An Interview with Lesléa Newman: A Punchy New Heather, Dolly Parton, and Orange is the New Black

This interview with Lesléa Newman took place on Monday, September 22, 2014. Newman, while quite prolific, is probably best known for her children's picture book, Heather Has Two Mommies, initially published in 1989. Heather became the cultural touchstone in discussions of not only lesbianism and children's literature, but book challenges and censorship, as well. In this interview, Newman speaks about the evolution of Heather and her various editions, new frontiers in both children's literature and representations of lesbians, identity politics and authorship, transgender issues and children's literature, and the continued need for diversity in literature for young readers.