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

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 MAY BE 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, is there a deficiency in how frequently 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 fictional picture books showing students of minority-status at the same ratio as white 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 (60’s to present) • 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 • 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 • Total: 258

CCBC in Madison Wisconsin 2005 2012 5,000 Total Books 3,600 Books Received 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.

Books on my recommended lists

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

Thank you Nell Fleming

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

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

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 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

MENTORING STRATEGIES For the Twenty-First Century

The Twenty-First Century Student

Being a Graduate in the Twenty-first Century