Teaching Social Justice with Children's Literature: Cultural Diversity 1

Students should be exposed to quality multicultural literature in school. Multicultural children's literature should serve as either a window or a mirror for students. It should open their eyes to a new culture or experience, or reflect their own culture and experiences. All students should have the opportunity to relate to characters and cultures depicted in children's books. Teachers should build a classroom library that features a wide variety of cultures and be critical of stereotypes when selecting books.

"Jingle Dancer" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu

Without enough tin jingles to make her dress sing, how can Jenna be a jingle dancer just like Grandma Wolfe at the next powwow? She borrows one row from Great-aunt Sis, whose aching legs keep her from dancing; another from Mrs. Scott, who sells fry bread; one from Cousin Elizabeth, whose work keeps her away from the festivities; and a fourth row from Grandma, who helps Jenna sew the jingles to her dress, assemble her regalia, and practice her bounce-steps. When the big day arrives, the girl feels proud to represent these four women and carry on their tradition. Watercolor paintings in bright, warm tones fill each page. In scenes where she is dancing, backgrounds of blurred figures effectively represent both the large audience and the many generations whose tradition the gathering honors. Seeing Jenna as both a modern girl in the suburban homes of her intertribal community and as one of many traditionally costumed participants at the powwow will give some readers a new view of a contemporary Native American way of life. An author's note and glossary tell more about the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Ojibway origins of jingle dancing, and the significance of the number four in Native American tradition. (From Amazon.com)

Jingle Dance Video