Welcome!
This site was created for ENGL 6780 “Teaching the Literature of Social Movements” in fulfillment of the final project requirement. For my final project, I decided to design a college-level course centered around the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement, a major movement within the children’s literature field and publishing industry that advocates for diverse representations in books for young readers.
Throughout this site, you will find:
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A course description + grade distribution scheme
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Assignment sheets for major assignments
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Sample lesson plans
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A 14-week course schedule, complete with assigned readings
To find out more about the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement, please visit diversebooks.org.
“I believe in the power of books. The power of reading. And the power of representation.”
-Ellen Oh, Co-Founder of We Need Diverse Books
Course Description:
In this section of ENGL 4840 “Culture in Children’s Lit,” we will encounter a wide range of books for children through the lens of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks (WNDB) movement. Beginning with a humble Tumblr blog and an inspired Twitter campaign in 2014, the WNDB movement — now a fully-fledged non-profit organization — promotes, publishes, and advocates for diverse representations in children’s and young adult literature. Together, we’ll trace developments in representation from the earliest appearances of diverse characters in American picture books, to the beginnings of the WNDB movement, through the contemporary fight against book banning. As we read works like The Snowy Day, El Deafo, and Melissa, we will consider the significance and implications of diverse content for young readers. In addition to regular class participation, assignments will include short written reflections, a diverse reads field study, and a final project of your choice.
Student Learning Outcomes:
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Recall key milestones in the development of diverse representation in children's literature, including the origins of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement and its evolution into a non-profit organization
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Explain the significance of diverse representation in children's and young adult literature, particularly in relation to the historical and cultural contexts in which these works were created and received
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Analyze how diverse characters and narratives are portrayed in selected works, identifying specific examples of representation and considering their impact on young readers
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Critique the arguments and strategies employed in the contemporary fight against book banning, examining the ethical implications of censorship
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Develop a final project that demonstrates a deep understanding of the significance and implications of diverse content in children's literature
Grade Distribution:
Attendance/Participation......15%
Reading Quizzes...................10%
Reflection/Annotations.........25%
Field Study............................20%
Final Project..........................30%
Books to Purchase:
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Ghost Boys (2018) by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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Melissa (2015) by Alex Gino
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The Birchbark House (1999) by Louise Erdrich
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El Deafo (2014) by Cece Bell
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Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance (2019) edited by Bethany C. Morrow
