When we want to write or make art about big topics, it can feel overwhelming to find an entry point into the information.
Literature and Illustration are radical
What makes a topic taboo? What makes a children's book an activism book? And how can I make my kidlit art and writing center around complicated topics?
In this 30-minute lecture, critically acclaimed author and illustrator Lily Williams walks you through what it means to make activist work for kids. Lily's award-winning work for kids has covered controversial topics like the trophic cascade, endangered species, habitat loss, climate change, menstruation, mental illness, and LGBTQIA+ issues. Through her children's books, graphic novels, and short films, Lily hasn't shied away from complicated topics that adults find difficult to handle.
This lecture will make you feel more at ease approaching complex topics and empowered to use your voice to make a change. If you've been trying to figure out how to approach a topic, but are overwhelmed on how to start, then this lecture is for you!
What's in this course?
30-minute lecture
Lily Williams walks you through taboo, activism, your passions, and your voice, with a brief dash of illustration history in a densely packed 30-minute lecture.
Two Writing Prompts
One writing prompt for picture books and one writing prompt for either middle-grade or young-adult books will help you jumpstart your activism-based book.
One Downloadable Worksheet
A voice-based worksheet will help you navigate finding support for your project, and help you answer tough questions about if you should be the person writing on this topic.
Testimonials
"I've always found books that push conventional boundaries to be the most memorable and impactful; why shouldn't it be that way for children's books, too? Lily's class has inspired me to lean into discomfort and challenged me to examine "why" I write. My stories clicked when I started writing about topics I feel passionate about. This class came at the perfect time because there is a topic I have wanted to write about for a long time, but I have felt it may be "too much" for younger kids. However, this class has instilled in me the courage to lean into the discomfort and trust that combining passion, honesty, and research will create a story that can make a significant impact."
- Andrea C.
Example Curriculum
Meet Your Instructor!
Lily Williams is an author, illustrator, and storyteller who seeks to inspire change through education. Her work covers many topics, from the trophic cascade in the award-winning animated documentary short film FINconceivable and critically acclaimed award-winning If Animals Disappeared nonfiction picture book series, to menstrual equity in the LA Times Book Prize finalist and Eisner Nominated graphic novel, Go With The Flow, to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in her My O.C.D. Story and I’m So O.C.D. That… comics and upcoming graphic novel Exposures (First Second). Lily believes in the power of making information fun, educational, and accessible for all audiences.
Lily grew up in Northern California where she graduated from California College of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Animation. She spent time working in feature film animation in Los Angeles before becoming a freelance illustrator. In addition to public speaking engagements, Lily teaches kids of all ages in a variety of settings through University classes, public school, and online.
When she isn’t creating, Lily can be found dreaming about the smell of cold winter air, listening for the sound of airplanes on a rainy day, and perfecting her gluten-free waffle recipe. Lily lives in Colorado with her husband and fellow illustrator, C. Grey Hawkins, and their rescue rabbit.
