Chapter 6: Interrogating Whiteness: A Critical Content Analysis of Notable Picture Books Recommended by the National Council for the Social Studies

This chapter provides an in-depth examination of the ways whiteness manifests in picture books recommended by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Using critical content analysis, we investigate the 2017 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People for ideologies of whiteness within these texts. The most salient findings show that even in highly recommended picture books whiteness often continues as a norm through its evasiveness, historical isolations, portrayals of white saviors, and tokenistic uses of marginalized populations. Our study aims to serve a broad range of audiences invested in the use of children’s literature for social studies instruction. Additionally, this study serves as a call to action for educators and other leaders to engage more critically with texts written for young learners.