Looking for children's books that don't pass on stereotypes
and sexist, racist, homophobia, religious & class
attitudes - prejudice and discrimination?
Here is a list of recommended books, mainly classics,
listed in Bob Dixon's book 'Catching them Young'
The books he examines and criticises are the subject of his study see appropriate chapters.
With thanks to the many feminists who have contributed the information below
Comments and reviews are very valuable so please send them in.
Submissions, comments & reviews: to Sue Mayer - c.s.e@freeuk.com
From
Alice:
The 'Series of Unfortunate Events' series
by Lemony Snicket challenges
sexist stereotypes. One
of the female protagonists is an inventor and her brother is an avid reader.
The books challenge sterotypes in other
ways as well.
From
Joy:-
I'd definitely recommend Malorie
Blackman. I believe she couldn't find non-sexist books so
ended up writing them herself!
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/malorie-blackman/
My friend Mel has been recommending Malorie Blackman's
"Girl Wonder and the Terrific Twins"
for years. I finally ordered it from the library recently and
thoroughly enjoyed it (the librarians were surprised, though, as it is a Read
Aloud book!)
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/malorie-blackman/girl-wonder-and-terrific-twins.htm
I've also read another of Blackman's novels, "Noughts
and Crosses," which is for teenagers
and is very informative as well as being a good read.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/malorie-blackman/noughts-and-crosses.htm
It has been made into a play, too, and was showing recently.
http://www.rsc.org.uk/WhatsOn/5989.aspx
Another book for young teens is the short story book by Francesca
Lia Block, "Girl Goddess #9."
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/francesca-lia-block/girl-goddess-9.htm
From
Alex
One
obvious choice of 'bad' children's literature is the Narnia books by
C.S. Lewis, which push Christian values by retelling biblical stories with
lions and fauns in place of the array of bearded men the bible has to offer.
Lewis really does hammer home Christian morality in these books - it's easy to
miss this when reading them as a child (I certainly didn't make the
connection), but reading them as an adult can be a very uncomfortable
experience. There are plenty of things to point out in these books, not least
some of the sexist attitudes expressed by the author. While the girls in the
novels can be heroic in some respects, there is a deep-seated mistrust of
female sexuality throughout, and Susan Pevensie, one of the main characters,
fails to enter 'the real Narnia' (or heaven) at the end of the book because
she becomes interested in 'lipstick and nylons' - Lewis implies that by
exploring her sexuality and losing her 'purity', Susan becomes unworthy of
paradise.
On a lighter note, if you want to see Lewis' novels completely and brilliantly
subverted, read the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Philip Pullman, in
which repressive religious institutions and belief systems are fiercely
criticised, and readers are given an unashamedly strong, intelligent and
passionate heroine to look up to.
From Pam:-
You can do no better than go to Letterbox
Library. They are a women's co-op which for about 25 years
has been specialising in anti-sexist, anti-racist children's
bookselling. All their books are read right through
by reviewers and tested on real children.
They do mail order or you can visit their office in Allen Road, Stoke
Newington (not high street style...)
They can also do sample sets for schools, sale or return, if you want to get
their books into schools you use.
They lost a lot of trade to the cut-price high street shops and to discount
web sales - they can't compete
with Amazon on price - but they offer a unique service.
I don't know if they still do it but if you visit the Letterbox office they
used to have a Sale box of books
that are ex-samples so go cheap.
And I should have said, they range from baby books to young adults, fiction
and non-fiction. Their Older
Readers selection in particular is very strong, I used to read them all
myself.
http://www.letterboxlibrary.com/acatalog/index.html
Sue Mayer
www.feminism.freeuk.com