Childrens Literature and Multicultural & Diversity Issues Caitlin Ryan and Christina Tschida

Tar River Reading Council October, 2011

The Relatives Came

Society sometimes/ often/always says... This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

- People live in small, nuclear families - Large Families are frowned upon (take up too many resources, homes are too crowded, etc.)

the importance of extended family

Crow Call - father/daughter relationship - dad raising daughter

Mollys Family
Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

- Families have a mom & a dad - perfect family life

- Families come in all shapes and sizes 2 moms, 2 dads, single parents

- books where children live with grandparents or are adopted Box Car Children (live with grandparents)

- students talk about families & make a chart to see all the differences

14 Cows For America

Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Africa is poor, people there are hungry, and no one wants to live there. No nation can be more powerful than USA Cows are important too.

People in Africa are happy A person from Africa comes back from America African people can be givers of gifts/charity, not only recipients of it Tells story of 9/11 Cows are life for some.

The Story of Ruby Bridges

Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Schools should be separate. Blacks are inferior. Whites are superior.

Blacks can learn just like whites. Dont give up, dont give in to pressures. Work for what you want.

Telling the rest of the story, tell how this started integration. Her story and others give us freedom to go to school together now.

Childrens Literature and Multicultural & Diversity Issues Caitlin Ryan and Christina Tschida
Tar River Reading Council October, 2011

Different Just Like Me

Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Books have people who are the same: same race, same culture, same abilities.

This story shows a girl who meets different people and she sees ways that she is like these people and how they are different. Examples: blind seeing eyedog; deaf sign language; male and female; people of different shapes, ages, colors. People have differences but are alike in ways also.

Shows how that even though we are different we do have similarities.

Williams Doll
Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Boys are supposed to like sports.

Boys can want to have and love dolls.

The Sissy Duckling

Think, pair, share about stereotypes.

Our Gracie Aunt

Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

The role of the mother is to take care of and nurture the children.

Sometimes the mom is not the caregiver and its OK if someone else needs to fill that role.

Children living with grandparents. Children living in foster homes.

Have students draw pictures of their families and share to demonstrate that there are different family structures.

Something Beautiful
Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

The way you are raised will influence

The girl in this story is exposed to the

Discussing student traditions and how they

Childrens Literature and Multicultural & Diversity Issues Caitlin Ryan and Christina Tschida
Tar River Reading Council October, 2011
you as an adult. Some believed if you grow up in a bad area, you will grow up to be trouble. (Wheres the choice?) word beautifuland what it means but cannot seem to find the beauty in her neighborhood at first so looks harder and vows to make her life and neighborhood beautiful. differ. Introduce them to the beauty and endless possibilities in the world. Create confidence.

The Sissy Duckling

Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Boys should be tough play sports; if not, theyre called sissy. Girls should be sensitive bake, clean; if not, theyre called tomboy.

Complicates the idea that tasks and hobbies are gender specific. Disrupts the idea that victims of bullying are weak and that the bully is the stronger one by having the bullied character save the day with his sissy skills

Books about bullying told from perspective of a bully and person bullied. Books about famous people that dont follow societys expectations. - Oprah, Hillary Clinton - Famous male chefs, fashion designers

Freedom Summer
Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Once slavery was over, AfricanAmericans lives were a cake walk.

It shows that even Perhaps a book about after slavery was Rosa Parks. abolished, AfricanOther civil rights books. Americans still had a rough road ahead of them.

Helping students understand what its like to experience discrimination. Although delicate, with the right debriefing and discussion, you could give AfricanAmerican students privileges one day, then white students the next day, other groups the next day, and then reflect on the experience.

My Princess Boy

Childrens Literature and Multicultural & Diversity Issues Caitlin Ryan and Christina Tschida
Tar River Reading Council October, 2011
Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Boys are boys - Wear blue - Play sports Girls are girls - Wear pink - Wear tutus.

This little boy like to wear tutus, dresses, crowns, pink, jewels.

Ones about tomboy girls and characters who dont act in stereotypically feminine ways.

- Discussing acceptability - be who you are - uniqueness - expressing individuality - people who will love you for you , not what is accepted by society only.

My Grandma Has AIDS

Society sometimes/ often/always says This book says Other books that could continue to expand this single story are I could teach this new, more complex story by

Theres a traditional family structure (2 parents, kids, etc) You shouldnt be friends with people who have AIDS

Child lives with Grandma then new Grandpa You cant catch AIDS by loving or being friends with someone.

Other books that celebrate students connections with their different family members: - A Chair for My Mother - Jonathan and his Mommy - Daddy and Me - Visiting Day

- A family member of student with AIDS as a send home book - If a person in our class had AIDS or other illness that isnt easily contracted.