Like many causes of equality, the issue of diversity in children's literature is nothing new, though I am hopeful that the rising voices across multiple platforms can affect change. But it's also a great time to acknowledge some of the heroes of the cause along the way... or at least those that somehow are connected to the 48 Hour Book Challenge.
Thank you to
Reading is Fundamental, who will contribute their Multicultural STEAM Book Collections sponsored by Macy's to be donated by winner to a school or other child serving organization where they will be used. These
wonderful collections have been part of the RIF initiative for a while, bringing diverse books to kids who need them. I will award one collection to a random selected winner from all
48 Hour Book Challenge finishers who complete twelve hours or more during the weekend. Thanks again to
RIF for their support.
Thank you to
A Year of Reading who made me teary-eyed with this:
In honor of all of the reading Pam has inspired over the years with her blog and with 48HBC, and especially because of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks focus this year, we are making a donation in her honor to First Book, a non-profit organization that provides access to new books for children in need. I am not only touched by the gesture of Franki and Mary Lee, but am so excited that they would donate to another hero of the cause, as
First Book stepped up with a commitment to purchase 10,000 copies of diverse books it selects to distribute. And that's just another step for an organization already devoted to the cause of
Stories for All.Another note of appreciation goes to
Lee & Low Books, who've continued to send me review copies even as I've been less than great about getting reviews published. But for me, they've exposed me to a world of titles that I've been able to ask my public library to acquire. For you, they've now contributed a collection of books that I'll be giving out as prizes to
48 Hour Book Challenge winners. I'd also like to thank them for just being there, publishing books that are so very needed. I suspect it is not the most profitable business model that could be conceived in an industry that always seems to be chasing the next
Harry Potter or
Wimpy Kid or
Twilight series, but it's honorable and admirable. Thank you
Lee & Low Books, for being a leader in diversity.
Thanks go out to my KidLitosphere buddies who have been promoting the 48HBC through blogs, tweets, and listservs so that we can have a weekend reading and sharing titles for all kids. Thanks to
#WeNeedDiverseBooks as a movement and website, which invigorated me to take my weekend off work and give it back to books.
An official
48 Hour Book Challenge sign-in goes up tomorrow morning, but I'd love to see your comments or book lists on the
original post or here. Thanks!
