The Reading Culture Scratching the Surface: Vashti Harrison on Going Past Skin Deep
Vashti Harrison burst onto the children’s book scene with her book, “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.” But to hear her tell it, Vashti still cannot believe that her entry point for kidlit was through nonfiction. Perhaps that is why she took such care and tenderness in creating her first fictional picture book, “Big.” In “Big,” we meet a young girl whose journey feels universally relatable, even if her story is uniquely hers. The book earned Vashti many accolades, including the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. But its profound effect on her personally was also a great gift and illuminating force for Vashti.
A New York Times bestselling author, illustrator, and filmmaker, Vashti’s words and artwork explore themes of identity, self-acceptance, and representation. In this episode, “Scratching the Surface: Vashti Harrison on Going Past Skin Deep,” Vashti reflects on how everyday magic and storytelling have shaped her life and work. She reflects on her childhood in "Only Lonely," Virginia, where she immersed herself in books and films and first thought of herself as a drawer. She also considers how she has navigated the complexities of beauty standards and body image over the years and shares the drawing contest she entered on a whim that led to a book deal in 24 hours!
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Vashti’s reading challenge, The BIG Reading List, is a curated list of books that inspired and helped her write “Big.” The titles are all about understanding and dismantling anti-fat and adultification bias and celebrating Black girlhood.
Learn more and download Vashti’s recommended reading list at thereadingculturepod.com/vashti-harrison
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This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kat Gatcomb. She was previously a youth services supervisor at The Nashua Public Library in New Hampshire and is now in customer success at Beanstack! Kat shares about an innovative program she facilitated that called upon a cross-section of her community.
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Show Chapters
Chapter 1 - Lonely Only
Chapter 2 - Big Trouble in Little Vashti
Chapter 3 - Picking The Wound
Chapter 4 - The Secret Garden
Chapter 5 - Missing Winnie
Chapter 6 - Can You Be A Drawer?
Chapter 7 - Returning
Chapter 8 - Drawing In Little Readers
Chapter 9 - Vashti’s Caldecott Speech
Chapter 10 - Vashti’s BIG Reading Challenge
Links
- The Reading Culture
- The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup
- Vashti Harrison
- Vashti Harrison Instagram
- “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Barnett
- “The Secret Garden” Movie
- Vashti’s 2024 Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speech
- Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)
- Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture
- Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Producers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, and Lower Street Media
Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey