Issues in Children’s Literature: Multiculturalism

Joanne de GrootLIS 401

“The most important way for teachers to encourage insightful reading of

multicultural literature is to model that behavior. They need to keep books about other cultures in the classroom

and show that they value such literature” (Mathis, 2001, p. 158).

Multicultural Literature

generally refers to “a body of literature that spans all literary genres but generally focuses on primary characters who are members of underrepresented groups whose racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, or culture historically has been marginalized or misrepresented by the dominant culture” (Gates & Hallmark, 2006, p. 3).

Cultural Authenticity

Many different definitions and no clear consensus on what cultural authenticity really means

Windows, Mirrors, & Sliding Glass Doors

Window of Windows by Leo Reynolds (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/65059879/)

Evaluating Children’s Literature for Cultural AuthenticityThese questions can be used by teachers to evaluate literature, but also can be used by

children when they are taught to critique information they find in books of all kinds.

What are the geographical and social settings for the book, and are they authentic? Students should use nonfiction sources to evaluate this area. Pictures found in sources such as National Geographic are especially good for authenticating geographical settings.

What are the values and beliefs of the people in the book and are they authentic? What are the major events that make up the plot of the story? Are they possible for

the time period and the culture? What are the major conflicts in the book, and are they authentic for the time period? What are the major themes, and are they found in other literature written about the

time period or the people?From: Norton, D. E. (2005). Multicultural children's literature: Through the eyes of many children (2 ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:

Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall. p. 10.

Who should write it?

If the purpose of literature is to liberate, the purpose of authentic multicultural literature is to

help liberate us from all the preconceived stereotypical hang-ups that imprison us within

narrow boundaries. Non-majority readers will be liberated from the invisibility imposed from without, the invisibility that says loudly to

children, “You don’t count”. (Howard, 1991, pp. 92-93)