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Multicultural Childrens' Libterature

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Definitions of Terms and Concepts

The Multicultural Children's Literature Database uses the following levels, genres , topics and skills to describe the books in the Database. Please use these to help find the appropriate materials.

Key Terms

Critical Literacy ~ "For us, critical literacy involves understanding the ways in which language and literacy are used to accomplish social ends. Becoming critically literate means developing a sense that literacy is for taking social action, an awareness of how people use literacy for their own ends, and a sense of agency with respect to one's own literacy." (Dozier, C., 2006. Critical Literacy/Critical Teaching: Tools for Preparing Responsive Teachers.)

Multicultural Education ~ "a field of study and a discipline whose major aim is to create equal educational opportunities for students from diverse racial, ethnic, social class, language, religious, gender, and cultural groups. Exceptionality is also a part of multicultural education because there are exceptional students in each of the groups listed above. One of its important goals is to help all students acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to function effectively in a pluralistic democratic society and to interact, negotiate and communicate with people from diverse groups to create a civic and moral community that works for the common good.” (Banks, J.A. & Banks, C.A.M., Eds., 2004. Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education.)

For additional information regarding multicultural education, please visit Center for Multicultural Education.

Levels

The Multicultural Children's Literature Database uses the following labels to help users find appropriate materials by grade level, reading ability or content.

Picture Book: This type of literature, which includes wordless books, has as its primary focus illustrations frequently supported by text.

Easy Reader: These books are for beginning readers. They use simple text with age appropriate vocabulary. Easy readers often include illustrations to support the text. The intended audience is from grades one to three.

Intermediate Books: These books include more sophisticated language with an emphasis on plot and character development. The intended audience is from grades three to eight.

Young Adult: These books usually contain more adult themes including sex, alcohol use or violence. The intended audience is for middle and hish school.

Genres

The Database uses the following genres to describe the books.

Biography

Fairy Tale

Fantasy

Fiction

Folk Tale

Graphic Novel

Historical Fiction

Poetry

Science Fiction

Topics, Concepts & Subjects

Use the following terms to describe topics, concepts and subjects of books included in the Multicultural Children's Literature Database. This list will continue to grow as more materials is added to the Database.

Skills

The following are examples skills that may be taught as lesson objectives using literature that is found in the Multicultural Children's Literature Database. Please note that not all annotations include these skills.

Traits of Quality Writing

  • Six Traits
  • Literary Devices (similes, metaphors, point of view, etc.)

    • Reading