Multicultural

The Matzah That Papa Brought Home

By: Fran Manushkin

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Ned Bittinger

            This story encompasses the entire seven days of the Passover. As the story continues the previous events accumulate on the page. This story has rhythm and repetition within the stanzas. It was very interesting to hear about the matzah, feast, Passover Seder, the Four Questions, ten plagues, the Dayenu. tasting the bitter herbs, matzah ball soup, Afikoman, inviting Elijah inside, and finally celebrating the “Next year in Jerusalem. Overall, this is a very interesting book that depicts the Passover that is coveted in the Jewish religion. I personally gained a lot of information from this story and I feel as if students in the classroom would too. This is a beautifully created and illustrated story that many individuals’ young or old can learn from. 

The First Strawberries

By: Joseph Bruchac

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Anna Vojtech

This Cherokee Indian story emulates the love two people have for each other. The story is about a man and a woman who get into an argument one evening when the man comes home and sees his wife picking flowers and not cooking. He yells at her and she decides to leave him. The man feeling guilty tries to catch his wife but she is too swift and he cannot reach her. The sun god sees his trouble and agrees to help him slow her down. First, the sun beams down red raspberries but the wife does not notice them. Then, the sun beams down blueberries and blackberries but the woman keeps walking. Finally, the sun god tries his hardest and beams down beautiful strawberries right in front of the woman’s feet. She knelt down and tried one, it was so sweet tasting that it reminded her of her husbands kindness. She was still picking them when her husband caught up and apologized to her. To this day, this story and fresh strawberries are used by the Cherokee people to remind them of the importance of kindness and respect for each other. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am glad I was given the opportunity to read it.  

The Name Jar

By: Yangsook Choi

Multicultural

Illustrator Not Listed

  

This is a story about a girl named Unhei who has just migrated from Korea to America with her younger brother, mother and father. Unhei misses her grandmother that she left in Korea very much. The day she was leaving her grandmother gave her a wooden stamp of her name and an inkpad so she could sign things quickly. The first day that Unhei is riding the bus the children ask her what her name is and from the trouble they had pronouncing it she decides to tell her new class that she does not have a name. Mr. Cocotos class decided to make a name jar for Unhei with many American names she could choose from. One day, a boy named Joey stayed after class because it was raining. Here Unhei shows him her name stamp and he tells her it is beautiful. A few days’ later Unhei spots Joey at the Korean grocery store and the owner Mr. Kim greets Unhei by her first name. Joey was surprised that she had a real name; he was even happier when she told him it meant Grace. The next day, Unhei went back to class to look through the names one last time but the Jar was nowhere to be found. Unhei decided to go with her birth name and explained it to the entire class. Everyone loved her name and Joey showed Unhei the stamp he got made (at the Korean store) that reads friend. I really enjoyed this book, it was a creative way to show children that different names are not wrong and often have meaning behind them if you take the time to find out. This is a great book to read to the classroom.

            I Hate English!

By: Ellen Levine

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Steve Bjorkman

This book is story about a girl named Mei Mei, who has recently moved from China to New York City. In Hong Kong, Mei Mei was smart and well liked in school but in the American school she felt alone and out casted. For a majority of the book Mei Mei does not talk because she does not like English. Everything is different from the symbols to pronunciation of the two languages. Mei Mei dreams of being in China and to be speaking Chinese with her family and friends. One day, at the learning center a woman named Nancy came in to help Mei Mei with her English, feeling overwhelmed Mei Mei begins to cry and they take a break. The next time, Nancy takes Mei Mei into the city and speaks as much as she can in English. Eventually Mei Mei breaks down and begins to tell personal stories in English. From that day on Mei Mei and Nancy tell each other stories in English. I personally thought this book was written very well. With the end of every paragraph having the word “English of Chinese” indicated, it made the story flow very understandably. I would suggest this book to be used in the classroom because it will give children a better understanding of different cultures and fears in a new environment.

Lon Po Po

By: Ed Young

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Ed Young

               This Red Riding Hood story from China has a different spin to the American version. The story is about a mother who leaves her three children Shang, Tao and Paotze at home over night because she is visiting their grandmother Po Po. That night a wolf came to their front door pretending to be their grandmother Po Po. The children let the wolf inside and he quickly blows out the candlelight. The children go to bed with the wolf and soon notice that it is a wolf. Shang being the oldest tricks the wolf into believing that Gingko nuts can be found by a tree outside. They taste like the skin of a baby and allow you to live forever. The wolf believes her and has the three children go outside to the top of the branches to pick the nuts for him. Slowly they drop the wolf out of the basket three times, each from a higher point until the wolf finally dies. The story ends with the children’s mother coming home and an explanation of what happened. Overall, I really enjoyed this story; it was a refreshing take to a classic that kept my attention the entire time. I would recommend this to a classroom to show children the different versions of classic stories from different countries.

Mr. Lincoln’s Way

By: Patricia Polacco

Multicultural

Illustrated By: Patricia Polacco

            Mr. Lincoln’s Way is a great novel to help children better understand others ignorance when it come to racism. This story is about the principal Mr. Lincoln that everyone loves except for one bully named Gene. Gene one day got caught using the “N” word and the principal knew he was in for some hard work. He asked for Gene to help bring different species of birds into new atrium. Gene adored birds and enjoyed working with Mr. Lincoln on such a special project. He told Mr. Lincoln that his grandfather loved birds and taught him much of what he knew. Gene also promised to no longer pick on other children in the school regardless of their race. One day, two ducks flew into the atrium and created a nest with eggs inside. Everyone in the school was interested in the ducks. When the hatchlings were finally ready, Gene lead them out of the school and to a near by pond. To his surprise his grandfather was waiting there with open arms. This story is a great way to express diversity and coming together through animals. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would consider using it in the classroom.

*Justin and The Best Biscuits In The World

By: Mildrid Pitts

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Mildrid Pitts

         Tells the story of a young boy who feels that his female siblings are constantly pushing him around. He is very excited when he goes to his grandfather’s ranch and learns how to make the best biscuits in the world. Good book to recommend for an older reader.

*The White Nights of Ramadan

By: Maha Addasi

Multicultural/ Arab American

Illustrated by: Maha Addasi

         This story is about a young child who is getting excited for Ramadan the holy month. I can see this book working very well in a classroom around the holiday season. It will help children understand different religious celebrations.

*No English!

By: Jacqueline Jules

Multicultural/ Latina/o American

Illustrated by: Unknown

It is a bout a girl from Argentina who does not understand English. She gets forced to take an English spelling test and a girl notices that she is drawing pictures. The girls end up becoming best friends and both learn the others native tongue.

*Pancakes With Chocolate Syrup
By: Rebekah Barlow Rounce

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Rebekah Barlow Rounce

    This story is about two young girls who are best friends and sisters. The one sister is adopted from Ethiopia and the book shows the differences between them but exemplifies the love and compassion they have for each other. A good book that discusses race and adoptive families.

*All Kinds of People
 By: Emma Damon

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Emma Damon

            This story is about all different types of children; from their hair to eyes and even the color of their skin. This story displays racial diversity in a very positive way; with pop out pictures and interactive book mechanisms. A good book for very young children.

*Black, White, Just Right!
By: Marguerite W. Davol

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Unknown

            This book is about a young girl who looks at the differences between her bi-racial parents. She looks at the differences and similarities between her mother and father in a very positive way. Great book for children who are bi-racial as well as classrooms with bi-racial students. 

*Habibi

By:  Naomi Nye

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Unknown

         This story is about a Palestinian who moves back to Palestine with his new American family. He even has a daughter who is fourteen-named Leanna. Her father always taught her to not be prejudice to others but now she has friends who are Jewish in Palestine. This can help in a classroom of students who may have cultural differences or even a new foreign student.

*To Walk the Sky Path

By: Phyllis Renolds Naylor

Multicultural

Illustrated by: Unknown

         This story is about a boy named Billy Tommy who is a Seminole Indian. He is the first one in his family to go to a public school. This title represents his fine line between his society in school and the cultural differences at home on the reservation. A good book to help breech the gap many children have between their home and school life.

*Foolish Rabbits Big Mistake

By: Rafe Martin

MultiCultural

Illustrated by: Ed Young

         This Jataka tale is about a young rabbit that hears a loud crash in the forest. Here the story gets misinterpreted through many animals and turns the forest into complete chaos. The story ends with a brave and wise lion who sets the story straight and returns the forest back to its normal routine. This story is a good way to emphasize how quickly rumors can evolve into something very damaging. This would be a good book to read that could lead into a classroom discussion about rumors and stories changing from the truth.