Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors

Picture books are a wonderful educational tool for all children, particularly during their early years. They can act as  

• mirrors: a way for children to see themselves reflected in literature,  

• windows: a way for children to see the lives of others  

• sliding glass doors: a way for children to see themselves as able to transverse between groups and worlds (Bishop, 1990).   

The right book in the hands of a child at the right time can be powerful, and educators have the opportunity to make this happen for the children in their group. For example, if the children's in Dina's group reacted negatively to her story about not how she was born, this could be a perfect opportunity for her educator to find a picture story for the class about different types of families.