perceptible shift in attitudes towards inclusion and diversity in all areas of children’s publishing. Where once it might have been seen as “niche” or another department’s responsibility, it is now broadly accepted as a positive step. That does not mean it is always done, or always done well but Alexandra says the direction of change is to be welcomed.
“When I started work at BookTrust I was lucky enough to work on growing the fledgling Bookstart scheme, and that led to thinking about appropriate, inclusive and accessible books for young children. At that time there was not much on the landscape of books to choose from, in terms of really inclusive and accessible books for very young children. But as we moved forward we were able to work with publishers and start to put children at the start of the
process, for example creating books like Off to the Park working with visually impaired children with publisher Child’s Play.
“I think things have changed, but it has been a very, very long and slow process. There have been lots of people and organi- sations shouting about the need to change for a long time, but then in the last few years it seems to have been a very sudden shift. That work has been going on for a long time though, and it hasn’t been easy. “Suddenly everyone is interested in it and everyone is passionate about it – now we have to think about how we do it, not whether we do it. We have to be aware of doing it in an authentic way, in a way that people are comfortable with and that gives people the opportunity to write from their own perspective and their own lived experience.” There is likely to be a second book from Steve and Alexandra, following the
same principles of You Can and with the same emphasis on participation and representation of children from the start. Alexandra reveals that she is currently in “listening mode”, as she looks to capture more insights from young people. Alex concludes by saying she has been surprised, but also heartened by the reaction to You Can, saying: “Steve, I and Otter-Barry books are really pleased with the reception for You Can, and it has really ignited a fire in me to get children involved in future books. I’m loving doing lots of author sessions in schools enabling me to engage with many more children who are telling me what they want to see. We are thinking about what they would want to do to change the world.
“I think adults have such a lot to learn from children and I am doing a lot of listening at the moment.” PEN&INC.
Spring-Summer 2022
PEN&INC. 19
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