Each and every library visit features a period of time for book selection, afterwards, the students proudly take those books home and share them with family and friends. You would have to see for yourself how painstakingly these students peruse the library collection looking for the perfect books to choose! Children learn more about communities in the world around them, and about values and life lessons when they read quality children's literature. They can also learn more about themselves and appreciate each other's differences. In a recent study by Lee and Low, 37% of children in the US identify themselves as multicultural, yet only 14% of the children’s books have multicultural content (Sandhya Acharya, 2018). Thus, some children may lose the opportunity to connect with storybook characters because they just don't look or act like those children. It's a risk I can't afford to take for my students.
By receiving these diverse and multicultural books, the students in our school will be able to see themselves, their cultures, and their personal experiences through characters that look and act just like them.
I believe adding these culturally rich books will help to strengthen the students' desire to read and also motivate them to share their distinctive experiences and stories with their peers. In addition, this can strengthen students' compassion for others, as well as feed their imaginations.
About my class
Each and every library visit features a period of time for book selection, afterwards, the students proudly take those books home and share them with family and friends. You would have to see for yourself how painstakingly these students peruse the library collection looking for the perfect books to choose! Children learn more about communities in the world around them, and about values and life lessons when they read quality children's literature. They can also learn more about themselves and appreciate each other's differences. In a recent study by Lee and Low, 37% of children in the US identify themselves as multicultural, yet only 14% of the children’s books have multicultural content (Sandhya Acharya, 2018). Thus, some children may lose the opportunity to connect with storybook characters because they just don't look or act like those children. It's a risk I can't afford to take for my students.
By receiving these diverse and multicultural books, the students in our school will be able to see themselves, their cultures, and their personal experiences through characters that look and act just like them.
I believe adding these culturally rich books will help to strengthen the students' desire to read and also motivate them to share their distinctive experiences and stories with their peers. In addition, this can strengthen students' compassion for others, as well as feed their imaginations.