| Picturing Yourself as a Real Person By Julie Douglas, Family Programs Specialist In my first year of teaching, a second grader stood
tearfully at my desk and said she wished that she had blonde hair like
the girls in the books that she was reading. For a young African-American child
learning to read, she could not always identify with the children in
the picture books that were available to her. Certainly in the
early 80's there were books that featured children of color, but not
many. According to children's librarian Sarah Howard, good picture books are important because they can serve as both "mirrors and windows" to the reader. Children need books in which they can see themselves, and they need books that show how others live. Dr. Donna Rhinesmith, a children's literature professor at Truman State University, agrees. "Children have the right to see their own faces in the books that they read." Rhinesmith also suggests that parents and teachers use multicultural books even if the child does not have personal experience with a person of a different race or ethnicity. Through high quality picture books, biographies, folk tales, and historical fiction, young readers are introduced to cultures very different than their own. When choosing picture books, parents must keep in mind that some are better than others. Simply being classified as a "multicultural book" does not guarantee quality. So how does one choose good books? Here are some tips for selecting multicultural books to use with young children. 1. Start with a good story. Children love books that tell an exciting or interesting story, one with a problem that they understand, and with characters to whom they can relate. They respond to themes such as family, friendship, growing up, learning how to do something new, and going to school. In SUKI’S KIMONO by Chieri Uegaki, Suki faces the challenges of the first day of school. Though most readers probably have never wanted to wear a kimono to school, they will no doubt relate to Suki’s desire to be accepted by her classmates. 2. Reject preachy, over-simplified messages. Avoid books that try to tell the reader what he or she "should" think or feel. 3. Look for books that are free of stereotypes. At best, stereotypical characters are boring to read about. At worst, stereotypes are hurtful. 4. Consider the author or illustrator's unique qualifications to write the book. For example, Missouri author Rachel Crandell's HANDS OF THE MAYA was written after the author had lived with a group of Maya Indians in Belize. Though there is much debate on whether or not a writer can write "outside" of his or her own culture, it is important that an author have some real connection with the culture about which he or she writes. 5. Look at how the characters are portrayed in illustrations. Are the girls only shown as delicate and helpless, or can they be feisty and independent like Patricia McKissack's Flossie in FLOSSIE AND THE FOX? Are characters drawn as individuals, with distinguishing features, or are they simply the same character with different skin and hair color? Are the illustrations disrespectful caricatures? 6. Ask yourself if a child will feel empowered by reading the picture book. One way to tell is to look at how the problem in a book is solved. Does the character grow and change in some way, and thus solve his or her problem? In JINGLE DANCER by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Jenna is disappointed when Grandmother Wolfe tells her there is not enough time to order the special cone-shaped bells that are needed for Jenna’s jingle dance dress. But determined to be a part of the powwow, Jenna finds a solution and dances proudly in a dress that "sings." 7. Does a book try to make a broad generalization about an ethnic group? For example, not all Native Americans live in tipis; not all Irish-Americans have red hair. No one book can represent ALL of the people of a cultural group. People of the same race or ethnic group have vastly different experiences. In Eve Bunting’s PICNIC IN OCTOBER, Mike is embarrassed by his Italian-American grandparents and dreads the annual family get-together. But in DyAnne DiSalvo’s SPAGHETTI PARK, young Angelo enjoys playing Italian bocce with his grandpa and they work together to clean up a neighborhood park. 8. If a book is humorous, does the humor come at the expense of a character because of his race, religion, or gender? 9. Don't relegate multicultural books to an "assigned" time of year. For example, children should read about famous African-Americans throughout the year, not just during Black History Month. Good books that accurately portray Native Americans are not just to be read around Thanksgiving. And February is not the only time that children enjoy hearing folk tales from China. By using multicultural books at only prescribed times, we run the risk of perpetuating stereotypes and emphasizing the differences between cultures instead of the commonalities. 10. Use multicultural books as a springboard for conversations with a child. Answer their questions thoughtfully and honestly. Model respect for others in the way you discuss a book about a culture different than your own. In HOME AT LAST by Susan Middleton Elya, Ana’s family has just moved to the United States from Mexico. Her mother, unable to speak English, relies on Ana to interpret for her in their new home. What would it be like to live in a place where everything was strange and it was difficult to communicate? In what ways is the Patiño family like your own? If you do happen upon a book that depicts another culture in a stereotypical or disrespectful way, use it as a teachable moment. Finding great multicultural books is as easy as visiting your local library or bookstore. Children’s librarians can guide you to the types of books that you are seeking. To do a little research on your own, visit the web sites in the list below. Happy reading! Visit award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s site for a
good list of multicultural books for all ages. Children’s literature scholar Kay Vandergrift has compiled an
amazing list of books on her web site.
Print this list and head to the library! African-American Asian-American Hispanic and Latin-American Native American Muslims/Middle East
|
To Unsubscribe: Click "Reply" and write "Unsubscribe" in the subject field.
Published monthly by the Missouri Humanities Council, a tax-exempt, non-profit
organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities, a Federal
agency.
http://www.mohumanities.org
Phone: (800) 357-0909
Fax: (314) 781-9681
543 Hanley Industrial Court
Suite 201
St. Louis, MO 63144