Asian/Asian American Children and Their Families Portrayed in Children’s Picturebooks

• In Event: Exploring the Multidimensional Experiences of Asian American Children and Families in Educational Contexts

Abstract

Multicultural picturebooks focusing on Asian/Asian American children aim to represent the experiences, voices, and perspectives of individuals from Asian and Asian American cultures and communities. Effectively using cultural materials, such as multicultural picturebooks, is crucial for empowering children from underrepresented backgrounds and imparting knowledge, skills, and attitudes (Drucker, 2003; Nganga, 2015). Given that picturebooks are fundamental educational tools for young children, it is crucial to choose culturally responsive and appropriate ones for diverse readers. This presentation will explore specific issues related to multicultural children’s picturebooks on Asian and Asian Americans in depth.
Two prominent issues are underrepresentation and misrepresentation. Among the major cultural groups in the United States, Asian cultures or Asian Americans are the least featured in picturebooks. Many Asian American children experience a sense of exclusion, rarely encountering characters or storylines that resonate with their own experiences (Author A). Furthermore, even well-known children’s picturebooks often fail to provide accurate depictions of Asian American children, potentially hindering the understanding of non-Asian/Asian American children about the Asian American community and contributing to the perpetuation of biases (Author A).
Another topic addressed in the presentation is research on unpacking underrepresentations and misrepresentations of Asian/Asian Americans in children’s picturebooks. Numerous researchers have analyzed the portrayal and illustration of Asian/Asian Americans in children’s picturebooks with varying interests and focuses. Some studies have examined collective Asian cultures, particularly in terms of immigration experience or transnationality, while others have focused on individual ethnicities or countries of origin. Although it is not feasible to introduce all the research studies in this presentation, several prominent recent studies will be discussed.
Finally, this presentation will discuss trends in multicultural picturebooks on Asian/Asian Americans before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, there was a growing interest in multicultural picturebooks focusing on Asian and Asian American culture. These books aimed to provide authentic representations of Asian and Asian American experiences, stories, and traditions to young readers. Publishers and authors increasingly recognized the importance of diversifying children’s literature and addressing the need for inclusive and representative storytelling (Gilmore, 2015; We Need Diverse Books, n.d.). During the pandemic, there was a noticeable increase in the demand for books addressing Asian and Asian American culture, particularly in response to rising incidents of anti-Asian discrimination and xenophobia. However, despite expectations of a surge in the number of children’s picturebooks on Asian/Asian American themes after the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the Anti-Asian Hate Crime movement, the reality shows no significant change in numbers.
Before the pandemic, the content of these books tended to focus on a simple introduction to culture at a concrete level, often exemplified through food, special holidays, prominent landmarks, and cultural appreciation within the Asian American community (Author A; Author B). During and after the pandemic, an increasing number of books addressed topics such as diversity and inclusion, social justice, systemic and institutional racism, and microaggression. Additionally, there was a renewed emphasis on promoting cultural pride, identity, and resilience through storytelling.

Author

• Su-Jeong Wee, California State University - Los Angeles