The Invisible Line Between Representation and Tokenism in Kid Lit

Finding Ourselves in Stories (A 5-Part Series - Part 3 of 5)

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve opened a new children’s book, eager to celebrate another “diverse” story only to close it with a quiet sigh.

Because somewhere between the publisher’s press release and the glossy illustrations, something felt off.

Something that looked like representation but didn’t feel like it.

It’s that uneasy space I’ve come to recognize all too well the thin, invisible line between representation and tokenism.