A survey was made of all children's books about Chinese, Chinese Americans, or China for pre-kindergarten through third-grade reading level to determine how the books represent the Chinese or Chinese American to the young child. Books included in the study were identified by one or more of the following factors: (1) book title and bibliographic…

Eleven Asian American book reviewers were asked by the Council on Interracial Books for Children to find, read, and analyze all childrens books on Asian American themes currently in print or in use in schools and libraries. The major conclusion was that, with one or perhaps two exceptions, the 66 books reviewed are racist, sexist, and elitist.…

Discusses controversy surrounding books supposedly written by and about American Indians that are fabrications written by whites. Stresses the importance of moving away from American Indian literature that trivializes Indian culture and values, toward more realistic portrayals. Black Elk, whose first name was Nick, is an example of how cultural…

Critically reviews modern writings about American Indians, focusing on Indian romance novels, children's stories, biographies, works by "urban mixed-bloods," and the "art for art's sake" stance. Views non-Native works as irrelevant and most Native writings as self-centered or escapist. Calls for Native intellectuals to…

Recommends that children, teachers, and parents critically read children's literature to identify and clarify ideological perspectives. Lists types of books for multicultural collections, presents guidelines for critical discussions about books, and identifies types of biases in books. Suggests that children's books open multiple perspectives…

Discovers that there are few books about gay families and that they are very hard to find. Reviews 11 books which deal with gay parents and their children. (MG)

Asserts that certain traits and factors, such as persistence through failure and a tolerance for frustration, help children overcome life's problems. Analyzes 30 award-winning children's books from 1928 to 1987 and 14 "children's favorites" to determine if these books contain characters and plots that display resiliency. (MM)

Discusses the life of Benny Andrews, a recognized artist, cultural leader, and storyteller, and the importance of narrative in his artwork. Provides an interdisciplinary project where the students analyze Andrews'"Autobiographical Series," discuss the series as a form of storytelling, and then write their own family story. (CMK)

While literacy is an important part of anyone's education, it should be noted that visual literacy, being able to view, interpret and react to visuals, is just as important for today's population. College students are reluctant at first to take the time to really examine a picture book, whereas youngsters go over and over their favorite books to…

The essays in this collection are about neglected classics of children's fiction. The essays first appeared in the "Washington Post" and the "Los Angeles Times." With a scope limited to those works (mostly from the 20th-century) already overlooked or in danger of slipping from view, the 30 essays lead the reader through a wide…

Experiencing literature is the first step toward becoming a literary critic. The primary task of the literary critic is to understand and explain what is experienced and then to interpret works of literature in relation to all the literature the student knows. To help children grow as critics of literature it is necessary to broaden their…

Stressing the importance of choosing either a child-centered or a subject-centered orientation in developing a children's literature program, this paper discusses the characteristics of child-centered and subject-centered approaches to literature and then focuses on the dominant literary theories of structuralism and revisionism. Maintaining that…

The fantastic tale is a genre of children's literature in which magic and reality are found side by side in a superficially plausible story with a definite historical setting. Motifs characteristic of the tale are living toys, strange children, modern witches, space and time displacements, "doors" to the wonderland, the mythical world itself, and…

Unfortunately, three of society's worst problems during the last decade--racism, sexism, and maladjusted parents--are reflected in the content of children's books. While censorship of books of questionable value is not recommended, it is necessary to judge and to find fault with them and ultimately to steer children into reading the good books…

Violent episodes in realistic fiction in children's books between 1960 and 1970 were analyzed according to the total space devoted to violence, details or intensity of descriptions, the role assumed by the heroes, villains, kinds of violent acts perpetrated, the relationship of participants in the aggressive act, value judgments expressed, and the…