Multicultural Children’s Literature Janine D. Jamison North Carolina Central University Fall 2010 Children’s Resources & Services

Theme & artwork for the 2011 Collaborative Summer Reading Program for children in most public libraries.

Multicultural literature is important for children to understand, because it allows them to embrace the culture of others, as well as teach them about the ways and customs of other cultures. Most multicultural literature includes the native language of the particular culture, allowing children to learn various phrases in another language. Children must understand that the world is made up of a diversity of people from all walks of life.

CULTURAL GROUPS Japanese Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, & War- Yukio Tsuchiya Hispanic Bread is for Baking- David & Phillis Gershator Chinese In the Snow- Huy Voun Lee The following books do not present any stereotypical generalizations about the ethnic group being presented.

Yukio Tsuchiya tells the true, sad & powerful tale of three elephants: John, Tonky, & Wanly of the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan who were sentenced to death during World War II. Because Tokyo was being bombed daily, citizens feared that zoo animals would become dangerous, leaving the zookeepers no choice but to poison & later starve these last animals of the zoo. Tsuchiya said he wrote this story “to let children know about the grief, fear, and sadness war produces, and that war affects not only human beings, but also innocent animals that don’t understand war. “ This story has been read annually since 1951 over Japanese radio to commemorate the surrender of Japan in World War II. Appropriate for children ages 9-12.

How can children relate? Able to empathize with the death of the animals. Allows them to see ALL aspects of war. Able to use this book to teach about World War II from the Japanese perspective. Allows them to relay their feelings about war.

Americans David & Phillis Gershator tell the Guatemalan tale of a young boy & his mamacita. Mamacita is trying to teach the young boy through song the importance of cleaning his plate, eating his Bread, and not being wasteful. She Constantly sings in Spanish: “El pan es para comer El pan es para la vida No tires el pan Ay, ay! Vida mia.” Which means, the bread is to eat for life & nourishment. *The Gershator’s were inspired to write this book from a Spanish song with the phrase “no tires pan” which means clean your plate. Appropriate for children ages 3-7.

How can children relate? Can rhythmically learn Spanish from the bilingual text. Can learn the importance of eating all your food, and not being wasteful. Able to embrace Hispanic culture through colorful, imaginative illustrations. Sheet music to Spanish phrase repeated throughout the story is on last page with the words and music created by the authors.

Huy Voun Lee writes about how a young boy, Xiao Ming and his mother go for a walk on a snowy day. Xiao Ming’s mother takes a stick from a tree and teaches him to write Chinese characters in the snow. She teaches him four basic words: tree, snow, sun, & moon. Xiao Ming is excited to learn these characters, because to him, the Chinese words look like pictures in the snow. Appropriate for children ages 4-8.

How can children relate? Introduces children to one of the oldest picture-languages in the world. Offers pronunciation of traditional Mandarin Chinese. Children can attempt to recreate the writing of the Chinese characters. Allows children to embrace traditional Chinese culture.

RESOURCES Gershator, P. & G. (1995). Bread is for eating. New York: Henry Holt & Company, Inc. Tsuchiya, Yukio. (1951). Faithful elephants: a true story of animals, people, and war. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Voun Lee, H. (1995). In the snow. New York: Henry Holt & Company, Inc.

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING MY PRESENTATION. All comments are welcomed!!!