Recommended for collection development on diversity issues and for a variety of curriculum uses in classrooms and school libraries.” —Teacher Librarian
“The authors have compiled a timely and relevant resource focused on diversity as portrayed in novels and picture books, specifically geared for grades four through eight….The resulting reference work is a springboard for librarians, teachers, social workers, parents, and others seeking a comprehensive bibliography of realistic fiction that depicts children with diversity issues and shows a range of response to these challenges. It will help match diverse children with appropriate literature, and others to the walk a mile in my shoes experience.” —MultiCultural Review
“Knowles and Smith provide entries on books that deal with diversity issues in daily life. Selected titles range from pictures books and beginning readers through general adult fiction. Opening chapters overview diversity demographics and statistics, and discuss controversies surrounding cultural authenticity in books. Chapters on various racial and ethnic groups, ageism, exceptionalities, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion contain brief introductions and a brief definition of the particular group, between five and 10 annotated titles, and bibliographies of fiction, picture books, and nonfiction. Entries also contain discussion questions, an annotated jourbanal article, and basic facts and a bibliography of a featured author, plus lists of print resources, organizations, web sites, and awards.” —Reference & Research Book News
“Knowles, a teacher, and Smith, a children's librarian, have constructed a guide focusing on using novels and picture books to help children in grades 4-8 with diversity issues….Chapters are based on the Big 8 Cultural Identifiers (ability, ethnicity, religion, etc.) created by the National Association of Independent Schools, and each contains a short annotated list of titles, a biography of additional titles without annotations, discussion questions, information about a representative author, an annotated jourbanal article, and other resources, such as organizations and Web sites. This is a valuable resource for libraries, schools, and communities that wish to use literature to heighten understanding and acceptance.” —Booklist/Professional Reading
“This book is a guide to librarians needing to expand their collection or give suggestions to children regarding learning about diversity issues. Its sixteen chapters cover virtually every aspect of the diversity found in our culture including: Ethnic (Asian, Latino/Hispanic, African/Black, Native American, bi- and multi-racial), Age, Gender, Religion, Income level, Sexual Orientation, Religion and others….The philosophy followed is to suggest reading materials at the child's level (Grades 4-8). It includes both novels and picture books presenting the diversity issues through the eyes of the 'different' to allow the child to 'walk in the shoes' of the others and perhaps to heighten understanding and acceptance.” —Books-On-Line
By trying to cover every permutation of diversity, from ageism to sexual orientation, Knowles and Smith dilute their focus and deliver too little. After brief introductions to general research on diversity and literary authenticity, they devote the bulk of the book to 13 chapters that highlight different groups of people. Each section includes three to eight annotated titles related to the topic, followed by a longer bibliography with basic publication information. Aside from their criterion of "literature with an emphasis on realism," the authors provide no explanation for their selections, including which books they chose to feature with annotations. Fiction and nonfiction titles range from picture books to some adult titles. Although reading levels are usually provided, many books are simply labeled "juvenile." Each chapter includes a few discussion questions and minimal facts plus a list of books by a "featured author." Many of the discussion questions will likely lead nowhere, with queries such as, "Do you believe that all Asians are very intelligent?" Most resources seem designed for teachers, although some are aimed at parents or grandparents, such as Andrew Weil's Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide. The book devotes four pages to publication information reprinted from Children's Magazine Guide. In short, the volume lacks focus and depth. These shortcomings are compounded by generalizations, contradictory and confusing definitions, undocumented statements, and incomplete and inaccurate citations and URLs.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
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