Female elder as culture bearer in multicultural children's literature

Women have long been the guardians of wisdom and culture. This study explores the role of the female elder, part of the history of women, to convey wisdom to children through story and domestic arts in multicultural children's literature. It emphasizes cultural identity and cultural understanding. Thirty-five books analyze the role of female elder as portrayed in children's literature to pass on values and culture in African American, Asian Pacific American, Hispanic American, and Native American cultures. Criteria for selection include (a) presence of female elder as protagonist in the story, (b) cultural substance, (c) and literary value. Critical analysis reveals significance of the female elder role, generative themes, authenticity, literary quality, embedded wisdom (by word or action), deeper structures (metaphors or symbolic meaning), and overall impact. Unifying themes by topic and culture are importance of story, domestic arts, history and ritual, wisdom and values, and the special relationship between female elders and children that enables the passing on of wisdom and values of a culture. Cultural substance/authenticity includes history, ritual, language, food, clothing, illustrations, theme, and values of the culture. Stories affirm the values of hope, courage, perseverance, self-respect, respect for family and its history, keeping a balance in life, and resolution with the life and death cycle. Although each culture is unique, the similarities of wisdom are common among these cultures. The respect for story in its varied forms and domestic arts as a binding fabric yield a vehicle for understanding one's own history and culture leading to self-esteem and for understanding all cultures. The role of the female elder as culture bearer of story, domestic arts, cultural heritage, and wisdom and values in multicultural children's literature books stresses the importance of cultural identity and cultural understanding for those whose culture is reflected and for those who have only experienced their own culture. In multicultural children's literature, the female elder character provides a wealth of wisdom, culture, and knowledge of the myriad array of cultures of our global society.