Curriculum Laboratory

Recommended Books for  Promoting  Multiculturalism


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What is multicultural education?

Why promote multicultural books in your classroom?  Some basic reasons are listed below:

What is a "multicultural" book?  You will get a hint by looking at the subject headings and annotations in the list of books below.  Pay particular attention to the geographic location and time period. Multicultural books cover an extremely wide range of subjects, locations, and time periods!

What is a "good" multicultural book?  You should use the same criteria in evaluating books with multicultural themes as any other book, such as:

In addition, you can use these criteria:


See the handout, "Searching for Multicultural Library Materials for Students" for details on how to find other titles similar to the ones listed in the chart, below.

Look at some of the books listed below.  Discuss what criteria makes some of these titles "good" multicultural books.
 
 

Grade: Call No. Author: Illustrator: Title: Date: Subject1: Subject2: Awards: Annotation:
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies 011.62 Hus Gr.EC-6 v.1 Edmonton Public Schools   Children's literature arrangements, 3rd ed. 1999 Children's literature -- Bibliography     An annotated bibliography of over 1800 books for children, grades EC-6. One section includes books on various literature themes, including multiculturalism. The electronic version of this database is available on Digital Resource Subscriptions Computer .

Multicultural Books: Bibliographies

 016.3058 Kal     Kaleidoscope: a multicultural booklist for grades k-8 2001 Pluralism (Social sciences) -- Bibliography Multiculturalism -- United States -- Bibliography   Includes indexes
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies 011.62 Lit Gr.7-12  Edmonton Public Schools   Literature connections, 2nd ed. 1999 Young adult literature -- Bibliography     An annotated bibiliography of books for young adults, grades seven to twelve. One section includes books on various literature themes, including multiculturalism. The electronic version of this database is available on the Digital Resource Subscriptions Computer .
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies 370.117 Bea Beaty, Janice   Building bridges with multicultural picture books: for children 3-5 1997 Multicultural education Multiculturalism    
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies 370.117 Rob Roberts, Patricia   Multicultural friendship stories and activities for children 1998 Multicultural education Friendship -- Bibliography   Contains suggested titles, and activities for each title.
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies 970.1 Sla Slapin, Beverly   Through Indian eyes: the native experience in books for children 1992 Indians of North America -- Juvenile literature -- Bibliography     See page 239 and following: evaluating "good" books dealing with aboriginals, as well as the bibliography on page 287. 
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies MAINC PS 173 I6 S76 1995 Stott, Jon C.   Native Americans in children's literature 1995 Indians in literature     See Chapter 1 and Chapter 4
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies MAINC Z 1037 M54 1992 Miller-Lachmann, Lyn   Our family, our friends, our world 1992 Pluralism (Social sciences) in literature -- Bibliography     See table of contents headings
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies 372.412 Fuh Fuhler, Carol J.   Teaching reading with multicultural books kids love 2000 Multicultural education      
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies 370.117 Rob Roberts, Patricia   Multicultural friendship stories and activities for children aged 5-15 1998 Multicultural education      
Multicultural Books: Bibliographies HM 101 M54 1995 Miller, Lachmann, ed.   Global voices, global visions: a core collection of multicultural books 1995 Multicultural education      
K-3 299.74 Whe Whetung, James Morin, Paul The vision seeker 1996 Ojibwa Indians Vision quests    
K-3 306.08996 Ony Onyefulu, Ifeoma   Ogbo: sharing life in an African village 1996 Nigeria, Eastern -- Social conditions Igbo (African people) -- Social conditions    
K-3 398.20968 Ste Steptoe, John   Mufaro's beautiful daughters: an African tale 1987 Fables, African Folklore -- Africa Caldecott Honor Book 1988 Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife.
K-3 398.2089 Gob Goble, Paul   Her seven brothers 1988 Stars -- Folklore Cheyenne Indians -- Folklore 1991 Alberta Children's Book Award Retells the Cheyenne legend in which a girl and her seven chosen brothers become the Big Dipper.
K-3 398.2089 Gob Goble, Paul   The lost children: the boys who were neglected 1993 Siksika Indians -- Folklore Stars -- Folklore   A Blackfoot Indian legend in which six neglected orphaned brothers decide to go to the Above World where they become the constellation of the "Lost Children," or Pleiades.
K-3 398.2089 Gob Goble, Paul   Buffalo woman 1984 Siksika Indians -- Folklore Bison -- Folklore   A young hunter marries a female buffalo in the form of a beautiful maiden, but when his people reject her he must pass several tests before being allowed to join the buffalo nation.
K-3 398.209 Yol Yolen, Jane Moser, Barry Sky dogs 1990 Siksika Indians -- Fiction Horses -- Fiction 1992 Alberta Children's Book Award A young motherless boy in a tribe of Blackfeet Indians is present when his people see horses for the first time and are changed forever.
K-3 951.93 Par Park, Francis Jenkins, Debra Reid My freedom trip: a child's escape from North Korea 1998 Koreans -- Biography Refugees   Based on the life of the author's mother, this is the story of her escape from North Korea.
K-3 F And Andrews, Jan Wallace, Ian Very last first time 1985 Inuit -- Canada -- Fiction      
K-3 F Bel Bell, William and Campbell, Ken   River my friend 1996 Rivers -- Fiction Family -- Fiction    
K-3 F Bou Bouchard, David Huang, Zhong-Yang The dragon New Year 1999 Festivals -- China -- Fiction New Year -- Fiction    
K-3 F Bru Bruchac, Joseph Morin, Paul Fox song 1993 Indians of North America -- Fiction Death -- Fiction    
K-3 F Cro Crook, Connie Brummel Cameron, Scott Maple moon 1997 Maple syrup -- Fiction Missisauga Indians -- Fiction    
K-3 F Eyv Eyvindson, Peter Brynjolson, Rhian Red parka Mary 1996 Indian women -- Fiction Indian aged -- Fiction    
K-3 F Gar Garay, Luis   The long road 1997 Refugees -- Nicaragua -- Fiction Nicaragua -- Fiction    
K-3 F Gar Garay, Luis   Pedrito's day 1997 Latin Americans -- Fiction Family -- Fiction   When Pedrito replaces, from his own earnings, money he has lost, his mother decides that he is finally big enough for some of his father's earnings to be used towards buying him a bicycle.
K-3 F Gil Gilmore, Rachna Priestley, Alice A gift for Gita 1998 Emigration and immigration -- Fiction East Indians -- Fiction    
K-3 F Gil Gilmore, Rachna Priestley, Alice Lights for Gita 1994 East Indians -- Fiction East Indians -- Fiction   Recently immigrated from India, Gita is looking forward to celebrating her favorite holiday, Divali, a festival of lights, but things are so different in her new home that she wonders if she will ever adjust.
K-3 F Har Lawson, Julie Morin, Paul Dragon's pearl 1992 China -- Fiction Fairy tales CACL Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Medal 1993, Alberta Children's Book Award 1994 During a terrible drought, a cheerful, dutiful son finds a magic pearl which forever changes his life and the lives of his mother and neighbors.
K-3 F Kei Keister, Douglas   Fernando's gift 1995 Rain forests -- Fiction Costa Rica -- Fiction   In Spanish and English. One day young Fernando, who lives in the rain forest of Costa Rica with his family, goes with his friend Carmina to look for her favorite climbing tree only to find it cut down.
K-3 F Kus Kusugak, Michael  Krykorka, Vladyana Baseball bats for Christmas 1990 Inuit -- Fiction Baseball stories.    
K-3 F Lue Luenn, Nancy Chapman, Robert A gift for Abuelita: celebrating the day of the dead 1998 Death -- Fiction Mexican Americans -- Fiction   After her beloved grandmother dies, Rosita hopes to be reunited with Abuelita as she prepares a gift to give her when her family celebrates the Day of the Dead.
K-3 F McG McGugan, Jim Kimber, Murray Josepha: a prairie boy's story 1994 Immigrants -- Fiction Friendship -- Fiction   Josepha, an immigrant boy, leaves school to begin working and says good-bye to his best friend.
K-3 F Obe Oberman, Sheldon Lewin, Ted The always prayer shawl 1994 Jews -- Social life and customs -- Fiction      
K-3 F Ras Raschka, Chris   Yo! Yes? 1993 African-Americans -- Fiction Friendship -- Fiction Caldecott Honor Book 1994 Two lonely characters, one black and one white, meet on the street and become friends.
K-3 F Say Say, Allen   Grandfather's journey 1993 Japanese Americans -- Fiction Grandfathers -- Fiction Caldecott Medal 1994, John Newbery Medal A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather's journey to America which he later also undertakes, and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries.
K-3 F Sha Shaw-MacKinnon, Margaret Gal, Laszlo Tiktala 1996 Inuit -- Fiction Seals (Animals) -- Fiction   When the spirit guide changes her into a seal, Tiktala learns the ways of seals and how harmful humans can be.
K-3 F Tro Trottier, Maxine Galouchko, Annouchka The walking stick 1998 Vietnamese -- Fiction Family -- Fiction    
K-3 F Tro Trottier, Maxine Van Mil, Al The tiny kite of Eddie Wing 1995 Chinese Americans -- Fiction Kites -- Fiction CLA Book of the Year for Children 1996 Too poor to buy a real kite, Eddie flies an imaginary one that catches the attention of Old Chan, the wealthy patron of the kite festival.
K-3 F Van Camp, Richard Van Littlechild, George A man called Raven 1997 Indians of North America -- Fiction Metis -- Fiction   A mysterious man tells two Indian brothers why they must not hurt the ravens that pester them.
K-3 F Wal Wallace, Ian   Chin Chiang and the dragon's dance 1985 Chinese -- Fiction Grandfathers -- Fiction CACL Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Medal 1985, IODE Book Award winnner, 1987 Alberta Children's Book award Chin Chiang has long dreamed of dancing the dragon's dance, but when the first day of the Year of the Dragon arrives and he is to dance with his grandfather, he is sure he will shame his family and bring bad luck to everyone.
K-3 F Whi White, Jacquelinne   Coyote winter 1991 Hutterite Brethren -- Fiction Coyote -- Fiction   After the worst storm in living memory, a school teacher and her class of Hutterite children go for a walk and discover a coyote caught in a trap.
K-3 F Yee Yee, Paul Xiong, Gu The boy in the attic 1998 Emigration and immigration -- Fiction Ghost stories    
K-3 F Yee Yee, Paul Chan, Harvey Roses sing on new snow: a delicious tale 1991 Chinese Americans -- Fiction Cookery, Chinese -- Fiction   Despite a greedy father and lazy brothers who try to conceal her identity as the real cook in their restaurant, Maylin manages to receive the recognition she deserves when a governor from China comes to a New World Chinatown.
K-3 F Yer Yerxa, Leo   Last leaf first snowflake to fall 1993 Indians of North America -- Fiction Nature -- Fiction CACL Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Medal 1994 An Indian parent and child move through the forest and over a pond as nature passes from fall to winter.
K-5 970.4 Lit Littlechild, George   This land is my land 1993 Cree Indians -- Canada -- Social life and customs     Using text and his own paintings, the author describes the experiences of Indians of North America in general as well as his experiences growing up as a Plains Cree Indian in Canada.
3-5 398.20947 Lot Lottridge, Celia Barker Chan, Harvey Music for the Tsar of the sea: a Russian wonder tale 1998 Tales -- Russia (Federation) Music -- Folklore    
3-5 398.2089 Tay Taylor. C. J.   Bones in the basket: native stories of the origin of people 1994 Indians of North America -- Folklore Human beings -- Origin -- Folklore    
3-5 970.3 Man Many Guns, Tom   Pinto horse rider 1979 Siksika Indians -- Biography      
3-5 F Dor Dorris, Michael   Morning girl 1992 America -- Discovery and exploration -- Spanish -- Fiction Indians of the West Indies -- Fiction   Morning Girl, who loves the day, and her younger brother Star Boy, who loves the night, take turns describing their life on an island in pre-Columbian America; in Morning Girl's last narrative, she witnesses the arrival of the first Europeans to her world.
3-5 F Ker Kertes, Joseph Perko, Peter The red corduroy shirt 1998 Friendship -- Fiction Emigration and immigration -- Fiction    
3-5 F Kus Kusugak, Michael Arvaarluk Krykorka, Vladyana Langer Arctic stories 1998 Inuit -- Nunavut -- Repulse Bay -- Fiction      
3-5 F Sal Sagel, Jim   Garden of stories 1996 Mexican Americans -- Fiction New Mexico -- Fiction   New Mexican folk tales told in English and Spanish. Eleven-year-old Tomas visits his uncle and learns a lot about his cultural heritage from this wise storyteller.
3-5 F San Santiago, Chiori Lowry, Judith Home to Medicine Mountain 1998 Off-reservation boarding schools -- Fiction Indians of North America -- California -- Fiction   Two young Maidu Indian brothers sent to live at a government-run Indian residential school in California in the 1930s find a way to escape and return home for the summer.
3-5 F Skr Skrypuch, Forchuk Martchenko, Michael Silver threads 1996 World War, 1914-1918 -- Ukrainian Canadians -- Fiction World War, 1914-1918 -- Concentration camps -- Canada -- Fiction    
3-5 F Wab Waboose, Jan Bourdeau Reczuch, Karen Morning on the lake 1997 Ojibwa Indians -- Fiction Grandfathers -- Fiction    
3-5 F Wal Valgardson, W.D. Wallace, Ian Sarah and the people of Sand River 1996 Cree Indians -- Canada -- Fiction Icelanders -- Manitoba -- Fiction   One day, Sarah's father sends her away from New Iceland where she has lived all her life, and sends her to Winnipeg to live with an English family. But once Sarah's father has left, she is forced to work as a slave.
3-5 F Zem Zemser, Amy Bronwen   Beyond the mango tree 1998 Mothers and daughters -- Fiction Liberia -- Fiction   While living in Liberia with her possessive, diabetic mother and often-absent father, twelve-year-old Sarina longs for a friend with whom to experience the world beyond her yard.
5-8 951.5 Sis Sis, Peter   Tibet: through the red box 1998 Tibet (China) -- Description and travel Fathers and sons Caldecott Honor Book 1999  
5-8 F Hud Hudson, Jan   Sweetgrass 1984 Siksika Indians -- Fiction   Alberta Children's Book Award 1988, CLA Book of the Year For Children 1984  
5-8 F Nai Naidoo, Beverley   No turning back: a novel of South Africa 1995 South Africa -- Fiction     When the abuse at home becomes too much for twelve-year-old Sipho, he runs away to the streets of Johannesburg and learns to survive in the post-apartheid world.
5-8 F Pre Pressler, Mirjam   Halinka 1998 Germany -- History -- 1945-1955 -- Fiction Foster home care -- Fiction   While living in a home for emotionally disturbed girls in Germany just after World War II, twelve-year-old Halinka carefully hides her thoughts, feelings, and even her hopes.
5-8 F Sta Staples, Suzanne Fisher   Shabanu: daughter of the wind 1989 Pakistan -- Fiction   Newbery Honor Book, 1990 When eleven year old Shabanu, the daughter of a nomad in the Cholistan Desert of present day Pakistan, is pledged in marriage to an older man whose money will bring prestige to the family, she must either accept the decision, as is the custom, or risk the consequences of defying her father's wishes.
5-8 F Wye Wyeth, Sharon Dennis   Once on this river 1998 African-Americans -- Fiction Slavery -- Fiction   While on a trip with her mother from Madagascar to New York in 1760, eleven-year-old Monday learns the horrors of slavery and the truth about her "other" mother.
8-12 F Bel Bell, William   Zack 1998 Blacks -- Canada -- Fiction Mississippi -- Fiction   The son of a Jewish father and black mother, high school senior Zack has never been allowed to meet his mother's family, but after doing a research project on a former slave, he travels from his home in Canada to Natchez, Mississippi to find his grandfather.
8-12 F Col Collura, Mary-Ellen   Winners 1984 Indians of North America -- Fiction Siksika Indians -- Fiction 1984 National Chapter IODE Book Award, 1985 Young Adult Canadian Book Award  
8-12 F Cre Crew, Linda   Children of the river 1989 Asian Americans -- Fiction Cambodia -- History -- Civil War, 1970-1975 -- Fiction.   Having fled Cambodia four years earlier to escape the Khmer Rouge army, seventeen-year-old Sundara is torn between remaining faithful to her own people and adjusting to life in her Oregon high school as a "regular" American.
8-12 F Har Harris, Christine   Fortune cookies 1998 Multiculturalism -- Fiction Refugees -- Fiction    
8-12 F Kur Kurtz, Jane   The storyteller's beads 1998 Friendship -- Fiction Ethiopia -- Fiction   During the political strife and famine of the 1980's, two Ethiopian girls, one Christian and the other Jewish and blind, struggle to overcome many difficulties, including their prejudices about each other, as they make the dangerous journey out of Ethiopia.
8-12 F Pat Paterson, Katherine Wells, Haru Of nightingales that weep 1974 Japan -- History -- Fiction     The vain young daughter of a samurai finds her comfortable life ripped apart when opposing warrior clans begin a struggle for imperial control of Japan.
8-12 F Rin Rinaldi, Ann   Hang a thousand trees with ribbons 1996 African-Americans -- Fiction Slaves -- Fiction ALA Best Book for Young Adults, IRA Teacher's Choice A fictionalized biography of the eighteenth-century African woman who, as a child, was brought to New England to be a slave, and after publishing her first poem when a teenager, gained renown throughout the colonies as an important black American poet.
8-12 F Yep Yep, Laurence   The case of the lion dance 1998 Chinese Americans -- Fiction Detective and mystery stories   When $2000 is stolen during the opening of a restaurant, Lily and her aunt, a Chinese American movie actress, search for the thief throughout San Francisco's Chinatown.
Poor 372.4 Gin:B Ousley, Odille   My little green story book 1967 Readers (Primary) Readers -- 1950-   Example of a "poor" multicultural book.
Poor 372.4 Gin:B Ousley, Odille   My little blue story book 1967 Readers (Primary) Readers -- 1950-   Example of a "poor" multicultural book.
Poor 978 Usb Usborne, Peter   In the wild west 1972 West (U.S.)     This is an example of a "poor" multicultural book.
Poor BillĖs office (Discarded book) Bishop, Claire Huchet and Wiese, Kurt   The five chinese brothers 1938 Chinese -- Fiction Brothers -- Fiction   Example of a "poor" multicultural presentation.
Poor Historic 300 Nem Nemec, Lois   Let's take turns 1951 Democracy -- Study and teaching     Example of a "poor" multicultural book
Poor Historic 372.4 Dol Dolch, Edward   Tepee stories 1956 Indians of North America -- Folklore     Example of a "poor" multicultural book
Poor Historic 372.4 Dol Dolch, Edward   Wigwam stories 1956 Indians of North America -- Folklore     Example of a "poor" multicultural book
Poor Historic 372.4 Gin:A Ousley, Odille   Come with us 1967 Readers -- 1950-     Example of a "poor" multicultural book
Poor Historic 372.4 Gin:B#5 Ousley, Odille   We are neighbors 1967 Readers -- 1950-     Example of a "poor" multicultural book

References:
Bainbridge, J.M. & Pantaleo, S. (1999).  Multicultural picture books:  Perspectives from Canada.  The Social Studies, 90(4), 183-188 from the World Wide Web:  http://web7.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark

Kiefer, B.Z., Hepler, S. & Hickman, J. (2007).  Charlotte Huck's Children's literature  Boston ; Toronto : McGraw-Hill.

Saltman, J. (1997).  Multicultural children's picture books. Canadian Children's Literature, 23(1), 82-84.

Prepared by Bill Glaister and Margaret Rodermond 2001, Updated July 2008.