Reading Gender in Children’s Literature

Critical Library Pedagogy for Young Readers

Michael M. WiddersheimPhD Student, University of Pittsburgh

Melissa A. McClearyYouth Services Librarian, Pembroke Public Library

Libraries, technologies, and self-assembly

• Bibliographic control

• Social space

• Private reading

• Surveillance

Readers’ advisory, gender & sexuality, and the self

Intersections:

Language and readers’ advisory: Some problems

• Essentialization• Assignment• Othering• Cultural imperialism• Tokenism• Complicity

Counter-techniques

• Consider story quality• Exploit expert position• Interrogate norms• Use open-ended questions• Recommend progressive titles• Rely on passive (indirect) tools• Create safe environment

Conclusion

Critical readers’ advisory:Toward a reorganization of imaginary life.

Contacts:missmccleary@gmail.com

mmw84@pitt.edu