Are people represented in a derogatory and generalized way (people with disabilities cannot be independent and should be pitied; all Muslims are Arab; nonathletic boys are effeminate; strong female characters are man-like).

For this assignment you are required to choose five (5) books and look for the following: Describe each
book using the following aspects, in other words each book must be describe using the elements that
Derman recommended to use in order to evaluate how bias they are. This paper must be from 3 to 5
pages, please provide as many details as you can. Use your own words to describe each of the books.
Provide links of the books as well as pictures of the illustration when necessary.
1) Check both the illustrations and storylines. Is the book age appropriate and engaging. Please
explain
2) Do you see stereotypes? Are people represented in a derogatory and generalized way (people with
disabilities cannot be independent and should be pitied; all Muslims are Arab; nonathletic boys are
effeminate; strong female characters are man-like). Remember that stereotypes are not always
overt and that people in the same race may not look the same. Please explain
3) Watch for tokenism. Are all people represented as genuine and distinctive individuals? Is there only
one diverse character in the book? Please explain
4) Look for who might be invisible in the books. Certain groups of people are often missing or
underrepresented in books and media: including: families in rural areas, families with two moms or
two dads, single parent families, homeless families, transgendered children and adults, families
with incarcerated parents, and blue-collar workers. Please explain
5) Are their power imbalances portrayed? Does a non-white or female character have to “exhibit
extraordinary qualities or be the one to understand, forgive, or change?” Are “people of color,
women, low-income families, or people with disabilities depicted as needing help or in passive
roles, while whites, men, and “able-bodied” people are in leadership and action roles?” Please
explain
6) Examine what values and ideals the storyline promotes? Are the values only representative of a
dominant culture? Who are the heroes and what qualities they are admired for? Who typically
causes the problems and who usually resolves it? Please explain
7) Look for how diverse people is represented? Are they portrayed as being different or less than? Is
a culture depicted in an over-simplified way or inaccurately? Are there negative judgements of
ways of life that differ from the dominant culture or socioeconomic class? Please explain
8) Are the characters in the book that children can identify with support a positive self-identity? Please
explain
9 Is the author from the minority background she or he is writing about? If not, do you think that there
is another way the author/s is/are connected to the culture they wrote about? Please explain
10) What is the perspective, values, and goals of the author? Is cultural responsive messages and
inclusion presented in any way? Please explain
11) Watch for loaded words and terminology (lazy, primitive, savage, docile, etc.).
What gender
pronouns are used? Is gender neutral language used where possible? Please explain
12) Look at when the book was written. Before the early 1970s most children’s books were written,
edited, and published in ways that reflected the White culture and usually did not represent gender
equality. Please explain
Remember that books that have animals instead of people are not substitutes for books that explore
diversity that have people as the main characters. A book being a classic, favorite, or beloved fairy/folk tale
is not justification for including it in the classroom if it misrepresents modern culture or conveys biased
messages (sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, gender bias, or colonialism).

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