Children’s author Greg Soros has spent more than 16 years writing stories that serve a clear dual purpose: to reflect young readers’ inner lives back at them and to open their eyes to the lives of others. This guiding philosophy, which Soros describes as books functioning as both mirrors and windows, shapes every project he undertakes. In a Walker Magazine feature, Greg Soros articulated a concrete editorial philosophy for children’s literature: books should serve as mirrors for readers’ lives and windows into others’ experiences. Grounded in Rudine Sims Bishop’s research, Soros emphasized editorial rigor, design fidelity, and measurable outcomes over abstract representation.

The Mirror Half

For Greg Soros, the mirror aspect of children’s literature means giving young readers stories in which they can genuinely recognize themselves. That recognition goes beyond putting a familiar face on the cover. According to Soros, authentic mirrors must reflect the full spectrum of childhood emotions, from joy and confidence to fear, loneliness, and sadness. “When a child picks up a book and thinks, ‘That’s just like me,’ it creates an immediate connection that makes reading personal and meaningful,” he says. To get those reflections right, Soros conducts school visits, consults child development experts, and works alongside sensitivity readers throughout the writing process. His goal is for every emotion on the page to feel genuine to the young person holding the book.

The Window Half

The window dimension is, in Soros’s view, equally necessary. Children’s books that work as windows place young readers inside lives unlike their own, whether that means exploring a different culture, a different set of abilities, or a challenge the reader has never personally faced. Greg Soros argues that this expansion of perspective is foundational to building empathy. “When a child reads about someone from a different culture, someone with different abilities, or someone facing challenges they’ve never encountered, it expands their understanding of what it means to be human,” he explains.

Soros draws on his background in child development and educational psychology to craft stories that do both things at once. The same book, he points out, can serve as a mirror for one child and a window for another, depending on what each reader brings to the page. Through continued community work and new writing projects, Greg Soros, author of stories built on this dual purpose, remains committed to giving the next generation literature that both celebrates who they are and invites them to understand others. Visit this page for more information.

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