Littletim — apparently you’re not a book store patron.

You asked where you can find a book called, “I Am . . . (one of the other 43 presidents).” Like Paula, I don’t know if those books have been written. But there are many, many books about our presidents. Here is a small sampling:

Ronald Reagan (Scholastic, 2006) by Wil Mara
Ronald Reagan: Young Leader (Simon & Schuster, 1999) by Montrew Dunham
President George W. Bush (Simon & Schuster, 2004) by Beatrice Gormley
George Bush: America’s 41st President (Children’s Press, 2005) by Betsy Ochester
A Picture Book of George Washington (Holiday House, 1990) by David A. Adler
Lincoln & Me (Scholastic, 1999) by Louise Borden

Children’s books like Charisse’s that were inspired by the election of President Obama or ones that celebrate his life don’t take away from the wonderful books that honor our other presidents. I think they make our literary world even richer by letting all children, no matter their color, know they can dream of being president one day.

I agree with Paula and LaTonya. Children’s books featuring white characters are everywhere. They are on required reading lists. They are on bookstore and library shelves. As a child, my favorite books were Miss Nelson is Missing and Wrinkle in Time. Those books were magic then and are now. But it meant so much to me to finally see children’s books that featured characters who looked like me. Sadly, I didn’t see many of them until I was an adult.

It’s important and affirming for all children to see their lives reflected in the pages of books. It’s critical for all children to know they can dream their biggest dreams and have the power to make them come true. I appreciate you and littletim sharing your perspectives and thoughts. I hope that even if you disagree with our perspectives, you can respect them too.

littletim, this is a rhetorical question, right? My entire life I have read books by white authors. In fact, in school from elementary through college, I’m required to read books about and by people who don’t look like me. And you know what? I enjoy many of these books. I also like reading about characters by authors who look like me. It’s affirming. Why does that bother you? Did it ever bother you that the expectation has always been that all readers could identify with white characters?

Are you a reader, do you read children’s and YA fiction? Do you read blogs? There is an overwhelming number of blogs, marketing campaigns online, book signings and YTube book promos promoting books with white MCs. Did you miss the multiple discussions about the Liar book controversy and the reprehensible, but regular whitewashing practice in mainstream publishing? This practice was widely criticized publicly by whites in mainstream media so don’t think it the critics are just whiny black people.

Walk into your local bookstore. Go to the YA section. Count the number of books prominently on display. What are the common features on the characters on the covers?

White is the standard, the benchmark, little tim. Everybody else takes a number. Maybe you are mistaken by the current media trend to feature the multi-ethnic model. They are quite exotic, but the trendis shallow and it has nothing to do with pushing white models aside. The multi girl is getting play because the dominant culture is interested in her at the moment.

Let’s remember Obama is president because enough white people voted for him. We are fortunate that enough Americans did not hold race against him.

Little tim, I doubt that in either of our lifetimes that you will be forced into the shadows unlike all brown people who have lived their entire lives marginalized, brought into the light only when you want something different. Look at the number of books that actually get published and you can see there is no danger in you disappearing.

The invisible author who hasn’t written it? Or perhaps the editors and publishers who decided those stories weren’t marketable enough?

Clearly no one was compelled to write (or in publishing’s case buy) “I am George Bush.” or “I am Bill Clinton.” or I am One of the Other 43 other Presidents.”

Oh but wait…History books seem to do a great job of covering these men. And they and whatever political legacy they left are taught in classrooms every.single.day.

I suppose schools are expected to now not teach about our 44th president simply because some disagree with his views. Or are they to put an asterik next to his name when they teach saying *what we’re about to teach is history not indoctrination. We do not support his politics merely are reporting the facts.

Funny, that’s not how I was taught about Nixon or Eisnehower or Lincoln.

Back to the lack of books on I am fill in the blank President…So now Charisse is to be blamed because she (and she’s not alone) decided to write a book about a man who made history?

Or that she had the gall to be an author making a school visit to talk about her book. Authors do it everyday.

Since you seem to visit bookstores regularly, I’m sure you’ll notice that people writing books about someone who happens to have caught the public’s attention is nothing new. Whether that person be Paris Hilton or Ted Kennedy – publishing is all about capturing the zeitgeist. Authors writing about them or doing visits about them are nothing new.

Are you also upset over books about Neil Armstrong? Or Sandra Day O’Connor? Or any other person who made history? Are you upset when these folks are taught about in history classes or mentioned on an author visit by an author who happened to write a book about them?

Everyone! There are NO shortage of books featuring, revolved around, or “for” White readers. (Note, as far as I know well-rounded readers read beyond color!)

I fail to see why or even how a person can honestly think that just because someone says “dream in color” that they’re not speaking to White readers.

Get it? In color, meaning see ALL colors. See ALL people. Look beyond yourself and see others around you.

With that out of the way, I’d like for comments here to stay positive. And as one of the moderators of this site I’ll keep it that way by simply censoring any and all comments that become combative. So don’t waste your breath if you plan to be.

This is a site about BOOKS. The books are about and by people of color (roughly less than 500 out of 5,000 children’s books, annually). Anyone who has issue with that, go to the other 5 million websites offered that are about the other 4,900 books that feature, are revolved around and “for” White readers.