Diversity in Youth Literature: Opening Doors through Reading

Surveying the landscape of children's and YA literature, this contributed volume shows how books have grown to include the wide range of our increasingly diverse society. Identifying both exemplary and problematic titles, the contributors

• Provide context by sketching out the historical trajectory of diversity in youth lit
• Organize titles into sections that range from familiar themes (African American, Asian, Latino) to the lesser known (such as literature dealing with incarceration, transnational adoption, and homelessness)
• Offer guidelines for evaluating and selecting the best in diversity literature
• Suggest youth-tested programs and strategies to promote multicultural books in the library and classroom

This thoughtful and timely book helps meet the informational, recreational, and cultural needs of today s youth and those who serve them.