Sylvia Liu is co-founder of the comprehensive children’s literature resource Kidlit411 and a picture book author whose debut A MORNING WITH GRANDPA (illustrated by Christina Forshay) won Lee & Low’s prestigious New Voices Award.
One of the most important and inspiring movements in kidlit today is diversity, so I’ve asked Sylvia to talk to us today about creating authentic stories with relatable, diverse characters. Get those pencils ready because you will want to write after you read this interview!
Sylvia, what does the movement “We Need Diverse Books” mean to you?
For me, We Need Diverse Books means that every child can easily find stories and books that are mirrors and windows. Mirrors that reflect their own stories and circumstances and windows that show other people’s stories. This means that previously underrepresented groups need to be better represented at every level of children’s books. On the supply side, we need more diverse creators and more diverse gatekeepers (agents, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers). On the demand side, we need a reading public that buys and demands more diverse books. To achieve these isn’t a matter of wishful thinking or good intentions, because the societal inequalities that created the lack of supply and demand ultimately need to be addressed. For example, publishing and the creative arts are professions that are still very much based in apprenticeships—i.e., you need to have enough money to take unpaid internships when you’re starting out, or to take creative risks.
What led to you entering Lee & Low’s “New Voices” contest?
I have known about the New Voices Award ever since it began in 2000 because I have been following Lee & Low for over twenty years (my college and law school friend is related to the company’s founder). Over the last five or six years that I’ve been writing picture books seriously, I have always had the award in the back of my mind. Most of my stories are not specifically geared towards multicultural or diverse topics, so I didn’t submit any until 2013, when I wrote A MORNING WITH GRANDPA. After I wrote it, I thought it would be a good fit because it told a universal story about a grandparent and grandchild’s fun and funny relationship but with specific cultural references.
“When writing a diverse story, you should not just insert a character of a certain ethnicity or race. It is about so much more.” Can you expand upon this concept?
You’re right. It’s about telling a story from deep within a point of view or culture that requires intimate knowledge or experience to that culture. It’s more than changing a name to Maria or Mei Mei. It’s inhabiting that character’s world and showing and sharing the details of that world that make it specific to the culture, ethnicity, or world view. I do believe authors are capable of writing from different perspectives and cultures other than their own, but if they do, they need to approach the story with respect and research.
Going forward, what are your hopes for diversity in children’s publishing?
In the ideal world, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. We would have all different kinds of stories written by all different kinds of people, reflecting the multiplicity of experiences–social, cultural, racial, ethnic, economic, gender, ability, and more. But in the short term, as I mentioned before, I hope that gatekeepers (editors, agents, reviewers, book sellers, librarians, parents) take seriously the emerging commitment to diversity–promoting and giving voice to people of color, LGBTQ people, and other underrepresented people in the industry through hiring, contracts, reviews, and book sales.
Sylvia, any final thoughts?
Remember that only you–a specific person on this planet with a particular worldview, background, culture, family, sense of humor, and self–can tell your stories. Don’t be afraid to share your stories with your truths and perspectives, and don’t deprive the world of them.
What an inspiring statement, Sylvia! I hope this sparks new ideas for our blog readers.
Thank you so much for sharing your “new voice” with us…and for having Lee & Low share your “New Voices” picture book!
One copy will be given away within the next two weeks. Just leave one comment below to enter. (US addresses only, please.)
Good luck!
67 comments
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June 28, 2016 at 10:49 am
Teresa Robeson
Loved this slightly different take on Sylvia’s blog tour! Sylvia’s final thoughts comment echo what I just read in the Kid Lit Summer School’s post by Jean Claude Blemis about each of our unique vantage point and therefore unique stories told. 🙂
June 28, 2016 at 11:01 am
Christie Wild
Thanks for the insight, Sylvia, and for the contest, Tara! I completely agree that only YOU can tell your own stories. Be bold. Tell them!
June 28, 2016 at 11:15 am
Debra Elliott
Thank you for sharing. This is a great message.
June 28, 2016 at 11:20 am
Dorothy Wiese
Beautiful story, Sylvia. I’m glad that you wrote it. I look forward to reading the whole book.
June 28, 2016 at 11:25 am
Rosi Hollinbeck
I am really looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the interesting interview.
June 28, 2016 at 11:43 am
Amy Smith
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sylvia. I’m looking forward to reading this book.
June 28, 2016 at 11:54 am
Kathy Doherty
I love all the action in this book! Grandpa has some great moves!
June 28, 2016 at 11:54 am
Angela Turner
The previews I’ve seen of this book have me so hooked. I can’t wait to read it. I really appreciate hearing your advice about diverse books. I have researched several topics that I have been apprehensive about taking on because I am not of that race but I will keep working at it.
June 28, 2016 at 11:54 am
aliciaminor
We are behind you all the way. I wish more diversity books be written in the future and congrats with A morning with grandpa.
June 28, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Mark Bentz
Thank you for your post. I look forward to reading your book.
June 28, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Kelly KC (@KellyLKC)
My (half Afro-Caribbean, half-white American) kids love Tai Chi! Though a true “mirror” for them might be “Stuck in Daycare Most of My Life.” I doubt that’s isolated to any particular ethno-cultural group though. 🙂
June 28, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Laura Rackham
Lovely reminders of my own Italian heritage growing up!
June 28, 2016 at 12:11 pm
jhayslett
“A Morning With Grandpa” looks like a wonderful companion to Janet Halfmann’s “Grandma is a Slowpoke” (Star Bright Books) for highlighting fun and vital relationships between children and their grandparents. Thank you for writing this book, Sylvia!
June 28, 2016 at 12:14 pm
darlene koppel
Inspiring post and beautiful book!
June 28, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Charlotte Dixon
Congratulations on your new book, Sylvia. You struck a cord reminding us to move forward with the stories that touch our hearts.
June 28, 2016 at 12:46 pm
danielle hammelef
I love reading about other cultures and this book shows the readers through beautiful illustrations too.
June 28, 2016 at 1:06 pm
mariagianferrari
Very inspirational, Sylvia! A Morning with Grandpa is both funny and touching–brava!!
June 28, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
So happy for Sylvia’s wonderful success! Looking forward to more terrific books from her.
June 28, 2016 at 1:36 pm
Dina Ticas
What a wonderful encouragement. And, you’re right…as soon as I’m done with this comment, I’m focusing my attention on my next story.
June 28, 2016 at 1:49 pm
kathalsey
Sylvia, very important to remember that deep character POV and the cultural lens. I have wanted to tell 1 Native Peoples story for a few years, but don’t yet feel i can honor it w/enough authenticity. Going to my library tomorrow to puck up my hold,YOUR book, MORNING WITH GRANDPA!
June 28, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Carleen M. Tjader
Great advice, and congratulations! This looks like a beautiful picture book.
June 28, 2016 at 2:44 pm
Christine Irvin
I want to learn tai chi! Thanks for sharing!
June 28, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Keila Dawson
Love your story Sylvia! Thank you for sharing a story that could not be told without an intricate knowledge of a culture. Like you Sylvia, I don’t always write about diversity, but when I do, any lack of authenticity will not result in the story I want to tell. Keepin’ it real…
June 28, 2016 at 2:49 pm
andreesantini
Congrats and love how your Grandpa book looks.
June 28, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Jenny Boyd
Congratulations to Sylvia on her book! I recently came across this book in my Amazon.com search when I was looking for diverse characters and books.
June 28, 2016 at 3:41 pm
Carole Calladine
I will look for this book. I really like the story line.
June 28, 2016 at 3:54 pm
Nancy Kotkin
Congrats, Sylvia! Love the cover and book’s premise.
June 28, 2016 at 4:10 pm
Jenna W
I like the way you describe diverse books as mirrors AND windows.
June 28, 2016 at 4:14 pm
csheer18
Congratulations on having received this well-deserved recognition!
Your blog post about the story behind A MORNING WITH GRANDPA is an inspiration as well as a call-to-action for the kidlit world!
June 28, 2016 at 5:33 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Congratulations, Sylvia. Giving children “doors and windows” is a great way to think about diversity.
June 28, 2016 at 5:47 pm
Kaye Baillie
Uplifting interview, congratulations, Sylvia and thank you Tara.
June 28, 2016 at 6:11 pm
Judith Dillingham
Those of us lucky enough to have spent formative years in another culture have a responsibility to broaden children’s lives with our special knothole view of another childhood.
June 28, 2016 at 6:52 pm
tphumiruk
Sylvia, you are indeed an inspiration! Thank you for your thoughts here, and I do hope that one day we won’t need to have this discussion. Until we get close to ideal, I am grateful for you and all others working towards this goal. Congratulations again on your beautiful book!! And thank you, Tara!
June 28, 2016 at 7:26 pm
Gabi Snyder
Thanks for sharing your insights, Sylvia. And congrats on the New Voices Award. Well deserved!
June 28, 2016 at 7:35 pm
jenabenton
I love that final thought! I was just saying that the other day….
June 28, 2016 at 9:29 pm
Sharon Langley
Thank you for sharing this story…it can open the discussion of how our lives are the same, sharing times with family and how they are different…
June 28, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Jennifer Phillips
I appreciate you describing what diversity in stories means to you. Helpful insights. Congratulations on your award!
June 28, 2016 at 11:56 pm
rosiepova
Nice and encouraging! Thanks for sharing 🙂
June 29, 2016 at 12:50 am
Norah
What a lovely discussion with many important points made about what diversity is and how to represent it in stories for children.
June 29, 2016 at 8:19 am
Sheri Rad
I liked being able to see examples of Sylvia’s book as I think about family backgrounds and where to pull the diverse stories from. Congratulations to Sylvia and others who have found a voice for diverse stories.
June 29, 2016 at 9:13 am
Wendy
Congratulations again, Sylvia! Great interview on expanding our writing, and our bookshelves.
June 29, 2016 at 9:43 am
Kim Hurson
So happy to see this book! Can’t wait to add it to our collection!
June 29, 2016 at 9:58 am
Marge Gower
Congrats, Sylvia. Your interview and book is inspiring. I hope my story comes through soon. The illustrations were beautiful.
June 29, 2016 at 11:05 am
laura516
Very inspirational! Thank you for sharing.
June 29, 2016 at 12:45 pm
Sandie Sing
What a delightful book! I wished I had a book like this to read when I was a kid. There weren’t any Asian themed books around. This is the perfect book to tie in with diverse communities social studies unit in the classroom. May you achieve more winning books. Congratulations!
June 29, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Frances Brown
Thank you, Sylvia. Wonderful insights. It’s so true that it’s not just about inserting ethnicity or race when creating diverse stories. Thank you Tara for this!
June 29, 2016 at 5:44 pm
Carolyn Rohrbaugh
Thank you for the inspiration and a lovely book
June 29, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Mary Worley
I agree that kids need to find themselves in books. I also want kids to see cultures/realities that are different from their own and be able to feel the similarities that they share. Love your book!
June 29, 2016 at 9:26 pm
Sandy Perlic
I loved this great interview with Sylvia. Such a wonderful book!
June 30, 2016 at 7:40 am
tinamcho
Great interview and insight into a multicultural book.
June 30, 2016 at 9:19 am
Jana Eschner (@JanaTheTeacher)
Great post! Lots to think about! Love A Morning With Grandpa and can’t wait to share it with my students!
June 30, 2016 at 9:37 am
Karen Lawler
I am so happy you said that these diverse books are more then just changing a name. Thank you for these insites. 🙂
June 30, 2016 at 10:20 am
ThisKidReviewsBooks
Great interview! 😀
June 30, 2016 at 11:01 am
Mariama Ross
I really appreciate this review and Sylvia’s honest and insightful remarks. Very inspiring!
June 30, 2016 at 11:02 am
Nadine Gamble
Incredible story for everyone! Thanks!
June 30, 2016 at 12:05 pm
colleen kosinski
Looks like a lovely story.
June 30, 2016 at 7:30 pm
julie rowan zoch
Sylvia ROCKS!
June 30, 2016 at 10:38 pm
kdveiten
Can’t wait to read this one!
July 1, 2016 at 10:57 am
Dana Atnip
Congratulations on your first book, Sylvia, it looks amazing and I can’t wait to read it!
July 1, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Heather S
This looks like such a fun and lovely book – I would love to win!
July 1, 2016 at 5:34 pm
Dana wu
I went to the library of Congress program sponsored by we need diverse books and these comments were echoed.
July 2, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Kerry Aradhya
I’ve been wanting to read this book so loved seeing it featured here. Thanks, Tara and Sylvia!
July 4, 2016 at 7:07 am
Alexis
Fantastic post. Can’t wait to read your book!
July 4, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Jean Matthew Hall
Thanks, Sylvia, for your thoughtful insights.
July 4, 2016 at 8:57 pm
melissamiles1
I love this cover and the book looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
July 9, 2016 at 5:56 pm
Nina
Very inspiring! Sounds like a great book to child from Grandpa!
July 18, 2016 at 9:18 am
waengel2002
Thanks Sylvia and Tara for such an interesting and informative post. I can’t wait to read A Morning with Grandpa.