Kristin Hatch
Reading Record
Overall IRLS 521
Spring 2008
Children’s Books (100)
1. Martina una cucarachita muy linda (Carmen Deedy, 2007)
2. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain (Peter Sis, 2007)
3. Brothers in Hope (Mary Williams, 2005)
4. Maritcha: A 19 Century American Girl (Tonya Bolden, 2005)
5. Butterflies for Kiri (Cathryn Falwell, 2003)
6. Beautiful Black Bird (Ashley Bryan, 2003)
7. Guji Guji (Chih-Yuan Chen, 2004)
8. My Name is Celia/ Mel llamo Celia (Monica Brown, 2004)
9. Wiil Waal: A Somali Folktale ( Kathleen Moriarty, 2007)
10 Mystic Horse (Paul Goble, 2003)
11. We are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians (Doreen Rappaport, 2003)
12. My Name is Bilal (Asma Mobin-Uddin, 2005)
13. Zinnia: How the Corn Was Saved (Patricia Hruby Powell 2003)
14. Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond (2006)
15. Dzani Yazhi Naazbaa (Evangeline Parsons-Yazzie, 2005)
16. Crossing Bok Chitto (Tim Tingle, 2006)
17. Three Snow Bears (Jan Brett, 2007)
18. In My World (Lois Ehlert, 2002)
19. The Best Hanukkah Ever (Barbra D. Goldin, 2007)
20. My First Ramadan (Karen Katz, 2007)
21. A Confused Hanukkah (Jon Koons, 2004)
22. Pocahontas: Princess of the New World (Kathleen Krull, 2007)
23. Eight Wild Nights (Brian P. Cleary, 2006)
24. The Librarian of Basra: A true story from Iraq (Jeanette Winter, 2005)
25. Miss Crandall’s School (Elizabeth Alexander, 2006)
26. Dona Flor (Pat Mora, 2005)
27. Jazz (Walter Dean Myers, 2006)
28. Someone Says (Carole Schaefer, 2003)
29. Lissy’s Friends (Grace Lin, 2007)
30. One Million Men and Me (Kelly S. Lyons, 2007)
31. I Am Latino (Sandra Pikney 2007)
32. Napi (Antonio Ramirez, 2005)
33. Napi goes to the Mountain (Antonio Ramirez, 2004)
34. Cesar: Si Se Puede! Yes, we can! (Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, 2004)
35. The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale (Grace Lin, 2007)
36. The Seven Chinese Sisters (Kathy Tucker, 2003)
37. Pretty Salma (Niki Daly, 2006)
38. Los Gatos Black on Halloween (Marisa Montes, 2006)
39. New Clothes for New Year’s Day (Hyun-Joo Bae, 2007)
40. Let It Shine: Three favorite Spirituals (Ashely Bryan 2007)
41. My Name is/Me llamo Gabriela (Monica Brown, 2005)
42. Harvesting Hope: The story of Cesar Chavez (Kathleen Krull, 2003)
43. Just A Minute (Yuyi Morales, 2003)
44. The Three Witches (Joyce Thomas, 2006)
45. Goah: The wise fool (Denis Johnson-Davis)
46. The Ugly Vegetables (Grace Lin, 1999)
47. Giving Thanks: the 1621 Harvest feast (Kate Waters,2001)
48. 1621: A new look at Thanksgiving (Catherine O’Neill Grace, 2001)
49. Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning (Chief Jake Swamp,1995)
50. Navajo ABC ( Luci Tapahonso 1995)
51. Meet Naiche (Gabrielle Tayac, 2002)
52. Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo (Alison Lester, 2000)
53. The New Girl…And Me (Jacqui Robbins, 2006)
54. Anansi The Spider (Gerald McDermott, 1972)
55. Nothing But Trouble (Sue Stauffacher, 2007)
56. Ananse and the Lizard (Pat Cummings, 2002)
57. Can You Top That? (W. Nikola-Lisa, 2000)
58. My Best Friends (Anna Nilsen, 2003)
59. Sister Tricksters (Robert D. San Souci, 2006)
60. Olvina Flies (Grace Lin, 2003)
61. The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer (James Endredy, 2003)
62. Gugu’s House (Catherine Stock, 2001)
63. Go to Sleep, Gecko! (Margaret Read MacDonald, 2006)
63. Coyote School News (Joan Sandin, 2003)
64. Night Running (Elisa Carbone, 2008)
65. Yetsa’s Sweater (Silvia Olsen, 2006)
66. Fish for the Grand Lady (Colin Bootman, 2006)
67. Night Boat to Freedom (Margot Theis Raven, 2006)
68. D is for Drinking Gourd (Nancy I. Sanders, 2007)
69. Henry and the Kite Dragon (Bruce Edward Hall, 2004)
70. Our Community Garden (Barbara Pollak, 2004)
71. Visiting Day (James E. Ransome, 2002)
72. Our Gracie Aunt (Jacqueline Woodson, 2002)
73. Skippyjon Jones (Judy Schachner, 2003)
74. Yesterday I had the Blues (Jeron Ashford Frame, 2003)
75. Hot City (Barbara Joosse, 2004)
76. Dream Carver (Diana Cohn, 2002)
77. Calavera Abecedario (Jeanette Winter, 2004)
78. Niño’s Mask (Jeanette Winter, 2003)
79. Angelina’s Island (Jeanette Winter, 2006)
80. Talk Peace (Sam Williams, 2005)
81. Mama: A True Story (Jeanette Winter, 2006)
82. Elsina’s Clouds (Jeanette Winter, 2004)
83. Josefina (Jeanette Winter, 1996)
84. I am America (Charles R. Smith Jr., 2003)
85. Estela’s Swap (Alexis O’Neill, 2002)
86. Pitching in for Eubie (Jerdine Nolen, 2007)
87. Elephant Prince (Amy Novesky, 2004)
88. How Medicine came to the People (Debora L. Duvall, 2003)
89. Baby Learns about Seasons (Ed. Jessie Ruffenach, 2005)
90. Baby Learns about Time (Ed. Jessie Ruffenach, 2005)
91. My Mother’s Sari (Sandrya Rao, 2006)
92. Happy Birthday Jamela (Niki Daily, 2006)
93. Go Go Cars! Vamos Vamos Coaches! (Simon Hart, 2006)
94. Confetti: Poems Para Niños (Pat Mora, 2006)
95. Rin Rin Rin, Do, Re, Mi (Jose-Luis Orozco, 2005)
96. Iguanas in the Snow (Francisco X. Alarcón, 2001)
97. Baby Learns about Colors (Ed. Jessie Ruffenach, 2005)
98. My Father’s Shop (Satomi Ichikawa, 2004)
99.The Adventures of Polo (Roger Faller, 2002)
100. Baby Learns to Count (Ed. Jessie Ruffenach, 2005)
Young Adult Books (15)
1. Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in it (Sundee Frazier, 2007)
2. Tangled Threads (Pegi Deitz Shea, 2003)
3. American Born Chinese (Gene Yang, 2006)
4. The Year of the Rat (Grace Lin, 2008)
5. Becoming Naomi Leon (Pam Munoz Ryan, 2004)
6. Moccasin Thunder (ed. Lori Carlson, 2005)
7. The Year of the Dog (Grace Lin, 2007)
8. Poet Slave of Cuba (Margarita Engle, 2006)
9. When Heaven Fell (Carolyn Marsden, 2007)
10. Tequila Worm (Viola Canales, 2005)
11. Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi, 2003)
12. Honeysuckle House (Andrea Cheng, 2004)
13. Paint the Wind (Pam Munoz Ryan, 2007)
14. The Gold-Threaded Dress (Carolyn Marsden, 2002)
15. The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Sherman Alexie, 2007)
16. Re-Gifters (Mike Carey, 2007)
***Books In Depth *****
Author: Alarcón, Francisco X.
Title: Iguanas in the Snow
Publisher: Children’s Book Press
Date/Awards: 2001
Multicultural Aspects? Spanish and English Poetry
Why Chosen? Recommended by World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: This is a collection of poems that celebrates the diversity in Northern California. The
book presents the English poems first and then the same poem is presented in Spanish. The
author notes at the end of the book that the inspiration for this book came during a two year stay
in a Northern California bilingual school.
Author: Alexie, Sherman
Title: The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Publisher: Hatchette Book Group
Date/Awards: 2007/ National Book Award Winner
Multicultural Aspects? Spokane Indian
Why Chosen? Recommended by many sources, including classmates.
Synopsis: This story was very touching and heartbreaking in places. It was the story of Arnold
Sprit who everyone on the reservation (the rez) called Junior. Junior is excited for high school to
start, because he enjoys learning so much. But when he receives his new geometry book and
realizes that this book was used by his mother when she when to school over 30 years ago, he
gets mad. He tosses the book and accidentally hits his teacher, and receives one week of
detention. During the week off of school, he decides to attend the white school in town and then
his life totally changes.
The book is really about fitting in to the all-white school (the only other Indian is the
mascot) and making new friends and also his struggles in order to go to the school, frequently
walking and hitchhiking his way there and back the 22 miles from the rez. Junior must repair
friendships that are destroyed when he goes to the white school and leans to live in a balance
between his Indian world and the white school world. This was a very good story. I have been on
the waiting list for a long time for this book and it really was worth the wait.
Author: Bae, Hyun-Joo
Title: New Clothes for New Year’s Day
Publisher: Kane/Miller
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Korean traditions
Why Chosen? Recommended in class on the first weekend.
Synopsis: This book illustrated the Korena New Year’s celebration and tradition of wearing new
clothing . At the end of the book, is a long explanation of the symbolism and importance of each
on the pieces of the dress and other important traditions of the Korean New Year. One interesting
item mentioned by the book is that in Korea, New Years is counted like a birthday for everyone.
Everyone is now a year older. One criticism that I have of the book is that I did not know that it
was a Korean book until the end. I did understand that it was “oriental” but I wish that the author
had stated this clearly at the beginning of the book. Additionally the illustrations in the book
were nice with simple clean lines that would be typical of the culture.
Author: Bernier-Grand, Carmen T.
Title: Cesar: Si Se Puede! Yes we can!
Publisher:
Date/Awards: 2004/ Pura Belpre Honor Book
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican Amerian
Why Chosen? Recommended by Pura Belpre
Synopsis: A collection of poems and illustrations that colorfully tells the tales of Cesar Chaves
and his childhood and eventual leadership of the United Farm Workers Union that made many
changes in the lives of the migrant workers in California. This book uses some Spanish worlds
to add flavor to the story but is mostly in English. The struggle is clearly and concisely
developed without omitting too many important details.
In the back of the book is a glossary of Spanish words that are translated into English as
well as some more in-depth information about La Causa! There is even a chronological table of
events of Cesar’s life from birth to death and even a works cited page that lists some internet
sources used. Illustrations were soft and colorful a nice contrast against the hardship and
struggles of Cesar and his United Farm Workers Union.
Author: Bolden, Tonya
Title: Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? Daily life of African-American girl in 19 cen. New York
Why Chosen? Recommended on booklist
Synopsis: The daily life of Maritcha R. Lyons (who was born in 1848 in New York City and
grew up there and eventually moved to Rhode Island) is examined in depth in this story. She was
the first black student to attend high school in Rhode Island (having to sue for the right to attend)
and this book is an extensive documentation of her life. This book is full of family photographs,
newspaper clippings and maps to illustrate the experiences of Maritcha and her family.
Excellent, however wordy for younger children, possibly a good reference book for a report for
an older child .
Author: Bootman, Colin
Title: Fish For The Grand Lady
Publisher: Holiday House Book
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Fish Tail from Trinidad
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting
Synopsis: This was a tale of two brothers who live in Trinidad and there fishing trip. They wake
up early one morning with the goal of catching more fish than they can eat in one day. But first
they have to walk to the market town and buy some hooks. Then they must dig enough worms
and finally they arrive at the fishing hole that their Grandmother (The Grand Lady) has
recommended. Unfortunately, the fish are not biting well, and the boys get frustrated and toss the
bucket into the stream. When they look to collect the bucket, they see that many fish have swum
accidentally into the bucket and that they indeed have many more fish than they could eat in one
day.
This story from Trinidad used the local dialect to tell the story and sometimes that was
hard to read. The author also included a glossary in the back to help clear up any confusion and
to explain the new words.
Author: Brett, Jan
Title: The Three Snow Bears
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Inuit remake of the Goldilocks story
Why Chosen? Recommended by a co-hort member, Jo Anne Jansen
Synopsis: This Goldilocks tale has been very nicely re-created into an Inuit tale, and the
characters are still bears! In this tale, however, while Goldilocks is drinking their soup, trying on
their clothing and sleeping in their beds, the Polar Bear family is out for a walk, that results in
the Bears saving Goldilocks’ sled dogs from drifting away on an ice floe. I thought the Bears
where drawn in a powerful, respectful way and although they wore “Inuit clothing” (decorated
furs) their faces were not painted, nor were they presented in a negative way. I thought the furs,
and carved bowl seemed to reflect the culture accurately. All the snow and huge igloo did make
me feel cold, however! This book was also illustrated by Jan Brett and she truly did a wonderful
job to represent the culture/feeling of the story with the Inuit culture.
Author: Brown, Janet Mitsui
Title: Thanksgiving at Obaachan’s
Publisher: Chicago: Polychrome Publishing Co.
Date/Awards: 1994( Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist member)
Multicultural Aspects? Japaneese-Americans celebrating Thanksgiving.
Why Chosen? Recommended. Award winner
Synopsis: The story of Thanksgiving dinner at a girl’s grandmother’s house. Many Japanese
traditions are included as are foods that add to the traditional Thanksgiving meal (Rice and
Sushi). There is a glossary of Japanese-English terms at the back of the book. Wonderful
watercolor pictures illustrate this book.
Author: Brown, Monica
Title: My Name is Celia/ Me llamo Celia
Publisher: Luna Rising
Date/Awards: 2004/ Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature
Multicultural Aspects? Cuban-American singer Celia Cruzes life
Why Chosen? Brought to our first class meting
Synopsis: The life of Celia Cruz is revealed in this wonderfully illustrated children’s book. The
author spends a fair bit of time talking about Celia’s childhood memories of life in Cuba and the
singing that she shared with many other members of her family. The story even explains the
exclamation Azucar! That Cruz used to yell to show alliance with members of the audience of
their Cuban heritage. I thought that this story explained the Cuban communism very clearly and
well for a children’s book and how Cruz felt too restricted to stay in her country.
Author: Brown, Monica
Title: My Name is/me llamo Gabriela
Publisher: Luna Rising
Date/Awards: 2006/
Multicultural Aspects? Latin American author
Why Chosen? Recommended on Reforma Website
Synopsis: This book in English and Spanish tells the story of Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957) Who
was the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel prize for literature. The book tells the
story of the life of this remarkable woman in the first person, how she taught herself to read and
write and how she was able to fulfill her dream of becoming an author. This book teaches its
readers to believe in the power of our own voices no matter where we come from, what we look
like, how old or young you are even if we are rich or poor—none of it matters as much as
believing in yourself. An excellent book for all children to read.
Author: Bryan, Ashley
Title: Beautiful Blackbird
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Date/Awards: 2003/ Coretta Scott King Award-winner
Multicultural Aspects? Folk tale from Zimbabwe
Why Chosen? Award winner
Synopsis: All the birds in Africa are only one color. No one has any black coloring except for
Black Bird. The other birds beg Black Bird to give them some of his colors so he ‘brews’ up
some black coloring and artistically ‘paints’ black onto the other birds in the form of stripes, dots
and rings.
I thought this story was a little strange as they do not ask any other bird to share his color
(identity) with another bird. We did not see the red bird do the same. And I know that the
reviews are along the line of “black is beautiful” but I did not see that in this book. I saw “black
give me what you have got”. But perhaps I am looking too hard at this folk tale. I did think that
all the cut paper art was beautiful and made for some nice illustrations in this story.
Author: Bryan, Ashley
Title: Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Date/Awards: 2007/ Coretta Scott King Award winner
Multicultural Aspects? African American traditions
Why Chosen? Award winner
Synopsis: This book highlights three favorite Spiritual songs and uses detailed paper cutouts to
accompany the text of the songs. The three songs are “This little light of mine”, When the Saints
go marching in” and “He’s got the whole world in his hands”. The back of the books has a note
from the author about the history of the spiritual songs. At one point they were called “Negro
Spirituals” and were created during a time when African Americans were not allowed to read or
write. The author also notes that the illustrations were attempting to capture the underlying
meaning in the songs. I thought that this book was rather creative with the mix of illustrations
and songs together and I also liked the little historical blurb at the end when the author explains
the significance of the music.
Author: Canales, Viola
Title: The Tequila Worm
Publisher: Random House
Date/Awards: 2005/ Pura Belpre Award WinnerMulticultural Aspects? Mexican American
Why Chosen? Recommended by classmate Lisa D.
Synopsis: This story is almost a collection of short stories about growing up in a small town in
Texas as a Mexican –American. Sofia is learning to handle all sorts of grown up situations
including her first communion, handling bullies and deciding what she really wants in life. I
thought the way the author illustrated the friction between the students at school and the fact that
some (European American) called the others (Mexican American) “Beaners” during lunch was
handled very well. The gym coach came and ate with Sofia and her friends and raved about how
good the bean tacos were and how nice it was that she got to eat tacos not just a sandwich.
Furthermore the teacher said that a good way to “get back” at those who were taunting her was to
excel at math, English and Sports. I think that the gym coach had a lasting (positive) effect on the
outcome of Sofia and some of her contemporaries.
This positive effect and support of the Gym coach enables Sofia to excel in her middle
school so much in fact that she wins a scholarship to a boarding school. Her success in school
and with her family is what enables her to stay strong and work for what she wants, to go to
boarding school, and still stay close to her family. Even in the face of the death of her father at
the end of the book, Sophia is able to work through her grief and not let it destroy her. This story
was truthful and real life without being super depressing like some others I have been reading. I
am going to request other books by this author.
Author: Carbone, Elisa Lynn
Title: Night Running: How James escaped with the help of his faithful dog.
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date/Awards: 2008
Multicultural Aspects? African American Slavery tale
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting.
Synopsis: This book was based on a true story of how a hunting dog helped a slave, James
escape to freedom. James assumed that the dog would be a liability and was instead an asset on
the journey to freedom. Zeus, the dog, was able to hunt and guard James while he was escaping.
Each time that James wanted to leave Zeus behind, the dog would have to come and save his life
in some way. James eventually swims ashore on the Ohio River and meets up with a Quaker
farmer who gives him and the dog a hot meal, and finds them employment on another Quaker’s
farm a few miles away. James saves money for his own farm and even goes to school to become
a minister, before completing his dream of escaping to Canada.
Author: Carey, Mike & Liew, Sonny & Hempel, Marc
Title: Re-Gifters
Publisher: DC Comics Entertainment Company
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Korean American girl grows up in L.A.
Why Chosen? Recommended on ALA’s Booklist
Synopsis: This was a great story about Dixie (Dik Seong Jen) A Korean American teenager who
lives in East L.A. Dixie, who has a “life threatening crush” on Adam in her school as well as in
her Hapkido classes (a Korean form of Karate). As Dixie tries to concentrate on her schoolwork
and family instead of dwell on Adam, she learns the value of her family’s traditions and the
importance of keeping your word and your concentration (ki). At the end of the novel, Dixie has
won out in many respects, but most importantly, with herself.
This was a great Graphic novel and the ending really surprised me.
Author: Carlson, Lori Marie, Editor
Title: Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? Contemporary American Indian Stories
Why Chosen? Recommend by the “I is for Inclusion” article
Synopsis: This book was a collection of short stories by Native American authors put together
by an editor who is not a Native American, but feels the absence of good Native American
literature today and is trying to change this. Many of the stories center on alcohol or drug abuse
as well as other painful events that humans must sometimes endure. However, the language in
some of the short stories is very powerful and poetic, especially the images of loneliness and
abandonment. The book states it is for 12 and above and I would agree, especially with the talk
of drugs and alcohol. This book was a very deep and moving book on the feelings of Native
American writers today and their sense of place in the world. I thought the story by Sherman
Alexie about the boy and his father was very “real” and touching.
Author: Chen, Chih-Yuan
Title: Guji Guji
Publisher: Kane/Miller
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Story from Taiwan/adoption/multicultural families/ self-esteem
Why Chosen? Recommended on booklist/ New York Times Bestseller/ ALA Notable
Children’s books/ NPR Weekend Edition Review Book
Synopsis: When a crocodile egg rolls in to a duck’s nest, the duck continues to hatch the egg and
raise the crocodile as her own child. Through the course of the story, the little crocodile has some
adventures with its “siblings” until one day when some adult crocodiles approach Guji Guji and
ask him to assist in the capture and eating of the duck family. Guji Guji must make a hard
decision about which group he really belongs in. He eventually decides that the duck family is
really his own family and is able to use the support of the ducks to trick the other crocodiles into
leaving them alone –permanently.
This is a good book for unconventional families and highlights family loyalty, caring
about others and standing up for yourself (self-esteem). Wonderful illustrations, including great
teeth, and an important message about accepting yourself and your family no matter how
“strange” the world thinks you are.
Author: Cheng, Andrea
Title: Honeysuckle House
Publisher: Front Street
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese Americans/ New Immigrants
Why Chosen? Recommended by Jane Devereax, Erickson Librarian
Synopsis: This was a cute story told in alternating chapters by both the main characters. One is
Sarah, a Chinese American who was born in Cincinnati and cannot speak any Chinese. The
second is Tina or Ting, who was born in China and has now moved to Cincinnati to be with her
parents. Each chapter is told from the view of each girl as they are thrown together as the only
Chinese students in the school. Each has a different view of the other and it is interesting to see
their different reactions to the same situations, and also the evolution of their friendship as it
develops from strangers to real friends by the end of the book.
The book also touches on some problems that occur for immigrants including the struggle
to get a “green card” for work and also many cultural dishes that are no longer available or
acceptable to talk about with the American friends.
Again I enjoyed the view of the world as seen through the eyes of children. I see how
they are struggling to understand why their parents are ‘always’ working and away as well as
their desire to grow up and become their own person and yet still please their parents.
This book was unfortunately another book that Jane has lent me for this class with a note
that it has not been checked out of the school library one time. I am forced to conclude that kids
really must need adults to help them select good books to read (and push the multicultural titles.
Could it be that the library is a place for only the popular books (Goosebumps etc…) are checked
out when a child is making their own decisions?)
Author: Cleary, Brian P.
Title: Eight Wild Nights
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing Inc.
Date/Awards: 2006/ Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner
Multicultural Aspects? Jewish Holiday Traditions
Why Chosen? Recommended by Librarian at Woods Branch
Synopsis: This tale of Hanukkah begins with a little synopsis of why Hanukkah is celebrated and
how the holiday came about. The story is told in a rhyme form about the cleaning and preparing
of the house and food for all the family members that are soon to show up for eight days of fun.
The only part of the story I did not like, was the emphasis on everything going wrong (things
breaking and spilling) but I guess that those miss-haps happen and that the point was that the
holiday continued to be fun. Indeed even by the eighth day of the family being together, they all
get along and can’t wait to do it again next year.
I thought that the multicultural aspect of mentioning typical foods (Blintzes, geld, latkes)
without explaining them more must mean that this book was designed for the kids who celebrate
this holiday on a regular basis. Good Book.
Author: Cohn, Diana
Title: Dream Carver
Publisher: Chronicle Books, LLC
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican woodcarving tale
Why Chosen? Recommended by Librarian Jane D.
Synopsis: This story was about a young boy who dreams of carving vividly painted animals and
must convince his father that trying a new way to carve and paint is still honoring the tradition of
woodcarving. In the last two pages of the book, there is an in depth account of the Oaxacan wood
carvers and the magic that they can work with wood and paint. Very cute story and I loved the
colorful illustrations.
Author: Corpi, Lucha
Title: Where Fireflies Dance/ Ahi, donde bailan las Luciernagas.
Publisher: Children’s Book Press
Date/Awards: 1997 (2000-2001 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List (Texas ALA))
Multicultural Aspects? Children growing up in Mexico--English-Spanish text
Why Chosen? Award winner and English-Spanish text
Synopsis: The story follows the life of a girl growing up in Mexico, and leaning about her
history, the history of her country (Mexican revolutionaries) and her rich culture through songs
and stories from her Father and Grandmother. The message from the story is to follow your
destiny and do what you are supposed to do.
Author: Cummings, Pat
Title: Ananse and the Lizard
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? West African tale
Why Chosen? Author is a Coretta Scott King award winner
Synopsis: This is my second book about Ananse the Spider. I thought it was interesting that
these two people have spelled the spiders name differently, but maybe that is just a translation
thing. I also was drawn to this book because the cover has an African Kunte cloth drawing and is
very bright yellow and colorful.
In this story Ananse the spider finds an advertisement to marry the Kings daughter and
rule a part of the kingdom. He is so excited that he sets off, confident in his abilities to be
successful with this challenge. When he arrives at the Palace, he is discouraged by the number of
young men there to also there to try and guess at the daughter’s name. That night, Ananse climbs
over the fence into the palace and overhears a conversation, and thus learns the name of the
King’s daughter. In the morning, he again brags to everyone that he is going to become king and
that they all should respect him. The lizard volunteers to announce Ananse, as the important
figure that he is, before he meets the king. Ananse thinks that this is a great idea and tells the
lizard the daughter’s name so he will be introduced to the king.
The smart lizard has tricked Ananse and goes and claims the daughter and the kingdom
for himself. This story is a remake of a series of African tales about the adventures of Ananse
and the lesions learned from them. There is a note in the beginning of the book mentioning that
you should not tell stories during the day, but at night, when the moon is full and all the work is
done.
Author: Curtis, Christopher Paul
Title: Elijah of Buxton
Publisher: Scholastic press
Date/Awards: 2007/ Newbery Award/ Coretta Scott King Award
Multicultural Aspects? African American
Why Chosen? Award winner, recommended on many web sites.
Synopsis: This story is about a settlement of freed slaves who are living in the Canadian town of
Buxton in the 1800’s. (Buxton is just over the water from Detroit.) The narrator is 11 year old
Elijah the first free-born child in the settlement. Elijah is very gullible believing a story early on
that “hoop” snakes were invading the town, but other than that, he is strong and loyal and has a
good deal of common sense and sense of what is right and what is wrong in the world. Because
few of the adults are able to read, Elijah is asked to read all the letters that arrive in town and that
frequently made him the bearer of bad news.
I generally thought the story was well-written and interesting. I thought about Elijah for a
few days after I was finished reading the book. My dilemma with the book were because I
thought that the story was a bit graphic for a child’s book (reading level 9-12 year olds) (but hey
when is a good age to discuss this horrible subject of slavery) But that Elijah was constantly
trying not to show that he was fra-gile. (i.e. had feelings). Or behavior that was like a girls. He
also spent a lot of time in the story trying to deal with the “looseness in his nose”. I am not sure
why this author chooses to include as many remarks as he did, but I found it very distracting.
Author: Daily, Niki
Title: Happy Birthday Jamela
Publisher: Francess Lincon, Ltd.
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Book from South Africa
Why Chosen? Recommended by the World of Words Multicultural library
Synopsis: Jamela decorates her new school shoes much to the dismay of her mother. A neighbor
sees the decorated shoes and asks Jamela to help her to create more of these shoes to sell. Jamela
earns money from the sale of the shoes to pay for another set of “sturdy” school shoes. The story
occurs around Jamela’s birthday but seems detached from this event. In addition there are a few
words that are used and are defined in the back. I would say they were South African, but I am
not sure of the one used by this book.
Author: Deedy, Carmen A.
Title: Martina una cucarachita muy linda.
Publisher: Atlanta: Peachtree
Date/Awards:2007 (Pura Belpre Medal Honorable Mention)
Multicultural Aspects? Cuban cockroach Folktale
Why Chosen? Award winner—Spanish language
Synopsis: (From ALA website) A humorous retelling of a Cuban Folktale, as cockroach
interviews her suitors in order to decide whom to marry. From my reading it appears Martina’s
grandmother’s advice in finding a suitor is to pour coffee on the shoes of the men that pledge
their love. This advice works and allows Martina to avoid 3 poor choices and find the perfect
husband. The illustrations of Cuba were very well done. The book seemed “rich” with colors.
Author:De Paola, Tomie
Title: Merry Christmas, Strega Nona.
Publisher: Simon &Schuster
Date/Awards: 1986 (Previous book in series was award winner)
Multicultural Aspects? This story has words in Italian, depicts Italian village and Italian
Christmas time treats.
Why Chosen? I read the first Stega Nona book and thought I would enjoy another.
Synopsis: Strega Nona is working very hard to get the house ready for Christmas and her famous
Christmas feast. She makes Big Anthony work very hard for her and Big Anthony eventually
forgets to complete many chores she assigned him. Stega Nona is thus unable to cook her famous
Christmas feast, and walks home from church very sad. However upon arrival, Big Anthony and
the rest of the town are waiting for her, to surprise her with the gift of the Christmas feast that
everyone has helped to create.
Author:De Paola, Tomie
Title: Strega Nona.
Publisher: Simon &Schuster
Date/Awards: 1975 (1976 Caldecott Honor Book Award Winner)
Why Chosen? I was browsing in the library and was drawn to the name and the fact that it had
received an award.
Multicultural Aspects? This book contains words in Italian, depicts an Italian village and talks
about regional foods. Catholic Religion talked about.
Synopsis: Strega Nona hires Big Anthony to help around the house, but when SN goes to visit
her friend, Big Anthony removes the pasta pot and tries to mimic SN’s magic. SN returns to the
village just in time to save everyone from the advancing wall of pasta. Lesson of the book:
Follow directions and respect other people’s property.
Author: Daly, Niki
Title: Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story from Africa
Publisher: Clarion Books
Date/Awards: 2006/ Parent’s Choice Gold Award, 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Africa
Why Chosen? Recommended in class
Synopsis: This story is an African version of the little red riding hood style story in which the
young girl is tricked out of her property by a smooth talking dog even after she has been warned
about not talking to strangers by her grandmother. After the dog steals all of Salma’s belongings,
she runs to her grandfather for help. Salma teams up with the grandfather and others to scare the
dog away before he is able to cook and eat the grandmother.
The back of the book said that this author is from Capetown, South Africa and yet the
front of the book said that this was a West African setting, so I am not sure what language is
being used when Salma uses the word “ntama” for a skirt. Also I had a little trouble with
portrayal of the grandmother and other women in the story as larger. In addition Salma is going
to the store for a watermelon and a live chicken. I was not sure if these were all some kind of
stereotyping or not, but I found myself reacting critically to them.
Author: Duvall, Deborah L.
Title: How Medicine came to the people: a tale of the ancient Cherokees
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? American Indian/ Cherokee tale
Why Chosen? Cover looked inviting
Synopsis: This was an interesting tale about how humans came to use plants for medicine. The
story goes that animals were creating the diseases in humans to counter the human’s eating the
animals for food- A sort of revenge plan. The plants however have welcomed humans into their
lives, because the humans are always caring for the plants, and weeding them and tending to
them and preserving their seeds until the next year. Therefore the plants begin to cure the
ailments of the humans, and that is how the Cherokee people know to use peppermint to cure
indigestion for example. The illustrations in this book are made from wood cuts and are very
detailed. I thought that this story was a little morbid at first and would worry if I used this book
during a story time.
Author: Ehlert, Lois
Title: In My World
Publisher: Hardcort
Date/Awards: 2002 Elizabeth Burr Award/ Wisconsin Notable Author Award
Multicultural Aspects? No depiction of children, just the world around them
Why Chosen? I chose this book because of the title (My World)
Synopsis: This book has very little text, but beautiful illustrations and tells the story of an ideal
childhood in a coastal area. This book contains many beautiful and colorful references to nature
and the ocean with seashells. This book gives the impression that life is full of imagination and
abundance when you can pick fruits, play all day long and at night, look up at the stars and say
“Thank you world for everything”
Now I wonder if this book is just elitist and wonder how many inner city children can
relate to picking fruit off the trees, go swimming in the ocean and play at the beach. I am
thinking that the kids I meet last year at Mission Elementary would not really connect to this
“exotic” book. I choose this book because it’s title was “In My World” and now I find myself
asking “In Whose World?”
Author: Endready, James
Title: The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer: A Huichol Indian Story
Publisher: Bear Cub Books/ Inner Traditions International
Date/Awards: 2003/
Multicultural Aspects? Indian tale from Mexico
Why Chosen? Recommended in I is for Inclusion Article
Synopsis:
This story is a modern adaptation of a traditional tale from the Huichol people from
North Western Mexico. The tail is a kind of “vision quest” tale in which the young girls and boys
search out the questions of where they fit into the world. Unlike other Native groups, the Huichol
people embark on the vision quest with the entire family as a unit, so that all people can
experience the quest together, not just the girl or boy by themselves.
This story follows a boy, Tunuri on a vision quest with his family. During the long walk
to the sacred mountains, Tunuri follows a butterfly deep within the woods and finds that he is
lost. A magical blue deer appears and leads Tunuri to meet with his Father the Creator, and his
brother wind and sister water. Tunuri meets many people and travels through the woods and
leans about the connection between himself, humans and nature.
The illustrations in this book are created from traditional yarn drawings and are
absolutely beautiful. There is a page at the back of the book that demonstrates how the yarn
drawings are made using yarn and wax on wood. In addition the back of this book has a place
that notes Huichol Sacrid Symbols and another, in depth page on the Huichol Indians.
Author: Engle, Margarita
Title: The Poet Slave of Cuba
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, LLC
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Cuban Poetry
Why Chosen? Recommended/ Pura Belpre Medal Book Award winner
Synopsis: Touching poetry written by a slave in 18 century Cuba. This Poet was able to
memorize many entertaining bits of literature and poetic verse and amuse his owner and her
guests. Many times the author recalls his cruel treatment as a slave and his feelings that he is not
a man but a poodle for his owner. I think this would be a good book for an older child, high
school age but again I think I am trying to shelter younger children from the realities of the cold,
cruel world and they really should be exposed to these situations early on..
Author: Falwell, Cathryn
Title: Butterflies for Kiri
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Inc.
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Japanese American culture
Why Chosen? Recommended by Librarian
Synopsis: When Kiri receives an origami kit for her birthday, she learns that she must practice in
order to make the (sometimes) complicated animal shapes and other figures. This story has a lot
of great illustrations (maybe they are collages?) and uses vibrant colors well.
Author: Frame, Jeron Ashford
Title: Yesterday I had the Blues
Publisher: Tricycle Press
Date/Awards: 2003/ Ezra Jack Keats Book Award
Multicultural Aspects? African American
Why Chosen? Award winner
Synopsis: This book was about associating colors with moods, and the experiences of one boy
and all the different feelings that his is seeing around him represented with colors. My favorite
one was the “Yellows” that his Grandmother got, singing in the kitchen. He hoped the “Yellows”
would cause Grandma to mix up a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies! His sister also got the “Pinks”
which would cause her to run around and look for her pink hair clip.
I thought this book dealt with different moods in a unique way and also in a way that
students would be able to talk about them in a constructive way. There was a little talk about
moods being in red (aka a bad mood) but only a page, most of the moods were handled in a
positive manner. Great book, I would recommend it to anyone to read.
Author: Frazier, Sundee
Title: Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in it
Publisher: Delacore Press
Date/Awards: 2007/ Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Award
Multicultural Aspects? African-American Multiracial kid
Why Chosen? Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Synopsis: This book was a very interesting look at a month of an 11 year old boy and his
thoughts and feelings growing up as a multi-cultural member of society. During the course of the
book, he is able to discover an interest in Rocks as well as an un-known grandfather and learn
something about himself along the way. Very engaging book, I could not put it down.
Author: Gobel, Paul
Title: Mystic Horse
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date/Awards: 2003/ IRA/CBC Children's Choice award
Multicultural Aspects? Native American tale
Why Chosen? Recommended by Valencia Librarian
Synopsis: A boy and grandmother’s lives are changed when the boy finds a brave horse that has
magical properties and will rescue them from a life of poverty to one of prosperity and notoriety.
Author: Goldin, Barbra D.
Title: The Best Hanukkah Ever
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Celebration of Hanukkah
Why Chosen? Hanukkah/ Jewish culture
Synopsis: When the Knoodle family tries to follow their Rabbis advice about giving the perfect
Hanukkah gift, everything goes wrong and their Hanukkah is ruined until the Rabbi comes to
explain and the youngest boy in the family comes up with the solution that solves the family’s
problems. I chose this book because it dealt with Hanukkah and did find many references to
traditional Jewish foods (potato pancakes) and games (dreidel) but I was disappointed to see that
the family ONLY was interested in the gifts that they were going to receive and that the little boy
had to save the family from crisis and not the Rabbi. Also the family was depicted as very pale,
and I thought that was a bit strange.
Author: Grace, Catherine O’Neill
Title: 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Date/Awards: 2001
Multicultural Aspects? American Indian-European relations
Why Chosen? Recommended in I is for Inclusion article.
Synopsis: This book is a new take on the early celebrations of Thanksgiving. It gives much more
information on both the English settlers and the Native people, and the early feasts that the two
groups shared in those early, peaceful years.
I thought the use of the living history museum at Plymouth was a different way of
illustrating the book and wonder if children will be more receptive to the information and believe
it more than they would if the illustrations were drawn “cartoon” style or even watercolor style.
I am still concerned about Native stereotyping as the Native men have feathers in their
hair and pain on their faces, though none of the women do. The book also gave a couple of
recipes for food that might have been consumed at these early feasts.
Author: Hall, Bruce Edward
Title: Henry and the Kite Dragon
Publisher: Philomel Books
Date/Awards: 2004/ Irma S. and James H. Black Honor for Excellence in Children’s Literature
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese Americans in Chinatown in the 1920’s
Why Chosen? Recommended by Librarian Jane D.
Synopsis:
This book says it is based on a true story in 1920’s New York City. And how the Chinese
American students would make beautiful paper kites with the help of an elderly grandfather in
their building. Unfortunately these kites were scaring the Italian children’s pet pigeons in nearby
Little Italy. The children confront one another and learn a little bit about the other side, and come
to a compromise to fly kites in the morning and leave the afternoons open for the birds.
Author: Heart, Simon
Title: Go Go Cars! Vamos Vamos Coches!
Publisher: Price Stern Sloan
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Bilingual board book
Why Chosen? Recommended by the World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: This board book presented a variety of different cars. The book used English words
and then Spanish to get the message across. The book had cute illustrations but the cars were
defiantly undistinguishable in make and model. My favorite was the “Pink Convertible/
Convertible Rosado”
Author: Ichikawa, Satomi
Title: My Father’s Shop
Publisher: Kane Miller Publication
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Morocco Rug Shop Story
Why Chosen? Recommended by the World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: This book told the story of Mustafa who is a young boy helping out at his father’s
carpet shop. When Mustafa finds a rug with a hole in it, he asks to keep it for himself. His father
agrees on the condition that he learns some words in other languages. Mustafa finds all this
rather boarding and so he goes out to play. He winds up learning a host of different languages
from all the people he meets in the main market and brings them all back to buy rugs at his
father’s shop.
Author: Johnson-Davis, Denis
Title: Goah: The Wise Fool
Publisher: Penguin/ Philomel Books
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? Middle Easter Tales translated
Why Chosen? I have not read many books from the Middle East
Synopsis: This book is actually a collection of short tales that are told in the Middle East. Goha,
the main character, uses common sense to solve various riddles and situations that are presented
to him. Each turn of the page has a complete tale with one side the tale and the other side a
tapestry depiction of the action. Each tale brings to the forefront the lifestyle of the Middle East
where they wear sandals and have prayer hats on their head. The illustrations in cloth are just
beautiful and there is a picture in the back of the book of the creators of this cloth busy at work.
I was interested in the illustrations because the book notes that the art is typical of
Egyptian traditional art. But I had to stop and think about the images as I was under the
assumption that you could only depict geometric shapes in Middle Eastern Art, and never people.
So now I am asking if this book is culturally relevant or somewhat misrepresenting of the art of
the Middle East.
Author: Joosse, Barbara
Title: Hot City
Publisher: Philomel Books
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? African American Story
Why Chosen? Recommended by librarian Jane D.
Synopsis: This was a cute story about a brother and sister who are trying to escape the hot city
and after eating a snow cone, decide to read books in the cool library. Mimi goes off in her
imagination to be a princess and Joe wanders around to slay the dragons. After the adventures in
books they both comment on what a great place the library is.
The children make observations along their journey to the library about how hot the city
is and the black smoke from the bus is as hot as dragon’s breath. The illustrations in this book are
strange, with all the characters having extra long thin necks. This however just seems to be the
way that the illustrator created the characters.
Author: Krebs, Laurie and Julia Cairns
Title: We All Went On Safari
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Date/Awards: 2003/ Many awards including Teacher’s Choice award, 2004
Multicultural Aspects? African/ Tanzania story
Why Chosen? Recommend by classmate Lisa D.
Synopsis: This fun book is a counting book in both English and Swahili. Along with counting in
both languages, the reader is introduced to both the Maasai people and the many animals that are
found in Easter Africa. The water color illustrations are colorful and the narrators, members of
the Maasai people, are wearing the traditional clothing tied around one shoulder.
At the end of the book is a map showing the land of Tanzania, important geological
features and the neighboring countries. This is a great book, good pictures and the counting in
both languages is fun for kids.
Author: Katz, Karen
Title: My First Ramadan
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Book centers around the celebration of Ramadan
Why Chosen? Ramadan/ Muslim culture
Synopsis: This book was narrated by the main character who was going to celebrate his first
Ramadan by fasting this year (before he was too young). He talks about what he and his family
will do to celebrate Ramadan including making crafts in school and the big celebration at the end
of the month when the moon reappears. The book uses culturally correct terms such as Koran
and shows the family praying five times a day. The family is also shown to be celebrating and
eating on the floor. Also the Mosque is shown with the family praying in two separate areas. I
thought this book did a good job to accurately depict the Ramadan experience, but I did notice
that some of this child’s classmates (6 year old girls) were wearing the headscarves—which I
thought were too young, and his teacher, a woman at his religious school, was not. I am sure that
I am being oversensitive, but that discrepancy stood out to me. There were also terms and a note
about Ramadan in the back of the book.
Author: Krull, Kathleen
Title: Harvesting Hope: The story of Cesar Chavez
Publisher: Hardcort Children’s Books
Date/Awards: 2003/ ALA notable children’s books
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican-American
Why Chosen? Recommended by Reforma website
Synopsis: This book tells the story of Cesar Chaves and his United Farm Workers. Cesar was
born near Yuma and spent the first 10 years of his life on this large hacienda/farm. When sever
drought came (during the depression) his family was forced to move to California to work in the
fields as migrant workers. Cesar did attend school as the family moved around, but suffered
from ignorant teachers and his lack of English skills and at one time was forced to wear a sign
around his neck that stated: “I am a clown, I speak Spanish” . Cesar only attended school
through the 8th grade and then went to work in the fields’ full time. Seeing all the miserable
conditions motivated Cesar and he and others began to organize a farm workers union. The story
even chronicles his long march to the Capital of California to bring attention to the people who
picked the food in the US. Cesar was able to negotiate with the farmers for better working
conditions for all migrant workers. A moving story, beautifully illustrated.
Author: Krull, Kathleen
Title: Pocahontas: Princess of the New World
Publisher: Walker & Company
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Story of Pocahontas, Native American, Colonists
Why Chosen? Recommended in I is for inclusion reading
Synopsis: Beautiful illustrations by David Diaz, award winning illustrator. This was a positive
tail (to me) about the relationship between the Native American Powhatan Indians and the
English settlers at Jamestown. The story of Pocahontas and her family before the English arrived
was depicted in a positive way and even went as far as noting that women in this Native
American culture, held high status. Pocahontas’s life was depicted as a little more frivolous then
her contemporaries but I think that is just to promote what we know as the “princess lifestyle”.
The book acquaints the reader with the many hardships that the first settlers at Jamestown faced
and also the relationships that occurred between the newcomers and the First people who lived in
the area.
Author: Lester, Alison
Title: Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo
Publisher: Walter Lorraine Books
Date/Awards: 2000
Multicultural Aspects? Australian – Aboriginal story
Why Chosen? Recommended by Librarian at Valencia, Tanya
Synopsis: In this cute tale, a White Australian boy, Ernie, and his family go off for a year to live
in what is called, Arnhem Land an area that belongs to the Aboriginal people. Ernie’s parents are
going to work at a hospital there. He says goodbye to all his friends at home and promises to
write about all the new experiences he has, especially to explain the six Arnhem Land seasons.
The book was very colorful and showed Ernie playing with his Aboriginal friends as well
as many activities that must be common in this area. Tanya recommended this book because she
thought it was an interesting view of Native People around the world.
Author: Lin, Grace
Title: Lissy’s Friends
Publisher: Viking
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese American
Why Chosen? I am trying to read all the books by this author
Synopsis: This story is another one by author and illustrator, Grace Lin. I have enjoyed her many
other books and am trying to read all her books this semester. This book focuses on the new girl
at school and her desire to make friends. When she is finished eating lunch alone, she folds the
menu into an origami crane and begins to talk to it. She concludes to her mother that night that
yes she has “made a friend”. The next day she makes many more origami friends and plays with
them until unexpectedly they all are carried away by the wind. However just as this tragedy
unfolds, she is able to make a new, real friend and together they both make the folded animals
and play together in the park.
A cute story about the importance of friendship and make believe. This book also
includes a space at the end with directions on how to make your own paper crane.
Author: Lin, Grace
Title: Olivina Flies
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese American Author
Why Chosen? I love this author and her illustrations
Synopsis:
In this book written and illustrated by Grace Lin, the lead character is a chicken named
Olivina. Olivina is having tea with a neighbor and is sad that she cannot go to a bird convention
because she must fly there and chickens can’t fly. Her friend encourages Olivina to take an
aircraft so that she can attend the convention. She thinks about the idea for a few days and then
decides to go for it, and take the plane. Olivina has a lot of fear as it is her first time flying , but
on board the plane, makes friends with another flightless bird, a Penguin named Hailey. Hailey
who has flown before helps Olivina and she is no longer afraid, and the two birds have a great
time in Hawaii at the bird convention.
This was another fantastic book by Grace Lin. I liked how this story showed the anxiety
of the Olivina and how she wanted to do something and finally got up the courage to take the
airplane ride. This book would also be a good story for a child’s first airplane ride.
Author: Lin, Grace
Title: Olvina Swims
Publisher: Henry Hold and Company, New York
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese-American writer and illustrator
Why Chosen? Grace Lin award-winning multicultural artist
Synopsis:
In this second installment of Olivina the “chicken” chicken we meet up with Olivina still
at the bird conference in Hawaii. Olivina and her penguin friend, Hailey are having a great time
until Hailey realizes that Olivina cannot swim. Being the good friend that she is, Hailey begins to
teach Olivina how to swim in the hotel bathtub, then in the hotel pool and finally on their last day
at the hotel, Olivina goes swimming in the ocean.
Olivina did not think that she could ever learn to swim but now she realizes that she can
learn almost anything with some help from her friends.
I thought that this story was a great one about perseverance and asking for help when you
cannot do something yourself. Moreover that it is OK to realize that you do need help sometimes
and when you do, just ask for it.
Author: Lin, Grace
Title: The Red Thread
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Ancient Chinese Tale retold/ Adoption
Why Chosen? I have enjoyed other books by this author
Synopsis: This book is based on an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible, unbreakable red
thread connects all those who are destined to be together. This belief is the principle for this
adoption fairy tale, in which a King and Queen in a far off land become unhappy and follow a
red thread from their hearts to a new land, with people who speak an unfamiliar language and
there are led to a baby, who has the red threads tied around her ankles. The King and Queen
return to their Kingdom with the child and all live happily ever after.
I have enjoyed many of Grace Lin’s books and this is another good story written and
illustrated by her. I think it would be very helpful for a family who adopted or gave a child up for
adoption to read.
Author: Lin, Grace
Title: The Ugly Vegetables
Publisher: Tailwinds
Date/Awards: 1999
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese- American story
Why Chosen? I have enjoyed many of Grace Lin’s books
Synopsis: This story was a simple tale of a garden. The main child (Grace) in the story is helping
her Mother plant a garden in the spring, just like all the other neighbors. The only problem is
while all the neighbors are planting flowers, Grace and her Mother are planting Chinese
vegetables. So when everyone’s garden is blooming and smelling sweet, Grace’s Mom’s garden
is dark green and full of bumpy melons and cucumbers.
Then the day comes when they cut the vegetables and Grace’s Mom begins to make Ugly
Vegetable Soup. All the neighbors arrive at the door with bundles of flowers to trade for soup,
and everyone leaves with some of the delicious soup.
The next year, the gardens in the neighborhood look a bit different. Grace and her Mother
have added a few flowers to their garden, and some Ugly vegetables have been planted in some
neighboring gardens.
I thought this was another great book by Grace Lin about being yourself and taking pride
in your own cultural heritage.
Author: Lin, Grace
Title: The Year of the Dog
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Growing up Chinese-American
Why Chosen? I love this author, and read other books by her.
Synopsis: This book was the first chapter book by Grace Lin, although I read it after I read the
Year of the Rat. These books are just the best! I really enjoyed reading them. At the end of the
book, Lin writes how she really wanted a book like this growing up, and that is what motivated
her to write as she grew older. This book is full of the excitement of just growing up and finding
out who you are and your place in the world. The fun is that Pacy’s family is from Taiwan, so
even though she is experiencing all the wonder of being a 10 year old, living in New York State,
she also brings you into her duel culture world of being Chinese. I loved the observations of the
parents being new in this country and understanding how they “see” life here. I also love the old
stories that the mother tells of her childhood and growing up- Just like any mother would. The
blending of the holidays is interesting too. One example is the turkey that the girls beg to have on
the table, and the mother’s inclusion, but off to the side, by no means the main attraction of the
meal. These are just fun books about growing up, and observing life around you.
Author: Lin, Grace
Title: The Year of the Rat
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Date/Awards: 2008
Multicultural Aspects? Growing up Chinese-American
Why Chosen? This book just “grabbed me” at the library
Synopsis: This autobiography of a year in the life of Pacy(Grace), a Chinese-American girl,
growing up in upstate New York. The book begins with a New Year’s meal in which Pacy’s
family and her best friend’s family are celebrating together. The adults are full of tales regarding
the traditional Chinese foods and customs to share with the children. (For example, making sure
there is leftover food from dinner, to translate into a prosperous New Year.) The book follows
this formula and follows a year of success and disappointment in Pacy’s life, all with a taste of
the unique foods and customs of her family. I really enjoyed this book and noticed that Pacy
managed to have those universal thoughts and questions of any girl of her age. (school, boys,
what should I do with my life…)I also appreciated that Pacy questioned many events in the
world around her and even some of the xenophobia that she was also guilty of, when another
Chinese family moves into the neighborhood. Very Good. I think that anyone could find book
engrossing as well as appealing.
Author: Lyons, Kelly S.
Title: One Million Men and Me
Publisher:
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? African American
Why Chosen? Recommended by “Just Us Books” website
Synopsis: This nicely illustrated picture book follows a little girl and her father as they assemble,
travel and attend the Million Man March in Washington D.C., On the 16 of October, 1995. This
book has an Author’s note in the back that gives a further explanation of the assembly and how it
came about. This would be a great book to read with a child especially if the reader had actually
attended the march in person. The illustrations are well done and portray the attendees as friendly
smiling people all out to have a good time. The illustrations also show the variety of the beliefs
of many of the Men who attend. Some are sports fans with ball caps and others look like they are
Muslim devotees wearing their caps. Still others are just average, and included many age ranges,
clarifying that this was not just a young person event.
Author: MacDonald, Margret Read
Title: Go To Sleep Gecko!: A Balinese folktale
Publisher: August House Publishers
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Folk tale from Bali
Why Chosen? Recommended by Youth Librarian, Tanya at Valencia
Synopsis: This was a cute story about a Gecko that could not sleep. He wants the local leader the
elephant to fix his problem and tell the fire flies that are near his house to stop shining their lights
all night long so that the Gecko can sleep. Over the course of the story the Gecko learns that the
world is really interconnected and that stopping the fire flies at night could limit his own food
supply. This is a very cute book that has excellent illustrations.
Author: Marsden, Carolyn
Title: The Gold-Threaded Dress
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? Thai/American story
Why Chosen? Recommended by librarian Jane Deveraux, Erickson Elementary School
Synopsis: This book was the second book that I read by Marsden and it was also very good.
This is the story of Oy who is the new girl in school and also from Thailand. During the story she
is taunted by a male classmate and wants to be included in all the fun that a group of popular kids
are having during recess. One day a picture of Oy falls out of her bag and everyone sees it. The
picture is of Oy all dressed up in her traditional Thai clothing complete with crown. The boys are
in awe and the girls declare that she can join the club if only she will bring the dress in so they all
can try it on.
Oy decites to sneak the dress to school and during recess, the girls are so anxious to try
the dress on that a fight develops between the half-dressed girls and as a result, the dress is torn.
Oy must now take a note home and tell her parents what has happened and how the dress is
ruined. After her confession, her Mother is very understanding and shows Oy how to mend the
dress. Oy even makes a friend with one of the boys who was picking on her early in the story.
This is a great book about fitting in at school and being OK with your background. I
thought it was sad when Jane mentioned that this book has sat on the shelf at Ericson and no one
has checked it out once since it was purchased.
Author: Marsden, Carolyn
Title: When Heaven Fell
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Vietnam –American story of Adoption
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting
Synopsis: Nine year old Binh is the narrator of the story that tells of her life growing up in a
rural part of North Vietnam. To help support the family, Bihn sells sodas and fruit cups on the
street and also to the other children her age that are lucky enough to be able to afford the
uniforms and books to go to school. Her whole world changes the day that her Grandmother tells
her that she has another daughter, by an American soldier during the war who was a part of
“operation baby lift”. This daughter has now made contact with the family and wants to come for
a visit. The families’ expectations of the visitor are high and they all debate who will go back to
America and live with the daughter. At first they both disappoint one another, but as the visit
progresses, they both come to some new understandings about family and one another. At the
end, the family is thankful when the American daughter wishes to pay for school for Bihn and
her cousin Cuc.
This story addressed the many feelings that occur on both sides of the adoption process
and would be a good book to include in a collection about adoption. The back of the book also
has a glossary of terms in English and Vietnamese which are sprinkled throughout the story.
Author: Medicine Crow, Joseph
Title: Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond
Publisher: National Graphic
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Crow Indian Tribe/ American Indian Culture
Why Chosen? Recommended by “I is for Inclusion” Article
Synopsis: This was an interesting book that gives the reader insight into the stories of the Crow
Indians as well as the personal story of Joseph Medicine Crow. I thought his personal stories of
growing up on the reservation and then going away to both high school and college (thanks to an
interested Baptist minister) were really the most interesting. Especially the attitude about school
and other Indian cultures in the 1930’s and 1940’s. And also brings up how this author became
interested in recording the stories of the Crow and other Indian people.
Author:Mobin-Uddin, Asma
Title: My Name is Bilal
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, Inc
Date/Awards: 2005/ Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (grades.4-6)
Multicultural Aspects? Muslim-American
Why Chosen? Recommended by U of Iowa Celebrating Diversity pdf.
Synopsis: This story was about a Muslim boys struggle with his identity at a new school where
he feels afraid to show that he is different. When Bilal and his sister (Ayesha) arrive at the new
school the other students are pointing and staring at Ayesha’s headscarf. The first time she is
harassed, Bilal does nothing, but with the help of his Muslim teacher, Bilal stands up to the
bullies when they harass his sister for the second time.
While I did think that this book was good and could open up a dialogue about different
religions, I thought that this book did contain some stereotypes. For example, in the Bilal must
make the first move and offer friendship to the bully that is harassing his sister. Why does it
seem like the non-white student must always be more understanding? Second, I thought it was
interesting that Bilal wanted to hid and not tell anyone that he is Muslim, yet his sister is proudly
wearing the headscarf and not hiding at all. I wish that the book had focused on Ayesha rather
than Bilal and portrayed a strong, Muslim women character for a change.
Author: McDermott, Gerald
Title: Anansi the Spider
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Date/Awards: 1972/ Caldecott Honor Book
Multicultural Aspects? Story about the creation of the moon. Ghana Folktale
Why Chosen? Recommended by a friend in an African Art class
Synopsis: This story is a folktale from Ghana, about the adventure of Anansi the spider and his
sons. All of the six sons were named after their own special skill. One could see trouble and
another was a stone thrower, etc.. When the father, Anansi, becomes lost and is eaten by a fish,
the son’s work together to save the father’s life. The Anansi finds a white glowing ball and wants
to give it to his son’s for saving his life, but does not know which one is the most deserving of
the gift. All of the son’s argue over who will receive this gift and eventually it is placed in the
sky at night so that all are able to view and appreciate this wonderful object.
Author: Montes, Marisa
Title: Los Gatos Black on Halloween
Publisher: Henry Hold and Co., LLC.
Date/Awards: 2006/ Pura Belpre award winner
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican- American
Why Chosen? Pura Belpre award list
Synopsis: This was a wonderful creepy and slightly scary Halloween book that mixes English
and Spanish together in fun rhymes that lead the ready in a pleasant way into the fun of spooky
Halloween. The moon lit night was just the right setting for this party and we are given great
details with only 4 lines of rhyming text per page. The monster’s ball is recreated in wonderful
details until it is horribly interrupted by children at the door! I liked how it was able to mix not
only the English and Spanish but also the Day of the Dead into Halloween. I loved the
illustrations by Yuyi Morales. They really complemented this book.
Author: Morales, Yuyi
Title: Just A Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Date/Awards: 2003/ Pura Belpre Award
Multicultural Aspects? Latino
Why Chosen? Recommended author
Synopsis:
Sr. Calavera has come to collect Grandma Beetle, but before she agrees to go with him,
she has a few jobs to do. The chores all are explicitly counted in both English and Spanish to
move the story along. The chores all add up to the preparations for Grandma Beetle’s birthday
party in which Grandma invites Sr. Calavera to join in the fun. When the party is over, and
Grandma is now ready to go, Sr. Calavera had disappeared. He only left a note that he enjoyed
the wonderful party and he will be back to celebrate with Grandma Beetle next year.
Beautiful illustrations and fun are intermixed with both Spanish and English and all
combine to create a beautiful book.
Author: Mora, Pat
Title: Confetti: Poems Para Niños
Publisher: Lee & Low
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Latino culture
Why Chosen? Recommended by World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: This book was a collection of simple poems for younger children in Spanish. They
were not translated, rather presented with colorful illustrations. There were notes from the author
in the back in English and Spanish to explain the importance of poetry in the lives of young
children.
Author: Moriarty, Kathleen
Title: Wiil Waal: A Somali Folktale
Publisher: Minnesota Humanities Center
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Somali Folktale
Why Chosen? Part of the book choices at the Valencia library on class trip
Synopsis: The wise man in the village sets out a riddle that someone should bring him the most
important part of the sheep that is able to divide and unite men. One man follows his daughter’s
advice (with reservations) and the results will change her life. Nice illustrations. I am now
wondering about the message in the story—respect you elders? Listen to you children, as they
too can be wise? Or listen to your women? I found it interesting that the father listened to one of
his children, especially a girl.
Author: Mora, Pat
Title: Dona Flor
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date/Awards: 2005/ Pura Belpre Medal for Illustrations
Multicultural Aspects? Latino
Why Chosen? Recommended by classmate, Lisa D.
Synopsis: This is a beautifully illustrated book about a very LARGE woman, who must be 25
feet tall. She stays near the village where she was born and helps out her fellow villagers who
rely on her to help them out. One funny way that she helps them is by making tortillas and the
villages then use these super sized tortillas to float on the river and as shelter. Dona Flor is able
to also help the village in a serious matter, of finding the very large panther that is terrorizing the
village with its screeching. Dona Flor is friends with all the creatures of the valley as well as the
clouds and with everyone’s help eventually discovers the source of the screeching and calms the
village down. The illustrations in this book are amazing, very relaxing colors and big clouds. I
thought this book was one of the better ones that I have read.
Author: Myers, Walter Dean
Title: Jazz
Publisher: Holiday House Books
Date/Awards: 2006/ ALA notable children’s book
Multicultural Aspects? History of African American Jazz music in the US
Why Chosen? Cover looked inviting
Synopsis: This book was a good introduction to the sounds of Jazz as well as some historical
highlights of the music’s development. Each page was a tribute to one performer (like Lou
Armstrong) a form or a style. Some pages are just poems, and others talk about the Jazz-style
memorial services that take place in New Orleans. This book also uses the fun way of presenting
the pages the “long” way rather than always the “short” way. I thought this book would be good
for an older student who was going to study Jazz as there was quite a bit of reading that would go
over the head of a smaller child. (maybe 10-12?) Great illustrations portraying very powerful
musicians and their instruments.
Author: Nikola-Lisa, W.
Title: Can You Top That?
Publisher: Lee & Low Books Inc.
Date/Awards: 2000/ 2000 Choices", Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Multicultural Aspects? Children of many ethnic backgrounds
Why Chosen? Recommended by librarian at Valencia
Synopsis: This is a fun counting book which uses a lot of imagination. Each child that comes to
the playground and they all sketch out animals with “extra”, imaginative features. The first boy
starts drawing a fish with only one fin, and then the next child says how about a mouse with two
tails! And the animals escalate from there until they reach the number 10.
This tale not only highlights a variety of multicultural children and their drawing talents
but also the power of a good imagination. The illustrations were very good with goat with 10
horns and other imaginary creatures.
Author: Nilsen, Anna
Title: My Best Friends
Publisher: McGraw Hill
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Shows friends from a variety of different cultures
Why Chosen? Cover was appealing
Synopsis: This is a cute story about friends and the variety of feelings that kids have with their
friends. This book really gives a positive backing to all those feelings, like being mad and then
making-up. One illustration that was particularly fun was the “friends play dress up together”
and the kid’s feet were shown in adult shoes. Very cute! I was disappointed with the amount of
time spent on the white friends, but some of the kids were in inter-racial friendships. Overall a
great book, and had great illustrations.
Author: Nolen, Jerdine
Title: Pitching in for Eubie
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? African American
Why Chosen? Cover looked good
Synopsis: Lilly wants to contribute when the whole family gets together to save enough money
for big sister Eubie’s college expenses. Lilly makes iced tea to sell by the side of the road, and
digs up worms to sell after church, but it is only when she is offered a real job looking after a
family friend does she feel as if she is really contributing to the goal. This is a great story about
working together as a family and the goals that can be accomplished when you do.
Author: Novesky, Amy
Title: Elephant Prince: The story of Ganesh
Publisher: Mandala Publishing
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Tale from India
Why Chosen? Cover was inviting
Synopsis: This story was a cute interpretation from a famous Hindu story of the origins of the
god Ganesh was created and how he became such a good story teller. The illustrations and text
use many words from India (like sari) and are true to many of the traditions and gifts of the
culture. I am worried that it is one of those “exotic” books but as the story is supposed to be
talking about a historical event, I am not sure that the “exotic” stereotype really works in this
case. There is an author’s note in the back of the book that explains the story more clearly for
older readers.
Author: Olson, Sylvia
Title: Yetsa’s Sweater
Publisher: Sono Nis Press, Canada
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Coast Salish Indians in British Columbia Canada
Why Chosen? Recommended by librarian Jane D.
Synopsis: This was a cute story that tells the tale of the beautiful hand crafted sweaters from the
Coast Salish Indians, in British Columbia, Canada. Yetsa and her Mother arrive at the
Grandmother’s house and assist with all the chores of preparing the freshly sheered wool to
make the sweaters. First the pick out all the debris, then wash it, card it and finally spin it into
balls of yarn. Between all these preparations, they snack on Grandma’s blackberry jam and fresh
bread. Soon there is enough yarn for Yatsa to have a new sweater. Grandma has included her
favorite patterns, of jam and bread and fluffy clouds into the knitting of the sweater. The
illustrations are nice in this story, though they seem at times a bit out of focus. There is an
explanation at the end of the book about the sweaters and how they came to Canada.
Author: O’Neill, Alexis
Title: Estela’s Swap
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican American
Why Chosen? Cover looked good
Synopsis: This book was the story of Estela’s first time at the Swap meet where she is trying to
earn $10 more so she can take dancing lesions (ballet folklorico). Everything is going along well,
until a strong Santa Ana wind blows threw the Swap meet, destroying the woman’s stall across
from Estela. Estela runs to help, and then gives the women her music box to cheer her up during
the week. The woman turns around and swaps Estela with the skirt she has been sewing for her
to wear when she takes her dancing lessons. This was a cute, California story about an event that
I am sure that many children are a part of.
Author: Orozco, Jose-Luis
Title: Rin, Rin, Rin, Do, Re, Me
Publisher: Orchard Books
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? Spanish English song book
Why Chosen? Recommended by World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: This book was a series of cute rhyming poems with beautiful illustrations from
different parts of the day. For example wake up, eating, playing and getting ready for bed. One
rhyme goes like “ABC Say letters to me!” and shows an illustration of a child and a grandfather
getting ready to play together. There is an author’s note in the back that reminds parents about
the importance of pointing out literacy at a young age for all children.
Author: Pikney, Sandra L.
Title: I am Latino
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Latin American/ Multicultural children
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting
Synopsis: This book celebrates Latino children and has a wonderful assortment of pictures of
children smiling and enjoying life. The book asks the question (in English) “Can you sense the
beauty?” a number of times and is asking you to see the beauty in everyday situations with the
children in the photographs. There are many affirming statements in the book such as “I am
Latino. I am the Beauty.” Some words are in Spanish and the book asks the reader to “hear my
language” in Spanish. The book focuses on the senses and shows many pictures of food, family
photos and photos. This is a great book to share with younger children.
Author: Pollak, Barbara
Title: Our Community Garden
Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects?
Why Chosen?
Synopsis: Audrey and her multicultural friends are all working on the garden near their home in
San Francisco. Each child is growing something good to eat. Tomas is growing peppers and
tomatillos for Salsa and Allison is growing special beans for a tofu stir-fry. At the end when all
the veggies are ready to harvest, the children sit down together and celebrate. This was a cute
book that even has a website to go to for more information about how to start a community
garden.
Author: Faller, Rodger
Title: The Adventures of Polo
Publisher: Neal Porter Book
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? A world traveling dog
Why Chosen? Recommended by the World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: Polo the dog has many adventures that happen to him when he leaves his Island home.
My favorite parts of his adventure included going underground where mushrooms grow- then
turning the mushrooms into a rocket ship and flying to the moon. This book had no words and
could be read by a person of any culture. This was a fun tale with lots of imagination.
Author: Powell, Patricia Hurby
Title: Zinnia: How The Corn Was Saved
Publisher: Salina Bookshelf
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Navajo tale
Why Chosen? I is for inclusion article
Synopsis: This book is a Navajo tale about how this Native American group developed the
custom of planning complementary crops together; in this case, it was Zinnia flowers combined
with the corn and bean crops.
The story goes that after three unsuccessful crops, the Navajo people were worried about
the future of the corn and bean crops and sent a young boy (12 year old Red Bird) to search for
the Spider Woman in order to save the people. Red Bird walks all over the area talking to many
other creatures before finding the Spider Woman who instructs him to plant the flowers with the
crops and then the plants will ripen the next day and everyone will have food. When Red Bird
returns to the village he relays the information and plants the flowers with the crops. Just as the
Spider Woman predicted, the crops ripen overnight and the people are saved.
This was a bilingual book written in both Navajo and English. There is a disclaimer at the
beginning explaining that Navajo is traditionally an oral language and that the singing or
chanting keeps the story intact.
Author: Ramirez, Antonio
Title: Napi
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Mazatecal Indians/ Oaxaca
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting.
Synopsis: This book was beautifully illustrated with watercolors and the cover drew me to the
book from across the library. The story is told from the daughter’s point of view, Napi who tells
about her life as a Mazatecal Indian in the Oaxaca area of Mexico. This story is centered around
a large tree in the yard where the family goes to hear stories and dream and imagine the evening
away. Napi even tells us about the tradition in which her birth placenta was buried beneath the
tree to make sure that she can find her way back to be with her people. Napi even dreams that
she is a bird and flying “happy and safe” above the big tree in one of her visions.
Author: Ramirez, Antonio
Title: Napi Goes to the Mountain
Publisher: Groundwood Books/ House of Anansi Press
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Mazatecal Indians/ Oaxaca Mexico
Why Chosen? The Sequel to Napi
Synopsis: This is the second book about Napi a Mazatecal Indian who lives in the Oaxaca area
of Mexico. The last book gave an account of her life and all her imaginary dreams and traditions
living near her family tree. In this story Napi wakes up to find that her father Nami did not return
from working in the fields yesterday and instead of going to school like she tells her Mother, she
and her little brother, Nicle, go off in search of the father. The two children have a number of
adventures trying to locate the father, including being turned into deer.
The children ask each animal that they encounter if they have seen the father, and get a
variety of hopeful responses that say that they will find what they seek. When they come to a
family of armadillos, the Mother armadillo tells them that the family is united again and the
children are so happy that they run as fast as they can back to their homes.
Just as in the first book the watercolor illustrations are beautiful a mixture of browns that
have a sepia tone that makes them look like an old-fashioned photograph combined with a
brightly colored figure or part of the page which really draws your attention to the subject.
Wonderful books
Author: Ransome, James E.
Title: Visiting Day
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? African American
Why Chosen? Recommended by librarian Jane D.
Synopsis: This is a very touching story of a young girl and her grandmother planning, preparing
and visiting her father in Jail. First thing in the morning they wake up and prepare for the
journey. Grandma makes fried chicken for lunch and they also take some gifts from a neighbor
who can’t go. Then they board the bus with the other families and take the long drive together to
the Jail. This visit with her father is short and she and Grandma are melancholy on the way back
home.
I thought this book was interesting because I have not come across this theme in a
children’s book before., and as we have said in class, by not addressing these issues they become
secret and silent and kids cannot talk about them to anyone.
Author: Rao, Sandrna
Title: My Mother’s Sari
Publisher: NorthSouth books
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Culture from India
Why Chosen? Recommended by World of Words multicultural library
Synopsis: This beautifully illustrated book described all the fun a child could have with his
Mother’s Sari. The book showed many beautiful pictures of Sari’s and showed children using the
sari to hid, to tug and as a hammock. Very creative book and lots of beautiful sari’s (including
one that has a real southwest “flavor” to it).
Author: Rappaport, Doreen
Title: We Are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Native Americans
Why Chosen? Recommended by Valencia Librarian
Synopsis: This book gives a one page informational look at noteworthy (famous) Native
Americans- and what they are famous for. My favorite author, Sherman Alexi was included as
well as those Native Americans who are not that well known. I thought this book was a nice
introductory book on some famous people that may not be that well known and could be used at
an introductory piece to then have students research further on the people that they found
interesting.
Author: Raven, Margot Theis
Title: Night Boat to Freedom
Publisher: Melanie Kroupa Books
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? African American Slave Story
Why Chosen? Recommended by Librarians at Valencia
Synopsis: This book told the story about Christmas, a young slave born on the Kentucky side of
the Ohio River. As a teenager, Christmas rows a old rickety boat across the river with an
escaping slave and then returns. Over the course of the year he helps a number of people on the
plantation that he lives on escape to freedom. Each time he returns, his grandmother asks him
what color the person wore when they went to freedom. The Grandmother begins to make a
quilt with all the freedom colors. One night Christmas and his Grandmother make the dangerous
journey to freedom, wrapped up in the freedom quilt. This was a nicely told story about the
Underground Railroad and one person who could make a difference. The illustrations were
nicely done water colors as well.
Author: Robbins, Jacqui
Title: The New Girl…And Me
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Relationship between two girls one is African American one is
European American
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting (with the lizard) on a Valencia display
Synopsis: This was a cute story about the first day of school for Shakeeta, who has a pet iguana
and how she is approached by her classmates who all want to show her around. Shakeeta has a
student make fun of her name and then wanders about lonely, until she makes a friend in Mia
and the two eventually feed Shakeeta’s iguana lettuce.
The drawing of this multicultural classroom was very cute and soft and gave the reader a
first-grade feeling. The colors were light and the students were all drawn in a respectful way with
accurate hair and skin colors.
Author: Ruffenach, Jessie, Ed.
Title: Baby Learns to Count
Publisher: Salina Book Shelf, Inc
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? Navajo Board book
Why Chosen? Recommended in the World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: A Navajo baby participates in different activities as by learning to count from one to
ten. The Navajo language is presented first, and then the English language is presented. I thought
the illustrations were great and gave good examples of Navajo life but in a simple way.
Author: Ruffenach, Jessie, Ed.
Title: Baby Learns about Seasons
Publisher: Salina Book Shelf, Inc
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? Navajo Board book
Why Chosen? Recommended in the World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: This was the first Navajo Board books that I have ever seen, and I thought they were
really nice. A Navajo baby participates in different activities as the season’s change. The Navajo
language is presented first, and then the English language.
Author: Ruffenach, Jessie, Ed.
Title: Baby Learns about Time
Publisher: Salina Book Shelf, Inc
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? Navajo Board book
Why Chosen? Recommended in the World of Words Multicultural Library
Synopsis: This board book illustrated a day in the Baby’s life. The day happens to be Baby’s
Birthday and the story follows baby from when she wakes up, has lunch and dreams about a new
pony. Baby does eventually get the pony, which turns out to be a toy rocking horse style gift. At
the end of the day the Mother sings Baby to sleep.
Author: Ryan, Pam Munoz
Title: Becoming Naomi Leon
Publisher: Scholastic
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican Americans
Why Chosen? Recommended by classmate Bonnie Morris
Synopsis: This was an excellent coming of age story and also one of empowerment. Naomi and
her little brother are being raised by their great-Grandmother after their own mother leaves them
many years ago due to her alcohol and drug problems. The mother suddenly appears at the
beginning of the book as a stranger to the children and is welcomed with suspicion by the greatGrandmother. As the mother tries to buy her way back into her children’s hearts, they also get a
glimpse of her real motives.
When their mother tries to take Naomi and not her brother, they run in fear. The greatGrandmother, desperate, takes the children on a visit to Mexico to try and locate the children’s
father and ask him for help. During the trip to Mexico, Naomi discovers her root and the culture
that she has not had any contact with until now. She learns so much in Mexico about herself and
her father that when she returns and must testify in court at the custody hearing, she suddenly
becomes empowered to tell the judge the truth about her desire to stay with her brother and with
her great-Grandmother.
I thought this was a great book and would highly recommend it to anyone. This has to be
in the category of one of the best books that I have read this semester!
Author: Ryan, Pam Munoz
Title: Paint the Wind
Publisher: Scholastic
Date/Awards: 2007/ Ryan has many other award winning titles
Multicultural Aspects? Orphan? Ryan is a typical multicultural writer, but I am not sure here.
Why Chosen? Other books by this author are recommended as multicultural
Synopsis: This is the latest book by an award winning author, Pam M. Ryan. In this story the life
of Maya is told in wonderful details and imagery. Orphaned when she was five, she went to live
with her California Grandmother and lived as a prisoner in her house, unable to really experience
much about life, as the Grandmother is afraid of losing Maya like she lost her son. When the
Grandmother dies suddenly, she is off to live with her Mother’s family in Wyoming and enters a
whole new world.
Now Maya must learn to stand on her own two feet and be strong in the face of danger
and also to learn to love and appreciate a whole new life- where her Mother is remembered with
love and not loathing.
This book teaches a lot about lying and the consequences as well a compassion and trust.
I thought it was a great book and had a lot of exciting tension but I am not sure that it would
qualify as a multicultural book, as there is no mention of a culture at all, so then I assume we go
back to the “default” culture, European American. Or maybe it qualifies as multicultural due to
the subject matter of the Orphan and new family etc..
Author: Sanders, Nancy I.
Title: D is for Drinking Gourd
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Date/Awards: 2007/ Nappa Honors award
Multicultural Aspects? African American Alphabet book
Why Chosen? Cover looked inviting
Synopsis: This was a great alphabet book that used words significant to American History but
especially significant for African American’s American History. The Drinking Gourd is the
name that African American’s used to describe the big and little dippers that would guide their
way in the night sky, during their journeys on the Underground Railroad. This book was good
because it not only defined the word in a sentence, it also gave a more though discussion of the
term on the side, and the history and time period that made the term significant. Another example
is Buffalo Soldier and then on the side the book tells about a couple of missions that the US
Army used these soldiers for.
Excellent book and would be a great style to copy and use in other cultures to talk about
significant events in history.
Author: Sandin, Joan
Title: Coyote School News
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican American History
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting.
Synopsis: The story of a one room school house is told by Ramon Ramirez. The story (really a
bunch of small stories) are set in the 1930’s just south of Tucson, and retells the daily life of the
kids that attend the school and the 1 page school newspaper that they all help to publish. One
interesting theme in the stories is that the teacher is very pro-Spanish and says that Spanish is a
beautiful language that people have been speaking around these parts for hundreds of years and
that the kids should be proud that they can speak Spanish. I am not sure that this attitude was
entirely accurate.
This story uses Spanish words intermingled in the English story and includes a glossary
in the back of the book. It even made a reference to Tucson’s annual February rodeo.
Author: San Souci, Robert D.
Title: Sister Tricksters: Rollicking Tales of Clever Females
Publisher: August House-Little Folk
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Depiction of strong female characters
Why Chosen? Interesting cover and subject
Synopsis:
This book was in the picture book section but I do not think that it really qualifies as a
picture book, because many of the pages are full of words and are missing the pictures! This
book is a collection of 8 tales all with smart female characters getting the better of the male
characters. There is also perhaps a class thing going on here, as in many stories, the female
character is also represented by the “prey” and the male character is representing the aggressive
animal. For example in one story the family of rabbits and mrs. Rabbit in particular, is getting the
better of a couple of hungry foxes that are passing buy the house.
Again I am not sure that this book would qualify as a picture book as the tales are long
and too long for a smaller child. I think it might have been better to chop up this one book into a
series of eight smaller books with more pictures.
Author: Satrapi, Marjane
Title: Persepolis
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Date/Awards: 2003/ Alex Award
Multicultural Aspects? Iranian culture
Why Chosen? Recommended in class on 2/3
Synopsis: This book was my second graphic novel and now I am hooked. Persepolis is the life
story of a young girl who was only 9 when the Shaw of Iran was overthrown by the
fundamentalists. This book is the story of how she and her family adapted and dealt with all the
changes that came to her country. One interesting example is that the teenagers/young adults had
to wear the headscarf and no makeup—in other words appear modest and yet they would have a
second life at night at a party in someone’s home where they would drink; wear makeup and
western “provocative” clothing. She mentioned that they all were very good at leading this
“double life” and that it almost became a mental state that was hard to separate yourself from.
This book also addresses the issue of leaving Iran. Satrapi’s parents talk about escaping
from Iran when the Shaw is over thrown but her father says why? So I can become a taxi driver
and my wife a cleaning lady? No thanks! I was thinking how hard that choice was to make, to
stay and live life under this harsh and extremist group, or be free and a taxi driver in another
country.
Author: Schachner, Judy
Title: Skippyjon Jones
Publisher: Scholastic
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican-American?
Why Chosen? Recommended by Librarian Jane D.
Synopsis: This is a popular kids book that I have seen people check out of the library and even
my relatives have read this book to children. However I am not sure what conclusions to make.
The story is about a misbehaving cat who disobeys his mother and has been sent to his room, to
behave like a cat in the future. However Skippy spends the entire punishment imagining this
great adventure with some dogs, and his desire to become a Chihuahua like them. This book was
another book that Jane D. and I had a discussion about. She and I were talking about all the
Spanish words that are used in this book and we were wondering if this was really inclusive or
being derogatory towards the Latino culture. We did not come to any conclusions as we both
found arguments for either side.
Author: Schaefer, Carole L.
Title: Someone Says
Publisher: Viking skols
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese imagination tale
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting
Synopsis: This was a fun, imagination building book about pre-schoolers in China, I think. The
kids are all imagining themselves being different animals when outside on the playground (a bird
or a frog) or inside when they eat their lunch (let’s eat our noodles like Tigers!). The item they
are imaging is drawn lightly around them as if all the kids are able to see that they are really
building a big house with their blocks. All the pictures of imagined things are in a Chinese style
(the house, the singers etc...) and it was an all around good book that I think many younger
children would enjoy. The only negative observation that I would make is that the kids seem to
be very “light” skinned, but other than that you can hardly tell what race/nationality they are. It is
sometimes hard to tell if they are boys or girls, they are depicted in such a generic way.
Author: Shea, Pegi D.
Title: Tangled Threads: A Hmong girl’s story
Publisher: Clarion Books
Date/Awards: 2003/ New York Public Library "Top 100 Books"
Multicultural Aspects? Hmong girl immigrates to America
Why Chosen? Recommended by Valencia Librarian
Synopsis: This was a hard book to read with very vivid and emotional parts about living in a
refugee camp and then the adjusting to American life of a Hmong girl and her grandmother. I
was sadden by the responses of the American peers to the main character, Mai, that the students
always had some racial slur or insult to throw at her, but I imagine that those kind of things must
happen a lot in high school, as it does with adults. I did enjoy their fresh views on life in
American and how they tried to mix their traditional ways with the new American ways.
The book also spends time talking about the famous embroidery that is a Hmong
traditional cloth called pa’ndau and wove the story around the symbolism and the traditions of
that cloth and its importance to the Hmong people.
Author: Sis, Peter
Title: The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
Publisher: New York: Frances Foster Books
Date/Awards: 2007 (2008 Caldecott Medal Honorable Mention)
Multicultural Aspects? Childhood / youth in Prague, Czechoslovakia
Why Chosen? Award winner
Synopsis: This story is about the author’s childhood in Czechoslovakia and how he was always
interested in drawing. He tells the story through parts of his diary and also with pencil drawings,
mainly in black and white with only red in many parts, to symbolize the Communist Party. He is
able to interject some historical events and milestones of his youth to move his story along. I
think this would be a good picture book for an older reader, as I think there are too many long
passages for a smaller child.
I wonder if this “picture” book is really more of a short graphic novel than a picture book.
Author: Smith, Charles R. Jr.
Title: I am American
Publisher: Scholastic
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Picture book with all sorts of children represented
Why Chosen? Looked appealing and multicultural
Synopsis: This book was a collection of children’s photos that celebrated the diversity of the
children who live in the United States. The book did spend some time pointing out physical
differences between the children such as almond eyes or large noses which I must admit that I
did not like as much as the different way that children dress wearing a baseball cap backwards
etc… I did think that this book had a great idea, and maybe one similar could be made with
adults in a variety of job uniforms and being represented by different cultures.
Author: Stauffacher, Sue
Title: Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? African American
Why Chosen? Cover was inviting
Synopsis: This was a great story of the famous tennis pro Althea Gibson (whom I admit I had
never heard of). It chronicled her love of any sport, and the reader was able to hear the voices of
her parents and neighbors saying how quick she was, and fast, but always she was trouble. Then
one day a friend who worked with youth in Harlem saw in her a tennis star and bought Althea a
racket and a ball and even convinced a tennis club to give her free lesions on how to play the
game.
Through tennis, Althea learned to control her temper and play with good sportsmanship.
Through her perseverance and great skills, Althea was able to break the color barrier in the game
of tennis in the United States, and eventually won two titles at Wimbledon. This book also gave
a time line of important events in Althea’s life and her website for readers to get more
information about her.
Author: Stock, Catherine
Title: Gugu’s House
Publisher: Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Company
Date/Awards: 2001
Multicultural Aspects? Story from Zimbabwe Africa
Why Chosen? Recommended by Youth Librarian Tanya at Valencia Library
Synopsis:
This is the story of Kukamba’s visit to her Grandmother’s compound in the countryside.
Kukamba helps her grandmother with her clay animals and her art that decorates the compound
as well as assist with the daily chores. The family is waiting for the rains to come, and when they
finally do, they wash away all the art on the compound walls. Kukamba is upset that all the art
has disappeared, but her Grandmother explains that it is all due to the cycle of life. She shows
Kukamba the rainbow that has appeared along with all the wild flowers that now surround them
in the village.
Nice story about a village life in Zimbabwe, Africa. The illustrations portrayed the
characters in a complementary way and also depicted the village life positively. The wildflowers
were also nicely done as well.
Author: Swamp, Chief Jake
Title: Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning
Publisher: Lee & Low books
Date/Awards: 1995
Multicultural Aspects? Mohawk Indians
Why Chosen? Recommended in I is for Inclusion article
Synopsis: This book was almost a long prayer of giving thanks for the world around us, from the
6 nation Iroquois people from the U.S. and Canada. The book jacket notes that every day the
Iroquois people wake up and give thanks for the world around them. It is part prayer and part
celebration of life. I also enjoyed the simple illustrations as well as the glossary in the back of the
book that retold the prayer in the Iroquois language.
Author: Tapahonso, Luci
Title: Navajo ABC
Publisher: Macmillan Books
Date/Awards: 1995
Multicultural Aspects? Navajo Indians
Why Chosen? Recommended in the I is for Inclusion article
Synopsis: This was a cute alphabet book that related each letter to an item that is used or made
by the Navajo people. The pencil drawings were nicely done, and I also liked that in the back of
the book, there was a glossary that not only explained in depth what each item was but also how
to pronounce the unfamiliar words.
Author: Tayac, Gabrielle
Title: Meet Naiche: A native boy from the Chesapeake Bay Area
Publisher: Beyond Words Pub.
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? American Indian daily life
Why Chosen? Recommended in I is for Inclusion article
Synopsis: This was a good book written by the Smithsonian Institutes National Museum of the
American Indian. It tells about a boy, Naiche and his modern Native American life. I think this
book (which would be better for an older student) really takes the “mystery” out of what life is
like to live on a reservation in the United States. There are a lot of pictures that show Naiche
eating breakfast at the table and then going off to school, as any child might, and these are
combined with pictures of a ceremonial Hogan, dancing and other more traditional Native
American cultural practices.
This book would be better for an older student, as there is a lot of description surrounding
Naiche and explaining the important aspects of his world.
Author: Thomas, Joyce Carol & Zora Neale Hurston
Title: The Three Witches
Publisher: Harper-Collins
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? African folk tale
Why Chosen? Recommended by classmates
Synopsis: When their Grandmother is off to the store, 3 witches arrive to the house and threaten
to eat a girl and boy. Witches had already eaten these children’s parents so the children knew to
be afraid of these witches. The children try and appease the witches at first and then run away as
fast as they can and hid up in a tree. The witches start to chop down the tree that the children are
hiding in and so the children cast a spell that blinds the three witches and slows down their
chopping. The Grandmother arrives home to release the family dogs who come and attack the
three witches and free the children.
The book jacket says that this story is adapted from an African Folk tale by Zora Neale
Hurston. I thought that the tail was a bit violent and vivid. The witches are drawn with long teeth
and sharp nails and have their eyes blinded by the wood as they are trying to chop the tree down
Author: Tingle, Tim
Title: Crossing Bok Chitto
Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Choctaw/ Native American author (Native and African American Story)
Why Chosen? Recommended in “I is for Inclusion”
Synopsis: Advertised as a Choctaw tale of friendship and freedom. This story begins on the
north side of the Bok Chitto river, in Mississippi. On the north side lived the Choctaw Indians
but on the South side, were plantations with many slaves. One day a young girl from the north
side crosses the river to pick berries and becomes lost and wanders in to a “slave church”. She
enjoys the music so much that she continues and becomes friendly with many of the worshipers.
One night she is even able to help a family cross the river into freedom. This book has beautiful
illustrations also by a Native American artist (Cherokee). I felt that there was a unique friendship
that was developed by two different yet similarly oppressed peoples. Excellent book!
Author: Tucker, Kathy
Title: The Seven Chinese Sisters
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Date/Awards: 2003/Bank Street College Best Books of the Year Award, 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese -American
Why Chosen? I enjoy this illustrator (Grace Lin)
Synopsis: This is a great story of seven sisters each with an individual talent that all work
together to save the youngest sister when she is kidnapped by a dragon. The story begins by
explaining all the sisters’ talents one by one, then when all the sisters are busy, a non-scary
dragon comes in and steals the youngest sister planning to eat her for lunch. All the sisters
combine their talents to save the youngest one and they are successful. In the end they all sit
down to a big bowl of noodle soup. This story was cute and the illustrations by Grace Lin were
as charming as other books I have read. The story line was a little strange with the fact that one
of the sister’s ability to communicate with animals means that she speaks “dog” but it is a story
after all.
Author: Waters, Kate
Title: Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Date/Awards: 2001
Multicultural Aspects? American Indians & Europeans
Why Chosen? Recommended in I is for inclusion article
Synopsis: This book tells the story of a “first Thanksgiving” between the English and Native
peoples. It has been told from two viewpoints, one a Native boy and one an English boy. Each
reflects on the situation from each different cultural perspective, and each boy is curious about
the other one and the life they lead.
Even though it was recommend by the I is for inclusion article, I am not sure that it did
not play into some Indian stereotypes. The Native people all wore a feather in their headbands,
and they were even decorated with painted faces. I was also sad that the both the children were
boys and that they did not talk about any women characters except for all the cooking that the
English boy’s mother was working on.
This book was not illustrated but rather a series of photographs taken at the Plymouth
Plantation, an outdoor history museum in Massachusetts. I think that kids would think that this
book is more authentic when they can see pictures of other kids in the period costumes, but again
this makes me wonder if they are an accurate portrayal of the Native people.
Author: Williams, Mary
Title: Brother’s in Hope
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Date/Awards: 2005 (2006 Coretta Scott King Award)
Multicultural Aspects? Tells the story of Lost Boys of Sudan. African Children.
Why Chosen? Coretta Scott King Award winner
Synopsis: The story of the experience of a Lost Boy of the Sudan. While tending cattle one day,
8 year old Garang hears the evidence of war in his village and returns home later to find
everything destroyed. Soon he meets up with other boys and together they begin a journey first
to Ethiopia and later to Kenya before being brought to the United States. This story was
presented in a sad and yet hopeful (but not too scary) way for children to understand the actions,
and also comprehend the magnitude of the events.
Author: Williams, Sam
Title: Talk Peace
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Date/Awards: 2005
Multicultural Aspects? World Wide call for peace.
Why Chosen? I liked the title
Synopsis: This was a cute story that rhymed at times all with the theme of building Peace and
understanding around the world. This picture book was aimed at a young audience and I am sure
that Peace is a hard concept for young children to understand, but I think that the author did a
splendid job. I liked the fact that there was a mixture of the world integrated in to the story. City
and countryside was mixed with above ground and below ground, and humans and animals all
combined to make this an engaging story. This author had a very cute idea when designing this
book.
Author: Winter, Jeanette
Title: Angelina’s Island
Publisher: Frances Foster Books
Date/Awards: 2007
Multicultural Aspects? Jamaican in New York
Why Chosen? I like this Author
Synopsis: This is a great story of Angelina who is home sick for her native Jamaica. Each day
she asks her parents when they can go home. The parents respond that they are home, New York
is there home now. Angelina spends all day thinking of how the two places are different, and
how she wants to return. One day her mother finds an newspaper article about a parade
(Carnaval) for children to participate in. After Angelina participates in the parade, hears the
Jamaican music, she starts to feel as if New York could really be home. This was another great
book from illustrator Jeanette Winter.
Author: Winter, Jeanette
Title: Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book
Publisher: Harcourt Inc.
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican American
Why Chosen? Cover looked interesting/ Day of the Dead celebration
Synopsis: This was a great story of the tradition of creating paper skeletons for Day of the Dead
celebrations in Mexico. The story begins with how the skeletons are created and the family
business that is famous for creating the best ones in Mexico. Then the Alphabet part of the book
begins where each letter shows a skeleton depicting an alphabet letter. One example is the NThe skeletons are dressed up in wedding clothing for Novio and Novia. This was a cute story
that explains an element of the Day of the Dead celebration. Great illustrations. At the end of the
book there is a glossary of terms translating the English and Spanish as well as an Author’s Note
that gives more information about fiestas and the Day of the Dead Celebration.
Author: Winter, Jeanette
Title: Elsina’s Clouds
Publisher: Frances Foster Books
Date/Awards: 2004
Multicultural Aspects? Story from South Africa
Why Chosen? AlA recommended Author
Synopsis: This book is the story of Elsina and her desire to have the rainy season begin in South
Africa. Her mother’s plants are drying up and her father’s goats are thirsty, but the real reason is
that Elsina wants to pant the house after the rains wash away the old paints. Each year this cycle
is repeated between the rainy season and the dry seasons, giving Elsina a new canvas to paint.
This was another good story based on real events by Winter. I also thought her illustrations were
wonderfully colorful and African-ish.
Author: Winter, Jeanette
Title: Josefina
Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company
Date/Awards: 1996
Multicultural Aspects? Mexican folk artist Josefina Agular
Why Chosen? Ala recommended author
Synopsis: This is another Winter’s book that is loosely based on at factual experience. The book
notes that this story was inspired by Mexican Folk artist Josefina Agular and her hand made clay
art from the Mexican village of Ocotlán. Winter’s mixed the information about the artist with a
fun counting book of the clay sculptures that Agular creates. I think that this story would appeal
to a range of kids due to the mixture of story and counting book element.
Author: Winter, Jeanette
Title: Mama: A True Story
Publisher: Harcourt Books
Date/Awards: 2006
Multicultural Aspects? Written after the 2004 Pacific Ocean Tsunami
Why Chosen? ALA recommended author
Synopsis: This book was written after the 2004 Pacific Ocean Tsunami and tells the true story of
a group of hippopotamuses who were swimming in the ocean on the day the big waves came
through. The mother and baby (indecently the only two words in the book) are separated and the
baby washes up on shore, and taken to a wildlife refuge where he immediately bonds with an old
giant turtle. Another Winter tale that is based on a true event. Wonderful illustrations.
Author: Winter, Jeanette
Title: The Librarian of Basra: a true story from Iraq
Publisher: Hardcourt Books
Date/Awards: 2005 /ALA Notable Children’s Book
Multicultural Aspects? Iraq war story
Why Chosen? Recommended by ALA
Synopsis: This book tells the story of the head librarian in Basura, Iraq at the beginning of the
US invasion of Iraq and her quest to protect the valuable books that were held inside the library.
She is alone in her desires to protect her valuable books and begins to take them home, a trunk
load at a time, to protect them. Once the bombing starts, she is able to enlist the help of a
neighbor who assists her in removing many of the books before the library burns to the ground.
I thought this was an important story to tell, in light of the continuing war in Iraq. I
thought it was very interesting that the impetus for the story came from an article in the New
York Times in 2003. The book starts with a quote from that article, noting that “In the Koran, the
first thing that God said to Muhammad was ‘read’”. Hopefully this children’s book about the
destruction of the library will have a positive ending with the re-building of a new library in
Basra.
Author: Winter, Jeanette
Title: Niño’s Mask
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Date/Awards: 2003
Multicultural Aspects? Story from Mexico
Why Chosen? I love this Author/ Very colorful illustrations
Synopsis: This story is about a boy who wants to participate in the village ritual of wearing a
wooden mask and catching the tiger who will ruin the corn crop. Each year Niño asks if he can
join the hunt and each time his parents say when you are older. Niño decides to carve a mask
himself and surprise his family. The parents are so proud of him, that the mother sews him a
costume, even thought he is too young. Niño does participate in the hunt for the tiger, and
eventually is successful in stopping the tiger from destroying the corn crop.
The illustrations of a Mexican village are nicely done and the author has included a
glossary of terms and some more information about Mexican history.
Author: Woodson, Jacqueline
Title: Our Gracie Aunt
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Date/Awards: 2002
Multicultural Aspects? African American
Why Chosen? Recommended by librarian Jane D.
Synopsis:
This was a touching story about two kids that were left alone one day so a neighbor
called social services and a social worker came to take the children to their Aunt Gracie’s house.
They did have a quick re-connection with the mother who it looks like is in a hospital or maybe a
drug rehabilitation home, but who still is unable to care for the kids. The kids must retune to the
safety and warmth of their Aunt’s house at the end of the day.
I thought this was a great book to have out in the word as this is a situation that happens
to children of all cultures and again we all need a book to help get some conversations started.
Author: Yang, Gene
Title: American Born Chinese
Publisher: First Second Books
Date/Awards: 2006/ National Book Award Finalist
Multicultural Aspects? Chinese American students portrayed
Why Chosen? Recommended by classmates/ Professor
Synopsis: This was my first Graphic Novel and I found it more interesting than I originally
thought. The book contains three stories that at first appear different, but at the end all merge into
one complete thought. One story is a Chinese legend about a Monkey King and his challenges in
earning respect. Another is based on a “typical” negative Chinese stereotype and the third is the
story of a Chinese student just trying to fit in, in an American Middle school, and all the subtle
and blatant racism that he encounters, just trying to make friends and please his parents as well.
The message that I took away from the book was to just be yourself and accept who you are, a
message that I think people of all ages will find meaning in.
I found the Graphic Novel to be as complex as “traditional” story (which I assumed
would not be- as so many of the words were missing, but the pictures really do make up a strong
form of communication in the book). I also liked the white space that was on the top and bottom
of every page, so that there were not too many images to become overwhelmed by. In fact I
would say that I remember the images that the book presented almost like a movie in my head,
more so than the poetry of the words. Maybe that is why they are so popular??
Author: Yazzie, Evangeline P.
Title: Dzani Yazhi Naazbaa: Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home
Publisher: Salina Bookshelf, Inc.
Date/Awards: 2005/ Winner Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural N-F Teen Y-A
Multicultural Aspects? Story of the Navajo Long Walk
Why Chosen? Recommended by” I Is for Inclusion” reading
Synopsis: This was a very powerful children’s book that explains a tragic episode in the history
of the US. The book sets out to give some background to the life of Dzani between the four
sacred mountains that surrounded her home. When she is alone one day, US soldiers arrive and
capture Dzani and some sheep, to use as ransom against her whole family. Eventually her family
and many other families are forced to walk into New Mexico, a trip of 450 miles. Once in New
Mexico, the prisoners are forced to live for 4 years in an area that cannot support the kind of
agriculture that they are used to planting and are given foods from the soldiers that they are not
used to easting. The prisoners however did give each other mutual support and encouragement
and this is what keeps many strong. The family is eventually allowed to return to their
homelands. I thought this book was hard to read, yet the subject was an important one to tell.
I also thought it retells an interesting set of values. Dzani’s father continued to plant corn
so that the children would remember their ways, and yet another ceremony would not take place
in the prison encampment, because it is too sacred. What a hard choice that would have been.
What if they had not been allowed to return to their original lands? These ceremonies would be
lost. Maybe I just understand what actually happened to many other Native American cultures??
Also I would have liked a map that showed where the walk took place. Did the family
originally live in Arizona or Nevada? Where in New Mexico was the prisoner camp?