The Importance of Multicultural Children's Literature

Closing the Gap Between "Us" and "Them"

A six-year-old girl browses the shelves of the children's library, considering all of the available choices carefully. Will she check out Pepita Talks Twice, a picture book about bilingualism? Or Halmoni and the picnic, a story about a Korean-American family in New York City? Lively and engaging stories with memorable characters are one way that she can learn about different cultural perspectives and backgrounds.

Fifty years ago, there was much less cultural diversity represented in children's literature. Not only did characters like Dick and Jane not challenge the accepted status quo, but they were as flat and boring as the pages on which they were printed. Thankfully, younger children today have more options when it comes to their reading material. Most children are exposed to multicultural literature in elementary school. There is also a variety of books available for older elementary school children. Journey of the Sparrows tells the story of a fifteen year old girl who flees El Salvador. Teachers are using books from different cultures to teach concepts in reading and critical thinking. School is not the only place for multicultural books; they also have a place in the home. When parents read to their children, they have an opportunity to discuss the stories with them. This not only makes the experience of reading more meaningful, but it whets children's appetites for books; this is always a good thing!

ERIC digest, an educational magazine, recommends several guidelines for selecting multicultural children's literature. Parents should choose books that portray members of minority groups in a positive way. These books should be realistic, and not perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions about ethnic groups. The stories should also reflect aspects of another culture, which will serve as an educational opportunity for children. One of the best places to begin looking for books is www.multiculturalchildrenslit.com. Not only does this website strive to find books that accurately reflect different cultures, but it lists each book's age level.