Politics and children’s literature are, to a certain extent, inextricable.  The education of our children is so closely tied into our understanding of what education could and should entail (and for whom) that it is innately political.  But there are other issues that are affected by politics too.  Children’s author/musician/performer Bill Harley is familiar to many for his good work over the years. Now he’s sent out the following call for better gun laws in our country.  For those like-minded authors and illustrators amongst you, this may be of interest.

What can artists do to speak out for a better world? Artists for Safe Kids (ASK) is asking artists who write, illustrate, sing, and perform for children to sign the accompanying statement, hoping to make a difference. We are thinking about other activities and projects to develop, but for now, we’re asking as many artists as possible to sign on to this statement.  If you sign, we’ll let you know what we’re up to, and you can decide for yourself what level of participation you’re comfortable supporting. As it is now, the only thing that will happen is that your name will appear when we make a public statement. If you’re  interested in doing more, let me know (billharley1@gmail.com), and please consider passing it on to others you think might be interested.

Bill Harley

Children’s Writers, Artists and Performers  for Gun Sanity

As artists, writers and performers who work with and for children, we have witnessed with growing concern and despair the tragic effect of gun violence on children. We call out for a saner, more rational gun policy in our country, states and communities.  We join with other voices calling for comprehensive universal background checks for gun purchasers, better screening for mental health problems, better gun safety regulations for gun owners to keep children safe from accidental firings, and a limit on semi-automatic weapons and large magazines. We ask you to join us in this call for a safer world.