Windows, Mirrors, & Sliding Glass Doors
Literature should reflect readers' identities just as it should enable reader to explore other cultures and worlds.
Literature should reflect readers' identities just as it should enable reader to explore other cultures and worlds.
In 1990, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop wrote about and coined the phrase that literature should act as "Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors" (Potter, 2019).
What does this phrase mean: that what kids read should act as "Windows and Mirrors"? This notion of "Windows," as referred to in books, is that literature acts as windows to allow readers to see the world around them and are able to see other cultures besides their own. In addition, the notion of "Mirrors" refers to the idea that literature acts as mirrors reflecting the reader in the world and readers can see themselves reflected in what they are reading. Recently, a new element has been re-established or brought to light to the "Window and Mirrors" idea. Bishop (2015), Professor Emerita at Ohio State University, states that literature also functions as a sliding glass door when the reader can walk through the door to experience and be a part of someone else's world as well as their own.
Literature acts as a window when readers are able to see other cultures besides their own. The reader is on the outside looking in.
Literature acts as a mirror when readers can see themselves reflected in what they are reading. The reader is able to see themselves reflected in what they are reading.
Literature functions as a sliding glass door when the reader can walk through the door to be part of someone else's world. The reader is able to put on someone else's shoes and explore a completely new world to them.
Children and young adults should be able to see themselves in the stories that they read, but it is also important that they are able to see and experience other worlds as well in the stories they read. In other words, it is important that children and young adults have a diverse choice to choose from in the books available for them to read, so they can learn not only about themselves, but also, learn about others. A way librarians work to help parents and their kids experience their culture as well as other cultures is to have a diverse selection of books and resources for children and young adults to access.
Literature acts as windows to allow readers to see the world around them
Literature acts as mirrors to reflect the reader in the world
Literature acts as sliding glass doors to allow readers to see themselves in new settings
The following statistics are about the Cooperative Children's Book Center's research. To read more CLICK HERE.