The book focuses on using literature to incorporate multicultural education into the primary curriculum. Through the suggested ideas, the text promotes the reduction of race, class, gender, and ethnic divisions by helping students acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for becoming active citizens in a democratic society and participating in social change. The text contains three main sections. The first section uses research and theory to address the underlying assumptions of multicultural education and literacy programs, and also offers suggestions for setting up such programs. The second section provides integrated language arts activities for the primary curriculum. And the final section offers an up-to-date annotated bibliography of quality literature — both primary and intermediate — that helps students to deconstruct stereotyping, to understand different perspectives and cultures as well as their own, and to become actively involved in social action.

Table of Contents:
Preface. I.THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION AND LITERACY LEARNING. 1.Multicultural Education. Underlying Assumptions. Definitions of Multicultural Education. Importance of Multicultural Education. Approaches for Teaching Multicultural Education. A Balanced Multicultural Education. Multicultural Goals. Multicultural Curriculum. A Multicultural Environment. Multicultural Instruction. Students' Learning Strategies. Restructuring the Goals, Norms and Culture of School. Teacher Training and Ongoing Staff Development. Program Assessment. 2.Literacy Learning. Underlying Assumptions. The Goal of Literacy Learning. Motivation. Emergent Learning. A Literate Classroom. Integration of Language Use. Reading and Writing as Mutually Supportive. A Balanced Literacy Program. Motivational Techniques for Literacy Learning. A Literate Classroom Environment. Instructional Methods. Planning for Literacy Learning. Evaluating Literacy Learning through Portfolios. Home-School Connection. II.LESSONS FOR THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM. 3.Focusing on Self-Concept and Understanding Individual Differences and Likenesses. Lessson 3.1: Differences and Likenesses. W. Nikola-Lisa, Being This Way with You. S. Hamanaka, All the Colors of the Earth. Lesson 3.2: I Like Me. B. Ashley, Cleversticks. Lesson 3.3: Different Kinds of Families. R. Skutch, Who's in a Family? Lesson 3.4: Rice, Rice, Rice. N. Dooley, Everybody Cooks Rice. Lesson 3.5: The Challenged. V. Fleming, Be Good to Eddie Lee. Lesson 3.6: We Speak Different Languages. L. Reiser, Margaret and Margarita. 4.Focusing on Our Own and others' History, Cultures, and Contributions. Lesson 4.1: Slavery Is Wrong. J. Winter, Follow the Drinking Gourd. Lesson 4.2: Why Do We Have to Leave Home? Y. Uchida and J. Yardley, The Bracelet. K. Mochizuki, Baseball Saved Us. Lesson 4.3: Jewish Celebrations. M.J. Rosen, Elijah's Angel. B. Katz, A Family Hanukkah. Lesson 4.4: But We Were Here First. S. Ortiz, The People Shall Continue. T. Locker, The Land of the Gray Wolf. Lesson 4.5: Famous African-American Women. F. Ringgold, Dinner at Aunt Carrie's House. Lesson 4.6: Tending the Land. E. Bunting, A Day's Work. L.J. Altman and E.O. Sanquez, Amelia's Road. M. Dooling, Lights on the River. 5.Focusing on Deconstructing Stereotyping. Lesson 5.1: East Meets West. M.W. Sharmat, Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport. Lesson 5.2: Are They Really Big Bad Wolves? Any classic version of Little Red Riding Hood. Nonfiction books that depict wolves in a good light. J. Scieszka, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf. Lesson 5.3: Alone in a New Country. M.M. Surat, Angel Child, Dragon Child. Lesson 5.4: Anyone Can Do Anything! M. Hoffman and C. Binch, Amazing Grace. Lesson 5.5: “I'm Not the Bad Guy.” K. Mochizuki, Heroes. 6.Focusing on Different Perspectives. Lesson 6.1: Many Versions of The Three Little Pigs. Any original version of The Three Little Pigs. S. Lowell, The Three Javelinas. J. Scieszka, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf. Lesson 6.2: Ways Children Get to School. E. Baer, This Is the Way We Go To School: A Book about Children around the World. Lesson 6.3: Houses, Homes, and the Homeless. A. Dorros, This Is My House. E. Bunting, Fly Away Home. Lesson 6.4: Pilgrimages/Immigration. J. Van Leeuwen, Across the Wide Dark Sea: The Mayflower Journey. E. Bunting, How Many Days to America?: A Thanksgiving Story. B. Cohen, Molly's Pilgrim. Lesson 6.5: Quilt Stories. T. Johnson, The Quilt Story. N. Kinsley-Warcock, The Canada Geese Quilt. P. Polacco, The Keeping Quilt. L. Mills, The Rag Coat. V. Flournoy, The Patchwork Quilt. D. Hopkinson, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. Lesson 6.6: Another Look at Jack and the Beanstalk. Any version of Jack and the Beanstalk. R. Briggs, Jim and the Beanstalk. 7.Focusing on Social Action. Lesson 7.1: Helping the Elderly. N. Daly, Not So Fast Songololo. L. Schwartz, How Can You Help?: Creative Projects for Kids Who Care. Lesson 7.2: Environmental Awareness. S. Jeffers, Brother Eagle, Sister Sky. F. Asch, The Earth and I. J. Berry, Every Kid's Guide to Saving the Earth. Lesson 7.3: Saving Our Earth. Dr. Seuss, The Lorax. L. Schwartz, How Can You Help?: Creative Projects for Kids Who Care. J. Berry, Every Kid's Guide to Saving the Earth. III.MULTICULTURAL BOOK LISTS. Concept Book List. African/African American History, Slavery, Civil War. Asian/Asian American History, Culture, and Contributions. The Challenged. Classic Tales from Different Perspectives. Columbus—Different Perspectives. Differences and Likenesses. Elderly and/or Death. Environment. Family—Different Perspectives. Foods—Different Perspectives/Hunger. Gender-Equity. Hispanic History, Culture, and Contributions. Holidays. Houses, Homes, and the Homeless. Jewish History, Culture, and Contributions (Including the Holocaust and World War II.) Languages. Migrant Workers. Native American History, Culture, and Contributions. Pilgrimages, Immigration, and Migration. Poems, Songs from Different Cultures. Quilt Stories. Self-Concept. Social Action, Peace. Stereotyping, Prejudice. Tales from Different Cultures. Vietnamese/Vietnamese American History, Culture, and Contributions. Wolves, Foxes, and Coyotes—Folktales and True Stories. Author Book List. Name Index. Subject Index.