Allie Jane Bruce
Doctoral Student
Allie Jane Bruce is a doctoral student in the Language & Literacy program at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Her research is located at the intersection of visual literacy, early childhood, and race & racism; she is interested in how young children process and make meaning of racial content and messaging in picture books.
Before beginning her PhD, Allie was the children’s librarian at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City. There, she co-developed the Loudness in the Library curriculum, which empowers middle school students to think critically about identity and bias. Allie served on the 2016 Newbery Committee for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature and numerous other children’s literature award committees. She also cocreated the blog Reading While White: Working For Racial Diversity and Inclusion in Books for Children and Teens.
Advisor: Katherine Frankel
Pronouns: she/her
Education
MLIS, New York State K-12 Teacher Certification, Library Media Specialist, Pratt Institute
BA, English Literature, Minor in Psychology, Northwestern University
Courses
LS 671 Multicultural Children's Literature (Instructor of Record) LR 551 Reading Development, Assessment, and Instruction in the Elementary School (TA)
ED 431 Child Policy (TA)
Research
Research interests: Visual literacy, early childhood, race & racism; cognitive psychology, race, and essentialism; how young children process and make meaning from racial content in images; best practices for antiracist education at all ages.
Selected Publications
Bruce, A.J. (2022). Grow With Loudness in the School Library. In J. Stivers (Ed.) Include. (39-48). Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.
Bruce, A.J. (2016). Diversity and ALSC Book Award Evaluation. In The 2016 Guide to the Newbery and Caldecott Awards. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.
Bruce, A.J. (2015). On Being White: A Raw, Honest Conversation. Children and Libraries, 13(3), 3-6. https://doi.org/10.5860/cal.13n3.3
Wahi, A., Bruce, A.J., & Steinfeld, J. (2015). Loudness in the Library: Empowering Students to Think Critically About Identity and Bias. Progressive Education in Context IV. New York, NY: Bank Street College of Education. https://educate.bankstreet.edu/progressive/15
Bruce, A. J. (2014). School librarian talks to students about “whitewashing” children’s book covers. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/bank-street-school-librarian-shares-her-year-long-lesson-in-diversity-in-childrens-books
Selected Presentations
Bruce, A.J. (2025). Young Children, Picture Books, and Race: A Systematic Literature Review. World Literacy Summit, Oxford, U.K.
Bruce, A.J. (2023). “I Don't Even Need to Be Here!”: A Teacher Reflects on Changes in her Classroom After Adjusting a “Boxed” Curriculum to Feature a Carefully Selected, Social-Justice-Oriented Classroom Library. Massachusetts Reading Association Conference, Boston, MA.
Jiménez, L.M., Beckert, B., & Bruce, A.J. (2022). How Children's and Young Adult Book Lists Stack Up as Teacher Tools. American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.
Steiner, M., Watson, R., Bruce, A.J., & McCurtis, K. (2019). Talking with Kids about Race: A “How To” Workshop. American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Bruce, A.J. & Wahi, A. (2016). Loudness in the Library: Talking Book Covers, Whitewashing, and Racism. Library Association of the City University of New York (LACUNY) Institute, New York, NY.