Cultural Journeys: Multicultural Literature for Elementary and Middle School Students - Softcover

In Cultural Journeys, Pamela S. Gates and Dianne L. Hall Mark offer an accessible, thorough, and imminently current overview of both multicultural texts written for children and young adults and the issues and scholarship that surround such texts. In orienting their overview through structuralist terms and the genres of children's and young adult literature, Gates and Mark's representation of the field effectively captures and engages students' attention in the college classroom. -- Gretchen Papazian, Central Michigan University Building on the didactic power of literary engagement, the book helps readers develop multicultural literacy and become enticed to explore the world of diverse realities around us. The textbook provides a great pathway for anyone seeking to engage in experiences outside their own cultural schemata as they examine the foundations of pluralism through literary genres. The rich resources and thoughtful analysis provided by the authors have a great pedagogical appeal to users of the book. -- Mahmoud Suleiman, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Educational Studies Department, California State University, Bakersfield ...highly informative....This book is a textbook for teachers, with an emphasis on African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American literature, and as such does an admirable job in a relatively small space. * VOYA, February 2007 *

As multicultural education is becoming integral to the core curriculum, teachers often implement this aspect into their courses through literature. However, standards and criteria to teach and promote active discussion about this literature are sparse. Cultural Journeys introduces pre-service and experienced teachers to the use of literature to promote active discussions that lead students to think about racial diversity. More than just an annotated list of books for children, Pamela S. Gates and Dianne L. Hall Mark provide systematic guidelines that teachers can use throughout their careers to evaluate multicultural literature for students in grades K-8. At the same time, the text leads the reader to a deeper understanding of how to use multicultural literature throughout the entire curriculum and not just during specially designated months or time periods. With the example unit plans and extensive annotated bibliography, this book is a valuable resource that pre-service teachers will utilize when they begin teaching and in-service teachers will reference repeatedly during their planning periods.