Workshops
Childhood in Asia: Cultural Connections in Children’s Literature
Children's Literature has often been thought of as easy books for children, but this simple definition hides the fact that readers of any age can learn a great deal about specific lived experiences through these texts. This workshop will focus on three children’s literature books, Morning Sun in Wuhan (China, ages 8-12), The Library Bus (Afghanistan, ages 5-8), and Inside Out & Back Again (Vietnam and USA, ages 9-12), each providing insight into childhood in a different Asian country. Join Master Educator Karen Gaul and facilitator Dr. Jiahang Li as you explore the system of cultural beliefs and values revealed through the characters’ thoughts, words, and actions in each of the titles along with ways each book might be used to support cultural connections in the classroom. You'll also discover age-appropriate nonfiction resources for classroom integration.