Speaking to the lack of children s books with african american characters and themes the essay called for books to act as windows and mirrors that would allow all children to see themselves and the experiences of others in what they read.
Mirrors windows and sliding glass doors article.
Bishop makes the point that it s crucial for children from marginalized groups to view themselves in the books they read.
When lighting conditions are just right however a window can also be a mirror.
It has been twenty nine years since rudine sims bishop s seminal essay mirrors windows and sliding glass doors was published.
Bishop coined the phrase windows mirrors and sliding glass doors to explain how children see themselves in books and how they can also learn about the lives of others through literature.
An article by rudine sims bishop children s literature scholar and recipient of the coretta scott king virginia hamilton award for lifetime achievement expands this concept even further.
In the essay dr.