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Both participants 1 and 4 mentioned reading these books as students. While these books are for middle readers rather than early readers, they have some illustrations and would have been very popular books for middle readers for decades to come. All of the characters featured were typically white, middle-higher income characters. I do not know which titles the participants remembered, so I am estimating the texts to be published sometime in the 1940s and read in the 1950s. -
An illustrated timeline of children's books mentioned by my interview participants. This serves the purpose of examining the vast differences in illustrations and themes in mainstream and accessible children's books. Since I cannot know the exact date participants read these books, they are organized by publication date and the era the possible participant read the text.
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Participant 1 stated, "So the main ones [children's books] I remember were "Dick and Jane..." and "We, we didn't see any different colors of skin (in children's books)."
Participant 4 stated, "I remember first grade sitting down with "Dick and Jane and Spot..." adding that, "there wasn't a whole lot of plot."
This is an original copy of a "Dick and Jane" book, which was mentioned a few times among my participants.
While this was printed in 1956, this is a curriculum textbook dating back to 1912 -
Participant 1 stated, " "The Little Golden Books" that my mother would buy those little paperback, very inexpensive."
This would be a highly accessible book for child during the 1950s, following the opening of Disneyland in 1955.
The human characters show are white, middle class characters. -
Participant 2 was the only participant to mention a picture book they remember learning about as an adult student. Participant 2 described "Pocho" as the first book they saw featuring a character of color. Participant 2 stated, "I never really
knew what diversity was up until I started my credential. That was in the mid nineties." Originally published in 1959, read in the mid 1990s. This is the one of two books mentioned that features a BIPOC character published pre-2016. -
Participant 3 mentioned this as the first book they remembered from school. Originally published in 1963, the main character is a white child named Max. Participant 3 was the youngest participant, in their 20's, and probably read a version published in the 90s. Where the Wild Things Are greatly impacted young readers for many generations. -
Participant 1, the oldest participant, all mentioned books pre-1980s as their favorite books. -
Both participants mentioned this book, which features only animals, as a favorite book. -
The story originates from 1812, but the version Participant 2 read was probably published around 1975. The characters are white characters from New England, possibly higher income due to the expensive food they are eating in the pictures. Participant 2 stated, "I used to love reading books that had pictures of old houses like one hundred year old houses or Victorian style type things." -
All of Participant 1's favorite books featured animals as the main characters. -
Originally published in 1986, Participant 3 read this in the later 1990s-early 2000s. The main character is white character, toddler aged.
Despite Participant 3 being the youngest participant, they books they remembered reading were all published pre-1990s. -
Junie B. Jones was originally published in 1992. Junie B. Jones features a majority of white, upper income characters, but occasionally features a supporting BIPOC character. This is a good example of a book that begins bridging representation. -
One of two books mentioned featuring a lead BIPOC character pre-2016. This was another book given to Participant 2 in a workshop environment. -
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Participant 4 described this book as a current favorite because "[The students learn] it's OK and that, you
know, to ask questions and speak up and have that curiosity." Ada Twist is a black female character engaged in STEM, though the book has a fictional plot. -
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Participant 3 described this as being a favorite because, "they celebrate the differences basically in hairstyles and skin and just, basically, all of the cultural differences they celebrate and they acknowledge it, and it's it's such a good book for little kids to just see and and also relate to." -
Participant 3 mentioned "The Magical Yet" as being a current favorite. This book stands out as being a book that features a BIPOC characters, but it's story line is not specifically about diversity. -
Participant 2 described this book as a favorite as it represents her Vietnamese and Mexican daughters. Published 2021. Features a young female child of Asian heritage. -
Participant 2 stated, "This book kind of like this is like reading about my family..."
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