The Kathryn Otoshi Merit Scholarship for Self-Publishing or Becoming an Independent Publisher with Crowdfunding is now closed as this has become an instant access, on-demand course!
The Children's Book Academy is proud and excited to offer merit scholarships for writers and/or illustrators of color or identifying as LBGQT currently underrepresented in the children's publishing industry for our upcoming interactive self and indie publishing course that will open all sorts of doors for participants. We want to help support increased diversity in the field to improve cultural representation so that it reflects the true make-up of the United States!
We are also offering scholarships for low income folks, who might not otherwise be able to take this course, folks who identify as a person with a disability, as well as scholarships for SCBWI Regional Advisers, Assistant RAs and Illustrator Coordinators who do so much unpaid work to help our field. We hope that you will share our initiative for social justice by sharing the link to this page. Easy Peasy Scholarship Criteria Applicants need to represent the following:
Congratulations to 2015 winners JA MacTavish, Nina Ki, Janet O'Neil, Ave Maria Cross, Olivia Dickerson, June Perkins, and Jane Arias! About Kathryn Otoshi
Kathryn Otoshi is an award winning author/illustrator living in the Bay area. Books she's written and illustrated include:
Books she has illustrated only include:
Her independent publishing company, KO Kid's Books is dedicated ti creating the highest quality books for children. They use high-grade, imported paper of their books to ensure the quality and integrity of the original illustrations. You can visit Kathryn's website at KO Kid's Books where you can purchase her books. You can also find her books in most bookstores.
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A Little About Racial Diversity in Children's Books.
While we offer scholarships to all individuals who identify as being in the groups mentioned above, the statistics on racial representation in children's books are incredibly disheartening. And while some folks (i.e. Anglo people) genuinely believe that we've moved beyond this into a color-blind society, the reality of this is simply not true.
Here are some links that I hope that you'll explore.
Diversity Is Not Enough: Race, Power, Publishing by Daniel Jose Older on Buzzfeed
Lee and Low Curriculum Corner: Race
An article with 8 links to article on the subject.
Literary Agents Discuss the Diversity Gap in Publishing by Jason Low on Lee and Low
An article that I'm in about agents and diversity put together by the fabulous Jason Low.
As Demographics Shift, Kids' Books Stay Stubbornly White by Elizabeth Blair on NPR's Code Switch Blog
Artist Illustrates Dramatic Lack of Diversity in Kid's Books by Jason Boog on GalleyCat
Race, Gender, and Disability in Today's Children's Literature by Kira Isak Pirofski on Critical Multicultural Pavilion
Children's Literature Stuck in the Past: Why Is There Still a Lack of Diversity In Books for Kids? on AirTalk from KPCC
Polka Dots, Self-Portraits, and First Voice Multicultural Children's Books by Maya Gonzales on The Children's Book Academy
Here are some links that I hope that you'll explore.
Diversity Is Not Enough: Race, Power, Publishing by Daniel Jose Older on Buzzfeed
Lee and Low Curriculum Corner: Race
An article with 8 links to article on the subject.
Literary Agents Discuss the Diversity Gap in Publishing by Jason Low on Lee and Low
An article that I'm in about agents and diversity put together by the fabulous Jason Low.
As Demographics Shift, Kids' Books Stay Stubbornly White by Elizabeth Blair on NPR's Code Switch Blog
Artist Illustrates Dramatic Lack of Diversity in Kid's Books by Jason Boog on GalleyCat
Race, Gender, and Disability in Today's Children's Literature by Kira Isak Pirofski on Critical Multicultural Pavilion
Children's Literature Stuck in the Past: Why Is There Still a Lack of Diversity In Books for Kids? on AirTalk from KPCC
Polka Dots, Self-Portraits, and First Voice Multicultural Children's Books by Maya Gonzales on The Children's Book Academy
There are so many blog posts out there about this issue. I recently met with some editors in NY and learned something super interesting. There are two main reasons that publishers are not publishing the kinds of books that we all need to truly help get to a color blind society and that is not enough people buy diverse children's books and that many people of color who have not had the kinds of educational opportunities that middle class folks have had with 2 generations or more of university graduates behind them don't always have the skills needed. Hence these scholarships and a request to help support diversity by buying diverse books. :) Here's a wee graphic from Lee and Low.
