Empowering Latinx: Analyzing Bilingual Children's Picture Books Through a LatCrit and Community Cultural Wealth Lens

• In Event: Illuminating Young Children's Critical Literacy Practices for Reparative Justice

Abstract

High-quality early learning experiences typically include the use of children’s picture books to bolster children’s self-identity and confidence. However, there's a scarcity of children’s STEM-themed picture books depicting Latinx cultural wealth. This study explored STEM-themed children's picture books featuring Latinx characters, using a LatCrit framework and Yosso’s community cultural wealth model. Analyzing seven bilingual picture books, the study examines how these books reflect Latinx cultural assets, highlighting implications for teacher education and early childhood educational contexts.

Authors

• Aura Yarenis Perez-Gonzalez, California State University - Long Beach

• Mari Riojas-Cortez, California State University - Channel Islands