Historical Works And Stereotyping

464 Words2 Pages
Historical Works Scholars and practitioners concerned with young people and their literature can acquire a greater understanding of that literature and its role in the lives of children by studying both the history of childhood and the history of children’s literature. The historical context should include a reading of both popular and classical literature to appreciate the contributions of early authors and illustrators. To be considered historical, a novel must focus on a period that is earlier than its creation. The purpose of historical writing is to offer insight into people and events from the past. Historical details are as accurate as possible and informed by historical research. Many historical novels highlight the continuity between the past and the present. An effective way of presenting historical information to children is through time travel novels. These works are also call “time slip” novels. Characters travel magically across time to some other time period, usually a character from the present travel to the past, although the reverse can occur. Since the protagonist lives in both the present and the past, the time-travel novel can act as a bridge between the two. Stereotyping Not all children's literature conveys the messages that we want young people to learn. Books often contain the same stereotypes and biases of other media, and because children are interested in a story's plot and characters, it is unlikely that they will know or consider whether a book includes racist, sexist or other stereotypical messages. If young children are repeatedly exposed to biased representations through words and pictures, there is a danger that such distortions will become a part of their thinking, especially if reinforced by societal biases. It is, therefore, the responsibility of adults to select literature that is entertaining, age appropriate, and
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