Poverty theme in Children's Books
             Over the course of the semester we've read several books that addressed various social themes, such as racism, the holocaust, status, and poverty. Of all the themes we've address the one that stuck with me the most was the theme of poverty. The reason poverty has lingered in my mind is because of all the themes, poverty makes the greatest impact on world as we know it. Many other social issues stem from the lack of resources. Of course, the fact that poverty is a major problem in society is a not a secret. However, teaching children about this sensitive topic can be a little more than even the most experienced and competent parents are able to deal with in a way that a young mind can understand. One way parents choose to introduce their children to this social problem is with the aid of children's books. Curious of exactly how a children's book author presents this topic in a way a young mind could grasp it, I have chosen to take a look at the children's books The Rag Coat, Bone Button Borscht, and May'naise Sandwiches and Sunshine Tea all which address poverty as a central theme.
             The first book I want to discuss is titled May'naise Sandwiches and Sunshine Tea. This book starts off which a young African-American girl who the author affectionately named "Little Miss". Little Miss is chatting with her grandmother about her grandmother's old scrapbook. The grandmother or "Big mama" as her granddaughter calls her flips through the scrap book in remembrance of her childhood. She proceeds to tell her granddaughter about a particular picture with her and her best childhood friend Bettie Jean. Billy Jean was very wealthy in relation to her peers and as a result of that she dressed nicer, and lived in a better side of town that most kids in her school. Big Mama, who grew up very poor, recounted the story of the first time she me...