Using Books as Windows and Mirrors

A large reason as to why younger children and students do not feel the desire to read is because they do not see people like them in the books they read. A majority of fiction novels written in the last 50 years have been penned by Caucasians. Lack of representation for kids of different ethnicities can lead to a decreased motivation to read. Seeing your culture reflected in literature is a motivating force for all learners; it also helps you imagine your own place in the world. Through literature, a child can see a mirror of themselves, or a window to another world different from their own. We live in a diverse democracy and our young people should experience that diversity in the pages of books. They can learn to value diverse perspectives through utilizing literature as windows and mirrors.