They Also Write for Kids: Cross-Writing, Activism, and Children's Literature

Children's books by authors of well-known adult texts are often forgotten or marginalized. However, these literary voices have produced politically vital works of children's literature that challenge preconceived notions about the seriousness of such books and ideas about who should read them. "They Also Write for Kids: Cross-Writing, Activism, and Children's Literature" seeks to bring these cross-writing projects together and invite readers to place children's literature in conversation with works more typically understood as being for adult audiences, read multiethnic US literature alongside texts by global writers, consider children's poetry and nonfiction as well as fiction, and read diachronically as well as cross-culturally.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 28 December 2022
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Children's books written by authors of well-known adult texts are frequently overlooked or marginalized in the realm of children's literature studies. While many adults today enjoy reading contemporary children's and young adult fiction for leisure, others still view such works as inappropriate for older audiences and are unlikely to engage with children's books that were themselves cross-written by authors such as Chinua Achebe, Anita Desai, Joy Harjo, or Amy Tan. At the same time, these literary voices have created politically significant works of children's literature that transcend conventional expectations of audience and engage with complex themes. These works form part of a broader body of activist writing for children that has long challenged preconceived notions about the seriousness of such books and ideas about who should read them.

In order to bring these cross-writing projects together and highlight their significance, They Also Write for Kids: Cross-Writing, Activism, and Children's Literature seeks to engage readers. By doing so, this book encourages readers to engage in conversations about children's literature with works that are typically considered to be for adult audiences, to read multiethnic US literature alongside texts by global writers, to consider children's poetry and nonfiction alongside fiction, and to read diachronically as well as cross-culturally. These approaches to reading provide entry points into a world of books that refuse to exclude young audiences from exploring topics that span from US settler colonialism and linguistic prejudice to intersectional forms of gender inequality.

The authors featured in this book employ a diverse range of writing strategies that challenge persistent stereotypes of children's literature as both artistically and intellectually simplistic. They subversively repurpose tropes, undermining their conventional meanings and challenging readers to consider alternative perspectives. Through their cross-writing projects, these authors not only contribute to the expansion of children's literature but also play a vital role in promoting social justice and equity.

In conclusion, They Also Write for Kids: Cross-Writing, Activism, and Children's Literature offers a valuable exploration of the intersection between children's literature and adult literature. By highlighting the cross-writing projects of authors such as Chinua Achebe, Anita Desai, Joy Harjo, and Amy Tan, this book encourages readers to engage with a broader range of literary works and to consider the complex themes and issues that are addressed in children's literature. Through its innovative approach to reading and writing, this book contributes to the ongoing conversation about the importance of children's literature and its potential to shape the future.

Weight: 296g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496842923