Missing Boys: The Limited Representation of Black Males in Caldecott Books

Integrating children's literature that represents diverse populations into the classroom is a key part of a culturally relevant pedagogy. Several benefits emerge when children read culturally relevant books. This research focused on the representation of Black males as characters and creators of Caldecott books through a critical multicultural lens. Between 1995 and 2020, 116 books were awarded a Caldecott Medal or Honor. This research analyzed 115 of those books. The findings indicate that Black males are still underrepresented in Caldecott books. This is congruent with other research that shows limited representations of Black characters in children's literature (Koss et al., 2018; Wood & Jocius, 2013). This is especially concerning as depictions of the main characters in a story not only shape children's thinking about diversity but also influence children's understanding of who is important and who matters (Aina & Cameron, 2011; Derman-Sparks, 2016). Critical analysis of the portrayal of diverse characters, as well as the creators of books, is important to ensure all identities are represented. Such representation can help create windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors that lead to culturally relevant and diverse literacy experiences for all children, including Black males.