Racism and the Need for Diversity in the Canon of Stories for Children

Speakers: Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, Sarah Park Dahlen, Philip Nel

How do we challenge the “classic” stories we tell to children and reimagine the canon itself? Leading Children’s Literature Scholars will explore how the stories we tell shape young people; demonstrate how racism is found throughout the “classic” and contemporary children’s literature; highlight the ways in which protagonists of color are represented in children’s stories; and offer ways to meaningfully diversify the stories we create and tell to young people.