Children of Migrant Farmworkers in Picture Storybooks: Reality, Romanticism and Representation

Authors

Scott A. Beck, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-13-2009

Publication Title

Children's Literature Association Quarterly

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1353/chq.0.1903

ISSN

1553-1201

Abstract

Picture storybooks depicting the children of migrant farmworkers can serve multiple purposes in the classroom and library. However, the painful realities of migrancy challenge authors and illustrators to find a difficult balancing point between oppressive realities and unjustifiable romanticism while avoiding problematic stereotypes. Single books often do well vis-à-vis some aspects of migrancy but trip up regarding other issues. This article applies a critical perspective to an exhaustive collection of twenty-six books published over the past two decades and argues that only through complementary readings of multiple books can we do justice to the lives of those who feed us.

Comments

Copyright © 2009 Children's Literature Association

Recommended Citation

Beck, Scott A.. 2009. "Children of Migrant Farmworkers in Picture Storybooks: Reality, Romanticism and Representation." Children's Literature Association Quarterly, 34 (2): 99-137: Johns Hopkins University Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.1353/chq.0.1903 source: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/265944
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/teach-secondary-facpubs/160