Think about the ways in which the American family has been represented in children’s literature of the past, and the assumptions that have often been made in books of the past about the “typical” family and social class, race, sexual orientation, and/or biology. Assumptions have also been made about what elements of family life are appropriate for children’s books and which are not (homelessness, incarceration of a parent, death of a child, etc.) Next, think about the ways in which the American family has been changing. Many changes are not new (adoption, for example, has a long-standing tradition in American life), but representations in picture books and children’s literature of family makeup and domestic life have changed in the past 20 years or so. Find a book published in the 21st century that you feel reflects changing notions of how “family” is depicted and/or expansive ideas of what elements of family life may be described in a children’s book . Respond with a comparative response in which you discuss how family is described in a children’s book published before 2000 and contrast this representation with details from the 21st century book you have chosen. You do not have to buy another children’s book to finish this assignment; information on plots and illustrations of books is readily available on amazon.com and other sites, or you may discuss a work we have read for this class, or a work about which you have personal knowledge.
