The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators stands in solidarity with the Asian members of our human family and their right to stay safe, alive, and humanized. “Members of the Asian, Asian American, and Asian Pacific Islander community have experienced unique vulnerability as targets of racism and xenophobia as anxiety and fear over COVID-19 has spread over the past several months.” Stereotypes, tropes, and circumstance will never justify exclusion, racism, or violence towards human beings.
As writers, illustrators, and translators of children’s literature, we are responsible for promoting equity and humanizing people in our work, all children and all families. We have supported the Kidlit Against Anti-AAPI Racism Fundraiser (#KAAAR) and will also be hosting an SCBWI Celebrates Asian Voices panel during AAPI History Month on May 20th. We invite you to suggest your favorite authors, illustrators, & translators of the Asian diaspora for this panel by using #SCBWIVoices and encourage you to support Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children’s literature creators. Our Equity and Inclusion Resource Library is open to the public.
“Silence is often mistaken as acceptance.” Having conversations with your friends, family, and loved ones about protecting others in person and online is critical at times like these. #StopAAPIHate
For Asian/Pacific Islander Creators
Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center
Center for Asian American Media
ManilaTown Heritage Foundation
For Asian/Pacific Islander Youth
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
Asian/Pacific Islander Bookstores
A Good Used Book (Los Angeles, CA)
Arkipelago Books (San Francisco, CA)
Asian American Curriculum Project, Bookshop.org
Bel Canto Books (Long Beach, CA)
EastWind Books (Berkeley, CA)
Giant Robot Store (Los Angeles, CA)
JANM Store (Los Angeles, CA)
Maomi Bookstore (Chamblee, GA)
Now Serving (Los Angeles, CA)
Orphan Books (Los Angeles, CA)
Phillippine Expression (Los Angeles, CA)
Tahanan Books (Los Angeles, CA)
USC Pacific Asia Museum (Pasadena, CA)
Recommended Reading
Asian Pacific American Book List, Talk Story Together
Asian/Pacific American Librarians’ Association Literature Award Winners
Why It’s Time to Retire the Term Asian Pacific Islander
Community Organizations