What is Multicultural Literature?

According to Dr. Barbara B. Brown at Boston University's African Studies Center, "Multicultural literature opens up the world, allowing all students to hear voices both different from and similar to their own, both from within their own community and beyond" (Brown, n.d.). They are books that succeed in maintaining cultural integrity while also avoiding exoticising the culture being written about. 

Multicultural books are of paramount importance for children as our world continues to diversify more and more. By including multicultural materials, we ensure children have mirrors allowing them to see themselves in the books, thereby validating their own identities, histories, stories, and experiences. It also offers children windows allowing them see other ways of experiencing life, thereby expanding their horizons, growing their understanding, and building empathy.

Recommended titles for two different multicultural areas

Brown, B. (n.d.). A guide to selecting multicultural literature. Http://Www.Bu.Edu/Africa/Outreach. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.bu.edu/africa/outreach/teachingresources/literature-language-arts/selection_guide/ 

CBS Mornings. (2021, July 9). Why diverse children’s books are important tools for teaching kids about themselves and others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4NNQWXO59M 

Dahlen, S. P. (2019, June 19). Picture this: Diversity in children’s books 2018 infographic. 박사라 Sarah Park Dahlen, Ph.D. https://readingspark.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/picture-this-diversity-in-childrens-books-2018-infographic/ 

@WeNeedDiverseBooks. (2024, May 13). Word on the street is #WeStillNeedDiverseBooks 👀📚 [Video File]. https://www.instagram.com/p/C66XTv1LeiQ/?hl=en