Quote of the Week
Updated — I have now included also the entire Panel discussion — which Sean Qualls & Sophie Blackall also shared their views. They all do not agree with each other.
Around 26:00 — Sophie Blackall talked in details about her own reactions toward the controversy over her book A Fine Dessert; 35:00 – Sean Qualls starts talking; 38:00-ish, he touches briefly on A Fine Dessert; keep watching and you’ll hear Susannah’s views as well.
— Daniel Jose Older
“Daniel José Older on A Fine Dessert”
A Fine Dessert – Multiple Conversations
Collected below are various online articles, conversations, and comments about the picture book A Fine Dessert written by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, published by Schwartz & Wade, an imprint at Random House. The book has been under careful scrutiny by many – when it was highlighted as one of the Caldecott hopefuls, when it was among the 10 illustrated books of 2015 chosen by The New York Times, and when it received objections by readers who found certain text and images hurtful. I did not read or look at the book until this past Monday, after many others already grappled with the book for a while. The conversations are important to note and should continue, not only about one book, but about the entire Children’s Publishing industry. More on that from my own viewpoint is forthcoming. Since Debbie Reese has been diligently documenting and collecting all the pertinent links. I’m providing only ONE link here in this section. Do read as much as you can and consider and re-consider!
Not recommended: A FINE DESSERT by Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall by Debbie Reese — from American Indian in Children’s Literature
Books & Awards
The Scholastic Picture Book Award 2015 Winners — from Scholastic Book Award/Asia
SIMMONS COLLEGE AND LEE & LOW BOOKS ESTABLISH NEW SCHOLARSHIP — from Lee & Low Books
An Interview with Kate DiCamillo — from The Horn Book Magazine
Please don’t air brush African teen fiction by Ellen Banda-Aaku — from The Guardian
‘Monstress’: Inside The Fantasy Comic About Race, Feminism And The Monster Within by Graeme McMillan — from The Hollywood Reporter
I gathered these entries from various sources such as Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and specific sites that I follow such as Educating Alice, Pub Peeps, Book Riot, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, We Need Diverse Books, American Indians in Children’s literature, etc.
Fairrosa Cyber Library 