Building on and inspired by the work of Paulo Freire, this book offers an accessible introduction to how children’s literature can be used in classrooms to explore cultural diversity and nurture collective qualities of shared joy, love and agency. The authors show how critical pedagogy and culturally responsive instruction can create meaningful ways for parents, teachers, and community leaders to engage with children's and young adult literature. The chapters include discussions of polyvocality, student voice, critical parent engagement, hip hop and digital popular culture. The authors demonstrate how readings of children’s literature, particularly multicultural literature, increase student joy, and engagement, reduce prejudice, and help students develop critical consciousness. Unique and theoretically grounded, the book presents many opportunities to weave the ideas of Freire into the fabric of K-12 schooling.
