Stereo(typing) System

I'm simply all about reminiscing about my job today. Anyway, grad school student walks into a library. Says she's doing a paper on gender stereotypes in older children's books. Preferably would like a book where it is made perfectly clear what boys can do and what girls can do (or can't do, as the case may be). I got this question at my old library branch and with a bit of hunting we were able to rustle up a Lois Lenski or two. Racism is just sooo much easier to find. I mentioned this to my husband and he remarked that maybe this was a patron need. Can't you just see that? Me writing a note to the Materials Specialist with just a quick, "Need more picture books with gender stereotyping. Please provide."

Recently the blog Children's Picturebook Collecting linked to that February research article discussed a while entitled Gender Stereotyping and Under-representation of Female Characters in 200 Popular Children’s Picture Books: A 21st Century Update. I found the study a bit off-kilter but I certainly don't object to anyone following up on updating this line of thought once in a while. Still, I'd like to see a counterpoint written to some of the conclusions drawn in this piece.

Mixed Emotions

*ahem*

HEY, YOU GUYS! Name that quote.
You may already know about this, but it kinda struck me as interesting and out of the blue. In New York City I only know of two bookstores that cater solely to kidlit: Bank Street Bookstore (motto: "New York's best bookstore for and about children") and Books of Wonder (humbler motto: "We know just what your kids will love"). If anyone knows of a third I'd be happy to hear it.

In any case, Bank Street Bookstore may have less floor space but what they lack in square footage they make up for in sheer exuberance. Case in point, their recent pairing with Symphony Space entitled Girls Read! and Guys Read! It's a book club series in theory, but a star studded walk of kidlit celeb after kidlit celeb in practice. Check out the line up:

Girls Read:

January 21 - Gail Carson Levine discusses Fairest and Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly
February 11 - Linda Sue Park talks about Project Mulberry
March 11 - Blue Balliett discusses The Wright 3

Guys Read:

February 4 - A Conversation with illustrator Brett Helquist
March 4 - Rick Riordan discusses Percy Jackson the Olympians
April 1 - Dan Gutman talks about Honus and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure

Cool, right? I'm just hoping that they don't segregate the discussions by gender. I know plenty of boys who enjoyed The Wright 3 and would like to hear Blue Balliett speak. Likewise I just spoke to a young lady the other day for whom nothing but Percy Jackson #3 would do. I watch this all with guarded interest.

Psst! Linda! If you're in town the day before, stop by my library. I might be working.