Diverse Voices: A Discussion on Crafting Fiction, Nonfiction, and Audiobooks that Reflect and Celebrate Diversity
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT / 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PDT

As the We Need Diverse Books™ campaign has gained momentum, librarians are increasingly looking for ways to integrate, highlight, and share diverse books and audio books with the students and patrons in their libraries. But what do we talk about when we talk about “diversity”? What qualities and criteria should librarians consider? Attendees will come away with a deeper, richer understanding of what diversity in children’s and YA literature means and a better appreciation for how authors and illustrators create authentic stories.

Join authors Sharon M. Draper, Jason Reynolds, Christy Hale, and Sandra Moore, along with librarian Thom Barthelmess, and SLJ editor Kiera Parrott for a conversation about diversity in kid and YA lit.

Register now!

Panelists

Sharon Draper - Five-time Coretta Scott King award-winner, author of Stella by Starlight (Atheneum).

Jason Reynolds - Winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent and author of When I Was the Greatest and The Boy in the Black Suit (S. & S.).

Christy Hale - Award-winning illustrator; illustrator of Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building and the forth-coming The Cambodian Dancer: Sophany’s Gift of Hope (Tuttle).

Sandra Moore - Debut author of The Peace Tree from Hiroshima: The Little Bonsai with a Big Story (Tuttle).

Thom Barthelmess - Librarian and representative for Listening Library’s “Hear Diversity” initiative.

Moderator

Kiera Parrott - Editor, School Library Journal