Abstract
This research project explores the challenges Latino/a children face by highlighting those challenges in a new children’s book. Existing books attempting to portray the Latino/a culture were reviewed and common themes found were sectioned into groups using the Creswell’s method for coding qualitative data. Discovering which existing themes in children’s books about Latino/Latina culture were the most prominent guided the process of choosing which new themes were essential to include in future pieces. This research reviewed components of published work to determine which accurate cultural representations were appropriate to include in books for children ages five to seven. Previous pieces of literature attempting to portray the Latino/a culture include concepts such as defined gender roles as well as familial and ethnic stereotypes. It was important to choose cultural characteristics that accurately represented Latino/as when creating the plot of this new book. Concepts such as language brokering, familism, and discrimination are all introduced, which are not often found in existing children’s books. Introducing these concepts is important to enhance the cultural awareness in children by providing insight into the experiences children of Latino/Latina families face. To understand the values and responsibilities Latino/a children have, it is critical to find a method of introducing such sensitive topics to children and the readers- which are most often the parents. Making this conversation accessible was the primary motive of conducting this research. Establishing a cultural awareness dialogue between parents, teachers and children can be achieved through creating a children’s book that is culturally appropriate.
Semester/Year of Award
Fall 2020
Mentor
Tamala North
Mentor Department Affiliation
Family and Consumer Sciences
Access Options
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Department
Applied Human Sciences
Department Name when Degree Awarded
Family and Consumer Sciences
Recommended Citation
Del Moral, Edith, "Raising Awareness: Creating a Children’s Book to Reveal the Responsibilities and Cultural Values of Latino/a Children" (2020). Honors Theses. 799.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/799
