Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors

Books have the ability to inspire, entertain, and inform while also confirming the multiple facets of children's identities and revealing to them the values, perspectives, and historical legacies of others. 

Books are at times windows, offering glimpses into worlds real or imagined, familiar or new. These windows can also be sliding glass doors that readers walk through to become a part of unknown worlds authors have created. However, when the circumstances are just right, a window can also act as a mirror reconstructing personal experience and reflecting it back to us, so that we can see our own lives and understandings as part of a larger human experience (Bishop, R.S., 1990). 

In 2014 We Need Diverse Books began a necessary movement to put "more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children." Thanks in part to their campaign there has been a renewed focus on the importance of multicultural literature. 

The definition of multicultural children's literature is always changing to include more cultural experiences. Initially race was the only qualifier to deem a book multicultural, but now there are so many other experiences that need to be shared through the world of children's books. The definition has now been expanded to include "people who have historically, ideologically, and politically been underserved and rendered nearly invisible" (Botelho & Rudman, 2009).

It is important that ALL children are seen and heard in the books they read. This benefits children by legitimizing their lived experiences, helping them understand social differences, and by cultivating their development of empathy, respect, and appreciation of other families and cultures.  

Make space for Critical Literacy through the books you read and share with your students. 

a) Book choice matters

b) Use purposeful prompts to spur meaningful discussion 

c) Let silence prevail so student voices are heard  

When choosing books to share with your students consider the following:

- Authentic depiction of the cultural experience

- Accuracy of cultural details in the text and illustrations

- Positive images of minority characters 

- Balance between historic and contemporary views of groups

- Adequate representation of all groups represented

Check out author and illustrator Grace Lin's poignant Ted Talk on the importance of filling your bookshelves with diverse books. Books that deal with racial diversity, class, community, disability, and non-traditional families to name a few. 

For 22 years I've read books to my students. I read books with almost every lesson I taught - literacy, math, science, and social studies. I've introduced them to great series and favorite characters, but it was not until I began work on my dissertation that I started to think about books as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. I now see the ways some of my students were left out of the books I read and I now understand the great importance of children having familiarity with and empathy for a variety of cultures and people.

When you look at your bookshelves... ask yourself... are all the books windows or all the books mirrors and then make sure there are both. 

"A book can show you the world...It can also show you a reflection of yourself."

Suggestions for teachers on how to develop diverse classroom libraries...

Websites and Blogs

- Colours of Us
- Pernille Ripp

Journal Articles

- Children's Voices: Reactions to a Criminal Justice Issue Picture Book (Oslick, 2013)

- #WeNeedMirrorsAndWindows: Diverse Classroom Libraries for K-6 Students (McNair,

   2016)

- Opening Spaces for Critical Literacy (Labadie, Wetzel, & Rogers, 2012)