Windows on the World: Multicultural Festivals for Schools and Libraries

Citation

Duckett, B. (2002), "Windows on the World: Multicultural Festivals for Schools and Libraries", Library Review, Vol. 51 No. 5, pp. 268-268. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2002.51.5.268.1

“Even when travel to foreign countries is not possible, television brings other cultures into the schools and living rooms of people everywhere. Ours is a multicultural planet … ” writes the author. Not only is there a need to learn about other cultures, but: “In recent years, immigrant and national and ethnic groups have been proud to rediscover their old customs.” Librarian Alan Heath and his teacher colleagues at the American School in London, a school which has some 1,500 pupils from over 40 nationalities, decided to do something about celebrating these cultures and hence help preserve them. This book is the result.

It is both an “ideas” book and a practical guide to organizing themed festivals. An introductory chapter makes the case for holding festivals and gives overall guidance. The first theme suggested, “Windows on the world”, uses stamps and suggests many ways in which they could be used to promote the theme. There then follow nine substantial chapters on specific cultures. “First on the land: a festival of Native Americans” has us making totem poles and ceremonial masks, writing legends and making Buttermilk Cornbread. Chapter 3 is “The sceptered isles: a festival of Britain”. Among the many activities suggested are displays of the flags of the UK, designing a coat of arms, finding British place names in America, making English scones, Welsh honey cake, Scots oatmeal cookies, Irish soda bread, and making a proper pot of tea (warm teapot first!). In “Una festa d’Italia” we are invited to become a Michelangelo, publish un giornale, and discuss Venice in peril! “Beauty in simplicity” is the theme for a festival of Japan. Making a kakemono (hanging scroll), writing a haiku, doing origami and acting a Noh play are some of the Japanese‐type activities suggested. A Hispanic Festival, a festival of African‐American history, a festival of Islam, a festival of the Orient, and a festival of Judaism follow.

Common activities are to invite speakers, making things, acting and playing games. “Points for research” invite a serious study of some aspects of a culture, while “Sources of inspiration” are reading lists. The sophisticated reader might wince at some of the inevitable(?) stereotyping and twee viewpoints – build a castle (from cardboard boxes), make a Welsh lovespoon, and draw pictures of a beefeater and Queen Elizabeth the First – but for the child target audience these activities will appeal. It must also be said that the text is sympathetic to the cultures considered, and the overall impression is of a book making a serious attempt to celebrate our plural society.

Full instructions are given of the materials and food ingredients needed, advice is given on timing, and suggestions are given for themes and discussions. There are line drawings to show how things are made, and there is an index. The book itself, however, is rather poorly produced – a “perfect” binding for a thick book is never a good idea, the paper is rough, and the photographs gray and lacking contrast. Not a thing a beauty, perhaps, but these are 400 pages stuffed full of ideas. This is a useful ideas book for school librarians and teachers.