Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about how you work in the kidlit community
Hello! My name is Corrie (she/they) and I’m an author, indie bookseller, consultant, and organizer for the kidlit community. I am a former classroom teacher and pastry chef, too! Currently, I’m on the state leadership team for AABB (Authors Against Book Bans) and the Camp Director/Co-Organizer of Queer Kidlit Camp which is a conference retreat for queer and trans individuals who work in the publishing industry. It would probably be easier to say that my entire life revolves around children’s literature and finding the BEST books!
Offline, I often do workshops, curate book lists and library collections for organizations such as Head Start or state disability boards as well as equity and sensitivity reading for Tundra/Penguin Canada. Topics like strategies for finding inclusive illustrations easily, or planning a social justice read aloud program are my bread and butter! Teaching educators to have a more discerning eye to the literature they bring into the classroom is one of my greatest passions. Online, I am an organizing member of the Bookstagang Reviewer’s Guild which seeks to build community and equity between publishing houses and influencers. The most public achievement of ours to date is the yearly Best of Picture Book Awards held over Instagram.
How did you get started reviewing titles?
When I was a classroom teacher in 2016, I was searching for one place to look at picture books in an intersectional way, instead of having to go to several isolated websites that each highlighted marginalized experiences (For example, I felt like “The 10 best poetry books for kids” and “Top bilingual books” should be in the same place to consider for read alouds). I started reviewing the books I was using and loving in my classroom on Instagram and my website, in case others were also having the same difficulties that I was.
What is your favorite genre to review?
I joke that I only like nonfiction that makes me angry. But in general I love books that have an intentional and creative message, made by folks with the lived experiences that’s being written about.
If your perfect book existed, what would it include?
Honestly? Probably my own. This seems like a selfish answer, but let me explain because I think it might empower you, dear reader. When I got my book deal, I was naturally elated. This was my chance. I had “tricked” someone into thinking my ideas were worth printing as a physical object. If it only happened this one time, I had to include everything that I hold dear and went into student loan debt for. I wanted to feel satisfied professionally that I had held nothing back, and I do. So I hope if you’re reading this and you also have aspirations of publishing, this mindset helps.
Who is your ideal audience for your reviews/writing?
I love enthusiastic people who are interested in learning, growing, and changing for the better. It’s very grueling to spend long hours trying to convince a group of people that you and others are worth basic humanity. Human rights aren’t radical.
Tell us a bit about your process from reading a book, to deciding to review/write about it.
For a picture book, I typically read it a few times and pick out the aspect of the story that I want to highlight. Embarrasingly, it’s the books that I love the most that I have the most trouble with and procrastinate the longest on! I get stuck in my head about writing the “perfect” review, which really helps no one at the end of the day. Not only is perfection an aspect of White Supremacy Culture, but I try to model imperfection for others to free us as readers from having to curate and finesse personal excitement; instead, I want to share in an authentic and genuine way.
Do you have a favorite library or bookstore memory to share?
The place that I first became interested and conceptualized the idea of a pastry chef career was my local public library actually! I was on the Teen Advisory Committee and helped with youth programming, which included baking some cakes for an event. I made matching cakes of Hello Kitty and her sister Mimmy’s faces, and the seed was planted. Now, I’m working at a kids indie bookshop called High Five Books, and it’s really beautiful that my job is to connect kids with books that delight them!
You can find more about Corrie’s work on her website, The Tiny Activist, nibble on her cookbook, THE REVOLUTION WILL BE WELL FED: Recipes for Creating Community, and follow her on Instagram @thetinyactivists.
