Despite our country’s diverse heritage, very few children’s books from other countries are translated into English for the U.S. market. Classics like Pippi Longstocking and Pinocchio are well known, but not many of the contemporary books that are important to young readers around the world.

“I think it’s crucial to cross-cultural and international understanding that our young readers get to read authors who are not writing primarily for a U.S. audience,” said Annette Goldsmith.

Annette’s area of specialization is international youth literature. U.S. children’s book editors are the primary selectors of culturally conscious children’s books from other countries for translation. By exploring their decision-making process, Annette hopes to learn:

• what barriers they face,
• what resources they use, and
• what value they place on this type of publishing.

Annette will apply the “sensemaking” theories developed by Dervin and Weick to create an understanding of the decisions made by book editors. Her two-part study design consists of a web-based survey launched in May 2008, followed by interviews in late May and June of five participants with very positive attitudes and of five with very negative attitudes towards this type of publishing.

“So far the biggest hurdle has been getting the names and e-mail addresses of the subjects,” Annette said. “I keep meeting up with people who act as gatekeepers. In spite of what I tell them, I think they assume I’m an unpublished author trying to get to their staff.”

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