2022 SPOTLIGHT PANELS

MORNING SESSION 9:00-10:00 AM

ACCESS AND AGENCY:

How to Be a Verb in A Book Banning Climate

E.E. Charlton-Trujillo

A.S. King

G. Neri

Morgan Jackson

Writers learn something early on about storytelling. The best antagonist believes they are right. When I think about the mammoth number of books written by or about the Black, Mexican American and/or LGBTQIA+ experience being banned – outright or soft censorship – I realize that those looking to remove these books are like any great antagonist. They believe they are right. Even if they are not.

As educators, librarians and writers endure the wrath and literary fear fomented by select parents and politicians, we can listen and strategize on how to move forward. Because books for kids that celebrate acceptance, inclusivity, and authenticity are invaluable in the dismantling of hatred and divisiveness. These books are sometimes the only safe place for a young person to feel seen, heard and recognized.

MID-DAY SESSION 12:00-1:00 PM

BANNED COMICS AND EDUCATION

Tim Smyth

Jerry Craft

Laurie Halse Anderson

Nate Powell

Representation is vitally important in our classroom literature and comics allow the reader to literally see themselves. Not only are comics highly engaging, but they also allow us to open challenging conversations in a disarming and powerful way. The participants in this panel will not only share about their work and overcoming book bans, but ideas will also be offered for how to use them in the classroom.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS 3:00-3:45 PM

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF:

Authentic Representation in Books for Kids

Reese Eschmann

Sonja Thomas

Rena Barron

Nicole D. Collier

Zetta Elliott

The efforts to (re)center white, straight, cisgender characters with no disabilities in children's literature means it's more important than ever to offer young readers a range of stories that reflect the varied realities of Black youth. Hear from a panel composed of five Black women authors as we discuss authentic representation, intersectionality, and the importance of stories that cover all aspects of a child's life. Our lives are limitless and readers should have the chance to explore that in our stories. During our panel, we will put forth the question: What are they so afraid of? Using interactive methods, we will dive into the topic of why book bans exist, the impact of book bans on children from all backgrounds, and strategies for educators and librarians to combat book bans in their communities. One of our panelists will share her experience with having a book banned. Panelists will share a suite of middle grade books featuring protagonists of color who are allowed to be themselves in print—fully human, experiencing all the things humans experience, in this world and the fantastical.

WHEN A BANNED BOOK CAN SAVE A LIFE:

Four authors discuss the importance of their LGBTQIA books

Eric Bell

I.W. Gregorio

Katherine Locke

Alexandra Villasante

Join four authors of LGBTQIA+ books for a frank discussion on visibility, representation, and censorship. Authors Eric Bell, I.W. Gregorio, Katherine Locke and Alexandra Villasante will discuss their books, and their approaches to introducing gender and sexual diversity across the range of children’s literature, from picture books, to middle grade and young adult novels. This session will center on the authors’ personal experiences with both soft censorship and direct book challenges, and will discuss how best to protect intellectual freedom and access to authentic LGBTQIA+ characters and stories.