"When I began to read, I began to exist."
Moderator Cheryl Klein began her questioning by quoting the late Walter Dean Myers, who earlier this year wrote about the subject of diversity in kids' books. It was with that inspiration that our panel, 'The Importance of All Children Seeing Themselves in Literature,’ began during this week's Teacher Week @Scholastic by sharing the books in which they first saw themselves.
Panelist Varian Johnson, fittingly, first came to see himself in Myers’ books. Sharon Robinson shared that the Nancy Drew got her excited for reading. Sonia Manzano clicked with When I Was Puerto Rican and Charlotte’s Web. Lisa Yee shared that she couldn’t find books about Asian American kids when she was young but could identify in some way with characters in books, no matter what their background.
Each explained how they brought their own diverse backgrounds to the characters in their books and affirmed that teachers continue to be a major influence on reading for kids. Varian Johnson said that one major issue confronting teachers these days is ‘time for pleasure reading.’ Sharon Robinson said ‘You need to bring families along,’ adding that books also need to be accessible in the home.
Responding to a question about characters that ‘just happen to be’ of a different color, Sharon Robinson told the audience that layers are part of the fun of writing. Varian Johnson, whose The Great Green Heist features an ultra-cool main character who ‘just happens to be’ African American, shared that "we are layered as people and bring that into our books."
Lisa Yee agrees that kids can identify with books on many levels. Discussing her character Stanford Wong, she said, "I love hearing ‘he’s exactly like me.’" She went on to say that it doesn’t always come from Chinese boys. Sometimes it’s kids who struggle in school. Sometimes it’s basketball players.
Sonia Manzano added that it’s not just authors that bring layers to characters. "Readers bring their own layers into the books. We all read things into books authors didn't intend."
This was one of the most poignant moments of the panel for me as she really brought home the point that, ultimately, diversity in literature is about the readers. We read beyond what the author intended because we live in a world beyond its pages. That intersection is where the joy, magic and understanding that comes from reading lives.
If it is our responsibility to make kids lifelong readers, we need books where kids can find that intersection.
Are we there yet?
Panelist Varian Johnson says, "We have a long way to go but we’re on the right path."
