COLA: Debbie Reese

Blog name: American Indians in Children's Literature

Blogger: Debbie Reese

Blog Origination date: May 8, 2006

Focus: Portrayals of American Indians in children's and young adult books

Regular features: Essays, short and long, written to help readers recognize flawed portrayals of American Indians, wherever they appear. The focus is literature, but I also blog about commercial products, textbooks, lesson plans, movies, and television shows.

Pub schedule. How frequently do you update your blog? At least twice a week

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out:
Effects of American Indian stereotypes

50 words or less how would you describe your blog:
Whether you were raised in the United States or another country, you were given (by well-meaning adults) books that portrayed American Indians in stereotypical ways as tragic and noble, or savage and brutal. You may even have come to believe that American Indians vanished, killed off by colonizers and other tribes. We're still here! Come to my site and learn about us.

Top 10 reads if we want to become informed about Native American children's lit?
Below are some things you can find at my site. I link to full-text articles, doing what I can to provide no-cost resources.

"Authenticity and Sensitivity: Goals for writing and reviewing books with Native American themes," by Debbie Reese, in School Library Journal.

"I is not for Indian: The Portrayal of Native Americans in Books for Young People," by Naomi Caldwell-Wood and Lisa Mitten of the American Indian Library Association

"I Still Isn't for Indian," by Nina Lindsay, in School Library Journal

"Look Mom! It's George! He's a TV Indian! by Debbie Reese, in Horn Book Magazine

Native American Themes in Children and Young Adult Books, by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Two invaluable print resources are:
American Indian Themes in Young Adult Literature, by Paulette Molin
A Broken Flute: The Native Perspective in Books for Children, edited by Doris Seale and Beverly Slapin

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they've visited your blog?
I hope readers come away knowing how to look critically at images of American Indians, and that they share what they learn with their children and their children's teachers and librarians.

COLA: Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Blogger: Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Blog name: Flip the Page: The No-Hype Book Blog

Web site: Lyn Miller-Lachman

Regular features: The site contains information about MultiCultural Review and the works of fiction that I have authored or edited—Once Upon a Cuento (Curbstone Press, 2003), an anthology of stories for young people by Latino authors; my eco-thriller for adult readers, Dirt Cheap (Curbstone Press, 2006); and most recently, my critically acclaimed young adult novel set in Chile and the United States, Gringolandia (Curbstone Press, 2009). Also included are reading group discussion questions for Dirt Cheap and lesson plans and teachers guides for Once Upon a Cuento and Gringolandia.

Pub schedule. How frequently do you update your blog? I add entries every two weeks, though I take time off in the summer. Many of the blog posts report on my appearances in schools and libraries and on discussion questions and activities that worked well. Other posts highlight books of note for children and adults, particularly ones published by small presses that get too little attention from the mainstream media.

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out: My recent review essay on middle grade and young adult books that depict allies has gotten a lot of attention:"How To Be An Ally."

100 words or less how would you describe your work? Since I began teaching high school in New York City three decades ago, I have been interested in exploring and championing the diversity that makes us human. I have come at this goal in a variety of ways. Through two reference books and MultiCultural Review I have evaluated multicultural materials for quality and authenticity and highlighted those I feel worthy of widespread attention. I have written novels that explore intercultural relationships and the challenges faced by young people who have become activists for justice and human rights. I have been involved in activism for peace, human rights, and the environment and continue to teach as well.

100 words on less please share your thoughts on writing and activism:
Dirt Cheap and Gringolandia grew out of my involvement in environmental issues and my work with refugees from Central and South America, respectively. The story of a person is far more compelling than abstract arguments or statistics. For example, what made me come back to the manuscript of Gringolandia after I lost a contract with a major publisher years ago were the revelations at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo, the FOX show 24, and debates over the efficacy of torture—as if torture could ever be justified. I’ve seen what torture can do to a person and to his or her family, and that’s what I’ve tried to convey in the novel.

Top 5 reads for 2009? In addition to the two featured in “How to Be an Ally,” my favorite MG and YA novels of the year are Debby Dahl Edwardson’s Blessing’s Bead, Zetta Elliott’s A Wish After Midnight, Marge Pellegrino’s Journey of Dreams, Francisco X. Stork’s Marcelo in the Real World, and Neesha Meminger’s Shine Coconut Moon.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog? I’d like readers to learn about the various aspects of my work on behalf of multicultural literature, intercultural understanding, and human rights and how all of these come together. Even my environmental novel, Dirt Cheap, ties into these themes in its exploration of how people create in the face of long odds a diverse ad hoc community to seek justice. Having been a teacher for many years, I’d like people to examine the various reading guides, lesson plans, and reports on school and library visits to get an idea of how fiction can be used in a variety of social and educational settings.

Thanks, Lyn.

COLA: Justine Larbalestier

Writer: Justine Larbalestier

blog: Justine Larbalesier

WiP or most recently published work:
Liar

Pub schedule. How frequently do you update your blog?
I try to blog every day but sometimes life gets in the way.

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out:
I'm not sure how to answer this so instead I'm listing the post that has generated the most responses from my readers. Not just in comments but letters to me and linkage etc:

How to re-write

I wrote it because so many beginning writers were telling me that they had no idea to rewrite. Given that it took me twenty years to learn how I understood exactly what they meant. Rewriting is the hardest thing to learn about writing. This post is my attempt at giving some pointers that hopefully will point some in the right direction.

Top 5 reads for 2009?
This has been an absolutely amazing year for books. I don't think I've read a bad one. Which makes it incredibly hard to pick my favourites. For starters many of the new books I love that came out this year I read last year. Also many are by friends of mine. Or by my husband. So I'm listing my fave five books I read in 2009 that are by people I don't know or correspond with:

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith: I've not been able to get this book out of my head since I first read it. Ida Mae Jones is my hero. (My review is here.)

If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson: Another book that's lodged itself in my head permanently. Absolutely haunting. (My review is here.)

Black Water Rising by Attica Locke: A debut crime novel set in Houston in the early 80s, which I cannot believe is a debut. I'm convinced she must have written dozens of other novels first. Astonishingly good.


Bayou by Jeremy Love: My favourite graphic novel of the year or possibly any year. A reimagining of Disney's Song of the South that directly addresses that film's racism. It started (and continues) online here. I'm also buying the printed volumes as they appear. You all need to read this.

Remembering Jim Crow edited by William H. Chafe, Raymond Gavins, & Robert Korstad: This one's a research book for a novel I'm writing set in NYC in the 1930s. It collects first-person accounts of the Jim Crow era. For someone like me who grew up white in Australia, the book is page after page of insight and revelation. There are very few pages of this book that have not made me cry. Highly recommended.

100 words on less please share your thoughts on writing and activism:
For ages I thought writing and activism were separate things. I was a writer, not an activist. But then readers started thanking me for writing about teens who weren't white, girls who liked maths, boys who like clothes. I learned that representation is extraordinarily important. I still write diverse novels but now I blog more about the politics of representation, diversity, publishing, race, class, and gender. I read as widely as I can---blogs, novels, graphic novels, journals---and point my blog readers to books that spoke to me, that I hope will speak to them.

In 100 words or less what do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog?
My main hopes are that my readers don't get bored and that I've created a space that welcomes comments. The last is especially important. It's why I'm vigilant in moderating the conversation. The minute people start being abusive, or trolling, or derailing the conversation I intervene. Fortunately, I've not had to do so often. I know some people believe that's censorship but I've seen too many blogs go from being warm, inviting spaces to open warfare, where the more thoughtful commenters feel unwelcome. I will never let that happen to my blog. I value community and conversation too highly.

Thanks, Justine.

COLA: Transgriot: Expanding Our Ideas of Gender & Equality

Blogger: Monica Roberts

Blog: Transgriot

Blog Origination date: January 1, 2006

Focus: politics, history, current events, culture, discussing transgender issues from an Afrocentric perspective

Regular features: Shut Up Fool! Awards, Saturday Sellout

Pub schedule. How frequently do you update your blog? Daily I do 2-4 posts per day or as current events or my creative mood warrants.

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out:
I Didn’t Stop Being Black When I Transitioned

Why Black Transgender Issues Are Black Community Issues

Evolving Into Black Womanhood

50 words or less how would you describe your blog:
The TransGriot header says it best: News, opinions, commentary, history and a little creative writing from an African-American transwoman about the world around her.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog?

That transwomen are women who had to overcome much, including being born in mismatched bodies and societal prejudice to attain that recognition.

Black transwomen have especially gotten a bum rap over the years in terms of our images. It's especially hurtful coming from our fellow African descended people.

I want my readers to take away from TransGriot that we are thoughtful, intelligent people who are part of the mosaic of human life. We have things to say and talents to contribute to this community and society to make it better.

We have a history, we are proud African descended people who are deserving of and demanding our seat at the American family table.

Thanks, Monica.

COLA: Feminist Review: Exploring the world through an anti-oppression lens

Blog name: Feminist Review

Blogger: We are a collective of over 200 writers and 10 editors

Blog Origination date: November 2006

Focus: We publish reviews written from anti-oppression standpoints.

Regular features: reviews of books, music, film, products; interviews with authors, musicians, and other cultural activists

Pub schedule: We publish three new reviews daily.

How frequently do you update your blog? Daily

Post of note: People really loved this interview with make/shift.

Something in particular you want readers to check out:
Our most controversial review to date is: "Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman's Guide To Why Feminism Matters."

50 words or less how would you describe your blog:
Feminist Review believes that all opinions - positive and critical - are valuable and seeks to give voice to communities that remain on the margins. We recognize that there are many feminisms and provide a space where those differences can be represented and explored.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog?
We hope they will be exposed to media and products that they wouldn't otherwise have heard about. We hope they engage with the reviews to offer their own perspectives.

*** experience the world... from a feminist perspective! ***

Special thanks to Ama for sharing Feminist Review with us.

COLA: Mitali's Fire Escape

Blog name: Mitali’s Fire Escape

Blogger: Mitali Perkins

Blog Origination date: April 23, 2005

Focus: Kid/YA Books Between Cultures

Regular features: Books featuring children of war, author interviews, Poetry Friday

How frequently do you update your blog? Once a day, M-F, with some time off in the winter and summer while I focus on intensive writing.

Post of note: Something in particular you want readers to check out
Bowdlerizing Children's Books: A Poll
Should publishers edit beloved children's books like LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE or THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA to eliminate racial or ethnic stereotyping?

Writing Race: A Checklist For Writers

50 words or less how would you describe your blog:
A safe place to think, chat, and read about life and books between cultures.

Name your top 5 reads for 2009?
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
14 Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah
Outcasts United by Warren St. John
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog?
I hope to open eyes, hearts, and minds, including my own, to the power of literature in fighting racism, poverty, and the suffering of children.

*Read Shelf Elf's review of Mitali's latest work, Secret Keeper here.

COLA: Celebrating Multicultural Lit at Shen's Books

Blog name: Shen's Books Blog

Blogger: Renee Ting

Blog Origination date: August, 2006

Focus: Books published by Shen's Books and Multicultural Children's Literature

Regular features: News about our books, Shen's author events, and book reviews of multicultural children's books (published by other companies)



Your 2009 short list:
Multicultural Picture book: Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa, illustrated by Ed Young
Multicultural Novel: Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It by Sundee T. Frazier
Shen's Books title: Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina Lazo Gilmore, illustrated by Kristi Valiant
General Middle Reader: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
General YA: Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

*See review of Cora at Happy Jack Eats

How frequently do you update your blog? At least once a week

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out: I just started a new series of short videos called "The Multicultural Minute," in which I discuss multicultural children's books, publishing, and ideas in one minute! The first episode is on our blog here.

50 words or less how would you describe your blog: Shen's Blog is not only where you'll find the latest information about Shen's Books, but it’s the place to go to read about all multicultural children's literature. At Shen’s Blog, you’ll find a world of information about multicultural issues, literature, authors, and illustrators.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog? Mostly, I would like to introduce readers to more great multicultural books that they ever knew were available, and keep them updated on what Shen's Books has been doing, and how our books have been doing.

Thanks, Renee.

COLA- Color Online Love Alert. Find links to blogs, books and articles written by women of color or news about awards and articles celebrating the work of women of color writers, poets, artists and activists. We'll also feature multicultural publishers. Check the sidebar regularly for new COLA links.

COLA: Mayra Calvani at Latino Examiner

Blog Name: Latino Examiner

Blogger: Mayra Calvani

Blog Origination date: March 2009

Focus: Latino/Hispanic literature.

Regular features: Interviews, profiles, reviews, events, news, contests.

How frequently do you update your blog? 4-6 new posts a week.

Post of note: Interview with Julia Amante

Your top 5 reads for 2009:
The Unseen by Alexandra Sokoloff
The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff
Come Closer by Sara Gran
Devil's Trill by Gerald Elias
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

50 words or less how would you describe your blog? My blog's aim is to promote the written work of both new and established Latino/a authors and to celebrate the richness and diversity of Hispanic literature.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog? I want my readers to discover new Latino/a authors. You can't expect people to buy what they don't know about, so my job is to let them know what's out there when it comes to Hispanic literature.

COLA- Color Online Love Alert. Find links to blogs, books and articles written by women of color or news about awards and articles celebrating the work of women of color writers, poets, artists and activists. We'll also feature multicultural publishers. Check the sidebar regularly for new COLA links.

COLA: Loving The Happy Nappy Bookseller

Blog name: The Happy Nappy Bookseller

Blogger: Doret Canton

Blog Origination date: January 2008

Focus: I review mainly middle grade and young adult titles. Like many people who blog about YA literature, I love a lot of the best selling authors but I won't spend much time on their books. I will mention them (how can I not talk about authors I love) but I like to focus on books that might not get much attention.

Regular features: None. I am not good at keeping a schedule seems too much like work. Though I will throw other things into the mix when I feel the urge.

How frequently do you update your blog? I update pretty regularly, about every other day.

Post of note: That's Not What This Rant Is About - I never thought I'd hit double digits in comments, but I did with this post. I was very happy with what I said and how I said it, and the responses I got in return.

Something in particular you’d like visitors to check out: Books Worth The Wait

50 words or less how would you describe your blog: I like to think my blog as fun and welcoming to all. I hope readers who visit will find some good books to read. I hope they'll see in my so far from scholarly reviews, how much I enjoy or love the books I talk about. I hope visitors who read primarily YA featuring white characters will add a few titles featuring characters of color to their TBR.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog? I want visitors to see how easy it is, to fiction jump and take a chance on something outside of their reading comfort zone.

COLA: Womanist Musings

COLA: Color Online Love Alert



Blog name: Womanist Musings

Blogger: Renee Martin

Blog Origination date: April 2008

Focus: Pop culture, politics, parenting, current events from a anti- racist womanist perspective.

Regular features: Saturday Drop it like its hot (link fest and open post) Sunday Shame (admitting the silly things we do everyday)

Pub schedule: 4-5 times a day Mon-Fri 2 times Sat-Sun

How frequently do you update your blog? Every day

Post of note: Can I Touch Your Hair

50 words or less how would you describe your blog:
Womanist Musings is about speaking truth to power. The majority of the topics deal with people that are marginalized that society has a tendency to ignore. There is no subject to controversial because we can create change unless we are willing to look at the truth directly.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog?
I hope that readers will see themselves reflected and know that all people matter- that is essentially the main theme of this blog. We may not always agree on the solutions but
we sure have fun arguing and working for change. When the fluff posts go up on the weekend we laugh at ourselves and the little things that just bring a smile to your lips. Even in tough times I believe that the weekends are meant for recuperation and joy.

COLA: Lee & Low Books, Multicultural Publisher

An independent children's book publisher focusing on diversity. It is the company's mission to meet the need for stories that all children can identify with and enjoy.


Website name: Lee & Low Books
Web manager: Jason Low
Site Origination date: January 2009

Focus: Originally, our monthly E-News was focused on new additions to our Web site. This changed in January 2009 when our E-News conveyed thoughts about the publishing industry and how the economic downturn impacted us. In March our thoughts expanded to issues of race. Talking about race was a natural step for us since our books lend themselves easily to race and diversity since this has been our focus since the company began publishing in 1993.

Regular features: Race and other social issues will be a constant subject. Our books are topical and often deal with contemporary issues facing young people today. We will also offer our opinions on how different issues influence our publishing decisions and the many obstacles our books face in a competitive marketplace.

Pub schedule:How frequently do you update your site? Usually at the beginning of each month. When we switch over to a more traditional blogging software this is likely to increase.

Post of note:Check out the March issue. This was the first one where we veered into voicing our opinions about issues of race. Check out our newsletter.


50 words or less how would you describe your site: The blog is part of the larger site. Although leeandlow.com is a publisher site, we provide strong content to support the authors and illustrators we have published. A commitment between a author, illustrator, and publisher is long term and we take our responsibility to our books very seriously.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your website? We hope to get people thinking about what race means and to consider the big picture that we are one big human family. It may take awhile for people to realize that we are all connected but we are patient people and willing to invest the time and energy toward promoting a healthy dialogue toward the subject.

*COLA- Color Online Love Alert. Celebrating writers, bloggers, organizations and publishers who promote and support women and people of color.

COLA: BronzeWord Powerhouse Promoter of Multicultural Literature

Color Online Love Alert
Community, please join me in supporting BronzeWord Latino Authors. BWLA introduces readers to Latino/a authors often not featured elsewhere and provides dozens of informative articles daily on Twitter. If you’re interested in multicultural literature, BronzeWord is a must read. If you tweet, follow BronzeWord. It is one of the easiest ways to access information that matches your reading and cultural interests.

BronzeWord Latino Authors is published by Jo Ann Hernandez a published author of two novels: White Bread Competition and The Throwaway Piece. In this market, writers must self-promote, but that’s not how I met Jo Ann. I learned about her work because she spends a great deal of her time promoting others and that is why she’s our current feature COLA writer. Check out BronzeWord’s profile:

Blog Origination date: January, 2009

Focus: Latino/a authors, books, writing, publishing, contests

Regular features: Top Ten Days of (author’s name) and Blog Brag
Also we post information on @BronzeWord and @LatinoBookNews at Twitter.com

Upcoming feature: Blog Carnival and Latino Virtual Book Tours

Pub schedule: Saturday is Blog Brag and weekdays is Top Ten Days

How frequently do you update your blog? Every day

Something in particular you want readers to check out:

Check out the services that BronzeWord offers to all writers.

Please note if you leave a comment on a post that will strengthened the blog’s chance of having a higher rating on the search engines. Also if you leave your name and your blog URL in your comment, your site will have a better rating on search engines, too. Leave a comment to benefit yourself and the blog you are visiting. You and they will benefit.

50 words or less how would you describe your blog?

BronzeWord Latino Authors teaches writers to improve their writing skills. We will assist you in achieving your publishing goals. BronzeWord Services facilitates the author to complete marketable manuscripts. We host authors and talk about their books. Blogs are highlighted each Saturday. Latino Virtual Book Tours are offered.

What do you hope readers will gain, find or enjoy because they’ve visited your blog?

When a person visits BronzeWord Latino Authors, I hope they will find information that will benefit them in their writing career. I want visitors to take away lessons learned on how to maneuver the book industry. If anyone has a question, I wish they feel comfortable enough to email me with the question, and I will do what I can to get the answer to them. I want them to find my services crucial, and to discover new books by Latino/a authors to read.Also I hope each visitor notices my birthday and remembers to send an email on my birthday!!!

*
Thanks Jo Ann, we wish you continued growth and success with BWLA. Community, if you know of a blog, writer, publisher or organization you think we should show a little love to, drop me a line at cora_litgroup@yahoo.com

Calling On Writers & Drop Us A Link

Community,

Our blog roll is awfully short in my opinion. If you have a site or know of a site that supports, promotes or otherwise shares our commitment to diversity, please drop us a link. If you don't mind, please share why you're recommending the site.

I'm going to expand the COLA feature to include a blog post in addition to the link in the sidebar.

Lastly, I'm looking for guest or regular contributing columnists for Color Online. I'm stretched too thin and consequently we are not achieving as much as I believe is possible is here. If you're interersted in helping us, drop me an email at cora_litgroup@yahoo.com. I'm looking for contributors to write book reviews, interviews, cultural essays or articles that spotlight idividuals and organizations that are postively supporting youth, promoting diversity or creating spaces that uplift and inspire women of color.

COLA- Zetta Elliott

Zetta Elliott is a talented writer, educator and friend. I am unabashedly promoting her book, A Wish After Midnight. The video is stunning and do read Edi's review at Crazy Quilts.

COLA- celebrating women of color

Friends,

Check out our latest feature: COLA- Color Online Love Alert. Find links to blogs, books and articles written by women of color or news about awards and articles celebrating the work of women of color writers, poets, artists and activists. We'll also feature multicultural publishers. Check the sidebar regularly for new COLA links.

Let's celebrate the contributions of women of color by showing them some love. Check out the links and then leave a comment. I'm not big on what you say if you're not big on acting on what you think so when you read something noteworthy, say something. In the virtual word, clicking on those keys is action and the action you take is what matters.