPL info.

• Two New Books in Menominee Language 
• Ideas to Create an Equitable SLP 
• Throw-It Thursday - Culturally Inappropriate Material 
• Autism Acceptance Month Webinar 
• Why ARE We Doing Summer Reading Programs? 
• It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect 
• What's Up at WAPL for Youth Folks? 
• A Few More Ideas for Summer 
• Tuesday Tips: Free Webinar on Serving Kids with Disabilities 
• 2025 YSS Board Candidates 

We check numerous sources to find out news to share with everyone working with youth in WI libraries: from the WLA newsletter; library system newsletters and Facebook pages; national blogs; wispublib; DPI, the CCBC; to folks sending us information and links throughout the year. We are grateful for the transparency and sharing that goes on among those in our profession! 

I want to give a shout-out to our contributors who took the time to write or create content for the blog this year.  A huge shout-out to our contributors from 2024:

• Cathy Pescinski
• Alison Loewen
• Hanna Collins
• Ashley Borman
• Sam Jones
• Jennifer Davis
• Jenna Gilles
• Leah Langby
• Jeni Schomber
• Chris Baker
• Katherine Schoofs
• Merry Lindgren
• Laura Sauser
• Megan Schliesman

If you would like to contribute to the blog, we'd love to have you! You can write about a program you've done; opinion piece; how-to; spotlight on great library service; upcoming event of interest to youth folks state-wide or whatever you think people working in youth services in WI would like to read! Plus we're always looking for links of interest to share with youth library folks. Simply email the blog admin at lochwouters@gmail.com and you can join the fun.

Thanks for being part of our YSS blog community this year and see you in 2025!

Register Your Dia Day Program

ALA's Association for Library Service for Children and REFORMA have long sponsored El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) also known as Dia Day.

Día is a nationally recognized initiative that champions the importance of literacy for all children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It’s a daily commitment to linking children and families to diverse books, languages, and cultures.

Besides program resources, graphics, booklists and support, ALSC has developed a program registry to share programs from libraries around the country. Any library holding a Dia program throughout the year can register a program. 

Please stop here to read all about it! [2025 National Dia Program Registry. Schulte-Cooper, Laura. ALSC blog. November 20, 2024.]

Free ALSC Webinar Discussion on EDI

Building Belonging: EDI Strategies for Children's Services and Beyond

• Tuesday, December 9
• 11am-noon
• Free

Register here

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on fostering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion among library staff. Designed for children's services managers, this session will offer actionable insights and real-world examples of successful EDI initiatives in libraries.

Our panelists will share strategies on how to:

·  Collaborate with library employees to reflect their voices and needs in policies and services.

·  Train staff in culturally responsive practices to better serve diverse communities.

·  Launch low-cost, resource-efficient EDI efforts within your team.

Panelists

Jennifer Gibson is Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives St. Louis County Library. In this role she develops the organizational strategic plan, develops & oversees diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, & performs grant writing and grant administration for St. Louis County Library and St. Louis County Library Foundation. Jennifer was a 2022 Library Journal Mover & Shaker and a 2011 ALA Spectrum and ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce Scholar. In 2023, she founded the Missouri Library Association’s first diversity committee, the You Belong Committee. She is also leading a statewide initiative to retain a diverse library workforce called the You Belong Scholar Program, which was recently funded by the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Grant Program. Jennifer holds an MLIS from San Jose State University, a JD from Pepperdine University, and a BA in Geology from the University of Southern California. She serves on the PLA Measurement Evaluation & Assessment Advisory Group and on the POV on PBS Library Board.

April Roy is the Director of Employee Success at Kansas City Public Library. April is certified by Cornell University in Conflict Resolution and Employment Law Mediation.  During her career of over 20 years, she has served as a Children’s Librarian, Branch Manager and Programming Director. After transforming service using trauma-informed practices at the L.H. Bluford Library, she was awarded the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. Her work included a partnership with The University Health System for training, resources, and programming.  She is a Trauma Informed Care Ambassador, Trauma Informed Culture Trainer, and is certified in Mental Health First Aid for adults and teens. April has had the joy and honor of serving on the Caldecott Book Award Jury, Coretta Scott King Book Award Committee, and Chairing the ALA Children’s Notable Books Committee. She is currently Co-Chair of the ALSC Research Committee. April never turns down a chance to use a microphone to advocate for libraries and librarians. When she is not working, she enjoys road trips and spending time with her theatrical daughter and her three lovely cats.

Ashley Bieber (she/her) is a Library Development and Early Literacy Specialist at Minnesota State Library Services within the Department of Education. After 25 years of working in public libraries and 10 years as a children’s and teen librarian, she delights in being able to support youth services library staff across the state. She is passionate about encouraging youth services library workers to recognize and embrace their leadership abilities and works continuously with her colleagues and a BIPOC Advisory Committee of library workers on racial equity initiatives for the state.  

CCBC Releases Newest Diversity Stats for 2023

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) has updated its annual Diversity Statistics to include data on the 3,491 books for children and teens received by the CCBC that were published in 2023.*

The CCBC has been documenting books for children and teens it receives annually by and about Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) since 1994. Between 1985 and 1993, the CCBC documented books by and about Black people only.

In 2018, the CCBC began to document additional aspects of identity in its analysis, including disability, LGBTQ+, and religion.

Following a long period of relative stagnancy, around 2015 the number of children’s books the CCBC received by BIPOC creators and about BIPOC characters began to increase. By 2020 — only five years later — the number of books the CCBC received that were by or about a person of color had tripled.

While the statistics in 2022 showed a continuation of this rising trend, 2023 showed little change. “We are glad things are not decreasing,” says CCBC Director Tessa Michaelson Schmidt. “However, it’s disappointing there hasn’t been more movement in an upward direction.”

The CCBC did note a modest increase in the share of books including significant BIPOC content in 2023 — meaning they have a primary or significant secondary character or human subject who is BIPOC, or the setting or topic of the book relates to BIPOC people or history. In 2023, 49 percent of the books the CCBC documented had significant BIPOC content (up from 46 percent in 2022), and 40 percent had at least one BIPOC primary character (up from 39 percent in 2022).

In 2023, 49 percent of the books the CCBC documented have
significant BIPOC content — up from 46 percent in 2022.

On the other hand, the share of books having at least one creator (e.g., author, illustrator, or compiler) who is BIPOC was nearly identical to 2022. Forty percent of the books the CCBC received in 2023 were by a person of color. This includes 18 percent that had at least one Asian creator, 13 percent that had at least one Black creator, and 11 percent that had at least one Latine creator. By comparison, 70 percent of the books the CCBC received had at least one white creator.

In recent years, the CCBC has seen more books that reflect the multifaceted complexity of individual lives when it comes to identity — for example, books in which characters are multiracial/multiethnic; that reveal intersectional identities; or that portray other dimensions of identity, including disability, LGBTQ+, and minority (non-Christian) religions.

Of the books the CCBC received in 2023, 7 percent featured a primary or significant secondary character/human subject with a disability or were about one or more disabilities, 7 percent featured LGBTQ+ themes or characters, and 4 percent featured a minority religion.

The CCBC notes that books with multiple primary characters and/or subjects or primary characters/subjects with multiracial or intersectional identities are counted in all applicable categories. Percentages are not mutually exclusive and cannot be combined to calculate a total of the whole.

As the number of books reflecting the lives and complex identities of children, teens, and families today continues to grow, they are having greater visibility in libraries and classrooms, and in the lives of children and teens. Schmidt

“The CCBC Diversity Statistics focus on quantity, not quality. But what we know from our work recommending books in our annual best-of-the-year list, CCBC Choices, is that greater numbers inevitably mean more outstanding choices among the books published,” says Schmidt. “Librarians, teachers, parents, and other adults who care for children have more high-quality books to choose from when selecting and recommending books for young readers and listeners that reflect and validate dimensions of their identities and their place in our global society.”

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is a unique examination, study, and research library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The CCBC is also funded by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction through the Division for Libraries and Technology.

*The statistics about books by and/or about Black, Indigenous and people of color are periodically updated online. This online data includes more detailed percentages, and the number of books represented by each percentage.

By Kari Dickinson

Here are links to the above news release and media kit which includes visual images

Talk Story Grants Available

As seen at the ALSC blog

Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture is a family literacy program that reaches out to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), and American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) families and their intergenerational community members. 

Talk Story celebrates and affirms Asian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian intersectionalities through books, oral traditions, art, and more to provide interactive and enriching experiences. Talk Story grant funding supports library and community organization opportunities to highlight APIA and AIAN stories through programs, services, and collection materials. Children and families can connect to rich cultural activities through Talk Story in their homes, libraries, and communities while challenging mainstream Anglocentric literacy practices. We welcome libraries and community organizations to develop their own Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture project to serve family literacy needs.

Grant

Amount: $500
Grants offered: 4 total, 2 by each organization

Eligibility

Libraries and community organizations that serve API/APIA or AIAN children and their families are eligible to apply. With the exception of cross-border tribal organizations, all organizations must be based in the United States or U.S. territories.

Organizations who have previously been awarded two Talk Story grants are ineligible for additional awards.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by the APALA and AILA joint Family Literacy Focus committees. Awardees will be selected from amongst completed applications. Selection is based upon creativity and originality of the implementation of the Talk Story program, accuracy in portrayal of APIA/AIAN cultures, and financial need. Selection will also be based upon involvement of the library, community, and community organizations as participants, leaders, and promoters of the proposed Talk Story program. Preference will be given to proposals that reflect the core values of family literacy, intergenerational programming and service, and cultural literacy, and representation of APIA and AIAN identities and communities. Projects that actively disrupt stereotypes, decenter colonialism, and hold space for APIA/AIAN agency will be heavily considered.

Use of Funds

Funds may be used to purchase library materials such as books, audiovisual materials, supplies for activities/crafts, programming costs such as hiring a storyteller, etc. 

• At least 25% of funds must be used for library materials.
• No more than 10% of funds may be used for refreshments and decorations.
• Funds must be used to support at least one APIA or AIAN themed program for children and their families at the institution that receives the grant. Funds may be used for virtual programming.

Timeline

Applications must be received by March 15, 2024 11:59pm AoE (anywhere on earth)
Awards will be announced by May 1, 2024
Funds must be used by November 30, 2024
Grant reports must be submitted by December 31, 2024

Additional info:

• familyliteracy@apalaweb.org
• talkstorygrant.aila@gmail.com

Children's & Teen Awards/Best Books Lists Roundup

Annually, YALSA's blogging team recommends a list of great graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12-18. Their list of ten titles includes annotations, review, suggested cataloging, ISBN and age range.

Stop here to see the complete list.

A tip of the hat to the WVLS Youth Services Information Exchange Facebook page for these two recent list tips.

Rise: A Feminist Book Project Top Ten List
The Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.creates an annual book list of the best feminist books for young readers from birth through age 18. 

• 2024 Top Ten List
•  Past Top Ten Lists

EJK Illustrator Award

Ezra Jack Keats Award

EJK Award is given annually to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

The Ezra Jack Keats Award was created to nurture illustrators and writers, early in their careers, who create extraordinary books that reflect our diverse population, the universal experience of childhood and the strength of family and community. 

EJK Author Award

2024 winners and honors

LIVESTREAM the EJK Award Ceremony, April 11, 1:00pm ET (details coming soon)

About the EJK Award • All Winners & Honors • Mock EJK Award Toolkits • FAQ • EJK Award Book Discussion Guides

Fobazi M. Ettarh Webinar

Fobazi M. Ettarh, who coined the term "vocational awe" will be presenting a webinar as part of Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race project.

Identity, Burnout, and Vocational Awe

February 29, 2024,       1-2 pm

It has been 4 years since the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated just how far employers and vocational awe were willing to push workers— past the edge and beyond. And in our rush back to normalcy, vocational awe has been weaponized against even more library workers. If anything, the pressure to be seen and always available has gotten worse since before the pandemic! And those from marginalized groups bear the brunt of this pressure. How can we as library workers stay sane and prevent the burnout from unrealistic expectations from our library administrators, boards, colleagues, community, and even ourselves? Come and learn from the librarian-scholar who coined the term vocational awe about how to maintain your authentic self at work, while preventing burnout and a total subsumption of self.

Register here  

Presenter: 

Fobazi M. Ettarh has worked in school and academic libraries, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign as well as working as a consultant and independent scholar for library organizations. In 2018, Fobazi M. Ettarh coined the term and defined the concept of ‘Vocational awe,” which describe “the set of ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in beliefs that libraries as institutions are inherently good and sacred, and therefore beyond critique.” Her critical work on libraries, labor, and identity has been published in a variety of locations and she has been a keynote presenter at national conferences and summits.

Walter Dean Myers Award Winners Announced

Youth Literature Awards season is in full swing. We Need Diverse Books recently published their awards recognizing diverse authors whose works fetaure diverse main characters and address diversity in a meaningful way.

2024​ ​Walter​ ​Award,​ ​Younger​ ​Readers​ ​Category

Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House)

2024​ ​Walter​ ​Honors,​ ​Younger​ ​Readers​ ​Category
Grounded by Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and S.K. Ali (Amulet/Abrams)

2024​ ​Walter​ ​Award,​ ​Teen​ ​Category
Saints of the Household by Ari Tison (Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Macmillan)

2024​ ​Walter​ ​Honors,​ ​Teen​ ​Category
All the Fighting Parts by Hannah V. Sawyerr (Amulet/Abrams)

The​ ​Walter​ ​Dean​ ​Myers​ ​Award,​ ​also​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“The​ ​Walter,”​ ​is​ ​named​ ​for​ ​prolific​ ​children’s​ ​and young​ ​adult​ ​author​ ​Walter​ ​Dean​ ​Myers​ ​(1937-2014).​ ​Myers​ ​was​ ​the​ ​third​ ​National​ ​Ambassador for​ ​Young​ ​People’s​ ​Literature,​ ​appointed​ ​in​ ​2012​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Library​ ​of​ ​Congress.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​a​ ​champion of​ ​diversity​ ​in​ ​children’s​ ​books.​ ​The​ ​Walter​ ​Awards​ commemorate ​Myers’​ ​memory​ ​and​ ​his​ literary legacy,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​celebrate​ ​diversity​ ​in​ ​children’s​ ​literature.

The eighth annual​ ​Walter​ ​Awards ​Ceremony​ and Symposium ​will be held​ ​Wednesday,​ ​March​ ​13,​ ​2024.​

National Book Award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo, the Young People’s Poet Laureate, will serve as moderator. The​ event ​will​ include a panel discussion with the winners and honorees, followed by a Q&A.

The​ ​2024 Walter​ ​Awards​ ​Judging​ ​Committee:​ Jeremiah Henderson (chair), Sarah DeMicheli, Jamila Felton, Siân Gaetano, Jamie Kurumaji, Hanna Lee, Sara Martinez, Jenell Penn, Hadeal Salamah

Walter Award Co-directors: Kathie Weinberg and Yukari Matsuyama

Do You Do Dia?

According to the ALA Dia website:

El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30.

Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It is a daily commitment to linking children and their families to diverse books, languages, and cultures. The common goals of all Día programming are to:Celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories and libraries.

• Nurture cognitive and literacy development in ways that honor and embrace a child’s home language and culture.
• Introduce families to community resources that provide opportunities for learning through multiple literacies.
• Recognize and respect culture, heritage and language as powerful tools for strengthening families and communities.

In a recent blog post, ALSC shared: "the 2024 ALA Día Program Registry form is now open. ALSC invites libraries, schools, and community organizations to register their upcoming programs. The national registry provides a searchable database showcasing all types of programs that highlight El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) and Diversity In Action. In addition, the Día Program Registry provides a space where planners can share diversity programming ideas and best practices with colleagues around the country."

You can read more about Dia celebrations grant (with a deadline of January 31 for submission) and opportunities, in this ALSC blog post [Celebrating 2024 Dia. Schulte Cooper, Laura. ALSC blog. January 17, 2024.]

Inclusive Internship Toolkits Available

With the upcoming webinars (registration is now open for these: Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. Registration Link or Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. Registration Link) that DPI is sponsoring on how to apply to become one of the libraries participating in this year's Teen's Inclusive Internship Program, the following news provided by NFLS Nic News Weekly from their January 12 newsletter may be of interest:

FREE Inclusive Internship Toolkit: A practical guide for teen internships

Summer internships can be a great way to reach new audiences, develop new connections, and provide leadership opportunities for staff. If you are planning on hosting a teen intern this summer, or are curious and don’t know where to start, PLA’s Internship Toolkit is a start-to-finish guide to implementing an internship program at the library. Based on PLA's Inclusive Internship Initiative (III), the free, downloadable toolkit includes templates, best practices, and case studies to make your program a success.

Learn more about the Inclusive Internship Initiative here.

Teen Inclusive Internship Informational Webinar - Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship Program webinar. This webinar will introduce participants to the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funded Wisconsin Teen Inclusive Internship Program.

The program is a continuation of the 2023 Teen Internship pilot program. In the summer of 2023, five Wisconsin public libraries offered paid summer internships using LSTA grant funding to recruit and hire teens that reflected the diversity of their communities. The teen interns brought their skills, interests, and experiences to the library by developing a Connected Learning Project. Participating libraries learned how to engage and support teens while creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.

For more information on how your library can apply to become one of the five participating libraries in this year’s Teen Inclusive Internship Program, register to attend one of two informational webinars being held. Please register for only one date:

• Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. Registration Link
• Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. Registration Link

In this 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship webinar, participants will learn about the program’s goals, what is expected of the library, the mentor, and the intern, and how to apply for the program. Up to $3,000 in funding is available for each of the five Wisconsin public libraries chosen to participate in the program that runs from June 1 to August 31, 2024.

This webinar will be recorded and available for those unable to attend the February 8 or February 9 webinar.

Important Dates:

• February 8, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 10 a.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 1 p.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Application open
• February 23, 2024 - Application due
• March 1, 2024 - Applicants notified of award status

For more information or questions, please reach out to the DPI’s Library Services Team Public Library Consultant Jeni Schomber at jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov.

Save the Date - Teen Internship Informational Webinar

Starting in February, two informational webinars will be held for Wisconsin libraries to learn more about the 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship.

The program is a continuation of the 2023 Teen Internship pilot program. In the summer of 2023, five Wisconsin public libraries were able to offer paid summer internships using LSTA grant funding to recruit and hire teens that reflected the diversity of their communities. The teen interns brought their skills, interests, and experiences to the library by working on a Connected Learning Project. Participating libraries learned how to engage and support teens while creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.

If your library would like to apply to become a participating library in the upcoming teen internship program, save the date to attend one of two informational webinars held Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. OR Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. The registration link will become available on January 4, 2024.

In this 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship webinar, participants will learn about the goals of the inclusive internship program, what is expected of the library, the mentor, and the intern, and how to apply for the program. Up to $3,000 in funding is available for each of five libraries to participate in the program from June 1st to August 31st, 2024.

The webinar will be recorded and available for those unable to attend the February 8 or February 9 dates.

Important Dates:

• January 4, 2024 - Registration opens for Informational Webinar on February 8 OR February 9, 2024
• February 8, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 10 a.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 1 p.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Applications open
• February 23, 2024 - Applications due
• March 1, 2024 - Applicants notified of award status

For more information or questions, please reach out to the DPI’s Library Services Team Public Library Consultant Jeni Schomber at jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov.

Board Books Represent

In a recent ALSC blog post, Raina Tuakoi reflected on why board books are just as important as other children's literature for older kids in representing more than just a narrow view.

She writes "Board books introduce new parents and their little babies to early literacy, initiating the joy of reading. They provide caregivers with the opportunity to connect and engage with little ones in a way that is mutually beneficial. The past few years board books written by authors of color and/or depict children of color have substantially increased. The significance of culturally diverse board books emphasizes the beauty of differences in addition to teaching the basics. The positive impacts of representation in board books is countless as it increases cultural awareness, appreciation of diversity, and promotes a sense of belonging in literature for all children. I believe when children see themselves reflected in stories it builds their self-confidence and will reassure them that their presence, their voice is in society is truly valuable. Board books with representation give children the early stepping stones to weave stories of their own into reality."

To read more of her thoughts, please stop here. [More Than Just a Board Book. Tuakoi, Raina. ALSC blog. October 27, 2023.]

Indigenous Reads Rising: a new resource!

As seen in the IFLS Youth Services Round-up newsletter, 11/15/23

Thanks to Kathy Larson from River Falls for sending this to me.  Indigenous Reads Rising is a new resource from We Need Diverse Books.  There is a wealth of great stuff on here, including a wonderful collection of booklists of recent and upcoming releases for Young Adults, Middle Grade, and Picture Books, including books divided by subject/genre (graphic novels, adventures, speculative, family stories, and more).  You can also find some excellent resources for teachers and librarians, including best practices, learning about Land Acknowledgements, state-by-state resources, and an excellent FAQ section. 

- Leah Langby

Charlotte Zolotow Lecture Coming Up

The annual Friends of the CCBC event, the Charlotte Zolotow Lecture is coming up! Author Angeline Boulley will deliver the 2023 Charlotte Zolotow Lecture on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. (Central), at Union South on the UW-Madison campus.

Ms. Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Her highly regarded debut novel, The Firekeeper’s Daughter, was a CCBC Choices title, a New York Times #1 Bestseller, and received many other accolades. Her next novel, Warrior Girl Unearthed, was published in May 2023.

--Friends of the CCBC Newsletter, August 2023

CCBC's Latest Diversity Statistics

Press release (please also see the media kit for additional images):

CCBC’s latest Diversity Statistics show increasing number of diverse books for children and teens

June 13, 2023

by Kari Dickinson

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) has updated its annual Diversity Statistics to include data on the 3,450 books for children and teens received by the CCBC that were published in 2022.* 

The CCBC has been documenting books for children and teens it receives annually by and about Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) since 1994. Between 1985 and 1993, the CCBC documented books by and about Black people only.

In 2018, the CCBC began to document additional aspects of identity in its analysis, including disability, LGBTQ+, and religion.

This year’s statistics show the continuation of some positive trends. After a long period of relative stagnancy, the number of children’s books the CCBC received by BIPOC authors and illustrators and about BIPOC characters began to increase starting around 2015. By 2020 — only five years later — the number of books the CCBC received that were by or about a person of color had tripled. 

“This is encouraging and, if this trend continues, we may soon see a world in which publishing for children and teens consistently reflects the rich diversity of perspectives and experiences within and across race and culture,” says CCBC Director Tessa Michaelson Schmidt.

In 2022, 40 percent (1,364) of the books the CCBC received were by a person of color, having at least one creator (e.g., author, illustrator, or compiler) who is BIPOC. This includes 18 percent (634 books) that had at least one Asian creator, 13 percent (462) that had at least one Black creator, and 11 percent (371) that had at least one Latine creator. By comparison, 71 percent (2,448) of the books the CCBC received had at least one white creator. 

In addition, 46 percent (1,574) of the books the CCBC documented in 2022 have significant BIPOC content, and 39 percent (1,362) have at least one BIPOC primary character. 

The CCBC has also noted that in recent years it is seeing more books that reflect the multifaceted complexity of individual lives when it comes to identity — for example, books in which characters are multiracial/multiethnic; that reveal intersectional identities; or that portray other aspects of identity, interest, and experience beyond race and ethnicity.

The complexities of identity are considered in how the CCBC staff approach this work, a welcome challenge as books increasingly reflect the complex identities of children, teens, and families today. In addition, the increasing numbers of diverse books has resulted in their greater visibility in libraries and classrooms, and in the lives of children and teens. 

“For the librarians, teachers, parents, and other adults that care for children, this means they can find outstanding books to recommend to young readers and listeners that reflect dimensions of their lives, and give a broader understanding of who we are as a nation,” says Schmidt. 

The CCBC’s annual Diversity Statistics focus on quantity, not quality. But CCBC staff note that there have been excellent diverse books across the decades. In the center’s annual CCBC Choices best-of-the-year list, there are a wide range of diverse titles highlighted for every year.

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is a unique examination, study, and research library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The CCBC is also funded by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction through the Division for Libraries and Technology.

*The statistics about books by and/or about Black, Indigenous and people of color are periodically updated online.