Homelessness as it is portrayed in children's literature : a view from the street

As educators, it is important for us to help our students become aware of social issues that affect their world. One such issue is homelessness. One way for teachers to incorporate this sensitive issue as a teachable topic is through children's literature. Literature is a powerful tool that affords students the opportunity to experience life on someone else's terms ; that of the characters. The gritty reality of homelessness is explored in both picture books and novels. This paper addresses the way in which the topic of homelessness can be incorporated into the elementary school curriculum to support students' development in the area of social responsibility. Additionally, the paper includes an annotated bibliography of both picture books and novels on the topic of homelessness published between the years 1990 to 2007.Education, Faculty ofLanguage and Literacy Education (LLED), Department ofUnreviewedGraduat