Research in a Local Bookstore- Barnes & Noble Bethesda

Liberty Porter, first Daughter NEW GIRL IN TOWN by Julia Devillers

Along the River (A Chinese Cinderella novel) by Adeline Yen Mah

Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mixup by Melissa Thomson

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell

Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

In the Young Readers' Section I have noticed that the most diverse range of books are the Newbery Award Winners Novels and in the New Young Release section, although, in their Local Favorites section there weren't many diverse books; only around one or two books were categorized as 'diverse' . Through my observation it seems to be like this because some novels are historically important for readers to be familiarized of what happened in the past. Last week I briefly visited the Barnes & Noble in Rockville last weekend and I noticed that in their Local Favorites section there were books based on different cultures and race. Many areas in Montgomery County are Multiculturally diverse but I believe that areas like Bethesda and Friendship heights it's difficult to look for that highlight issues such as racism or sexism in the Local Favorites Section. In the Children's Section it is a little racially diverse than that young reader's section. The Children's section seems to be sending out a message that everyone is different and each person has their story to tell. There were books that most races can relate to. On the other hand, children's books appear to emphasize on 'sexism'. There were books like What to doodle? GIRL STUFF!, The Girls' Doodle Book and The Boys' Doodle Book.

Also, I want to add something I noticed while sitting on the benches while doing this assignment. There was a boy, approximately 3 ~ 4 years old, playing with toys and not playing fairly with the other boys, so the mother tells him that the'll have to leave if he continues to be impolite. Finally, on the last straw she says "Okay, not that's enough, ets go over there and I'll read you books." Then he gets up and runs over and grabs Tangled (Rumpelstiltskin) and Princess Barbie. his mother immediately says "Sweetie, the Thomas [the train] books aren't here, it's over there." He then knocks over all the books on that shelf and the mother responses in a agitated tone, "Okay, now honey lets pick up these books and go over the Thomas books, okay?" Then they left. It was interesting to see this. I have no idea how to form my question though, it was as if the parent was guiding her son to be more like a 'boy' than being 'girly' ~ So in class should we be gender bias and indirectly drive the students in the direction that society accepts?