Addressing Demographic Imbalances in 21st Century Children's Picture Books

2005 Wall Calendar The demographics of fictional picture booksIn the Twenty-First Century University of Illinois – GSLIS – 2013 Nell Fleming

Nell Fleming Librarian, Mother, Wife, child of the 70’s

An Imbalance Exists in fictional picture books with white faces being depicted 80% or more of the time. Minority-Status Children under the age of 5 make up 50% of the population as of 2012.

The majority of fictional books with black faces on the cover are historical in nature. Books like these are not written for enjoyment

Clip-Clop Eleanor klodofsky

At a Fancy Restaurant Claire st.ong

It’s MY School! Sally grindley

Kindergarten Rocks! Katie Davis

Jack’s Boat Sarah mcmenemy

Mac and the Messmaker Iris Hudson

Am I a color too? By Heidi Cole For every 10 Fictional Picture books, two show minority-Status Students

Brave: one perfect day

Victricia malicia: Book loving buccaneer Carrie clickard

Faster, faster! Leslie Patricelli

Angel Coming Henson, Heather

The Garden Wall Tildes, Phyllis Limbacher

GiGI: God’s Little Princess Walsh, Sheila

Girl Vs. Wave Bass, Scott

My Very Own LightHouse Francisco, Cunha

A Pioneer ABC Mary alice downy

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro sit-ins by Carole Boston Weatherford These books were not written for enjoyment

Children are damaged by these patterns • How do you think it feels to be a black child and see these patterns of imagery? • How do you think it feels to be a white child and see these patterns of imagery? • How do you think it feels to be an Asian child and see these patterns of imagery? • How do you think it feels…..

Research questions • Are white males are overrepresented on covers and in illustrations, in children’s [fictional] picture books? YES • Do picture-book collections in school libraries represent the (approximately) 50-50 gender ratio of the larger U.S. society? YES • In holiday-themed books, how frequently are children of color represented on the cover? YES • Are white female children represented in picture books more often red-haired? NO • Would a balanced collection require the same ratio of picture books showing minority-status at the same ratio as population totals for children? How else might a balanced collection be determined and measured? Unable to determine quantitatively

Types of literature consulted • Books about book covers • Books about picture books • Books about Image analysis in picture books • Books about racism in children’s literature • Books about the history of children’s literature • Books about multi-racial families • Books about multi-cultural literature • Multi-cultural literature • Websites of publishers, vendors, authors, and reviewers of multi-cultural literature

Follett Title Wave 2005/2012 • Cover art demographic totals: • Prominent White Male: 212 • Prominent White Female: 208 • Prominent Black Male: 31 • Prominent Black Female: 43 • Prominent Asian Male: 4 • Prominent Asian Female: 12 • Prominent Native American Male: 4 • Prominent Native American Female: 1 • No Prominence 97 • Total 612 • Cover Art demographic totals= 258 • White Males = 100 • White Females = 99 • Black male = 17 (2) • Black Female = 17 (6) • Asian Male = 4 • Asian Female = 2 • Native American/American Indian Male & Female = 0 • Zero Prominence = 11 • Ambiguous and Hidden faces = 8

CCBC in Madison Wisconsin 2005 2012 5,000 3,600 68 by and 119 about African Americans 6 by and 22 about American Indians 83 by and about 76 Asian Pacific Americans • 5,000 Total Books • 2,800 Books Received • 75 by and • 149 about African Americans • 4 by and • 34 about American Indians • 60 by and • 64 about Asian Pacific Americans

Limited themes • White males were not only over-represented but books with their images contained over 80 unique themes. • Black males images were depicted on book covers with a total of only 23 themes not related to race or culture or skin color. • Asian and American Indian Males depicted on book covers contained no themes not related to race or culture.

Why • Publishers don’t publish books about minority – status children in mass and often reject books about middle class minority-status students • Publishers don’t market what they do publish as well • Publishers allow these books to go out of print faster • Vendors don’t always carry the books that are published • Purchasers may see these books as “for” only a small percentage of students • Award winning books with black faces are almost always historical fiction or non-fiction

Applications Librarians in schools and youth services

How will this research impact the field? • Librarians will understand the impact of imagery on children’s identity development • Librarians will learn to see balance in terms of collection development in a whole new light • Librarians will have the tools to evaluate and manage their collections for future generations

What will I do differently • Refer others to my research • Collect data section by section in my current library and relate it to my research. Correct deficiencies while simultaneously reaching other goals that my administrators will support. • Continue to find ways to receive feedback from professionals, parents and students of diverse backgrounds to assist in making acquisition recommendations. • Continue to advocate for more diverse staff and volunteers in the library when applicable.

How will others apply the research to their work • First they have to be aware of the work so getting the published paper in the system and sending links to relevant library blogs, journals and websites will be key • Second, they have to read the work so getting some smaller articles written and smaller blog postings about portions of the work may be key because most people don’t read a full thesis. • Third, I believe most librarians want balanced collections, and so whatever portions of the information resonates with them I believe they will start to see patterns themselves.

Weakness’s and limitations • Bias and strong beliefs • Emotional subjectivity • Working in an environment that is unique • The “things will get better” culture of our society • Fear of overcompensating in collection development due to personal bias

Thank you Nell Fleming

Addressing Demographic Imbalances in 21st Century Children's Picture Books

Addressing Demographic Imbalances in 21st Century Children's Picture Books

Presentation Transcript

Part I – Entrepreneurship in the Twenty-First Century

INFORMATION ETHICS IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY

Twenty-First Century Psychotherapies

Business Ethics In The Twenty-First Century

Redefining Writing in the Twenty-first Century:

QCD in the Twenty-First Century

The demographics of fictional picture books In the Twenty-First Century

The West at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century

Anglos and Mexicans in the Twenty First Century

First Century Morals in the Twenty First Century

Being a Graduate in the Twenty-first Century

Marketing in the Twenty-first Century

INFORMATION ETHICS IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY

GEOGRAPHIC ISSUES of the Twenty-first Century

The MIRAB Model in the Twenty-First Century

ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

Chapter Thirteen Religion in the Twenty-First Century

Being a Graduate in the Twenty-first Century

TO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, 1989-

Twenty-First Century Psychotherapies

The Twenty-First Century Student

Being a Graduate in the Twenty-first Century