Mirrors Windows And Doors In Literature

What are mirrors and windows.

Mirrors windows and doors in literature.

In the essay dr. It has been twenty nine years since rudine sims bishop s seminal essay mirrors windows and sliding glass doors was published. When lighting conditions are just right however a window can also be a mirror. A mirror is a story that reflects your own culture and helps you build your identity.

Bishop coined the phrase windows mirrors and sliding glass doors to explain how children see themselves in books and how they can also learn about the lives of others through literature. A window is a resource that offers you a view into someone else s experience. Bishop makes the point that it s crucial for children from marginalized groups to view themselves in the books they read. For books to provide an opening onto worlds beyond their own experience worlds real or imagined because children need to see children that look different in the books they read.

Speaking to the lack of children s books with african american characters and themes the essay called for books to act as windows and mirrors that would allow all children to see themselves and the experiences of others in what they read. Mirrors windows and sliding glass doors author. The phrase mirrors and windows was initially introduced by emily style for the national seed project. These windows are also sliding glass doors and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author.