Library & Information Science,
Course 262: Resources for Young Adults.
Dr. David Loertscher
Summer, 1998
w10e
Sources:
"Searching for Multicultural Literature," In: Horning, Kathleen T., Ginny Moore Kruse, and Megan Schliesman. CCBC Choices 1997. Madison, WI: Cooperative Children's Book Center, 1998, p. 11.
"Searching for Multicultural Literature," In: Horning, Kathleen T., Ginny Moore Kruse, and Megan Schliesman. CCBC Choices 1996. Madison, WI: Cooperative Children's Book Center, 1997, p. 10.
From 1998 volume:
Currently there is no agreement in the children's literature community on a single definition for the word "multicultural," nor is a single definition necessary. At the CCBC we designate books by and about people of color as multicultural literature.
Multicultural literature continued to be highly visible in 1997 in terms of overall numbers. For the seventh consecutive year, many children's book publishers published new books by and about people of color, although the special flyers, catalogs and mailings of recent years have almost vanished.
Most of the literature journals, book review magazines and other professional publications concerning education, librarianship, books for children and young adults, and/or reading featured reviews, interviews, bibliographies, and articles about multicultural literature, continuing a trend of the 1990s.
The mainstream bookstores we visited in several cities continued to prominently showcase books by and about people of color throughout the year, although these showcased titles were often ones by already prominent writers and artists. this practice is no different from general bookstore promotion of all writers and artists. "Names" seem to sell, or at least booksellers give them a chance. Newer book creators and "first book" writers and artists&emdash;of whom there were very few in 1997&emdash;do not.
New books by and about people of color are often attractive in appearance and compelling in content. The winners of the Coretta Scott King, Américas, and Pura Belpré Awards, Honor Books and Commended Lists seem to matter to book publishers. These formal acknowledgments of excellence certainly matter to teachers, librarians and parents.
We continue to worry that the collective interest of American teachers, librarians, parents, publishers, and booksellers who are outsiders to specific cultural and ethnic groups is moving away from multicultural literature. It is critical that multicultural literature be viewed as a substantial component of children's book publishing, rather than a passing fad or some kind of so-called "politically correct" type of book publishing, burying and reading. Only then will its past be honored and its future be guaranteed as an integral part of all children's and young adult literature. If individuals and groups within the children's and young adult literature community begins to operate under the premise that they have all the multicultural books they need, the publishing of excellent new books will dwindle, new writers and artists will not be nurtured, and the varied perspectives on multicultural experience in our country will be lost in time.
The continued&emdash;and increased&emdash;publication of a wide range of voices from a wide range of cultural perspectives will help ensure that all children and young teenagers will find validation in the books available to them to read, as well as a stronger understanding of what it means to be a citizen of their community, their nation and their world.
From 1997 volume:
Currently there is no agreement in the children's literature community on a single definition for the word "multicultural," nor is a single definition necessary. At the CCBC we designate books by and about people of color as multicultural literature.
Multicultural literature continued to be highly visible in 1996. For the sixth consecutive year, many children's book publishers actively promoted both new and earlier books by and about people of color, although the special flyers, catalogs and mailings of recent years seemed to diminish in number and kind. Most of the literature journals, book review magazines and other professional publications concerning education, librarianship, books for children and young adults,and/or reading featured reviews, interviews, bibliographies, and articles about multicultural literature, continuing a trend of the 1990s. The mainstream bookstores we visited in several cities continued to prominently showcase books by and about people of color throughout the year.
Many new authors and artists of color are being published today compared to 1990. New books by and about people of color have never been more attractive in appearance and compelling in content. The winners of the Coretta Scott King and Américas Awards matter to book consumers and publishers, and so do books honored by the Pura Belpré Award for outstanding Latino literature,which was given for the first time during 1996.
Still, we continue to worry that the collective attention span of Americans is beginning to move away from multicultural literature. It is critical that multicultural literature be viewed as a substantial component of children's book publishing,rather than passing fad. Only then will its past be honored and its future be guaranteed as an integral part of all children's and young adult literature. If booksellers,librarians and teachers begin to operate under the premise that they have all the multicultural books they need, the publishing of excellent new books will dwindle,a and the perspectives on multicultural experience in our country will be suspended in time. The continued - and increased - publication of a wise range of voices from a wide range of cultural perspectives will help ensure that all children will find validation in the books available to them to read, as well as a stronger understanding of what it means to be a citizen of their community, their nation and the world.
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