I was welcomed with open arms at one of my old elementary schools this week to conduct my very first author visit. It was an absolutely incredible experience. I turned my sweet little picture book into a guessing game, and asked kids to predict what animal what appear on each spread. The children quickly caught on to the fact that the book is written in rhyme, and it was fascinating to watch them try and figure out rhyming animal names that would fit each illustration. Having written the darn thing, I can attest to its difficulty!
But one of the most incredible moments came when I opened the book and a little girl cried out in amazement – “That’s me!”
As cis white child who grew up in a majority-white community, I saw my identity reflected on the cover of just about every book I came across in the library. I’m ashamed to say that for much of my life I simply took this for granted, and it wasn’t until I was much older that I gradually began to become aware, with the help and guidance of generous friends, classmates and colleagues, of the incredible lack of diversity in children’s literature, and the negative impact this lack of representation (or, in turn, misrepresentation) can have on young children and their feelings of self-worth and belonging.
I had no say in the illustration of Wild One, and my text made no mention of the child protagonist’s gender or appearance, so I can take no credit for the wonderful artwork in my book. I can say though that I was absolutely thrilled with the diversity of Noel Tuazon’s joyful illustrations. Each spread shows real, everyday diversity – children of different backgrounds having fun together and going about their days being active, enthusiastic, imaginative children, just like the ones I met at my author visit.
I was so moved by this experience that I was inspired to pen a simple poem reflecting this moment:
I’m in a Book!
Turn the page,
What do you see?
That little girl
Looks just like me!
She has my eyes,
She has my hair,
I never thought
I’d see her there.
Oh, teacher, teacher!
Come and look!
A girl like me
Is in a book!
Lovely, lively poem Jane, sounds like a great moment you captured from the telling of it! What delightful illustrations too. Thanks for sharing all, and I hope your book moves children far and wide!
I see myself, too, which still surprises me, being a redhead. If I was in a book, I was generally cast as the villain, the witch or the freak. I like your poem and the illustrations are just right. Why shouldn’t we all get to be in books, and cast in positive ways, too?
Agreed!
Hi Jane, I love your poem and you’re so right – it’s important to see ourselves reflected in the books we read. My students’ favorite books are always the ones about Haiti, but unfortunately there’s not as much YA out there as I’d like about Haiti!
I accidentally rejected your comment on my post when I was trying to publish it – I’m so sorry! If you wouldn’t mind leaving a comment again, I’d love it, but in any case thanks for leaving one, and I did read it before consigning it to oblivion!
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
HA! That’s too funny, I’ll happily go back and comment, I always have something to say. 😀
What a wonderful experience during your first author share! Love your poem. And I checked out your new book. It is just plain delightful. I’m so glad you shared about it today and I stopped by.
Jane, what a rewarding moment! So many unexpected moments come with authordom… what a great thing for this young reader. Thank you for sharing, and yay for the progress we’ve made in the children’s book industry! Also: the Progressive Poem calendar is filling fast, so I’ve put you down for April 2!
Congrats on your book! So happy for your great experience sharing it! For some reasons, I do not see the poem your wrote about it though.
The guessing game you were playing with the kids sounds like a fun way to introduce them to your book. I’m glad your first author visit went so well! Charming poem.
“A girl like me is in a book!” Love the story of your first visit, Jane. It is a joy to see that every child gets to see himself or herself in books today.
What a great moment for your first author’s visit!!
Love that you had such a magical first author visit, and that your book has been a mirror for a child.
I’m so touched by your joyous little poem, Jane. It captures the moment you experienced so beautifully. I’m glad your first author visit was such a success!
There is such joy expressed in your poem and the story of your school visit–and in those wonderful illustrations for your book. I am so glad that literature is changing (even if slowly) to more accurately reflect the world around us.