Founders Workshop

Creating an Authentic Cultural Voice

Putting imagination, experience, empathy, and research to work for you

Children’s literature celebrates both our shared history and our unique cultures. Join Donna Jo Napoli (Bound) and Mitali Perkins (Bamboo People) as they help us understand the power of writing with a strong cultural voice. Through impeccable research, imagination, empathy, and experience, a true cultural voice can be achieved. Our goal is to gather a community of open-minded children’s book authors who wish to think deeply about:

Who has the right to write multiculturally?
How do we bring humility to our research?
What audience are we writing for?
Does the term “multicultural literature” match the needs of today’s book market?
How is authentic cultural voice achieved?

This workshop also includes one-on-one manuscript critiques and author-guided writing exercises.

Workshop Leaders

Mitali Perkins

Mitali was born in Kolkata, India, and immigrated at age seven to the United States with her family. Her award-winning books for young readers include Bamboo People, Monsoon Summer, Rickshaw Girl, Secret Keeper, and the First Daughter books.

Donna Jo Napoli

Donna Jo Napoli is an award-winning writer of children's fiction, from picture books to young adult novels. She’s won the Golden Kite, the Sydney Taylor, the NJ Reading Association, and the Kentucky Bluegrass awards.

Kathryn Erskine

Kathy spent fifteen years as a lawyer before turning to her first love: writing. Her debut novel, Quaking, was one of YALSA’s Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Her novel Mockingbird won the 2010 National Book Award, Young People’s Literature. She has published two other novels, Ibhubesi: The Lion and The Absolute Value of Mike.

Alvina Ling

Alvina Ling is Executive Editor for Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. She edits children’s books for all ages, from picture books to young-adult novels, with some nonfiction mixed in.

Workshop Information

April

at 3 PM for an optional tour of HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN® and Boyds Mills Press

through

April

after lunch

$995

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