Multicultural Literature
in the K-8 Classroom
L Taylor
Ocean County Library
Fall 2008
What is multicultural
literature?
An umbrella term that may include
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International Literature
African American Literature
Native American Literature
Hispanic/Latino(a) Literature
Asian/Pan Pacific American Literature
Inclusive Literature (Jewish, GLBT, Arabic, disability, etc.)
Why is it important in the
classroom?
Multicultural Literature …
Expands horizons,
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“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 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 bridges
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“Cultural diversity is a strength for building
powerful learning contexts, not a problem to be
solved. Difference, not sameness, makes a
classroom and society strong.”
(Kaser and Short, 1998)
Multicultural Literature can…
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Provide knowledge or information
Offer varying perspectives
Span the curriculum
Promote or develop an appreciation for diversity
Develop critical thinking skills
Provide enjoyment!
Sonia Nieto (1992) (Sims Bishop, 1997)
What determines cultural
authenticity in literature?
Look for …
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Authentic and balanced characters
A setting consistent with a historical or
contemporary time
Themes, values and illustrations consistent
with those of the specific culture
Rich cultural details
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A celebration of diversity as well as
common human bonds
An in-depth treatment of cultural issues
Characters who interact substantively and
authentically
Minority characters included for a purpose,
not a quota
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A story that invites reflection, critical
analysis and response
A book that meets generally accepted
criteria of quality for its genre
An appealing format and enduring quality
(Source: Sylvia Vardell, TWU 2007)
How can you determine
cultural authenticity?
Look for…
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Authors and illustrators respected
within the culture
Books that have won cultural awards
Well known multicultural publishers
Reviews by persons or groups within the
cultural group
Authors and Illustrators
Selected Authors and Illustrators
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INTERNATIONAL
Mem Fox
Graeme Base
Dick King-Smith
J.K. Rowling
AFRICAN AMERICAN
Mildred Taylor
Virginia Hamilton
Jerry Pinkney
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HISPANIC AMERICAN
Gary Soto
Pat Mora
George Ancona
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NATIVE AMERICAN
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Joseph Bruchac
Paul Goble
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
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ASIAN AMERICAN
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Laurence Yep
Allen Say
Yoshiko Uchida
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INCLUSIVE (OTHER)
Naomi Shihab Nye
Eric Kimmel
Awards
Selected Awards
HISPANIC AMERICAN
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Pura Belpre´
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The Americas Award for
Children’s and Young Adult
Literature
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http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc
/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal
/index.cfm
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http://www.riverabookaward.info/?t=a
non
Coretta Scott King
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http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettas
cottkingbookaward/corettascott.htm
INCLUSIVE
Schneider Family Book Award
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http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CLACS/outreach/a
mericas.html
Tomas Rivera Mexican
American Children’s Book
Award
AFRICAN AMERICAN
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=aw
ards&template=/ContentManagement/Conten
tDisplay.cfm&ContentID=161878
Stonewall Book Awards
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http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/glbtrt
/stonewall/stonewallbook.htm
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NATIVE AMERICAN
Native American Youth
Services Award
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INTERNATIONAL
Hans Christian Andersen
Award
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http://aila.library.sd.gov/activities/yout
hlitaward.htm
http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=273
Mildred L. Batchelder
Award
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http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc
/awardsgrants/bookmedia/batcheldera
ward/batchelderabout/index.cfm
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ASIAN AMERICAN
Asian Pacific American Award
for Literature
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http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/awar
ds.htm
Noted Publishers
Selected multicultural publishers
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INTERNATIONAL
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AFRICAN AMERICAN
Kane/Miller Publishers of
Foreign Children’s Books
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Just Us Books
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http://www.kanemiller.com/
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HISPANIC AMERICAN
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Arte Publico Press
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http://www.latinoteca.com/app-home
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www.justusbooks.com
Jump at the Sun
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http://www.jumpatthesun.com
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ASIAN AMERICAN
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Lee and Low Books
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http://www.leeandlow.com
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NATIVE AMERICAN
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Fulcrum Publishing
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http://www.fulcrumbooks.com/
INCLUSIVE
AWAIR
Arab World and Islamic
Resources and School Services
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http://www.awaironline.org/in
dex.html
Insider Reviews
Selected review sources
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NATIVE AMERICAN
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Oyate
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http://www.oyate.org
ASIAN AMERICAN
Asia for Kids
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http://www.afk.com
INTERNATIONAL
International Board
on Books for Young
People (IBBY)
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www.ibby.org
Additional Resources
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HISPANIC/LATINO(A)
Texas State Library “Día de los
Niños, Día de los Libros”
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http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/n
inos/contents.html
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NATIVE AMERICAN
Cynthia Leitich Smith
 http://www.cynthialeitichs
mith.com/index.html
Using multicultural
literature in the classroom
Ocean County teachers can use
multicultural literature to expand
students’ horizons.
Consider the following
statistics…
Minority population percentages in
Ocean County as compared to the
State of New Jersey
18
16
14
12
10
NJ
Ocean Co
8
6
4
2
0
Black
Asian
Native Hispanic Foreign
Classroom suggestions…
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ART – use picture books
for older readers to
introduce artists or art
techniques
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Frida Kahlo biography,
Javaka Steptoe books
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SOCIAL STUDIES –
use historical fiction to
introduce the minority
viewpoint in important
events
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Birchbark House by Louise
Erdrich , An Innocent
Soldier by Josef Holub,
Samir and Yonatan by
Daniella Carmi
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SCIENCE – use books
that introduce a minority
viewpoint or minority
contribution
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The Earth Dragon Awakes:
The San Francisco
Earthquake of 1906 by
Laurence Yep complements
the study of plate
tectonics, earthquakes
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MATH – use
multicultural books to
introduce counting in the
lower grades
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Just a Minute: A Trickster
Tale and Counting Book by
Yuyi Morales
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LANGUAGE ARTS –
introduce multicultural
books for book reports
assignments, poetry,
theme-related studies
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In Daddy’s Arms by Javaka
Steptoe, The Afterlife by
Gary Soto, A Step from
Heaven by An Na
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FOREIGN
LANGUAGE – use
picture books, poetry or
short stories to introduce
foreign cultures
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Marimba! Animales from A
to Z by Pat Mora, Baseball
in April by Gary Soto
Acknowledgments
Information for this presentation was
adapted from the following sources:
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Dr. Sylvia Vardell’s Multicultural Literature for
Children class, Texas Woman’s University, Summer
2007 www.twu.edu
US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html
TeacherTube www.teachertube.org
Please continue to the final slide
A final argument for the
increased use of multicultural
literature in the classroom…
What is the
Holocaust?
Be sure that sound and internet access is
enabled, then click link
This eye-opening video from TeacherTube ends
the presentation.