Multicultural Literature

There is no single definition of the term "multicultural literature" as it is applied to books for children and young adults. At the CCBC, we use the term to mean books by and about people of color.

All children deserve books in which they can see themselves and the world in which they live reflected. Multicultural literature belongs in every classroom and library -- on the shelves and in the hansd of childen, librarians, and teachers. The challenge for librarians, teachers and others is identifying authentic, reliable books by and about people of color. This page is designed to provide resources to aid in that search.

The CCBC compiles annual statistics on the number of books published annually by and about people of color. Over the years, we've seen those numbers grow, but multicultural literature still represents a small percentage of the overall number of books published for children and teenagers.

CCBC Resources

CCBC Biliographies and Booklists: We strive to integrate multicultural literature into all of our work here at the CCBC. All of our bibliographies include books by and about people of color. Of special note:

• Fifty Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know
• 30 Multicultural Books Every Teen Shoud Know
• Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults, Volumes 1 and 2

Native Peoples of Wisconsin: A CCBC listing of books about Wisconsin Indian nations. Includes a resource section on books by and about American Indians.

Small Presses of Color: A CCBC listing of small publishers devoted to creating books by and about people of color

Recommended Links

Selected sites offering critical information and perspectives, as well as children's and young adult literature awards with a multicultural focus

Recommended Books

Critical Thinking about Mulitucultural Literature

:

Harris, Violet H., editor. Teaching Multicultural Literature in Grades K-8. Christopher-Gordon, 1992.

Harris, Violet H., editor. Using Multiethnic LIterature in the K-8 Classroom. Christopher-Gordon, 1997.

Molin, Paulette F. American Indian Themes in Young Adult Literature. Scarecrow Press, 2005.

Seale, Doris and Beverly Slapin. A Broken Flute. AltaMira / Oyate, 2005.

Slapin, Beverly and Doris Seae. Through Indian Eyes: The Native Experience in Books for Children. Indian Studies Center, University of California, c1998

Booklists

:

Kaleidoscope: A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8. (4 volumes) National Council of Teachers of English, various years.