What’s your name? Building a global perspective through culturally diverse picture books

How do teachers build a global perspective in their students? How do they move past the “dot” on the map where they reside and realize they are part of an even larger collective? Teachers who embody a global perspective and exhibit cultural competence are those that realize they are part of a bigger picture and willingly appreciate the cultures of their student population. They celebrate their students’ cultural identities and assist them in accepting and appreciating cultures other than their own. They realize that when they are open to other cultures, it builds a sense of empathy and understanding. Teachers can build a global perspective and cultural competence within their students by sharing culturally diverse children’s literature. This paper highlights seven books about global naming traditions and the importance of pronouncing one’s name correctly.