When I did the ten books challenge that has been making its way around social media of late, the first ten books I thought of that had made a profound impact on me were all children’s or young adult books. I was an English Literature major in college, and having deeply enjoyed the majority of books I’d been assigned throughout the four years, I’m a little surprised that some of those didn’t pop into my mind first and make their way onto the list.
The ones that came to mind first were decidedly from my younger, and likely most formative, years. Even more, when I started to do some research to see what kind of books were mentioned on lists most often, I realized that many of the top books mentioned in the challenge are considered children's or young adult literature. Well, as you might imagine, this makes me feel pretty excited about what I do for a living.
Even more, though, it reinforces that children’s and young adult literature is urgent and important — that what we publish can, and likely will, influence the future adults of the world. Which is why discussions of diversity and gender delineation are so essential to have in the children’s publishing world. Which is just one reason, among countless others, I always cringe when someone asks me what I do for work, and then responds, “Oh, children’s books! How cute! That must be really fun.”
It’s certainly belittling to the genre. Which is why I’m going to start responding rather than just biting my tongue. Sure, there is a need for “cute” and “fun” books — I’m not trying to argue that children’s literature shouldn’t cute and fun. But overall, children’s literature is so much more than that. Children’s literature is difficult and complex and thought-provoking. At times it’s sexist or racist or ageist. Sometimes it’s hilarious and awkward or probing and smart. Sometimes it’s depressing. Sometimes it’s celebratory. Sometimes it’s both. Whatever it is, it deserves to be talked about with the same vocabulary we use to talk about all books.
The way in which children’s literature is often discussed diminishes the genre instead of bolstering it. Let’s try to change that. After all, we are influenced by what we read long after we’ve put the book down. And if Facebook’s study is any indication, books we typically read as children will continue to influence us throughout our lives.
— Eliza Leahy
Associate Editor, Capstone Fiction
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