Free Virtual Class Visits on October 13, 2023
October 13, 2023, is a magical day for Illinois teachers, students and school librarians.
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#weneeddiversebooks
Kid Lit Nation mentorship program for children’s authors of color
Kid Lit Nation is an organization whose goal is to assist authors and illustrators of color further their journey to success in the publishing world. I have given an online Workshop with the organization in the past. Now, I am one of three children’s authors who will be mentoring authors of color in 2019. If
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Chocolate or Coffee?
When authors write about POC, the very last thing they should be worrying about is what word to use to describe a character’s skin color. (or the slant in the eyes, the shape of the nose, etc.) Once an author has elaborated on the exact skin hue … well, exactly what do readers really know
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I’m a writer, I can just use my imagination
I’ve heard numerous white authors use variations of that phrase when they decide to include characters from marginalized groups in their stories. Writers make things up all the time, they insist. They seldom appear capable of seeing any other reason for negative reaction to their work. Readers, critics, and reviewers who complain about their works
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KidLitNation Webinar on 1-31-18
Kid Lit Nation (http://kidlitnation.com/) is hosting a webinar on 1-31-18 featuring debut picture book author Baptiste Paul and illustrator Jacqueline Alcantara. For more detailed information about the event, click this link – KIdLitNation Webinar You can register for the webinar via this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_exnq2R34Q1mdvJ4lBsqALw
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The Gift of #Ownvoices
I gave myself an extra special holiday gift this year. Was it expensive? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Again, a resounding yes. Will I do it again? Read further and see the answer. What was this present – well, a little background first. As a professional author with a host of short stories and three
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A New Challenge – Jill Kuangfung
Not too long ago, I found myself in a well-known, independent feminist bookstore wondering where all the characters of color were. This was a while into my time working there as a bookseller, but I often thought back to the first day I stepped into this particular shop–how magical it was (especially compared to Barnes
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Diverse authors/illustrators at the Illinois SCBWI conference
Fellow African American children’s author, Urania Smith, teamed with me, B A Binns, to sponsor three diverse authors to attend the 2016 Illinois SCBWI conference, Prairie Writers and Illustrators Day (PWID) coming up on Saturday, November 5 at Harper College in Palatine, Ill. Urania and I both want to see ways to see more authors
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Using Diverse Books in Library Programs – ILA 2016
B A Binns & Nancy Goodfellow The Illinois Library Association, ILA, held it’s annual conference in Rosemont, Il on October 19 and 20. On Wednesday, Oct 19, I spoke at a session titled Using Diverse Books in Library Programs. Along with my co-presenter, Nancy Goodfellow, a member of the National Association for Down Syndrome, the
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A second Illinois SCBWI member has stepped up to join in the effort to help diverse authors and illustrators attend the annual conference on Nov 5. Children’s book author Urania Smith has also stepped up to sponsor an attendee. We have a wide definition of diverse author/illustrator. So if you are in or near the