The environment, toys and materials in a child’s environment
influence what children learn. Among
these materials, children’s books play a major role in helping children understand
the world they live in. Anti-bias books can
provide a great way for children to learn about diversity (Derman-Sparks,
2010). Educators and parents should
carefully examine the books they provide for their children. There are important questions to ask when
selecting children’s books, such as: Do the books I provide support all
children’s racial identity, family, cultural identity, home language, etc. (Derman-Sparks,
2010)? Or, do white people possess the
power, and take the leadership (Honig 1998)?
When looking critically at the children’s book Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles, I found several stereotypes
and racial bias. This blog will further
examine the book written by Miles, to shed light on the stereotypes and bias
that may be otherwise hidden without careful observation.
First,
here is a little information on the author, Miska Miles. Miles was born in Kansas in 1899, where she
became a teacher. Her stories are
influenced by her life growing up on a farm and a Navajo reservation. Her most acclaimed book, Annie and the Old One, written in 1971, was made into a movie and
received the Newberry Honor Award (Childrensliteraturenetwork.org 2013)
When
reading Annie and the Old One, I
found several stereotypes about Native Americans. For example, Annie lives near cornfields,
pumpkins and in the desert. She also
eats fry bread, carries pails of water, weaves daily, and gathers dry twigs and
brush to make fire. I also found the
characters to be stereotypical Native Americans. Annie’s grandmother’s face is covered in
wrinkles, an image I have seen in several Hollywood films. The person of authority, the teacher, is a
blonde woman, who I am assuming is white.
All the Native characters have extremely long and black hair. Also, the grandmother, who is referred to as
the old one, is a common stereotype for Native American elders to always be
wise. 
When
thinking about the stereotypes this book lays on Native American people, it
makes me wonder how it would affect Native American children reading this book. Because Annies parents in the story do not
seem to have real jobs, perhaps children will feel their potential is limited
to crafting, weaving, trading in the market and simply living on the reservation.
The
illustrations in the story depict a life on a reservation, full or cornfields,
sheeps, ealges, cactus and desert landscape.
Not all Native Americans live on a reservation. In the one drawing of Annie at school, she is
standing outside of the building looking shamed with her head down for misbehaving
at school.
After
analyzing this book I feel that it may send a negative image about Native
American people. It paints a picture
that Native Americans live on reservations; grow corn and pumpkins, live in the
desert, misbehave in public schools, weave everyday, and die on the
reservation.
Reference List
ChildrensLiteratureNetwork.org (March 2013)
Derman-Sparks, Louise (2010). Anti-Bias Education: For Young
Children and Ourselves: Washington D.C.
Honig, Bill (1998) “10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s
Books From Racism to Sexism”: Sacramento, CA
Miles, Miska (1971). Annie and the Old One: New York, NY
