1. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS – GSLIS – 2013 NELL FLEMING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF FICTIONAL PICTURE BOOKS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY 2005 Wall Calendar

2. LIBRARIAN, MOTHER, WIFE, CHILD OF THE 70’S NELL FLEMING

3. MINORITY-STATUS CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 MAKE UP 50% OF THE POPULATION AS OF 2012. AN IMBALANCE EXISTS IN FICTIONAL PICTURE BOOKS WITH WHITE FACES BEING DEPICTED 80% OR MORE OF THE TIME.

4. BOOKS LIKE THESE ARE NOT WRITTEN FOR ENJOYMENT THE MAJORITY OF FICTIONAL BOOKS WITH BLACK FACES ON THE COVER ARE HISTORICAL IN NATURE.

5. ELEANOR KLODOFSKY CLIP-CLOP

6. CLAIRE ST.ONG AT A FANCY RESTAURANT

7. SALLY GRINDLEY IT’S MY SCHOOL!

8. KATIE DAVIS KINDERGARTEN ROCKS!

9. SARAH MCMENEMY JACK’S BOAT

10. IRIS HUDSON MAC AND THE MESSMAKER

11. FOR EVERY 10 FICTIONAL PICTURE BOOKS, TWO SHOW MINORITY- STATUS STUDENTS AM I A COLOR TOO? BY HEIDI COLE

12. BRAVE: ONE PERFECT DAY

13. CARRIE CLICKARD VICTRICIA MALICIA: BOOK LOVING BUCCANEER

14. LESLIE PATRICELLI FASTER, FASTER!

15. HENSON, HEATHER ANGEL COMING

16. TILDES, PHYLLIS LIMBACHER THE GARDEN WALL

17. WALSH, SHEILA GIGI: GOD’S LITTLE PRINCESS

18. BASS, SCOTT GIRL VS. WAVE

19. FRANCISCO, CUNHA MY VERY OWN LIGHTHOUSE

20. MARY ALICE DOWNY A PIONEER ABC

21. THESE BOOKS WERE NOT WRITTEN FOR ENJOYMENT FREEDOM ON THE MENU: THE GREENSBORO SIT-INS BY CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD

22. CHILDREN MAY BE DAMAGED BY THESE PATTERNS How do you think it feels to be a black child and see these patterns of imagery? How do you think it feels to be a white child and see these patterns of imagery? How do you think it feels to be an Asian child and see these patterns of imagery? How do you think it feels…..

23. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Are white males are overrepresented on covers and in illustrations, in children’s [fictional] picture books? YES Do picture-book collections in school libraries represent the (approximately) 50-50 gender ratio of the larger U.S. society? YES In holiday-themed books, is there a deficiency in how frequently children of color represented on the cover? YES Are white female children represented in picture books more often red- haired? NO Would a balanced collection require the same ratio of fictional picture books showing students of minority-status at the same ratio as white children? How else might a balanced collection be determined and measured? Unable to determine quantitatively

24. TYPES OF LITERATURE CONSULTED Books about book covers Books about picture books Books about Image analysis in picture books Books about racism in children’s literature (60’s to present) Books about the history of children’s literature Books about multi-racial families Books about multi-cultural literature Multi-cultural literature Websites of publishers, vendors, authors, and reviewers of multi-cultural literature

25. FOLLETT TITLE WAVE 2005/2012 Cover art demographic totals: Prominent White Male: 212 Prominent White Female: 208 Prominent Black Male: 31 Prominent Black Female: 43 Prominent Asian Male: 4 Prominent Asian Female: 12 Prominent Native American Male: 4 Prominent Native American Female: 1 No Prominence 97 Total 612 Cover Art demographic totals White Males: 100 White Females: 99 Black male:17 (2) Black Female:17 (6) Asian Male: 4 Asian Female: 2 Native American/American Indian Male & Female: 0 Zero Prominence:11 Ambiguous and Hidden faces: 8 Total: 258

26. CCBC IN MADISON WISCONSIN 2005 5,000 Total Books 2,800 Books Received 75 by and 149 about African Americans 4 by and 34 about American Indians 60 by and 64 about Asian Pacific Americans 2012 5,000 Total Books 3,600 Books Received 68 by and 119 about African Americans 6 by and 22 about American Indians 83 by and about 76 Asian Pacific Americans

27. LIMITED THEMES White males were not only over-represented but books with their images contained over 80 unique themes. Black males images were depicted on book covers with a total of only 23 themes not related to race or culture or skin color. Asian and American Indian Males depicted on book covers contained no themes not related to race or culture.

28. WHY Publishers don’t publish books about minority – status children in mass and often reject books about middle class minority-status students Publishers don’t market what they do publish as well Publishers allow these books to go out of print faster Vendors don’t always carry the books that are published Purchasers may see these books as “for” only a small percentage of students Award winning books with black faces are almost always historical fiction or non-fiction

29. APPLICATIONS LIBRARIANS IN SCHOOLS AND YOUTH SERVICES

30. HOW WILL THIS RESEARCH IMPACT THE FIELD? Librarians will understand the impact of imagery on children’s identity development Librarians will learn to see balance in terms of collection development in a whole new light Librarians will have the tools to evaluate and manage their collections for future generations

31. WHAT WILL I DO DIFFERENTLY Refer others to my research Collect data section by section in my current library and relate it to my research. Correct deficiencies while simultaneously reaching other goals that my administrators will support. Continue to find ways to receive feedback from professionals, parents and students of diverse backgrounds to assist in making acquisition recommendations. Continue to advocate for more diverse staff and volunteers in the library when applicable.

32. HOW WILL OTHERS APPLY THE RESEARCH TO THEIR WORK First they have to be aware of the work so getting the published paper in the system and sending links to relevant library blogs, journals and websites will be key Second, they have to read the work so getting some smaller articles written and smaller blog postings about portions of the work may be key because most people don’t read a full thesis. Third, I believe most librarians want balanced collections, and so whatever portions of the information resonates with them I believe they will start to see patterns themselves.

33. BOOKS ON MY RECOMMENDED LISTS

34. WEAKNESS’S AND LIMITATIONS Bias and strong beliefs Emotional subjectivity Working in an environment that is unique Fear of overcompensating in collection development due to personal bias The “things will get better” culture of our society

35. THANK YOU NELL FLEMING