Kendrah Villiesse writes about the importance of representation for young readers, featuring ‘Lemonade Summer’ by Gabi Mendez! Read full article here.
““It is important for kids to see themselves in books, [to] see themselves having adventures that aren’t necessarily related to their identity but confirm it and celebrate it,” Mendez said. “My story is not being told, so I can’t relate, or you are forced to relate to whatever the norm is that isn’t you.” ”
“I have had many experiences with younger kids who have these thoughts ingrained into them,” Lugtu said. “My students who are girls or people of color will create [comics of] superheroes or princesses and will create them as white. That it is natural, something that is normalized by the media we look at.”
“Liv Hanson, content curator for youth at Chicago Public Library, said representation within the LGBTQ community has gotten better in young adult books, but there is still room for progress.
“There are kids who are LGBTQ, and it is important for them to see other kids who are like them,” Hanson said. “For kids who don’t fall into that spectrum, it is important for empathy and for understanding.”