Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Keywords
Poverty in literature; Homelessness in literature; Children's literature;
Abstract
Units taught in social studies and language arts that address family issues, neighborhoods, communities, economic diversity, and social issues need to address the struggles, challenges, and fears of children living in poverty or who are homeless. Depictions of poverty and homelessness should be handled with accuracy and sensitivity. Connections made through the use of literature can help all students develop an understanding about the world around them and help them begin to realize the struggles of those who live in poverty.
This study of K-6 nonfiction books about poverty and homelessness investigated how these social problems were depicted in the literature as well as whether the depictions of poverty and homelessness were accurate and sensitive. The 15-book sample was analyzed to determine the number of characteristics of poverty that were discussed in text and portrayed in the illustrations. It was found that current demographics of poverty were depicted throughout a majority of the books analyzed. Characteristics of poverty have been well researched, and the authors of the nonfiction books analyzed were careful to address the issues accurately. Furthermore, poverty and homelessness were depicted in a manner consistent with the characteristics put forth by organizations like The World Bank (2009) and UNESCO (n.d.).
One major outcome of the study is a list of current, high quality nonfiction books about poverty and homelessness for K6 students. However, only five of the fifteen books could be found in local elementary school libraries. The others were either housed in middle schools or universities thereby making them inaccessible to an elementary audience. Having a current list of these works will assist elementary school librarians in building their collections.
Year of Submission
2015
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Department
Division of School Library Studies
Date Original
5-2015
Object Description
1 PDF file (70 pages)
Copyright
©2015 Christine Newell
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Newell, Christine, "Poverty and homelessness : A content analysis of children's nonfiction literature" (2015). Graduate Research Papers. 104.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/104
