ERIC Number: ED533446
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 91
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1248-3210-4
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Representation of Other Cultures in Award-Winning Picture Books from the United States, Australia, and Great Britain (1960-2009)
Hall, Virginia
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh
The purpose of this study was to investigate the representation of other cultures in award-winning picture books from the United States, Australia, and Great Britain between 1960 and 2009. Not only was the cultural content of children's literature over the past fifty years investigated, but the protocol created to evaluate the books was a newly devised instrument that focused on the educational application of the content in the books. The protocol included three levels of analysis of the award-winning picture books. The Level I Analysis determined which books depicted other cultures; that is, cultures that were different from the cultures in the country in which the book was originally published. The Level II Analysis investigated the type of cultural representation found in the books, including depictions of geographic location, social systems, economic systems, and/or political systems. The final analysis (Level III Analysis) identified the genres and themes found in the picture books. Of the 143 books read for this study, only 25 (17%) depicted information about cultures different from those in the country in which the book was originally published. Books from the 2000s had the least amount of cultural representation. Geographic location was the cultural element most often represented in the picture books. Political systems had the least amount of representations in the books. This study addresses the potential for using children's literature as a medium for cross-cultural awareness and the importance of providing teachers with appropriate tools to critically analyze books with cultural content. Study results might be interpreted as an indication that there is a need for more picture books to be representative of all people and cultures. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Webpage: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Awards, Educational History, Evaluation Methods, Instructional Material Evaluation, Instructional Materials, Multicultural Education, Comparative Analysis, Comparative Education, Cultural Differences, Cultural Pluralism, International Education, Childrens Literature, Social Systems, Picture Books, Cultural Awareness, Geographic Location, Content Analysis
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia; United Kingdom (Great Britain); United States
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