“Have you heard about an African cinderella story?”: The hunt for multiethnic literature

Although the demand for multicultural children's literature dates back to the mid-nine-teenth century, recent years have seen a rejuvenation and expansion of the field. Publishers large and small have responded to this demand in a variety of ways. This article reviews the current status of multicultural children's literature and trends in publishing. It also offers suggestions for publishers who want to be more responsive to these demands and the growing market they represent. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in children's literature. Her current research interests are in the literacy materials created for African-American children prior to 1950 and literature reflective of the various ethnic communities in the United States.