Call for Submissions:

Mental Health and Children's Literature: Evaluating, Curating, and Sharing Books with Children, edited by Kim E. Becnel and Robin A. Moeller, will be published by ALA Editions. The volume will explore the intersections and interplay between mental health topics and picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels targeted at children ages birth to twelve.  The goal of the collection will be helping librarians, educators, counselors, and other adults identify, evaluate, and use books to promote mental and emotional wellbeing as well as to help children and families cope with mental health challenges. The book will feature a variety of perspectives on this topic, including collection development, sharing and using literature with families and groups, and issues of advocacy and access. 

Authors are invited to propose chapters that consider children’s literature as it relates to mental health topics including, but not limited to, grief, depression, ADHD, behavioral disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and anxiety. 

See specific topic suggestions here.

Target audience:

The intended audience for this book is, children's librarians, school librarians, scholars, teachers, counselors, and caregivers.  Additionally, this book will include information relevant to students studying in Library Science programs. 

Submission guidelines:

The editors welcome proposals from students, scholars, and professionals with interest and expertise in the fields of children's literature, libraries, counseling, and/or education. We are looking for accessible chapters that provide solid takeaways for readers. Key takeaways can take many forms, such as, for example, program or lesson ideas, collection development guidance, or new perspectives on the impact that literature can have on children's mental and emotional wellbeing. Full chapters of approximately 2000-3500 words will be requested upon approval of chapter proposals. Please consider submitting a chapter proposal of 300-500 words that describes the main topics you plan to cover. 

Timeline:

• Chapter proposal deadline: April 20, 2023 

• Notification by editors of proposal acceptance: May 12, 2023

• First manuscript draft deadline: July 14, 2023

• Additional key dates will be sent to successful proposal writers.

Submit chapter proposals using this form.

For additional information, please contact:

Kim Becnel, Professor of Library Science, Appalachian State University, becnelke@appstate.edu, or

Robin Moeller, Professor of Library Science, Appalachian State University, moellerra@appstate.edu