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American Library Association Removes Laura Ingalls Wilder's Name from Legacy Award

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The American Library Association unanimously voted this weekend to remove Laura Ingalls Winder's name from a children's book award due to concerns about how the author portrayed blacks and Native American people within her famous book series. The award's name has been changed to the Children's Literature Legacy Award.f

I was a huge fan of Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" book series back during my childhood, though I haven't read the later spin-off books that began being published in the late 1990s and early 2000s. And I grew up watching Michael Landon's "Little House on the Prairie" television series from 1974-1983 -- though I often groused as a child about the addition of character like Albert, Cassandra, and James.

On top of that, the Masters Hotel (home of the Ingalls Family from 1876-1877) in Burr Oaks, IA, is fairly close to my family home. I visit there every 2-3 years and I financially contribute the museum periodically.

All that's to say that I have a warm spot in my heart to Laura Ingalls Wilder and the books and shows that have been inspired by her life.

But I also recognize that aspects of her writing can be problematic for today's readers. I can see why the American Library Association might want to remove her name from the 60+ year old award. Which isn't to say that readers shouldn't pick up these books. They should. They're great books. It's just that the ALA has the right to update the name of this award to something more generic and not tied to a writer who's work is less embraced that it was back in 1954 when the award was first given to Wilder.

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