MulticulturalMulticultural Literature in the K-8 Literature in the K-8

ClassroomClassroom

L TaylorL TaylorOcean County Library Ocean County Library Fall 2008Fall 2008

WWhat is multicultural hat is multicultural literature?literature?

An An umbrellaumbrella term that may term that may includeinclude

International LiteratureInternational Literature African American LiteratureAfrican American Literature Native American LiteratureNative American Literature Hispanic/Latino(a) LiteratureHispanic/Latino(a) Literature Asian/Pan Pacific American LiteratureAsian/Pan Pacific American Literature Inclusive Literature Inclusive Literature (Jewish, GLBT, Arabic,

disability, etc.)

Why is it important in Why is it important in the classroom?the classroom?

Multicultural Literature …

Expands horizons,Expands horizons,

“In schools often segregated by lines of color and class, literature may present one of the few opportunities for all students to encounter people of different racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups.” (Rudine Simms Bishop)

Affirms identityAffirms identity,, “We have a whole generation growing up

without ever seeing themselves in print. What does it mean if you don’t see yourself in books? There is a strong connection between images and identity” (Pat Mora)

Builds bridgesBuilds bridges

““Cultural diversity is a strength for building Cultural diversity is a strength for building powerful learning contexts, not a problem to powerful learning contexts, not a problem to be solved. Difference, not sameness, makes a be solved. Difference, not sameness, makes a classroom and society strong.” classroom and society strong.” (Kaser and Short, 1998)(Kaser and Short, 1998)

Multicultural Literature can…can… Provide knowledge or informationProvide knowledge or information Offer varying perspectivesOffer varying perspectives Span the curriculumSpan the curriculum Promote or develop an appreciation for Promote or develop an appreciation for

diversitydiversity Develop critical thinking skillsDevelop critical thinking skills Provide enjoyment!Provide enjoyment!

Sonia Nieto (1992) (Sims Bishop, 1997)Sonia Nieto (1992) (Sims Bishop, 1997)

What determines cultural What determines cultural authenticity in literature?authenticity in literature?

Look for …Look for …

Authentic and balanced charactersAuthentic and balanced characters A setting consistent with a historical A setting consistent with a historical

or contemporary timeor contemporary time Themes, values and illustrations Themes, values and illustrations

consistent with those of the specific consistent with those of the specific cultureculture

Rich cultural detailsRich cultural details

A celebration of diversity as well as A celebration of diversity as well as common human bondscommon human bonds

An in-depth treatment of cultural An in-depth treatment of cultural issuesissues

Characters who interact substantively Characters who interact substantively and authenticallyand authentically

Minority characters included for a Minority characters included for a purpose, not a quotapurpose, not a quota

A story that invites reflection, critical A story that invites reflection, critical analysis and responseanalysis and response

A book that meets generally accepted A book that meets generally accepted criteria of quality for its genrecriteria of quality for its genre

An appealing format and enduring An appealing format and enduring quality quality

(Source: Sylvia Vardell, TWU 2007)(Source: Sylvia Vardell, TWU 2007)

How can you determine How can you determine cultural authenticity?cultural authenticity?

Look for…Look for…

Authors and illustratorsAuthors and illustrators respected respected within the culturewithin the culture

Books that have won Books that have won cultural cultural awardsawards

Well known Well known multicultural multicultural publisherspublishers

ReviewsReviews by persons or groups within by persons or groups within the cultural group the cultural group

Authors and Authors and IllustratorsIllustrators

INTERNATIONAL Mem FoxMem Fox Graeme BaseGraeme Base Dick King-SmithDick King-Smith J.K. RowlingJ.K. Rowling

AFRICAN AMERICAN

Mildred TaylorMildred Taylor Virginia HamiltonVirginia Hamilton Jerry PinkneyJerry Pinkney

HISPANIC AMERICAN

Gary SotoGary Soto Pat MoraPat Mora George AnconaGeorge Ancona

Selected Authors and Illustrators

NATIVE AMERICANNATIVE AMERICAN Joseph BruchacJoseph Bruchac Paul GoblePaul Goble Virginia Driving Hawk SneveVirginia Driving Hawk Sneve

ASIAN AMERICANASIAN AMERICAN Laurence YepLaurence Yep Allen SayAllen Say Yoshiko UchidaYoshiko Uchida

INCLUSIVE (OTHER)INCLUSIVE (OTHER) Naomi Shihab NyeNaomi Shihab Nye Eric KimmelEric Kimmel

AwardsAwards

Selected AwardsSelected Awards

HISPANIC AMERICANHISPANIC AMERICAN Pura Belpre´Pura Belpre´

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/bookmedia/belpremedal/index.cfmindex.cfm

The Americas Award for The Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Children’s and Young Adult LiteratureLiterature

http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CLACS/http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CLACS/outreach/americas.htmloutreach/americas.html

Tomas Rivera Mexican Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book American Children’s Book AwardAward

http://www.riverabookaward.info/?http://www.riverabookaward.info/?t=anont=anon

AFRICAN AFRICAN AMERICANAMERICAN

Coretta Scott KingCoretta Scott King http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corehttp://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/core

ttascottkingbookaward/corettascottascottkingbookaward/corettascott.htmtt.htm

INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE Schneider Family Book Schneider Family Book

AwardAward http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Sectiohttp://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Sectio

n=awards&template=/ContentManagemn=awards&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=161ent/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=161878878

Stonewall Book AwardsStonewall Book Awards http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/

glbtrt/stonewall/glbtrt/stonewall/stonewallbook.htmstonewallbook.htm

NATIVE AMERICANNATIVE AMERICAN Native American Youth Native American Youth

Services AwardServices Award http://aila.library.sd.gov/activities/http://aila.library.sd.gov/activities/

youthlitaward.htmyouthlitaward.htm

INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen

AwardAward http://www.ibby.org/index.php?idhttp://www.ibby.org/index.php?id

=273=273

Mildred L. Batchelder Mildred L. Batchelder AwardAward

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/batchelderaward/bookmedia/batchelderaward/batchelderabout/index.cfmbatchelderabout/index.cfm

ASIAN AMERICANASIAN AMERICAN Asian Pacific American Asian Pacific American

Award for LiteratureAward for Literature http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/

awards.htmawards.htm

Noted PublishersNoted Publishers

INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL Kane/Miller Publishers of Kane/Miller Publishers of

Foreign Children’s BooksForeign Children’s Books http://www.kanemiller.com/http://www.kanemiller.com/

HISPANIC HISPANIC AMERICANAMERICAN

Arte Publico PressArte Publico Press http://www.latinoteca.com/app-http://www.latinoteca.com/app-

homehome

AFRICAN AMERICANAFRICAN AMERICAN Just Us BooksJust Us Books

www.justusbooks.comwww.justusbooks.com

Jump at the SunJump at the Sun http://www.jumpatthesun.comhttp://www.jumpatthesun.com

Selected multicultural publishers

ASIAN AMERICANASIAN AMERICAN Lee and Low BooksLee and Low Books

http://www.leeandlow.comhttp://www.leeandlow.com NATIVE AMERICANNATIVE AMERICAN Fulcrum PublishingFulcrum Publishing

http://www.fulcrum-http://www.fulcrum-books.com/books.com/

INCLUSIVEINCLUSIVE AWAIRAWAIR

Arab World and Islamic Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Resources and School ServicesServices http://http://

www.awaironline.org/www.awaironline.org/index.htmlindex.html

Insider ReviewsInsider Reviews

NATIVE AMERICANNATIVE AMERICAN OyateOyate

http://www.oyate.orghttp://www.oyate.org

ASIAN AMERICANASIAN AMERICAN Asia for KidsAsia for Kids

http://www.afk.comhttp://www.afk.com

INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL International Board International Board

on Books for Young on Books for Young People (IBBY)People (IBBY) www.ibby.orgwww.ibby.org

Selected review sources

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

HISPANIC/HISPANIC/LATINO(A)LATINO(A)

Texas State Texas State LibraryLibrary “Día de “Día de los Niños, Día de los los Niños, Día de los Libros”Libros”

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projechttp://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ninos/contents.htmlts/ninos/contents.html

NATIVE AMERICANNATIVE AMERICAN Cynthia Leitich SmithCynthia Leitich Smith

http://http://www.cynthialeitichsmitwww.cynthialeitichsmith.com/index.htmlh.com/index.html

Using multicultural Using multicultural literature in the literature in the

classroomclassroom

Ocean County teachers can Ocean County teachers can use multicultural literature to use multicultural literature to expand students’ horizons.expand students’ horizons.

Consider the following Consider the following statistics…statistics…

Minority population Minority population percentages in Ocean County percentages in Ocean County as compared to the State of as compared to the State of

New JerseyNew Jersey

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Black Asian Native Hispanic Foreign

NJOcean Co

Classroom suggestions…Classroom suggestions…

ARTART – – use picture use picture books for older books for older readers to introduce readers to introduce artists or art artists or art techniquestechniques Frida Kahlo biography, Frida Kahlo biography,

Javaka Steptoe booksJavaka Steptoe books

SOCIAL STUDIESSOCIAL STUDIES – – use historical fiction use historical fiction to introduce the to introduce the minority viewpoint in minority viewpoint in important eventsimportant events Birchbark House Birchbark House by by

Louise ErdrichLouise Erdrich ,, An An Innocent Soldier Innocent Soldier by by Josef HolubJosef Holub, Samir and , Samir and Yonatan Yonatan by Daniella by Daniella CarmiCarmi

SCIENCESCIENCE – use – use books that introduce a books that introduce a minority viewpoint or minority viewpoint or minority contributionminority contribution The Earth Dragon The Earth Dragon

Awakes: The San Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of Francisco Earthquake of 1906 1906 by Laurence Yep by Laurence Yep complements the study complements the study of plate tectonics, of plate tectonics, earthquakes earthquakes

MATHMATH – – use multicultural books to introduce counting in the lower grades Just a Minute: A Just a Minute: A

Trickster Tale and Trickster Tale and Counting Book Counting Book by Yuyi Morales

LANGUAGE ARTSLANGUAGE ARTS

– – introduce introduce multicultural books for multicultural books for book reports book reports assignments, poetry, assignments, poetry, theme-related studiestheme-related studies In Daddy’s ArmsIn Daddy’s Arms by by

Javaka Steptoe, Javaka Steptoe, The The Afterlife Afterlife by Gary Soto, by Gary Soto, A A Step from Heaven Step from Heaven by by An NaAn Na

FOREIGN FOREIGN LANGUAGELANGUAGE – use – use picture books, poetry picture books, poetry or short stories to or short stories to introduce foreign introduce foreign culturescultures Marimba! Animales

from A to Z by Pat by Pat Mora, Mora, Baseball in AprilBaseball in April by Gary Sotoby Gary Soto

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

Information for this presentation Information for this presentation was adapted from the following was adapted from the following

sources:sources:

Dr. Sylvia Vardell’s Multicultural Literature for Dr. Sylvia Vardell’s Multicultural Literature for Children class, Texas Woman’s University, Children class, Texas Woman’s University, Summer 2007Summer 2007 www.twu.edu www.twu.edu

US Census BureauUS Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.htmlhttp://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html

TeacherTubeTeacherTube www.teachertube.orgwww.teachertube.org

Please continue to the final slidePlease continue to the final slide

A final argument for the A final argument for the increased use of increased use of

multicultural literature in the multicultural literature in the classroom…classroom…

What is the Holocaust?Be sure that sound and internet access is Be sure that sound and internet access is

enabled, then click linkenabled, then click link

This eye-opening video from TeacherTube ends the presentation.