My LLL toddler group has been kicking around the idea of writing our own kid's book that would contain positive depictions of moms breastfeeding. There are literally thousands of books on the market depicting newborns, babies, baby animals, even baby monsters, with bottles and pacifiers. There are very few books on the market depicting moms breastfeeding in the normal course of the day. A few books focus exclusively on the concept of breastfeeding. These are typically heavy handed with a limited audience. Breastfeeding babies and toddler adore these books, other families aren't interested.
We are constantly looking for really good kids books where moms happen to be breastfeeding in the picture. It just doesn’t exist. While I haven't read every single book on the market, it is startlingly absent. I wrote to a users group of children's book illustrators to ask them why so many children's books depict bottle feeding of newborns and young babies. I got a huge response from illustrators, most of whom were super frustrated with their publishers! They said that the major publishing houses forbid the depiction of breastfeeding, male nipples as in dads in the swimming pool, ancient greeks in togas, Native Americans in buckskin... AND ALSO, NO UDDERS ON COWS. This tipped me over the edge! No UDDERS!
My LLL group, of 96 moms, has put together a project proposal to an entrepreneurial website called ideablob.com. This is an online community of entrepreneurs. Anyone in the world can propose any project or business idea, no matter how small or unusual. Thousands of people visit the site and vote for different ideas. The idea with the most votes is awarded $10,000 to implement their idea.
At the moment, our project idea -- a book for children containing positive depictions of breastfeeding -- is among the top ranked. We have one week left to garner the votes needed to earn the $10,000 grant. We've sent the idea around the world and are in the top scorers for the runoff. Would you be willing to vote for my project? What would be very helpful would be for you to forward this message to your friends, asking them to vote, as well. You do need to register for the site but they are very respectful about not bombarding you with messages...
Here is the web page:
http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/2442-C...epicting-breas
thanks friends!
Betsy
We are constantly looking for really good kids books where moms happen to be breastfeeding in the picture. It just doesn’t exist. While I haven't read every single book on the market, it is startlingly absent. I wrote to a users group of children's book illustrators to ask them why so many children's books depict bottle feeding of newborns and young babies. I got a huge response from illustrators, most of whom were super frustrated with their publishers! They said that the major publishing houses forbid the depiction of breastfeeding, male nipples as in dads in the swimming pool, ancient greeks in togas, Native Americans in buckskin... AND ALSO, NO UDDERS ON COWS. This tipped me over the edge! No UDDERS!
My LLL group, of 96 moms, has put together a project proposal to an entrepreneurial website called ideablob.com. This is an online community of entrepreneurs. Anyone in the world can propose any project or business idea, no matter how small or unusual. Thousands of people visit the site and vote for different ideas. The idea with the most votes is awarded $10,000 to implement their idea.
At the moment, our project idea -- a book for children containing positive depictions of breastfeeding -- is among the top ranked. We have one week left to garner the votes needed to earn the $10,000 grant. We've sent the idea around the world and are in the top scorers for the runoff. Would you be willing to vote for my project? What would be very helpful would be for you to forward this message to your friends, asking them to vote, as well. You do need to register for the site but they are very respectful about not bombarding you with messages...
Here is the web page:
http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/2442-C...epicting-breas
thanks friends!
Betsy
has at least two instances of breastfeeding. One picture shows a mom sacked out in rocking chair with a nursing baby in her arms. There's also a page about eating where breastfeeding is mentioned (along with bottlefeeding).
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