Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-213) and index.

Acknowledgments -- 1. Multicultural children's literature : an introduction -- The purpose of this work -- Terms and definitions -- How people pass on their cultures -- Why this matters -- Issues affecting ethnic groups from all continents -- Four ways to look at race relations -- 2. A history of U.S. multicultural children's literature -- Multicultural and ethnic children's literature : another rose from concrete? -- Tales in and out of school : educational histories -- Looking in the funhouse mirror : cultural stereotypes -- Pioneers, precursors, and prophets in the wilderness : ethnic children's literature before 1940 -- Some light on the subject : 1940-1965 -- The first flowering : 1965-1980 -- In the desert : 1980-1985 -- A time to build : 1985- -- People important to multicultural children's literature -- 3. General trends in the field -- Mainstream responses to multiculturalism -- More specific issues in children's literature -- Loud, proud, and currying the hot sauce : a multicultural reaction to the mainstream -- What all should do -- A room with a view : what should America look like and be? -- Characteristics of U.S. multicultural books -- Multicultural and international resources -- 4. Specific ethnic initiatives and conclusions -- Pan-African -- Latino/a -- Native American -- Asian American -- 5. Where to go from here : emerging groups and issues -- Emerging groups -- Emerging issues and conclusions -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the author.

"Multicultural and Ethnic Children's Literature in the United States describes the history and characteristics of ethnic and multicultural children's literature in the United States, as well as related materials published elsewhere. It relates in great detail the people, businesses, organizations, and institutions that create, disseminate, promote, critique, and collect these materials. Donna Gilton provides a detailed history of U.S. multicultural and ethnic children's literature throughout several historical periods and in relation to social and political history."--BOOK JACKET.