I started writing children’s books because that’s what I felt was lacking. My daughter was five when I wrote The Girl God. On one hand, I was scared to death that her life would become like mine had and returned to feminism full-blast. On the other, I was very tired of reading children’s books that lacked imagination and real art. There are some, but much of what is popular for girls is more along the princess/Barbie variety. I felt like books were geared towards dumbing down girls.
I did not want my daughter exposed to any of that, but I also was not prepared for the onslaught of it. You really have to be a very conscious parent these days. Consumer culture comes from all directions. Whether you buy these books or not, someone else will buy them—or read them—to your child.
We must radically change the world on so many levels: war, poverty, global warming, rape, violence against women, sexual and other forms of slavery….I could go on and on. We are really in a mess. The best place to start is at the beginning, where humans are the most open. In many parts of the world, children are becoming the majority. Our children will live in a very different world than we do. I believe they will have to learn to be more inclusive. The current domination model cannot go on forever—and it shouldn’t.
There are a million good novels out there—and I hope to write one someday. But right now, I feel like we need children’s books. When a parent reads a child a book again and again, it becomes a part of who they both are. I hope to help change the collective consciousness of our world.
Read entire interview at ruthjacobs.co.uk
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