Using Multicultural Picture Books to Promote Racial Justice in Urban Early Childhood Literacy Classrooms

Abstract

Recent census data indicate that student populations in U.S. classrooms continue to become increasingly racially diverse. Despite these changes, many early childhood teachers remain reluctant to teach children about race and racial justice. In this article, I argue that multicultural picture books can and should be used to promote racial awareness and racial justice among young children. I discuss reasons why early childhood teachers should abandon colorblind approaches to race and racism in their classrooms. Then, I provide a framework of multiple approaches to teaching children about race through multicultural picture books. Practical considerations are presented.

Supporting the Right to Read: Principles for Selecting Children’s Books

“…If difficult topics such as LGBT identities are avoided in the classroom, they become further stigmatized (Page, 2017), and children do not have opportunities to grapple with stories of human struggle (Fanetti, 2012). Roser (2004) argued that it is "deplorable" when students are stripped of these opportunities to ponder and discuss difficult issues because it is easier for educators to avoid these issues than to address them (p. 204), yet sharing literature is often recommended as a means to lead discussions about social justice (Husband, 2019), develop empathy (Kurtts & Gavigan, 2008), and address social problems (Burnett, 1997).…”

Using the Read-Aloud and Picture Books for Social Justice

“…For students from culturally diverse backgrounds, picture books can serve as mirrors, allowing them to see their race or culture affirmed and celebrated. Picture books also can serve as windows for all children, providing them a glimpse into lifestyles and experiences that are different from their own (Husband, 2019).…”

Access to Multicultural Children’s Literature During COVID‐19

“…We selected multicultural texts because we believe that students' access to quality books that reflect their current lives, backgrounds, literacies, and multiplicity of cultures is a basic human right, crucial to literacy development and social justice aims ( Shin et al, 2020). In addition, "multicultural picture books provide opportunities for children from diverse racial backgrounds to have their personal and collective experiences, histories, and knowledge bases related to race affirmed and celebrated" (Husband, 2019(Husband, , p. 1069.…”