Mirrors Windows And Sliding Glass Doors Perspectives

Speaking to the lack of children s books with african american characters and themes the essay called for books to act as windows and mirrors that would allow all children to see themselves and the experiences of others in what they read.

Mirrors windows and sliding glass doors perspectives.

Bishop makes the point that it s crucial for children from marginalized groups to view themselves in the books they read. Ideas of representation and cultural awareness are central to the concept of windows and mirrors but critical reflection and thoughtful action are central to the idea of literature as a sliding glass door a concept similar to windows in that both present different experiences but sliding glass doors also can represent a change in perspective about the possibilities in the real world that a particular text helps the reader to consider. Mirrors windows and sliding glass doors originally appeared in perspectives. The phrase windows and mirrors has been used by educators especially when it comes to literacy for quite some time now.

As we read we grow to have a world view filled with empathy compassion and passion. This concept was initially introduced by educator emily style in 1988 for the national seed project. Windows mirrors sliding glass doors and beyond. Bishop coined the phrase windows mirrors and sliding glass doors to explain how children see themselves in books and how they can also learn about the lives of others through literature.

These windows are also sliding glass doors and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author. It has been twenty nine years since rudine sims bishop s seminal essay mirrors windows and sliding glass doors was published. When lighting conditions are just right however a window can also be a mirror. In the essay dr.

This essay originally appeared in perspectives. Reflections of the development of african american children s literature religious diversity children s literature green. Choosing and using books for the classroom. Choosing and using books for the classroom vol 6 no 3 summer 1990 and the hopes it expresses are just as relevant today.

Sliding glass doors provide the invitation to escape into another place real or imaginary.