Different Typologies of Multicultural Education in Caldecott Medal Books

Abstract

The Caldecott Medal is renowned for honoring exceptional children’s literature, with a significant emphasis on multicultural education. These celebrated books play a pivotal role in early multicultural education, influencing children’s understanding of cultural diversity and aiding in language development. This research analyzes 25 multicultural Caldecott Medal recipients from 1938 to 2023, categorizing them according to six multicultural education philosophies: assimilation, amalgamation, pluralism, cross-cultural competence, critical awareness, and social action. The study also identifies dominant trends of these philosophies over time. Key findings are as follows: 1) Pluralism is the most prevalent typology, consistently represented across various decades, even during eras when assimilation and amalgamation were predominant; 2) A comparative analysis of the 20th and 21st centuries indicates a notable shift in multicultural education philosophies, moving from pluralism towards social action. This shift reflects a contemporary focus on proactive measures for societal change, going beyond mere recognition of cultural diversity. This study implies that a detailed understanding of the multicultural aspects of Caldecott Medal-winning books based on their embedded philosophies can significantly enhance their effective utilization in both multicultural and language education settings.