Alex Connelly

LSW- Multicultural fiction Homeless Bird

Due: April 28, 2015

Personally, I do not think that Homeless Bird is exceedingly negative in its

view of Indian culture. Culture simply is what it is. I think children should be exposed
to varying norms and customs from around the world to indicate differentiating
viewpoints on how customs in our lives done, as well as how similar we are as a
human race. I think that children are exposed to negative culture daily, whether it
be their or another view the media they are exposed.
I think this book does a good job introducing some of the vocabulary and
terms used in that culture as well as personalizing and humanizing a culture by
creating a main character children can empathize with. That being said, I do not
think, overall, I would use this book in my elementary classroom. While the book is
not too negative, I think that it takes maturity and understanding that children
simply do not demonstrate to understand the differences in that culture.
I do not think the majority of my class would get the point of the story
being told, nor could they relate to it. I think there is a discrepancy between
empathizing with a character and being able to relate and personalize the story
being told. Perhaps I will have had some students who have experienced enough
life to grasp the severity of the protagonists dilemma.
I think, perhaps, I would use this book to demonstrate the culture of India and
the Hindu system in the 8th or 9th grade, when children begin their world history

units. Perhaps a book like this can give perspective to how a culture functions.
Children need to be mature enough to understand that different cultures are not
necessarily bad, just different. We can not judge a culture we do not participate in
because our biases are towards another way of life. Therefore, I think I would use
this with pre-teens and young adults.