The Joy of Children's Literature: Chapter 11 Diverse Perspectives in Children's Literature

               Diverse populations in children’s literature allows students to learn about historical and continuing events by the people of diverse cultures who live in the United States and the rest of the world. This form of literature fosters awareness, appreciation, and understanding of people of diverse cultures. It also teaches students about their own cultures. Students and teachers are able to observe and experience controversial issues in the past and today. Because most books covered in this form of literature have the main character’s engaged in critical thinking, students are able to learn and use their own critical thinking skills.

 The Buddha's Diamonds By Carolyn Marsden


Tinh, a Vietnamese boy who is coming of age, goes out to sea with his father every day to catch fish for their own food and the market. Tinh struggles with missing his childhood. He enjoyed the simple life of flying kites at the beach with his friends, but Tinh knows the importance of helping out his dad and he’s very proud to do so. One day a storm sticks and Tinh is given the task of securing the family vessel, but Tinh panics and runs away. Tinh is now faced with gaining his father’s trust and salvaging the family boat.

 The Origami Master By Nathaniel Lachenmeyer


Shima is an origami master who lives in the mountains of Japan. He never has any visitors and his little origami creatures are the only things that keep him company. One day a warbler, a type of bird, begins making a nest on a tree outside Shima’s house. The bird sings a song and watches Shima make his origami creatures. One day the warbler decides to make a better origami creature and leave it out for Shima to see. After a few more days of this occurring, Shima finds out the warbler is creating the origami creatures that are left for him, so Shima decides to capture the warbler and have the warbler create more creatures in a cage. But the warbler decided not to make any and he escaped. Shima thought he lost his only visitor, but the warbler did return. In the end, Shima realized how much he would miss the warbler if he had left for good, so he created a small origami nest for the warbler to live in.

The White Zone By Carolyn Marsden


Nouri and his cousin Talib can barely remember a time when tanks didn’t invade the streets of their city, Baghdad. They wish books once again ruled the streets, rather than bombs.  War has played a major factor of their lives. Iraq has been at war with the Americans, but now Iraq faces a larger problem. Iraq is also at war with itself. Shiite’s and Sunni’s are at a constant battle with one other. And to make the matters worse, the battle continues in their families. Nouri is a Shiite and Talib is half Sunni. These cousins face all sorts of battles, but things change when the dusty streets are covered with white snow. For once there is no battle, and the Sunni’s and Shiite’s forget their differences.