Abstract This is a sociology paper on children's literature and gender roles. It includes comparing and contrasting two children's books about gender differences or observing girl and boys.
An examination of the different ways prejudice can be approached in children's literature, focusing on Terry Pratchett's "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents" and Karen Levine's "Hana's Suitcase."
675 words (approx. 2.7 pages), 2 sources, 2005, $ 26.95
Abstract This paper examines the incident and approach to the matter of prejudice in children's literature. The paper discuss how this has been accomplished in Terry Pratchett's "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents" and Karen Levine's "Hana's Suitcase." The paper discusses the different ways in which these two authors approach prejudice and how difficult a topic it is to address in children's literature.
From the Paper "Dealing with Prejudice in Children's Literature This paper examines the incident and approach to the matter of prejudice in children's literature. Because this can be a difficult subject at any age level, dealing with it in children's literature can be especially difficult. Below, I will discuss how this has been accomplished in Terry Pratchett's The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents and Karen Levine's Hana's Suitcase. Sometimes, addressing prejudice is done in a very straightforward fashion. Readers are never question the fact that prejudice is one of the primary themes of the work. This is the case in Hana's Suitcase. However, other writers approach the subject more subtly and less directly, preferring to dance around the matter with allusion and metaphor. This is Pratchett's approach in The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rats."
Abstract This essay discusses how many children's books have been considered classics, but how they have also been challenged as having race and gender bias. Rudyard Kipling's "How The Leopard Got His Spots", Paula Fox's "The Slave Dancer", and Lynne Reid Banks' "The Indian in the Cupboard" are all examined in this context. The paper finds that they have a certain amount of racial bias.
Abstract This paper examines four children's stories concerning the theme of friendship and the cultures in which they were written. The cultures are France, Spain, England, and America.
A look how multiculturalism is portrayed in children's literature and how in countries like Canada, the authors of such books for children, seemingly miss the mark.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 5 sources, 2005, $ 106.95
Abstract Critical paper conveying how multiculturalism in children's literature often reflects an American and British theoretical foundation that does not suit the Canadian case. Introduction to a movement in education that deconstructs previous children's literature but that in its ideology may miss the point of what children's literature should endeavor to create in a positive curiosity concerning different cultures. Several theoretical pieces and examples from children's books on African-American, Chinese and Aboriginal themes to show several weaknesses in a much politicized campaign.
From the Paper "In the last three decades, much has been made of the need to promote multiculturalism and also, the goals of anti-racism, by way of children's literature that should encourage the child's positive awareness of different cultures. This seems particularly important in the wildly multicultural environments offered by cities such as Toronto where children should be encouraged to acquire an interest in other cultures according to an ability to understand and appreciate what is different. "
An analysis of images of Family in African-American children's literature with a focus on John Steptoe's "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" and Javaka Steptoe's "In Daddy Arms I Am Tall".
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 3 sources, 2005, $ 44.95
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to examine one specific ideological construct formed in the heart of children's literature produced from one specific cultural group. Specifically, it argues that African-American children's literature portrays a focus on familial relationships and bonds, evident even amongst two artists in children's literature, John and Javaka Steptoe.
From the Paper "Despite the juvenile nature of the audience for children's literature, the genre itself can be an incredibly rich mine of cultural imagery and ideologies. Children's literature cannot be dismissed as only for children - rather, it can teach us all by examining what we use to teach our children. The purpose of this study is to examine one specific ideological construct formed in the heart of children's literature produced from one specific cultural group. Specifically, I would argue that African American children's literature portrays a focus on familial relationships and bonds, evident even amongst two artists in children's literature, John and Javaka Steptoe. "
Abstract This paper makes the contention that the facts on cultural diversity in American children's literature belie a terrible misrepresentation of minorities in the small number of books written about them. The larger Caucasian society of authors, as well as minority authors, must be responsible to bring forth a true democratic social responsibility in not ignoring other cultures in this type of literature. Although there should be a greater emphasis on publishing more African-American or Hispanic children's literature, the issue of cross-cultural mixing should be the priority of both sides of this argument.
From the Paper "By identifying aspects of minority culture in American society, one can realize how these books can help create racial diversity in a white hegemonic society. In essence, by understanding the problem with diversity in current children's literature, there should be a greater effort for authors and teachers to include other races and creeds in their creative writing projects and literature choices. The problem with racial diversity in children's literature is one that needs to be looked at with a rational point of view."
Abstract Summary: Children's literature can be useful in aiding children in this aspect of their growth. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the representation of death, and the fear of death, plays a prominent role in terms of character, plot and setting. The character of Harry Potter is defined, from the outset of the book, by the death of his parents.
This literature review will examine five scholarly articles focusing on the topic of the determinants of academic success in Asian and other visible minority children.
3,900 words (approx. 15.6 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 142.95
Abstract This literature review will examine five scholarly articles focusing on the topic of the determinants of academic success in Asian and other visible minority children. The primary subjects in each studies are children of Asian ethnicity, with children of other ethnic backgrounds selected as controls or comparisons. The five articles were chosen from the existing body of literature on the basis of a brief review which noted points of similarity and contrast in each.
Tags: EDUCATION / EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, success minority children
Abstract This paper explores the patterns of maturation found in children's literature with reference to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. It finds that in modern children's literature the typical gender roles are reversed, with Harry acting on behalf of society (typically a female pattern) and Charlotte maturing as an individual (typically male pattern). Anne of Green Gables and Treasure Island are used to display the typical patterns.
From the Paper "In children's literature gender roles have been laid quite clearly. These patterns exist from the early fairy tales to present day novels. Recently some authors have attempted to reverse the typical gender roles of characters; giving male protagonists more passive and nurturing characteristics, and females greater abilities to become active individuals. This is particularly apparent in stories about maturation."
Abstract The four texts to be discussed here - "Ben's Trumpet", "The Slave Dancer", "Sounder", and "Huckleberry Finn" - are all well-known works of children's literature, and all have been challenged on the grounds of racial bias against African-Americans. All focus to a great degree on the lives and experiences of African-Americans in the United States from the slavery era of the 18th and 19th centuries, into the segregationist era of the 20th century. Given the nature of this focus, it is clear that questions of gender must be secondary in this analysis, much as they are secondary in the texts themselves.
Abstract This paper provides a critical review of the literature concerning the impact that television has upon children between the ages of birth and twelve years of age. The paper is not designed to address an argument but to familiarize the reader with the issues involved. Therefore the paper has been broken into themes that are most prevalently manifest within the literature.
From the Paper "This paper is designed to provide a critical review of the literature on the available information concerning the impact that television has upon children between the ages of birth and twelve years of age. The review of the literature is not designed to address an argument but to familiarize the reader with the issues involved. As such, the paper has been broken into themes that are most prevalently manifest within the literature. Bias in the Literature One of the central problems of assessing the literature on television - indeed, concerning all forms of media and its impact on children - is the persistent problem of bias. This bias emerges from the intentions of the researchers, or those who use the research in their own arguments, and wish to use this data to prove a given point. Television and electronic media (e.g.: films, video games, etc.) are ..."
Conceptual analysis of the literature on storytelling and child development in relation to reader response and and structural models of instruction in literature appreciation. Includes the development of an integrated model.
Abstract This paper develops a perspective on the structural and reader response approaches to literature appreciation that is based upon empirical findings observed in research into the influence of storytelling on child development. To this end, this report first reviews the literature on how storytelling can influence the social, cognitive, and psycho-emotional development of children as well as its basic influence on learning. This examination of the effects of storytelling on child development is followed by an explication of both the structural and the reader response approaches to teaching literature appreciation. Based on the review of all of this material, the report discusses each theory in terms of the support or lack of support offered for it by the storytelling-child development literature. Where relevant, this discussion is used to modify, hone and refine theory into a new model of instruction (The Integrated Model) in literature appreciation, a model that focuses on storytelling as a mode of instruction and that incorporates elements and postulates of both the reader response model and the structural model.
From the Paper "Effects of Storytelling on Social Development. There is a good bit of literature that supports the notion that storytelling can strongly contribute to both very young and older children's social and psychosocial development. For example, Pellowski (1990) reports that research has shown that stories inform children about the lives, the dreams, the hopes, the problems, the tensions and the conflicts of diverse social and ethnic groups. In this way, storytelling helps familiarize children with how groups of people, some of them which may be very different than the group children were raised in, perceive life and its events.
Simultaneously, while informing of group differences, storytelling serves the function of maintaining a sense of the human community by telling the story using universal themes common to all. In other words, storytelling operates to broaden children's view of the world and the diverse societies it while also emphasizing the social ties that bind communities and groups of people together."
Tags: California, Reading, Association, Ferdinand, de, Saussure
Abstract This paper looks at how poetry is a useful form of literature for children, intellectually and emotionally. It discusses the creative use of language, which is specialized to stimulate the imagination and arouse feelings of readers, especially children.
From the Paper "Narrative poetry evokes emotions that represent the mood or feeling of the work, rather than that of the poet. This type of poetry was often used orally to relate new or events to others and in written form it is read like a story. Although some narrative poems (such as epics and romances) are too sophisticated for young readers, ballads are an appropriate form for this age level. Originally designed for an illiterate people, ballads are easily remembered and adaptable for singing or recitation. Although some ballads are ancient and difficult for children to relate to, ?old ballads do serve to transport children to a more primitive past, to wilderness, to feudalism, to a time quite different from their own, yet not without flavorsome, musical, language.? The appeal of these ballads is often in the use of language, which evokes a mood or emotions."
