Where Are the Fat-Positive Children's Books? The Librarian Is In Podcast, Ep. 68

By Gwen Glazer, Librarian
December 5, 2017

Welcome to The Librarian Is In, the New York Public Library's podcast about books, culture, and what to read next.

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Spoiler alert: They barely exist! Frank and Gwen talk to librarian and advocate Angie Manfredi about the missing fat kids (and adults) in literature, the importance of body diversity in books, and the danger of creating a monolith of marginalized voices.

Guest Star: Angie Manfredi, head of youth services at Los Alamos Public Library

angie

Angie notes that posting photos of herself, especially full-body and bikini photos, is a form of resistance in a culture that tells fat people they are less than. 

Angie's website, Fat Girl, Reading, and her Twitter

Abigail the Whaleby Davide Cali

Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson

hilda

The Upside of Unrequited and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

piecing

Blubber by Judy Blume

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit and There's a Bat in Bunk Five by Paula Danzinger

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw

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It's Okay to Be Different, and more, by Todd Parr

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Alan Zadoff

And a last note from Angie: 

"I forgot to mention one of my favorite fat books - Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero. In this book, Gabi, a fat girl, is allowed to be human, imperfect and messy and mixed up and trying to figure her life out. While she is often sad and confused and lonely, Quintero shows how this is just part of being a teen, not a fate Gabi is destined to because of her fatness.This is one of the most important fat positive books because Gabi isn't perfect but she's real. Also, I mentioned the work of one of my close friends as inspiration, but I foolishly didn't tell you his name!  His name is Angelo Muredda and I urge you to find his writing online."

Recommendations

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

just mercy

Films: The Florida Project and Mudbound

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Thanks for listening! Have you rated us on iTunes yet? Would you consider doing it now?

Find us online @NYPLRecommends, the Bibliofile blog, and nypl.org. Or email us at nyplrecommends@nypl.org!

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Want Personalized Recommendations?

Tune in to the NYPL Recommends Facebook TV show, every Friday at noon EST and ask Gwen and Lynn in Readers Services for live reading recommendations. Just leave a comment telling what you're looking for and that you're a fan of the podcast! And don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss future episodes!

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