Course Description

This class explores censorship and sociocultural sensitivity in children's literature in the U.S. The course asks why certain texts are canonized or applauded in higher education but do not share similar popularity with parents or educators; What are possible interventions for dealing with book bans in children’s literature? Students will read a wide range of children’s literature that is challenged, gossiped about, and even banned in various subjects; climate change, racism, police violence and Black youth. Students will read paired picture books and chapter books that offer an empowering counter-narrative to unwelcome books in school spaces.

Students will explore issues through course projects below:

• The various practices that restrictions public librarians, school librarians, and archivists navigate when curating children’s books
• Historical examples of literature that were removed from child educational settings but persisted in higher education
• Texts that make critical contributions to children’s literature scholarship and representation that do not gain traction outside of the academy
• The differences or similarities between what “children’s literature for adults” (Abates,2022) and children’s literature 

This course focuses on critical perspectives, literary understandings, and trends and issues related to the field of children’s literature. This course is grounded in thoughtful, intellectual discussions that challenge popular constructions of readers and authors, texts, and contexts. Readings include a range of texts written for children (K-9th graders), multimodal texts, as well as scholarly texts about children’s books and critical theory from perspectives grounded in the humanities, education, and library and information sciences. By the end of the semester, students will better understand readership and social ideology through texts, texts interactions with one another, discourse and power, and the act of reading and banning. 

Texts

• A semester-long subscription to digital children’s literature collection (EPICBooks)
• 50 picture books 
• Melissa by Alex Gino
• Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes

• Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
• The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor
• Professional articles 
• Following authors and illustrators' social media

Requirements

• Active Local Community Library Card 
• Libby application 
• Bi-weekly reflections   
• Weekly peer digital book Pen Pal
• Action taking projects
• Weekly Social media posts
• Final project- social ideology and children’s literature

About the Instructor(s): Yoo Kyung Sung