Using Multicultural Literature in the Pre-K to 2nd Grade

Classroomby Michelle Chenot

Special Topics 5903-21

WHAT?

• Multicultural literature is about books dealing with American society to help create a positive understanding of others.– African American– Asian American– Hispanic American– Native American– Special Needs

“The function of multicultural literature is to ensure that students have the opportunity to reflect on it in all its rich diversity, to prompt them to ask questions about who we are now as a society and how

we arrived at our present state, and to inspire them to actions that will

create and maintain social justice.” Harris, p.19

WHY?

To Foster an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of people who seem at first glance different from the reader

Present a positive and reassuring representation of a reader’s own cultural group.

Introduce readers to literary traditions of different world cultures or cultural groups in the United States.

“If children’s literature is to have an impact in schools, it

cannot be separated from the rest of the curriculum”. Harris, p78.

WHEN?

• 1949, First African American to appear on Newbery list, Arna Bontemps, Story of the Negro.

• 1950, First Hispanic American Protagonist to win the Caldecott Award, Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi.

• 1952, First Native American author to win Newbery Award, Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark.

• 1953, First Latino author to win Newberry Award, And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold.

• 1960’s- Move to create literature to be more,

“culturally conscious”.• 1966- The Council on Interracial Books for

Children (CIBC) was founded to help promote and get into print the works of authors and illustrators of color, especially African Americans.

• 1969-the American Library Association (ALA) established the Coretta Scott King Award to recognize distinguished authors and illustrators of African Americans.

• 1974- The National Council for the Social Studies created the Carter G. Woodson Award for the most distinguished children’s books that are on topics related to ethnic minorities and race relations.

• 1975- First African American to win the

Newbery Award, M.C. Higgins, the Great by Virgina Hamilton.

• 1990- First Chinese American to win the Caldecott Medal, Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China, by Ed Young.

• 1995-First Hispanic to win the Caledcott Medal, Smoky Night by David Diaz.

• 1996- ALA established the Pura Belpre Award to recognize the work of Latino/Latina writers and illustrators.

HOW?Key Ingredients

Positive images that leave lasting impressions, Accurate factual information that enjoyable to read. Cultural authenticity/cultural specificity. Meaningful stories that reflect a range of values and lifestyles. A clear and positive perspective for people of that culture in the 21st

century. Nonfiction that is relevant to today’s issues Material that is self-affirming. Strong three dimensional characters. Attractive graphics Durability and affordability A vehicle that opens knowledge, information seeking, and self-

discovery.

African American Culture• “African American” is generally preferred when

referring to this cultural category• Most immigrants may prefer to be called by their

home country, as well as their American country, for example, Nigerian American or Jamaican American

• Other possibilities– Afro-American– Black– Negro– Negro American

• Based primarily on Family and great men and women in the recent past. Not a lot of science fiction or fantasy.

• Average number of African American books published in the United States every year is around 50.

• Award for African American Literature: Coretta Scott King Award

Publishers & Resources

• Just Us Books http://www.justusbooks.com

• Bookstores in the Dallas/Ft Worth area:– Black Images- 230 Wynnewood, Dallas, TX

http://www.blackimages.com– The Black Bookworm- 605 Berry Street, Ft

Worth, TX

African American Books for Prek-2nd grade

Clinton, Catherine, ed. 1998. I, too, Sing America. Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. Houghton.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. 2000. Satchel Paige. Illustrated by James Ransome. Simon & Schuster.

Hopkinson, Deborah. 1999. A Band of Angels: A Story Inspired by the Jubliee Singers. Illustrated by Raul Colon. Atheneum.

Howard, Elizabeth Fitzgerald. 2000. Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Simon & Schuster.

McKissack, Patricia. 1988. Mirandy and Brother Wind. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Holt.

Pinkey, Andrea. 1996. Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Harcourt.

Schroeder, Alan. 1996. Minty: A Story of Harriet Tubman. Illustrated by Jerry Pickney. Dial.

(These are just a few samples of this cultures books, there are others available)

Asian American Culture

• The term “Oriental” is no longer socially correct.• Compromised of over 50 different ethnic groups

who share no common history, language, religion, or culture.

• Few than 10 children’s books a year are published by or about Asian Americans.

• “Positive” Stereotypes are just as damaging as negative ones, such as “an Asian is good at math”.

Publishers & Resources

• Asia for Kids http://www.afk.com

• Lee and Low Books http://leeandlow.com

• Polychrome Publishing Corporation

• Shen’s Books http://shens.com

• Tsai Fong Books http://bookswindow.com

• Kamishibai for Kids http://kamishibai.com

Asian American titles for Pre-K to 2nd grade

Ho, Minfong. 1996. Hush: A Thai Lullaby. Orchard.Lee, Milly. 2001. Earthquake. Illustrated by Yangsook

Choi. Frances Foster Farrar, Straus & Giroux.Say, Allen. 1993. Grandfather’s Journey. Houghton

Mifflin.Wong, Janet. 2000. The Trip Back Home. Illustrated by

Bo Jia. Harcourt.Young, Ed. 2001. Monkey King. HarperCollins.

(These are just a few samples of this cultures books, there are others available).

Hispanic American Culture (Latino)

• Do not use the generic label of “Mexican” or “Spanish” for all people from the Hispanic culture.

• Mexican Americans are the fastest growing group in the United States.

• Most literature is about holidays/special days, migrants, immigrants, and foods. (more fiction than non fiction)

• An average number of 19 books published every year that are by or about Hispanic Americans.

• Awards for Hispanic Children’s Literature– The Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature– Pura Belpre Award– Thomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award

Publishers & Resources

• Arte Publico Press 1-800-633-ARTE• Del Sol Books, Inc. 888-335-7651• Imported Books 2025 W. Clarendon St, PO Box

4414, Dallas, TX 75208• Mariuccia Iaconi Book Imports

http://www.mibibook.com

• http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/Id/Publications/ninos/

Hispanic American titles for Pre-K to 2nd grade

Alarcon, Francisco X. 1997. Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children’s Book Press.

Anacona, George. 1993. Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead. Lothrop.

Dorros, Arthur. 1991. Abuela. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven. Dutton.

Lomas Garza, Carmen. 1996. In My Family/En mi familia. Children’s Book Press.

Mora, Pat. 1992. A Birthday Basket for Tia. Macmillian.Soto, Gary. 2000. Chato and the Party Animals. Illustrated by

Susan Guevara. Putnam.These are just a few samples of this cultures books, there are others available)

Native American Culture

• In the U.S., there are some 500 different tribal groups, 308 of which are recognized by the government.

• More than half of the Native US population reside in six states: OK, CA, AZ, NM, AK, WA.

• In 1995, 98.5% of Native American literature was written by non-native authors.

• There is currently no literary award specifically for this culture group.

• Many young Native people were forbidden to speak their Native languages, and, as a result, only 206 of the 600 languages that once existed are currently in use.

Publishers & Resources

• Oyate http://www.oyate.org• Greenfield Press http://greenfieldreview.org/• Falcrum Publishing

http://fulcrum-resources.com/index.html• Native American newspapers

http://www.nativeculture.com/lisamitten/media.html

Native American Books for Pre-K to 2nd Grade

Bruchac J and Bruchac J. 2004. Racoon's Last Race. Dial. (also Chipmunk Got His Stripes and Turtle’s Race with Beaver)

Cohen, Carol. 1988. The Mud Pony. Illustrated by Shonto Begay. Scholastic.

Dorris, Michael. 1996. Sees Behind Trees. Hyperion.Goble, Paul. 2002. Mystic Horse. HarperCollins.Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk, ed. 1989. Dancing

Teepees: Poems of American Indian Youth. Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. Holiday House.

These are just a few samples of this cultures books, there are others available)

Special Needs

• When referring to the child, always put the person first, disability second, for example, “A child with Autism”, not an “autistic child”.

• Includes one out of seven Americans• 1990- American Disabilities Act (ADA)

promotes the importance of reading books about disabilities.

Publishers & Resources

• Albert Whitman and Company 6340 Oakton St., Morton Grove, IL 60053

• DisAblity.Gov http://www.disability.gov/

Special Needs titles for PreK to 2nd grade

Clifton, Lucille. 1980. My Friend Jacob. Dutton. (MR)Dwight, Laura. 1997. We Can Do It! Star Bright Books. (special

needs)Fraustino, Lisa Row. 2001. The Hickory Chair. Illustrated by

Benny Andrews. Scholastic. (Blindness)Gernis, Meg. 2000. ABC for You and Me. Photographs by

Shirley Leamon Green. Albert Whitman. (Down’s syndrome)Millman, Issac. 2000. Moses Goes to School. Farrar. (Deafness)Yin. 2002. Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor.

Philomel. (wheelchair)These are just a few samples of this cultures books, there are others available)

Resources: Fox, D. and Short, K. (2003). Stories Matter:

The Complexity of Cultural Authenticity in Children's Literature. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. ISBN: 0814147745.

Harris.V. (editor) (1997). Using Multiethnic

Literature in the K-8 Classroom. Norwood, MA: Christopher Gordon. ISBN: 0926842609.

Jacobs, J. and Tunnell, M. (2004). Children's

Literature, Briefly (third edition). Merrill. ISBN: 0130499242.