Authenticity and Cultural Respect: Celebrating Saul Gitlin

Children’s picture books have a unique power: they introduce young readers to new worlds, different cultures, and expanded ways of understanding humanity. Saul Gitlin’s “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” represents a particular kind of excellence in children’s literature—a book that combines delightful storytelling with authentic cultural representation and genuine educational value.

A Personal Connection to Culture

Saul Gitlin is an American fluent in Chinese who spent significant time in China, giving him deep personal and cultural knowledge that extends far beyond what most authors bring to international children’s books. This lived experience matters tremendously in children’s literature. When an author has genuine connection to a culture, that authenticity comes through on every page, creating books that educate while entertaining.

The Commitment to Authenticity

What makes Saul’s approach to “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” particularly admirable is his adamant insistence on working with a Chinese illustrator. He understood that authentic cultural representation requires more than just accurate text—it requires visual representation created by someone with cultural insider knowledge. This commitment to authenticity demonstrates Saul’s respect for the culture he was writing about and his understanding that children deserve books that represent cultures accurately and respectfully.

The Power of Authentic Illustration

By insisting on a Chinese illustrator, Saul ensured that the visual elements of his book would reflect genuine cultural understanding. The illustrations wouldn’t just be technically accurate—they would carry the subtle cultural nuances that only someone from within the culture could provide. This decision elevated “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” from a well-intentioned children’s book to an authentically representative resource that children could trust and learn from.

Educational Value Meets Storytelling

“Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” succeeds because it balances educational content with genuine storytelling. The book teaches children about Chinese culture, geography, and traditions while telling a story that engages their imagination and emotions. This balance is difficult to achieve—educational content can easily become didactic and boring, while pure storytelling can lack substance. Saul managed to create a book that does both beautifully.

The Importance of Cultural Respect

Publishing “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” meant supporting an author who approached cultural representation with genuine respect and commitment to authenticity. It meant recognizing that children’s literature has a responsibility to represent cultures accurately and respectfully. In an era when cultural appropriation and inaccurate representation are serious concerns, Saul’s approach—working with a Chinese illustrator and drawing on his own lived experience—represents the kind of thoughtful, respectful approach that children’s literature needs. 

Building Bridges Through Literature

Children’s picture books have tremendous power to build bridges between cultures. When children encounter authentic, respectful representations of cultures different from their own, they develop understanding, empathy, and curiosity about the wider world. “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” contributes to this bridge-building by introducing young readers to Chinese culture through a story that respects and celebrates that culture.

The Author’s Dedication

Saul’s commitment to authenticity—insisting on a Chinese illustrator despite the additional complexity this created—demonstrates his dedication to creating a book that truly serves its purpose of introducing children to Chinese culture. This kind of dedication to quality and authenticity is exactly what Brooklyn Writers Press values in author partnerships.

Supporting Diverse Voices in Children’s Literature

Publishing Saul’s work meant supporting diverse voices in children’s literature—voices that bring authentic cultural knowledge and genuine commitment to respectful representation. Children’s literature benefits tremendously when authors from within cultures tell their own stories and when publishers support that work with the same professional standards we bring to all our publications.

The Value of Lived Experience

Saul’s combination of lived experience in China, fluency in Chinese language, and commitment to authentic illustration created a book that could only have been created by someone with his particular background and dedication. This recognition of the value of lived experience influences how Brooklyn Writers Press approaches all publishing decisions, particularly in areas where authentic representation matters deeply.

Gratitude for Commitment to Authenticity

To Saul: Thank you for your commitment to authentic cultural representation in children’s literature. Thank you for insisting on working with a Chinese illustrator and for bringing your lived experience and cultural knowledge to “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China.” Your book demonstrates that children’s literature can be both entertaining and educational, both delightful and respectful. Your willingness to invest in authenticity—even when it created additional complexity—shows your genuine commitment to creating a book that honors the culture it represents. “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” represents the kind of children’s literature that builds bridges between cultures and introduces young readers to the wider world with respect and genuine care. Brooklyn Writers Press is grateful for the opportunity to have published your work and for the reminder that authentic representation in children’s literature matters deeply.

Next in our “Celebrating Our Authors” series: We’ll continue honoring the diverse voices that make Brooklyn Writers Press a publisher committed to meaningful literature.

Discover Saul Gitlin’s “Tee-Dog and The Magic Globe: China” and explore our complete catalog at brooklynwriterspress.com