Preface:

The purpose of this seminar was to develop and explore multiple understandings of race and diversity through reading and examining literature that is intended for children and adolescents. We explored a wide range of historically popular and current picture-books, chapter books, graphic novels and young adult fiction that features characters from traditionally underrepresented racial groups. We read stories from varied genres, gained an understanding of approaches to content analysis and examined responses readers had to stories. Through key research studies, we explored the role of literature in identity development and identified and carefully considered broader ideological beliefs about race and culture raised by the texts.