Multicultural and International Books-chapter 15: Children’s Literature, Briefly-

Multicultural Books:

• Xenophobia-the mistrust or fear of people who are strangers.-parents and society may purposely or inadvertently program children to mistrust, fear, or even hate certain groups of people who are unlike them.-We, as teachers, need to teach about the differences & similarities between people.

*Children of minority cultures need books that reflect pride in their heritage.

*All children need books that sensitize them to people from cultural groups different than their own.

Judging Multicultural Literature• Cultural Authenticity: those from within the culture feel that a book has

accurately and honestly reflected their experiences and viewpoints.

• Types of multicultural books: folktales, biographies, historical novels…-general categories of books about people of color: neutral: characters from cultural minorites but about other topicsgeneric: characters representing a cultural group but few developing detailsspecific: specific cultural details that help define characters , themes evident,

artwork expresses many of the cultural details, authentic

International Books• These books can help children gain an appreciation and understanding of gloabal

societies.• Most common: English-language titles written and published in other English-

speaking countries such as United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.• Others: translated books are less plentiful but growing. They are written in

different countries and translated for publication in English.*consider the quality of the translation

-must maintain the flavor of the country but be readable and fluent. Also, not too Americanized!