PART 1: What are we really saying to our children? – Language Acquisition & Gender

5 Ways to Be More Inclusive

Pronouns are one of the first ways that small children are taught to gender themselves and others. As a child grows within the womb, they are introduced to our language and how we communicate in our world, including how they are spoken about. At first glance this can seem simple …

PART 2: What are we really saying to our children? – Language Acquisition & Gender

Instilling Skills to Help our Kids Negotiate Oppressive Systems

In PART 1 OF THIS SERIES, I explored how pronouns are one of the first ways children gender themselves and others. From an early age, many LGBTQI2S+ people understand the power of language and the impact it can have. This is why in my gender work, the Pronoun Circle is …

PART 3: What are we really saying to our children? – Language Acquisition & Gender

Unconsciously Passing on Gender Oppression and a Lack of Consent

An example of why it’s so important to understand the power of language and how we use it, especially in books for children. For context, see the previous two posts, Part 1 and Part 2. Prior to this blog series on language acquisition and gender, I haven’t written a blog …

My Gender Work was Stolen in the Children’s Book Industry

#Columbused #GenderWheel #GenderNow #DiverseBooks #StolenWork

Context is Everything I was plagiarized twice in the same year by the same community. It was hard to wrap my brain around at first. After all, this is a community I felt some connection to. These were people I imagine to be well-intentioned parents and professionals. But now there …

If the Publishing World Were to Change Tomorrow, I’d Still Self-Publish

What if the children’s book industry changed tomorrow? And the number of books that actually reflect our communities was equitable with those of straight Euro Americans? What if I began getting calls that offered real advances and publicity for books with larger publishing houses? What if for some reason, after …

Knock Knock Who’s There? Interrupting Chupacabra!

Social Justice, Critical Thinking, Social and Emotional Learning Wrapped in a JOKE!

Saturday I am speaking at the Bay area SCBWI Oktoberfest. One of my talks is titled, Get Radical! Why Radical Thinkers Are Needed in the Children’s Book World. Apparently my reputation precedes me because I didn’t come up with the title. I simply and happily slid into place upon arrival. …

Claiming Face with Dick and Jane

Write Now! Make Books Installment 3 and 4

when i look back at the books of my childhood, in my imagination, i see myself looking back. my strong proud forehead alive with thought. my clear eyes open wide to see. i am here! this is my face. i am hear! this is my face. this is where my story …

GENDER FREE PICTURE BOOKS

why they're so important for our children to have!

Our culture has a powerful trend toward the boy-girl gender binary and conformity comes into play from a child’s earliest possible moment. By being gender free, Call Me Tree provides for some a much needed break from the constant boy-girl assumptions and requirements. It can also provide a moment to …

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