Hi, this is Matthew, and I'm Head of Podcast
at A Kids Company About. We are so glad you're listening to this show, and I wanted to let you
know that we've got an entire network of podcasts dedicated to producing original content that talks
up to kids, centers the things going on in their world, and themselves. With shows about facts
climate justice, current events, and activism, there's a show out there made just for
your kid. Check out the A Kids Podcast About channel on Apple Podcasts or
wherever
podcasts are found. Or visit akidsco.com. Matthew: What is activism? Courtney: Um, to me, Activism is a lot like
problem solving in our communities. Identifying when something isn't right, intentionally or
unintentionally and taking the necessary steps to fix it for everyone's benefit. I think it's
helpful to think of activism like a verb instead of a noun. It requires action. And the way we
think about it is always growing and change. Matthew: Welcome to A Kids Book
About: The P
odcast! I’m Matthew. I’m a teacher, a librarian, and I’m your host. Today we’re continuing our special series of
episodes with the authors and illustrators of our A Little Book About series. We know that many of
you listening have younger brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, neighborhood friends
and new-to-the-neighborhood faces. And while this series is
intended for kids ages 0-4, we know that many, many of you are the
ones who read to those young learners. The topics we cover in the
series are universal,
which means they are things that anyone, no matter the age, can connect to. Things
like sharing and curiosity and bravery. Today, as we talk about the big
things going on in your world, we’re doing so with an author illustrator
from our A Little Book About series. Courtney: Hi, my name is Courtney Ahn, but everybody calls
me Courn. I'm a Korean American designer and illustrator in Portland, Oregon, and I am also
the author of A Little Book About Activism. Matthew: I'm
so glad to be talking to
you on the podcast. I'm so glad that our listeners get to hear you. And I also get to
share some love for A Little Book About Activism. It's a gorgeous book. It's so beautifully
written. I'm so grateful that you're here. Why don't we get into speaking of pictures, but
also actions. Courn, what can activism look like? Courtney: Activism can look like so many things.
It can look like starting a petition in your school for gender neutral clothing policies. It
can loo
k like joining a program to clean up trash in your community. It can look like getting
involved in marches and rallies in your city. The shared thing is just that
activism requires a desire for change and to make your
community a better place. Matthew: Can anybody be an activist? Courtney: Absolutely. If you have a
voice and a means of expressing it, however that may be, you can fight for
anyone and anything through activism. Matthew: I love that. Are,
are you an activist, Courn? Do you co
nsider yourself an activist? Courtney: I like to think that I am. Matthew: Yeah, me as well. And I love seeing, I
love identifying those children that care about the thing that they care about and want to
take that next step into action too. I think. I say it a lot around here, but you know, when we
work with children, we're looking into our future. And so kids, when we talk about you, we look
for those ways that you can change this world. What are some of the most important
causes, Courn,
that you fight for? Courtney: Growing up in a community
without a lot of kids that looked like me, I was often bullied for just being Asian. So of
course anti-racism and racial equality has always been the most personal to me. But the great
thing is that a need for equality connects so many other causes near to me, environmental
activism, gender equality, LGBTQIA+ equality, worker rights, workers' rights, and much more. Matthew: We've talked about gender and identity
on this podcast before.
And we've also talked about anti-Asian hate and I think any one of
those things that we identify with those things that make us feel like us when those come under
attack, um, that is an awful, awful thing. And I think it's also a space where we can step
in and be that support for one another. So I'm grateful for you for sharing those with us.
And I'm also a fan of your causes. So, uh, I would love to hear a little bit about what it was like
for you to create a book for our youngest readers
. Courtney: It was absolutely such an odd
create something that I really would have loved to read when I was younger.
Like, it was definitely a challenge because I don't typically make a lot of
stuff for kids, but it was also so much fun figuring that out, like from writing
to storyboarding and illustrating, like I had such a blast working with the team
to create something that I'm really proud. Matthew: Oh, that's so cool. I love the art in
your book, as I shared. And also your message. I
love that you also are giving those words to the
person, reading the book to help communicate to, uh, the other person enjoying the book,
the reader, whatever their age is. Uh, do you have a favorite spread from
the book? I have a favorite spread that I'm going to share with you, but
do you have a favorite spread? Courtney: Yeah, I would have to say probably the
last spread. It's the one with the large shoe and like everyone in arms kind of marching
off the page. Like it really just felt
like me. That was kind of the whole idea of the book
summarize like this idea of community and unity. Matthew: Yes. I, you know, The the way to, to, to pair with you the
way you talk about the end of the book. I also love the care that you'll, that you show
right at the beginning of the book, where you say I'm going to cheat and say two spreads, but
sometimes the word world feels perfect. Like it's smiling right at you. And then with the
turn of the page, but sometimes it doesn't feel like
that at all. I love in this art for
those listening that on your first spread, you have a closeup of the earth smiling back at us
personified and there's wonderful, welcoming way. But on that page, turn, we zoom way, way, way out
from the earth. Who's who's crying. There's a deer running down Earth's face, and it's just sort of
the bleakness of space. If you will space spaces. One of those funny things that can make us feel
alone, but can also feel wonderful, but the way you use it in this
spread, really feels like
there's no one else there for this character. And I think that, um, being
able to offer that imagery for our readers to set the table,
if you will, for the conversation that's going to happen in this book, uh, is, is
really such a great inviting way to start off. Courtney: And thank you so
much. I really appreciate that. Matthew: I am so appreciative that you. We're on this path and continue to be on this
path that you are calling the brought you to making this bo
ok that brought you
to sharing this story with readers. Uh, I'm so grateful for that. I'm grateful
that we got a chance to talk today before we leave. I'd love to
ask you if there's a message about activism that you'd like
to share with our listeners? Courtney: Yes, just one small thing. I'd just
love to share that you are never too young, small, or unimportant to have a voice
and make a difference in your community. All it is ever taken is a single voice
to start a movement. So why not y
ou? Matthew: And now, read to you in its entirety, here is
A Little Book About Activism by Courtney Ahn. Courtney: A Little Book About
Activism by Courtney Ahn. Sometimes the world feels perfect,
like it's smiling right at you. But sometimes it doesn't feel like that at all. Sometimes the world can be really unfair...
to certain people and communities. To me, and maybe even you too. But it
doesn't have to stay that way. I believe that one person can
make a difference. How? Activism. Activi
sm is caring so much about something
that you want to change it for the better. How does it work? It starts with seeing the world around you,
noticing when it's unfair... and then using your voice to speak up when something isn't right.
And backing up those words with actions too. It's about working with everyone in your community
and working for everyone in your community. Because one step at a time, activism can
make the world a better place for all of us. Matthew: Thank you to Courtney A
hn, author and
illustrator of A Little Book About Activism, for joining us today. You can learn more about this
book and others like it by visiting akidsco.com. A Kids Book About: The Podcast is
written, edited, and produced by me, Matthew Winner, with help from Chad Michael
Snavely and the team at Sound On Studios. Our executive producer is Jelani Memory. And this
show was brought to you by A Kids Podcast About. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts
or wherever podcasts are found, and if you
liked this episode, consider
sharing it with a friend, teacher, or grownup. Join us next week for a conversation
about Sharing with Duke Stebbins, author and illustrator of A
Little Book About Sharing. A Kids Book About is now A Kids Company About,
empowering a generation of kids through diverse storytelling. Visit akidsco.com and explore
a wealth of books, podcasts, and classes, for kids of all ages. While you're there, check
out A Kids Class About, an all-new education streaming platform
designed for tweens and teens,
focused on careers, life skills, and big ideas. Visit akidsco.com for more information.
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