National Identity in a Multicultural Society: Malaysian Childrenʹs Literature in English

This article explores the question of how childrenʹs literature reflects national identity in a diverse society. Drawing parallels with Ellisonʹs Invisible Man, it speculates on how literary omissions and misrepresentations of diverse groups may influence the minds of young readers in their attitudes toward themselves, their nation, and others. In a sampling of the current childrenʹs picture book literature of Malaysia in English, it relates current thinking in multiculturalist and post-colonial theory to the forms of multiculturalism found in these works. It examines this literatureʹs representations of history, diversity, class, gender, and values to determine who is represented, how they are portrayed, who is excluded, and what values are promoted, exploring what image of national identity this literature projects.