Black Kid's Lit Authors/Illustrators - Up 7.8% in 2008

The Cooperative Children's Book Center has posted its annual statistics on the number of authors of color in the field of children's literature. The numbers are based on the books the CCBC receives each year. They received about 3,000 children's books last year.

The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison has tracked children's books by and about people of color in the US since 1994. Its study of African American children's book authors goes back further to 1985.

In 2008, there was a 7.8% increase in black children's book authors or illustrators... 83 in 2008, up from 77 in 2007. Seems like the number of children's book authors or illustrators of color are up all around, according to the CCBC:

• 48 Latino Children's Book Authors/Illustrators in 2008, up from 42 in 2007
  
• 77 Asian American Children's Book Authors/Illustrators in 2008, up from 56 in 2007
• 9 American Indian Children's Book Authors/Illustrators in 2008, up from 6 in 2007

You can read more about the CCBC's thoughts on the 2008 publishing season and these statistics by clicking here. Special thanks to Megan Schliesman, CCBC Librarian, for answering my questions on these stats. So, what are your thoughts on the stats?

Visit Jenny's Wonderland of Books Blog

Rare books librarian and specialist in the history of children's literature Jenny Schwartzberg blogs about Gwendolyn Brooks' books for kids: The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves or What You Are You Are (Chicago: Third World Press, 1974) and Bronzeville Boys and Girls. Check it out!

Free Within Ourselves by Rudine Sims Bishop

Thanks to Jenny Schwartzberg, rare book librarian, for letting me (and others) know about Rudine Sims Bishop's 2007 book Free Within Ourselves: The Development of African American Children's Literature. Bishop is Professor Emerita of Education at The Ohio State University, where she has taught courses on children’s literature. In 2007 she won the NCTE Outstanding Educator in English Language Arts Award.

According to the School Library Journal in Free Within Ourselves, "Bishop traces the evolution of fiction written for black children and by black authors and illustrators within the context of African-American social and literary history....Her writing is precise and engaging, and it really comes alive when presenting primary-source material....She provides an extensive bibliography for further exploration." Enjoy!

Black Kid's Lit Authors - Down 12% in 2007

The number of African American Children's Book authors published in 2007 has declined nearly 12% since 2006!

The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison has tracked children's books by and about people of color in the US since 1994. Its study of African American children's book authors goes back further to 1985 (based on the books received by the CCBC). Recently the CCBC released the 2007 stats - an estimated 77 children's books by African American authors were published in 2007 out of an estimated 5,000 children's books published!

Seventy-seven Black Children's Book Authors - only? Indeed all kid lit authors of color are the same or down in 2007, according to the CCBC:

• 42 Latino Children's Book Authors in 2007, just as 2006
• 56 Asian American Children's Book Authors in 2007, down from 72 in 2006
• 6 American Indian Children's Book Authors in 2007, down from 14 in 2006

What's happening? Is there anyone talking about this decline in publishing circles or on the Internet? Have you read these CCBC statistics in the news? Did the CCBC send out a press release on these stats? Are authors of color just producing less? Or, does it just not matter?

There are several self-published children's book authors. Heck, I'm one! As part of the marketing of my book, Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria, I donated a copy to the CCBC to ensure that I was counted... and to ensure that an organization that promotes and studies children's literature has my book in its catalog for future readers. Ensuring that institutions that teach children's literature have your book, especially books about kids of color, in their libraries is important.

Is there a sense that the number of African American children's book authors published in 2008 will increase? What say you?