How Children's Books Can Address Challenging Issues by: Shellie Hubbard

            Children’s literature is a very effective method to introduce or discuss sensitive topics in the classroom. Stories can connect to students and explain or share challenging issues in a way that students understand. As explained in the article by Matali Perkins, “Straight Talk On Race: Challenging the Stereotypes in Children’s Books” (2009), the students we will be teaching are growing up in a more accepting and diverse world and the literature that is read to them needs to reflect that. As a future teacher, who would love to teach grades kindergarten-second, I see no issue with exposing this age group of children, or any age at that matter, to topics that might be deemed controversial. If the story explains the topic in an age appropriate and respectful manner then they should be reading it. If we shield students from topics not only is that inconsiderate of students who might be dealing with these issues, but it is harming them from becoming diverse and involved people.

            One text that I read recently is called Families, Families, Families!  By Suzanne Lang (2015). It talks about different kinds of families and is told using cartoon animals as pictures. This book is geared for kindergarteners and first graders, however the message that is given is important. It says that no matter what type of family you have if you love each other you are a family. This is a great way to expose children the diverse families we have today and to make students who have a “non-traditional” family feel accepted. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (2010) has won many honors and awards, but has been banned because of its controversial topic of the Black Panther Party. It is a story about three young girls who fly from New York to California in hopes to find their mother who left them a long time ago. What they find is a whole lot more than they expected and they quickly have to learn to adjust. I personally loved this book and I learned so much about that time period as well as the culture and the party’s efforts. While I understand the controversy surrounding this book, I do think that it would be a valuable history lesson. It can also teach a lot about becoming your own self and learning about the world and your family.

            I feel that it is important to not only teach students about these topics, but to create a learning environment that is safe from judgment and is respectful of everyone’s backgrounds. An environment like this allows students to share their backgrounds and culture and for everyone to learn from each other. We are lucky because classrooms are filled with students who each have a unique background and that diversity enriches the community. As teachers it is our job to find ways to create that environment and to educate students of the diverse world they live in. Children’s literature is without a doubt a wonderful way to do so!

Sources:

Lang, S. (2015). Families, families, families.  Penguin Random House.

Perkins, M. Straight talk on race: challenging the stereotypes in kid’s books. Delacorte, 2009.

Williams-Garcia, R. (2010) One crazy summer. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books.