From: ksheth tds.net <ksheth>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 13:56:21 -0500

Megan, you bring up an excellent point regarding reliable resources to evaluate a book from a cultural perspective. I think cultural authenticity and sensitivity is the responsibility of both the author and the publisher. Both should make a concerted effort to ensure that their portrayal is culturally sound. Even the details must be correct because, otherwise, the book is sure to fall apart for readers familiar with the culture and give wrong impression to readers who are unfamiliar with the culture. Librarians and other reviewers should, ideally, critique a book from both a literary and a cultural perspective. However, this is not always possible. I also want to comment on the earlier thread about having many books available from one area or culture. Mitali Perkins, Uma Krishnaswami, Narinder Dhami, and I have roots in India and yet we all come from vastly varied geographical areas with distinct languages, customs, and traditions. It is marvelous to have many different voices and I hope we keep adding many more. I hope this discussion also adds awareness to the Asian/Pacific chapter of ALA (APALA) and the wonderful work they do.

Best wishes,

Kashmira Sheth

ksheth at tds.net www.kashmirsheth.typepad.com

Boys Without Names ( January 2010 HarperCollins Publishers) Monsoon Afternoon (2008 Peachtree Publishers) Keeping Corner (2007 Hyperion Books for Children) My Dadima Wears a Sari (2007 Peachtree Publishers) Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet (2006 Hyperion Books for Children) Blue Jasmine (2004 Hyperion Book for Children)





On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 12:09 PM, Megan Schliesman < schliesman at education.wisc.edu> wrote:

> Thanks to Greg Leitich Smith for sharing the link to the bibliography he
> and Cynthia Leitich Smith have compiled on Cynthia's web site.
>
> I also like the Paper Tigers web site (http://www.papertigers.org/) for
> reviews and some great discussion/perspectives on literature in general.
>
> And of course there is the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature at
>
> http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/awards.htm#AWARD_FOR_LITERATURE
>
> I think the importance of reliable resources cannot be overstated. Many
> librarians and teachers have the knowledge and insight to evaluate a
> book from a literary perspective, but how do we know if it is authentic
> and accurate from a cultural perspective?
>
> Are there other sties or recommended lists you woud suggest for
> Asian/Pacific American literature?
>
> I also want to mention Mitali Perkins's terrific article in the April
> 2009 School Library Journal: "Straight Talk on Race: Challenging the
> Stereotypes in Kids Books." Her article begins with her discussing her
> experience growing up in two worlds; "the traditional Bengali heritage
> inside our home and the contemporary California of my suburban peers."
> She talks about what it was like to be a lover of books and the books
> that were available. Her piece is not specifically about evaluating
> books about Asian/Pacific experience, but challenges how we can think
> about all chidlren's and young adult literature. You can read it at:
>
> http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6647713.html
>
> Mega
>
>
>
>
> Greg Leitich Smith wrote:
> > Hi-
> >
> > Most of you know this already, but Cynthia and I have an extensive
> > bibliography of Asian American children's literature at:
> >
> > http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/diversity/asian_am/asia
> > n_am.html
> >
> >
> > And a page of resources on adoption at:
> >
> > http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/diversity/adoption.html
> >
> >
> > Also of interest to me as a hapa is that we're starting to see more
> > books with mixed-race kids (although not, perhaps, many written by
> > mixed-race authors themselves)
> >
> > http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/diversity/multiracial/m
> > ulti_race_intro.html
> >
> >
> > Greg
> >
> > Greg Leitich Smith
> > NINJAS, PIRANHAS, AND GALILEO
> > TOFU AND T.REX
> > SANTA KNOWS
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
> --
> Megan Schliesman, Librarian
> Cooperative Children's Book Center
> School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
> 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290
> Madison, WI 53706
>
> 608/262-9503
> schliesman at education.wisc.edu
>
> www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
>
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Received on Tue 08 Sep 2009 01:56:21 PM CDT