Curriculum Laboratory

Searching for Multicultural Library Materials for Students
For further assistance in using any of the resources in the Lab, please ask at the Curriculum Lab Information Services Desk

Define your topic, and check basic sources. 

Multiculturalism is a term used mostly in Canada to counter the term "biculturalism" and can be defined as "a society that is characterized by ethnic or cultural heterogeneity; or, an ideal of equality and mutual respect among a population's ethnic or cultural groups" (The Canadian Encyclopedia (1988), p. 1401)

Multicultural literature can be used "as a window through which to view others, as a mirror to see oneself, or as a vehicle to go elsewhere."  (Granahan, Louise M. (1999). Window, mirror and vehicle: the impact of multicultural children's literature.  Orbit, 30(3), 12) 

The Curriculum Lab Staff have created a list of "Recommended Books For Promoting Multiculuralism".

Here are some bibliographic tools from the Curriculum Laboratory and the Main University Library which list books on multiculturalism (and the terms which can be used to find them): 
 

A to zoo : subject access to children's picture books / Carolyn W. Lima, John A. Lima (7th ed.)  011.62 Lim 2006   (Ethnic groups in the U.S.)
Across cultures : a guide to multicultural literature for children / Kathy East, Rebecca L. Thomas.   305.8 Eas
Adventuring with books : a booklist for pre-K to grade 6 (13th ed.)  011.62 Boo 2002       (Cultural groups; Multiculturalism)
Best books for children : preschool through grade 6 (8th ed.) / John T. Gillespie.  011.62 Gil 2006 Ref. (+ 2007 supplement)    (Indians of North America - Fiction)
Best books for junior high readers / John T. Gillespie.  Z 1037 B474 1991
Best books for young teen readers, grade 7 to 10 / John T. Gillespie.  011.62 Bes   (Hispanic Americans - Fiction; Native Americans - Fiction)
Building bridges with multicultural picture books for children 3-5 / Janice J. Beaty.  370.117 Bea
Canadian connections : experiencing literature with children / Ron Jobe, Paula Hart.  372.64 Job
Children's books from other countries / Carl M. Tomlinson, editor.  011.62 Chi Ref.
Children's literature arrangements : a thematic listing of books / Glen Huser for Edmonton Public Schools.   011.62 Hus  (Multicultural stories; many Social Studies Topics)
Contemporary books reflecting Canada's cultural diversity / Lisa L. Strong  971.004 Str
Cultural connections : using literature to explore world cultures with children / Ron Jobe.   306 Job
Cultural journeys : multicultural literature for children and young adults / Pamela S. Gates and Dianne L. Hall Mark.    305.8 Gat
Horn Book magazine.  March/April 1995, vol. 71, no. 2.  Special issue on multicultural literature.

Kaleidoscope : a multicultural booklist for grades K-8 (3rd ed.)   016.3058 Kal

Literature-based multicultural activities: an integrated approach / Mary Beth Spann. 306.4 Spa

Literature arrangements (online).  Available to Education students on the Digital Resource Subscriptions web page.  (Multiculturalism; Social Studies)
Literature connections / Edmonton Public Schools.  011.62 Lit (Multiculturalism; some Social Studies topics)
Multicultural classroom / Saskatchewan Association for Multicultural Education.  370.117 Mul
Multicultural friendship stories and activities for children ages 5-14 / Patricia L. Roberts.  370.117 Rob
The multicultural math classroom : bringing in the world / Claudia Zaslavsky.  510.7 Zas Gr.EC-9
Native Americans in children's literature / Jon C. Stott.  PS 173 I6 S76 1995
Our family, our friends, our world : an annotated guide to significant multicultural books for children & teenagers / Lyn Miller-Lachmann.  Z 1037 M54 1992
Picture books for children / Patricia Jean Cianciolo. (4th ed.)  011.62 Cia
Pika : database of Canadian children's books / National Library of Canada.  (Includes English and French books)  http:// www.nlc-bnc.ca/pika/
Through Indian eyes : the native experience in books for children / Beverly Slapin and Doris Seale. (3rd ed.)   970.1 Sla
Get relevant Alberta curriculum publications.   One manifestation of this diversity in Canadian society is multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is covered throughout the new Alberta Social Studies curriculum in every grade. Particular emphasis appears in:
  • Grade 1, Topic 1: My World: Home, School, and Community
  • Grade 2, Topic 1: Canada's Dynamic Communities
  • Grade 4, Topic 2: The Stories, Histories and People of Alberta
  • Grade 7, Topics 1 & 2: Canada : Origins, Histories and Movement of Peoples
The Alberta Education Guide to Implementation corresponding to these grades in Social Studies provide information about what is taught in Alberta schools on the topic of multiculturalism. 
 

Find basic and support resources recommended by Alberta Education. The LRC (Learning Resources Centre) Resources Catalogues will also highlight those resources which are recommended by Alberta Education to support the teaching of multiculturalism in the Social Studies curriculum.  These LRC Resources Catalogues are located on Level 11 at the Curriculum Laboratory's Information Services Desk,  or can be searched online at http://www.lrc.education.gov.ab.ca/pro/default.html.

For example, for Grade 1, Topic 1, two of the basic student texts are:

  • Many voices, grade 1 / Lynn Bryan.    300.7 Man Gr.1
  • Our world 1 : my community / Maryrose O'Neill.    300.7 Our Gr.1


For Grade 2, Topic 1, two of the basic student texts are:

  • Many voices, grade 2 / Lynn Bryan.    300.7 Man Gr.2
  • Our world 2 : Canadian communities / Don Massey.    300.7 Our Gr.2
  • For Grade 4, Topic 2, two of the basic student texts are:
    • Voices of Alberta : people, places and possibilities (Many Voices)    971.23 Voi Gr.4
    • Our Alberta / [Marcia Tyerman, Trudie BonBernard, Phyllis Cardinal]    971.23 Tye Gr.4


    For Grade 7, Topics 1 & 2, some materials about our multicultural and bilingual country of Canada include:

    • Voices and visions : a story of Canada / Daniel Francis; contributing authors, Angus Scully and Jill Germain.    971 Fra Gr.7
    • Our Canada : origins, peoples and perspectives / [David Rees, Darrell Anderson Gerrits, Gratien Allaire].    971 Ree Gr.7


    Search the Library Catalogue.   For subject searches, start with Subject Heading - Library of Congress Search, and  browse the subject headings and "related subjects" which come up on the screen.  Use these general subject headings or related subject links to get the best possible list of materials (especially non-fiction):

    • Multiculturalism 
    • Pluralism (Social sciences)
    • Multicultural education
    Most books are about specific ethnic or cultural groups, so more specific subject headings will be assigned to materials such as:
    • Japanese Canadians
    • Japanese Canada
    • Indians of North America Canada
    • Ukrainian Canadians
    • German Canadians
    • Black Canadians
    • Blacks Canada
    • African Americans
    • Japanese Americans
    If you want to find fiction materials on multiculturalism you will only find a few items  (generally short stories) under the subject heading "multiculturalism fiction", because more specific subject headings will be assigned to the books.  Just attach the word "fiction" to any of the above headings to find materials specific to certain ethnic or cultural groups.


    If you are unhappy with the results of an author, title, or subject search, broaden your search using Keyword Search.  It searches the author, title, subject and notes fields of an item record.  Some broad searches for this subject are listed below:

    • Native people* Canada  (which will search for Native people Canada and Native peoples Canada)
    • Japan* Canad*  (which will search for Japanese Canada and Japanese Canadian and Japanese Canadians and Japan Canada)


    Browse the shelves. (If you only want to search for materials in the Curr Lab, click on the Limit this search button and then change the location from ANY to CURLB-Curriculum Laboratory.):
    Materials on multiculturalism will be scattered throughout the Curriculum Laboratory, depending on whether you want the political, cultural, historical, or fictionalized aspect of it.  The best way to find them is by searching the Library Catalogue.  


    Check the Education Journal Indexes on the Library Home Page.  For a list of journal indexes, you can select "Journal Indexes by Subject" from the Library home page, and select "Education." Type in search terms specific to certain ethnic groups, or try the following general terms in the journal indexes (e.g. multicultural* and (children's literature)):

    • CPI.Q. News Index:
      • You can select "Journal Indexes by Title" from the Library home page, and then select "CPI.Q. News Index"


    Search the Internet:

    • The Curriculum Laboratory's Teacher's Sites lists many of the main Internet sites used by teachers, such as Alberta Education, LRC Resources Catalogues, and some comprehensive education sites containing educational issues and lesson plans, technology sites for teachers, etc.
    • The Curriculum Laboratory's Great Sites for Educators contains useful links such as Digital Resource Subscriptions (Learn Alberta, etc.), Digital Reference resources, Kid's Sites, Lesson Plans, and links for Specific School Subjects.
    • Eric Digests provide short reports which give you an overview of a topic.  Try the  headings "multiculturalism" and "multicultural literature".
    • Browse the 2Learn.ca site for ideas, links, and articles.  Material on multiculturalism can be found under the following themes:  Cultural Diversity, Canadiana, and, Aboriginal Peoples.
    • Online resources for Canadian Heritage has information on multiculturalism under the sections "Folk culture and popular culture -- Ethnic groups - Canada" and "Ethnology -- Indigenous peoples"
    • National Library of Canada. Canadian Information by Subject and find the term "Multiculturalism" in the Subject Tree.

      Other resources.

    Contact people at:

    • local or provincial ethnic associations, ie. Southern Alberta Ethnic Association - Multicultural Heritage Centre, or, Multicultural Women's Centre
    • local Chamber of Commerce
    • neighbouring Native tribes or Friendship Centres, ie. Sik-ooh-kotok Friendship Society
    Prepared by: Margaret Rodermond. Updated July 2008
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