Children's Literature, Diversity, and Education

Most literature deals in some way with diversity. Its plots, real or imagined, show conflict and attempted resolution within or between individuals, groups, or nature. As young children acquire literacy skills, they also begin to discover the world through the medium of the printed word, and to recognize that they are very much a part of that world. An important function of children's literature is to engage young readers by allowing them to find themselves, and others like themselves, in the pages of a book, and to know [Page 331]that they are understood and valued. Historically, in the United States and elsewhere, minority cultures have been underrepresented in children's literature or have been inaccurately portrayed. At the same time, however, children's literature has shown itself ...