The multicultural ethic and connections to literature for children and young adults

Some controversy exists regarding the isolating of multicultural authors from "mainstream" authors and illustrators in the provision of separate lists or bibliographies, an issue discussed in depth in Francis Smith Foster's excellent essay "What Matters the Color of the Tiger's Stripes?: The Significance of Bibliographies by Ethnic Identification. However, Foster (1988) states:

Bibliographies by ethnic identification can serve the same functions as

bibliographies by nationality, genre, era, or theme. As resources, lists

of works grouped by some common factor, they can make our jobs of

selecting representative materials easier ... Such bibliographies can

introduce new writers, new titles and new subject matter as they expand

our ideas of literary history and traditions .... And finally, bibliographies

by ethnic identification can help us see the absence, hear the silences,

of writers whose works are not available. When we see the precipitous

decline of new titles by or about particular groups, subjects, or attitudes,

we can at least be aware of the threatened extinction. (p. 82)

Another publication entitled Our Family, Our Friends, Our World: An Annotated Guide to Significant Multicultural Books for Children and Teenagers (1992), edited by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, is indicative of the kind of interest being generated in multicultural children's materials. The compilation takes an international approach to multiculturalism, including works about ethnic and racial populaces who reside within the United States and chapters on literature representative of the many regions around the world.

There needs to be an increase in the number of publications providing updated information about multicultural authors and illustrators, their work, thematic modes, and methods of work. Such tools assist young persons, as well as those responsible for educating them both inside and outside the framework of schools, in gaining insight into the creators of artistic works as individuals and assists in promoting better understanding and appreciation of and for their work. Barbara Rollock's Black Authors and Illustrators of Children's Books: A Biographical Dictionary, second edition, identifies black authors and illustrators and offers basic and helpful information about their backgrounds. Pat Cummings's (1992) beautifully illustrated book, Talking with Artists: Conversations with Victoria Chess, Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner, presents fourteen black and white illustrators, offers brief vignettes of their lives, sources of their inspiration, photographs of the individuals, and examples of their artwork. This book concentrates upon the skill of the craft rather than ethnic identity, but, through its visual format and remarks shared by the illustrators, informs the audience about which of the illustrators are black and also shares an overview of the craft of all represented.