Using+Contemporary+Realistic+Fiction+to+Understand+Diversity

How might one Use contemporary realistic fiction to understand diversity?
Click the **Edit** button (far right side of screen) and paste your content in the space below. Make sure to **Save** changes before exiting. Tracy Landry: Contemporary realistic fiction allows children and teens to see themselves or their circumstances in the plots. This genre offers a variety of opportunities for children to discover that others have similar problems, interests or circumstances. This can be a comfort to students that feel that they are isolated or the ‘only one’ experiencing their problem or situation. In addition to showing similarities, Contemporary Realistic Fiction can be a way to discover how people from other cultures live and experience the world. Two subjects in realistic fiction are multicultural topics, and survival in the inner city. A story about a family with a different cultural background from the reader can offer a realistic picture about a different culture. One such story is //Any Small Goodness a novel in the barrio// by Tony Johnston. Arturo is an eleven year old boy who lives in an L.A “barrio” where gangs and violence often overshadow kindness and goodness. Arturo is trying to find his American dream; his parents came to L.A. from Mexico looking for a better life. There are temptations everywhere to join a gang and give up the dream, but Arturo finds small goodness everywhere: a man with allergies keeps the family’s lost cat until he can locate them, a piano teacher who teaches anyone in the barrio who wants to learn, a basketball coach who coaches for $1.00 a day, and a librarian who donates hundreds of books (she does it anonymously, but Arturo finds out). In the midst of the kindness, the piano teacher dies; the librarian disappears because she wasn’t a certified librarian. Arturo could get angry, but he has good parents and friends. This glimpse into a family recently immigrated to America offers lessons in humanity, but also shows cultural celebrations and foods that the family holds onto. Arturo describes the food and decorations from last year’s celebration of the Day of the Dead with photos of his grandfather, the Mexican and American flag, and a picture of the //Last Supper// which “abuelita calls the //Last Dinner//”. Another book that would offer understanding of another culture is //Year of the Dog// by Grace Lin. Pacy, a 12 year old Taiwanese/Chinese American is trying to discover who she is and what she will be. Pacy’s journey of self discovery is similar to most twelve year olds. Her story is different from other coming of age stories in that she is struggling with ethnic identity in addition to pre-teen self discovery. Grace Lin fills the story with Chinese cultural facts including baby celebrations (bring a red egg for wealth and prosperity), and Chinese New Year traditions (red and black candy trays with Chinese candy so that the year is sweet). It is interesting to read about the food choices and the clothing that Pacy and her family wear to celebrations. This is an excellent book choice that will offer much to discuss and explore. These stories offer a picture into a world that some may never experience or see. Not only will the reader see a different perspective, but may also see that we are all pretty similar on the inside. What is interesting about these multicultural books is that although the cultures are different, and the settings and characters are different, they are both searching for self discovery and peace with themselves. I can imagine using //Any Small Goodness// in a fourth grade immigration lesson. //The Year of the Dog// is an excellent starting point for a lesson in diversity. Students could create their own story about a celebration, or tradition that their family has.  Johnston, Tony. //Any Small Goodness//. Illus. Raul Colon. New York: Scholastic The Blue Sky Press, 2001. Print. Lin, Grace. //The Year of the Dog//. New York: Time Warner Book Group, 2006. Print Norton, Barbara E. //Through the Eyes of a Child An Introduction to Children's// //Literature//. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1995. Print.

 Added by: Kathleen

Contemporary Realistic Fiction can be used to teach students to understand diversity through the use of numerous story book resources. I found a great website online that you can use to look up children's multicultural books appropriate for the elementary grades (kindergarten through grade six). [] This site currently lists the following cultural groups: African Americans, Chinese Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, Japanese Americans, Jewish Americans, Native Americans, and Korean Americans, Middle Eastern. and Vietnamese Americans. These books are categorized by genre and include the appropriate grade level and teacher resources.

Here are some more websites that are great resources for teaching multicultural awareness:

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