Cultural Diversity In Children's Literature And Aboriginal Culture

“Literature provides many ways of encouraging children to engage with a world wider than their own, a point of view other than their own, and a commitment to issues beyond their own.” This quotation from Johnston (2010, p.637) will be discussed in the following essay with regards to literature and cultural diversity, literature and ESL students and literature and the Aboriginal culture. Children’s literature related to these topics will also be discussed. The books include: Mirror by Jeanie Baker, The Peasant Prince by Li Cunxin, Prince Cinders by Babette Cole, Ali Baba and the forty thieves by Jean Chapman, A is or Aunty by Elaine Russell and Our World Bardi Jaawi, Life at Ardiyooloon written by the students from One Arm Point Community

In a class where there are many Indigenous children who do not speak English naturally encouraging a mother who can speak both languages to assist in the classroom or a multi-lingual teacher’s aide can really help increase the children’s experience. Aboriginal stories read in class engage Indigenous and Non-Indigenous students. Literacy and learning methods used with Aboriginal students are equally valid for non-Indigenous students. Aboriginal children’s books are important in the class room as it provides Indigenous and Non-Indigenous students with an understanding of Aboriginal Culture. (Johnston, 2010) An excellent story for children that incorporates the English language and the Indigenous culture is A is for Aunty by Elaine Russell. The story is inspired by Elaine’s childhood memories of her life and her family on the mission at Murrin Bridge in Northern New South Wales. It is alphabet book and every letter takes the reader on a journey through Elaine’s daily events such as things like being chased by emus, looking after her pet possum, picking Quantong’s and billycart racing. These are all things that would take place majority of aboriginal communities. This story is an excellent way of enriching the lives of children from Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds and bring the two cultures together. (Russell, 2000) Our World Bardi Jaawi, Life at Ardiyooloon written by the students from One Arm Point Community School is an excellent story that unites children of all backgrounds with Aboriginal culture. It tells of the lives of children living in a remote Indigenous area and their lives are quite different to most Australians. The authors of this story provide the reader insight about traditional Aboriginal activities such as camping, fishing, dancing, storytelling, finding waterholes, tracking, cooking and eating bush tucker. (School,