DOCUMENT RESUME ED 360 433 UD 029 368 AUTHOR Jackson. Gloria D., Ed. TITLE The Mirror: A Newsletter of Muiticultural Children's Literature, 1991-1993. PUB DATE 93 NOTE 42p. PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) Reference Materials Bibliographies (131) JOURNAL CIT Mirror: A Newsletter for K-8 Educators; n1-7 Dec 1991-Spr 1993 EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS American Indians; *Childrens Literature; Cultural Awareness; *Cultural Differences; Elementary Education; Elementary School Students; *Ethnic Groups; *Fiction; *Minority Groups; *Multicultural Education; Newsletters; Nonfiction ABSTRACT This document consists of all seven issues that were published of a newsletter devoted to multicultural children's literature that reflects the many cultures in our pluralistic society. The newsletter presents book reviews of fiction and non-fiction with multicultural themes for children in kindergarten through grade 8 schools. Some issues provide brief bibliographies on selected issues, and most issues give a summary list of works reviewed for ready reference. Some of the issues contain feature articles on the following themes:(1) holiday stories;(2) respect for nature in the Native American heritage; (3) ignorance of others brings fear;(4) reflections of a pluralistic society; and (5) multicultural books in the mainstream of children's literature. (SLD) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************ft******tA******** The Mirror: A Newsletter of Multicultural Children's Literature, 1991-1993 Gloria D. Jackson, Ed. December 1993 V I. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Once c Educational dO8011,Ch and invecresmenu -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER ERIC) int. document has Men raoroducd mamma, trotn um person or organ/W.0n onponaund .1 C Maw charges% tuna men made m improve ramr0Ouctron auehty Pants of um., or options stare° ,n Inn dor.. ',Ord dO not ne..OSMnly ,e0,Sent caeca. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OEM positron or mho, INFORMATION CENTER IERICI' 2BEST COPY AVAILABLE A Newsletter for K-8 Educators Coal e. Multicultural LiteratureReflectinga PluralisticSociety Introductory Issue I December 1991 Created by GloriaD. Jackson. NILS. MA I Layout/Graphics - Lynn Clark For permission to copy contact G. Holiday Time!! Jackson A Tree of Cranes (1991) by AllenSay, Tjle pfrrfxrwof this News- Allen Say is a Japanese-American artist andwriter. His books span letter is to present childitt!rfs litera- traditional and contemporary stories and hispictures always show ture that reflects the many culturrs careful attention to cultural detail, and have a feelingof space and present in our plur4li;tic society. light. In this elegant picrure book a boy tells the storyof his first If the%t- books ari_ to be cm .. His American mother brings in 2 little pine tree real,. by nuinNticam Ond minority and decorates it with silver paper cranesand small candles - a children, they mu,' bk: remembrance of her past Christmases inCalifornia. In this way she catty introduced by Ica( 1U 1\ and shares her customs with her bi-culturalchild. A gentle story with pictures of librarians a contemporary yettraditional home in Japan. The little boy may live and My "1/.11 1s I1 t:111 (1111.17e% dress differently but he has the sameexcitement about presents as any Wi1l:A.101\ to 111t. 1X1(11,+111 the American child! .11111 u1 "IVe .1111 hacker] EXTENDED USE.American students who have spent time in S441001 stories about how ride fiti1t-nnt-INt-1 mulct \land other counmes can use this as a model to write g ofolficiN..mil mcir.m-1.1rind they adapted their Christmas ( or other) customs tothe culture of ing skills_ their host countries ..or vice versa! BELATED READING: Chita's ChristmasTree(1989 )by Elizabeth NEW Kwanzaa (1991) byFitzgeraldHoward. Set in the early 1900s in Baltimorethis warm Afican A.P. Porter is an easy-reading ,American Christmas story is a personalremembrance.. Little Chita and her how-to-do-it book covering the cre-father (a physician) go out to choose a Christmas treeand write her name on ation of this festival by Maulanait - hoping that Santa Claus will bring it onChristmas Day. Though in picture Karenga. its symbols. vocabulary, book format. there are short chapters coveringvarious pre-Christ- including a SCM1MDtiOUS Christ:: as Eve c:-.nciples and purpose. The illustra- 01(.1,mas activities of Chita. tions are aunctive and there is a rA.L ../.,Ifamily dinner,and finally the Christmas Tree decorated andlighted o ziossary with pronunciation of ,..r .in the family home on Christmas morning.The pictures glow with Swahili words. 4"7"7-77" warmth, and the red and green accentsproclaim tile holiday spirit. -neertnediate grade so:dentsAn exceptionally happyholiday book. (Be sure to read the book jacket cat, read and discuss Have aHappyexplaining the background for the story)TheSilver Whistle (1989) by Alice .'.1989).. by Mildred Pins Walter, anTonapert, is a Christmas story set in Mexicoabout a boy bringing a gift to award winning author. It is a nicelythe Child during the traditional villageceremonies. Nice story and colorful crafted contemporary story wovenillustradons. The Bell s of Christmas(1989) by Virginia Hamilton is a around the African American fest-Traditional story of Christmas holiday activities ahundred years ago as al-Kwanzaa - celebrated aftershown through the eyes of 12-year-oldJason Bell, whose African American. Christmas day. The seven principlesfamily has lived in Ohio since the early 1800s. Older children can are nicelyinter woven into the stori.read this chapter book alone and appreciatethe authentic "period detail " that is evident in the pictures and plot. Note should also be taken of What a Morning; The Christ- .4 Christmas Memory (1984) by Tin:manCapote. Writ= many , mas Story in Black Spirituals years ago this literary gem hasbeen reissued with wonderful illusntions. In 1987) by John Langstaff with it Capote recalls with poignancy a Christmas seasonwhen he w as seven years vibrant illustrations by the noted old and living in the county with an eccenth cold relative. Not sentimental, black aids: and author. Ashley but certainly a loving tribute. Read it aloud tooider children . These books, Bryan. orr.:s and musical can make a good comparativestudy, and English to :hers could also add A scores for the spirituals arefea- Christmas in Waies (Dylan Tnomasi to thediscusscion. Tured alongside the illusrrations. 11. LI NEW- Picture Bride (1991)NEW-At the Crossroads (1991)by Rachel IsadoraAuthor/ by Yoshiko Uchida.A sensitiveillustrator and absorbing novel by a well-estab- Set in the segregated townships of South Africa this picture book lished Japanese-American author. focuses on the children eagerly waiting at the crossroads to welcome The story is of young Hana Omiya home their fathers, who have been working in the city for ten months. ,:ho leaves Japan to come to Califor- The ebb and flow of preparation,excitement, disappointment. hope. nia:in 1917, holding the picture of the suspense and final happiness are shown in the pictures of adults and an she has promised to marry - children. their activities and expressions. As night falls and some Taro Takeda. The book deals withfathers have still not returned. the bright colors give way to dark skies and the harsh realities of Asian immi-shadowy fields, reflecting the somber mood of the few children. still waiting grant life of the time - the poverty,at the crossroads. At last the Tuck rumbles inand the joyful cry rings out - - and also with the"Our fathers are home"! strength of family and cultural ties.rail'- First Pink Light (1991) by Eloise Greenfield. A good companion There is loyalty, tenderness,book, showing a young African American child wanting desperately to stay determination and heart-awake to welcome his father when he comes home at dawn. Even young break in the story. Hana andchildren will recognize the similarities in the books, and the older children Taro have one child - amay want to discuss the socio-ooliticaldifferences behind the stories. daughter who eiopes with a cung American doctor and forsakes it is goon to see more DOOKS reiaang to the Hispanic/Latino culture enter-generational picture books featuring her community, just before World grandparents interacting with chil- War II breaks out. The drama in theing the market. NEW The Gold Coin (1991) bydren. story picks up as it relates the tag NEW-- Taking Sides (1991) is a edits of the "evacuation ", when allAlma For Ada is excellen :.Though it is =original story (Central Americanovel by Gary Soto. a Hispanic au- Japanese Americans in California thor who writes honestly and sparsely were sent to internment camps wheresetting)it has the elements of a folktale and can very effec-of life in the central California val- condidons were unhealthy and inad- ley. His stories and poems are care- equate. to say the least. The charac- tively be used for storytelling. The exquisitefully crafted with meticulous descrip- ters of Taro and Hana are well drawn, tive details, and yet have a touch of and they each react to these changing illustrations give i: the Latino cultural flavor, andhumor and gentle irony as he reveals .onditior.s differently. The subsid- the joys and fears of young iary characters reflect the different certainlyenhancethe storyiine. The story is of Dona Josefa Hispanics coming of age. As :aces or Japanese American irrzni- such his stories also touch a Zallts of the time, so that there is nowho spends her time willingly help- ing and healing her neighbors, and of nerve with all adolescents - stereotyping. boys especially. In this new RELATED READING Thou-Juan. who pursues her to steal from her.But during the pursuit Juan be- novel, 14-year-old Lincoln sand Pieces of Gold; A Biographi- Mendoza moves from the barrio to cal Novel by Ruthanne Lumcomes a changed man, and learns to give rather than take.