There is a lack of representation of characters of color in children’s literature, according to Ama Karikari-Yawson, a Baldwin-based children’s author and a co-founder of Milestales Publishing and Education Consulting.
“There is a word gap that very often impacts minority communities and communities of color,” she said. “That word gap deals with the fact that children from African American and Latin American backgrounds often are exposed to a lower number of words during their very informative years.
“Part of making sure that children have access to literature is making sure that the literature reflects them and their culture,” Karikari-Yawson added.
According to NPR.com, research since 1992 has found that children in poverty hear 30 million fewer words by age 3. And ScholasticMediaRoom.com maintains that seeing your own race in media or literature helps validate your identity or experience while encouraging additional reading.
Baldwin, a multicultural community, will once again host the annual Long Island Multicultural Book Fair on July 20, aiming to continue promoting diverse children’s literature and engaging with local authors.
The sixth annual fair will be part of the Cedarmore Farmers Market, in the Baldwin Long Island Rail Road station parking lot between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Cedarmore Corporation, a nonprofit based in Freeport that manages the market, has a stated mission to improve the educational, social and emotional development of youth of all backgrounds. The market will run through Oct. 12, but the book fair will be one day only. Fairgoers will have the chance to peruse a wide variety of books and shop for farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.
“The Cedarmore Cooperation is responding to the gap in the community, such as ‘food deserts,’ providing fresh produce from their farmers market and a book fair featuring diverse authors,” Karikari-Yawson said. “We think this is a phenomenal combination of fresh foods that nourish your body, and beautiful books that nourish your soul.”
Karikari-Yawson, the author of “Sunne’s Gift,” is one of seven authors scheduled to attend the fair, along with Laura Blair, Adrian Goodwin, Marie Jirlande Fenelon, Roslyne Johnson, Sandy Lanton and Linda Taylor.
Karikari-Yawson emphasized the connections children can make when they meet local authors. “We wanted authors that represent different cultures,” she explained. “Some authors have books in French, from Haiti, and I from Ghana, as well as stories about Hanukkah. We’re excited about having this multicultural group of authors that represent different regions of the world, different religions, etcetera.”
“Sunne’s Gift” tells the story of Sunne, a non-binary who learns to love and embrace being different on the fictional planet “Wyase.” The book teaches lessons about self-love and stopping bullying.
“This is one of my most well-known stories, my first story,” Karikari-Yawson said. “This is a story that made me an author, and my goal with the story was to teach lessons of self-love, and that’s what my work aims to do: teach people important lessons about love, respect and caring for themselves.”
The fair will also feature a talent contest, in which the participants will have a chance to win a cash prize of up to $500 from Milestales Publishing.
Over the past four years, Karikari-Yawson said, the book fair lost some momentum in its efforts to help promote diversity in children’s literature, forced to cancel in 2020 through 2022 as a result of the pandemic. It finally returned last year. “We’re hoping to regain that momentum now that we’re back,” she said.
For more information on the event, visit Milestales.com.
Additional reporting by Cameron Brown
