Course Description
Introduction to diverse literature for youth (birth–11 years). Students will study how literature and reader response are linguistic, cultural, and aesthetic artifacts of human experience. Students will explore and analyze children’s literature for cultural relevance, authenticity, and equity.
Athena Title
Survey Diverse Lit Young SL
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in LLED 2110, LLED 2110E
Non-Traditional Format
Course includes a service-learning project during the semester that either employs skills or knowledge learned in the course or teaches new skills or knowledge related to course objectives. Students will be involved in the planning and implementation of the project(s) and may spend time outside of the classroom. Students will be engaged in the service-learning component for approximately 25-50% of overall instructional time.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This introductory survey course fosters students’ abilities to recognize the aesthetic qualities of literature and illustration as valid, meaningful expressions of the human experience. It explores the history, language, cultural values, and literary traditions of underrepresented groups in American society, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. As linguistic and cultural aesthetic artifacts, select works of children’s literature can inform and foster students’ understanding of the experiences and issues that impact individuals and society both locally and globally. Stories about class, ability, nontraditional families, including gay and lesbian members, gender roles, and religious identity, are likewise included in this course. Equity, access, and social justice are threads woven throughout the course, which prompt students to enact rhetorical methods of inquiry that explore and analyze texts for cultural authenticity and bias. Drawing on the literature itself, and a range of theoretical and empirical traditions, students will develop their critical thinking skills to: •Cultivate an understanding of children's literature. •Become familiar with the diverse books that represent various genres of children’s literature. •Analyze diverse texts and illustrations for young audiences. •Understand ways to engage youth in reading and responding to diverse literature. •Understand the relevance of children’s literature to early literacy development. •Advance reading engagements for underprivileged communities in the region and develop as literacy advocates and social justice proponents. (Service-learning goal)
Topical Outline
1. Establishing Connections Between Literature for Children and Early Literacy Development 2. Exploring the Formats and Genres of Children’s Literature 3. Defining, Selecting, and Critically Analyzing Diversity in the Context of Children’s Literature 4. Recognizing Diversity in National and International Children’s Book Awards 5. Visual Literacy in Children’s Book Illustrations 6. Poetry, Language Development, and Representations of Diversity 7. Culturally Diverse Traditional Literature, Folklore, and Oral/Linguistic Traditions 8. Modern Fantasy 9. Biographies and Memoirs of Underrepresented Members of Society 10. Diversity of Discipline: Nonfiction Books for Young Audiences 11. Recognizing Diverse Perspectives through Historical Fiction 12. Vicarious Experiences of Diversity through Contemporary Realistic Fiction 13. Privilege in Film and Digital Adaptations of Children’s Literature and Traditional Stories 14. Representations of Diversity in Graphica and Hybrid Book Formats for Young Audiences 15. Censorship and Diversity in Challenged/Banned Book Data 16. Technologies for Experiencing and Sharing Multi-lingual Books for Children
General Education Core
CORE IV: Humanities and the Arts