Holding Tongues

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the head of a freshly minted children’s literature scholar? Read Maria Anto’s satirical zine Holding Tongues and find a recipe for a perfectly agentic child, a new addition to Rudine Sims Bishop’s sliding glass doors, and the latest #OwnVoices publication. Read the whole zine here.

Some of the most loved children’s literature is sarcastic and even grim. Holding Tongues aims to honor these qualities at a time when children’s literature research seems to favor the hopeful and didactic. Maria began writing these short satires as a way to cope with the existential stress of writing a master’s dissertation (and the general angst of being a 20-something-year-old). She reflects critically on children’s literature as a field of study, and us, the scholars who live and breathe it. The result of these musings is this beautifully hand-drawn zine, Holding Tongues. It exists in a limited print-edition, but we at SLIDING not only believe in sharing our knowledge but also making art as accessible as possible. Below you will find a digitalised and transcribed copy of the zine.

Images and Transcripts

1/8 Title: Holding Tongues

2/8 My Degree: Will you be a teacher? / Or maybe, write some books? / I bet you’re really great with kids / Wait…. why are you giving me THAT LOOK?

3/8 The Perfect Recipe [for a child]: – 2 (heaping) cups of agency – 100g Waldorf soil – 250ml plant-based milk -sunlight – ^ equal parts sunscreen – an appreciation of Victorian lit (to taste); 1. Mix and bake until ready. Should be moist. Service size: too many, and yet not enough.

4/8 #OwnVoices: Hi! I’m here to promote my #ownvoices story, I AM (REALLY) THE WALRUS, published by Penguin. No ‘goo-goo-g’joob’ business here, only authentic sea adventures straight from the horse’s mouth. Critics are calling it “fantastic.” #ownvoices

5/8 On Collaboration: Once upon a time, there was a very confident and well-adjusted… TOILET. They overcame their fear of the flushing sound by…. POOPING ITSELF. Fin.

6/8 Revolving Doors: Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop famously said that children’s literature can be “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.” I’d like to add revolving doors to her analogy. You know, when [children’s literature] sends you into a spiral?

7/8 Dear Future Child: This is your mother. Your father and I — by God may we know who he is — only want what is best for you. That means no JK Rowling, no Jeff Kinney, and no David Walliams. And heavens to Besty, NO ENID BLYTON… Unless you are doing peer (mother) reviewed research. I put that celebrity authored picturebook your aunt sent into the recycling, but you still have to send her a thank you note. Cry now, but you’ll thank me later. Love, Mother Dearest <3. P.S. Would it hurt you to make some diverse friends???

8/8 Back Cover: By M. Anto

Holding Tongues in its original color.