Multicultural Books for Younger and Older Children

A selected list of books updated September, 2005

Multicultural Books for Younger Children

Anaya, Rudolfo A. (1995). The Farolitos of Christmas.
With her father away fighting in World War II and her grandfather too sick to create the traditional luminaria, Luz helps create little farolitos, little lanterns, for their Christmas celebration instead. (JPA)

Barber, Barbara E. (1996). Allie's Basketball Dream.
Determined in her effort to play basketball, a young African American girl gives it one more shot with the support of a special friend. (JPB)

Bateson-Hill, Margaret. (1996). Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain.
A greedy emperor demands an impossible task from Lao Lao, a peasant woman who makes beautiful shapes from paper. Includes instructions for making traditional Chinese paper-cuts. (JPB)

Bishop, Gavin. (1996). Maui and the Sun: A Maori Tale.
The Maori people of New Zealand tell this version of the Polynesian folktale in which a trickster uses magical powers to slow the movement of the sun. (J 398.2 B)

Bruchac, Joseph. (1995). Gluskabe and the Four Wishes.
Four Abenaki men set out on a difficult journey to ask the great giant Gluskabe to grant each his fondest wish. (J 398.2 B)

Byrd, Lee Merrill., & Castro, Antonio. (2003). The Treasure on Gold Street = El Tesoro en la Calle Oro.
Denise describes her neighbors on Gold Street, especially Isabel, who is an adult but still plays with the young children and holds her mother's hand to cross the street, just as she has since Denise's mother was small. (JPB)

Caraballo, Samuel., Cruz, D. Nina.,& Brammer, Ethriam Cash. (2004). Mis Abuelos Y Yo.
Illustrations and rhyming text describe all the special things a Puerto Rican boy enjoys doing with his grandparents throughout the year. (SP JPC)

Carr, Jan. (1995). Dark Day, Light Night.
Manda's Aunt Ruby helps her to deal with some angry feelings by making lists of all the things that they like in the world. (JPC)

Cruz, Barbara. (2004). Alvin Ailey: celebrating African-American culture in dance.
(J B Ailey)

Daly, Niki. (2004). Where's Jamela?
When Mama gets a new job and a new house, everyone is excited about moving except Jamela who likes her old house just fine. (JPD)

Day, Nancy. (1995). The Lion's Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale.
In this tale from the Amhara people of Ethiopia, a patient woman uses her experience with a wild lion to win the love of her new stepson. (J 398.2 R)

English, Karen., & Steptoe, Javaka. (2004). Hot Day on Abbott Avenue.
After having a fight, two friends spend the day ignoring each other, until the lure of a game of jump rope helps them to forget about being mad. (JPE)

Goss, Linda. (1995). It's Kwanzaa Time!
Stories, recipes and activities introduce the holiday of Kwanzaa and the ways in which it is celebrated. (J 394.2 G)

Hall, Bruce Edward., & Low, William. (2004). Henry and the Kite Dragon.
In New York City in the 1920s, the children from Chinatown go after the children from Little Italy for throwing rocks at the beautiful kites Grandfather Chin makes, not realizing that they have a reason for doing so. (JPH)

Heo, Yumi. (1996). The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale.
A folktale about two green frogs who always disobey their mother, explaining why green frogs cry out whenever it rains. (J 398.2 H)

Igus, Toyomi. (1996). Two Mrs. Gibbons.
The biracial daughter of an African-American father and a Japanese mother fondly recalls growing up with her mother and her father's mother, two very different but equally loving women. (JPI)

Joosse, Barbara M., & Christie, Gregory. (2004). Hot City.
Mimi and her little brother Joe escape from home and the city's summer heat to read about princesses and dinosaurs in the cool, quiet library. (JPJ)

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Krull, Kathleen. (1996). Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman.
A biography of the African-American woman who overcame crippling polio as a child to become the first woman to win three gold medals in track in a single Olympics. (JBR)

Manushkin, Fran. (1995). The Matzah that Papa Brought Home.
A cumulative rhyme in the style of "The House That Jack Built" describes the traditions connected to a family's celebration of the Passover seder. (JPM)

Myers, Tim (Tim Brian)., & Han, Oki S. (2004). Basho and the River Stones.
Tricked by a fox into giving up his share of cherries, a famous Japanese poet is inspired to write a haiku and the fox, ashamed of his actions, must devise another trick to set things right. (JPM)

Myers, Tim (Tim Brian)., & Roth, Robert. (2003). Tanuki's Gift: A Japanese Tale.
One winter a priest takes in a furry tanuki and the two become friends, but when the tanuki tries to repay the priest, they both learn a lesson. (J 398.2 M)

Pitre, Felix. (1995). Paco y La Bruja: Cuento Popular Puertorique~no.
A young boy is trapped by a crafty witch who will not free him unless he can guess her name. (J 398. 2 P)

Rendon, Marcie R. (2001). Farmer's Market: Families Working Together. (J 635 R)

Ringgold, Faith. (1995). My Dream of Martin Luther King.
The author recounts the life of Martin Luther King in the form of her own dream. (JBR)

Roberts, Brenda C., & Morrison, Frank. (2004). Jazzy Miz Mozetta.
On a beautiful evening, Miz Mozetta puts on her red dress and blue shoes and dances the jitterbug just like she did many years before. (JPR)

Rothenberg, Joan. (1995). Yettele's Feathers.
Yettele, who loves to gossip, is finally taught a lesson by the Rabbi. (J 398.2 R)

Sandoval, Dolores. (1996). Be Patient, Abdul.
With the help of his younger sister, seven-year-old Abdul raises money to go to school by selling oranges in the marketplace in Sierra Leone. (JPS)

Shea, Pegi Deitz., & Weill, Cynthia. (2003). Ten Mice for Tet.
A village of mice prepares for Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, as different numbers of mice give gifts, cook food, and celebrate in other traditional ways. Includes an afterword with facts about the holiday. (JPS)

Smalls-Hector, Irene. (1996). Louise's Gift: Or What did she Give Me That For?
Louise is disappointed in Nana's gift and prediction for her future, but later comes to understand just how special she is. (JPS)

Soto, Gary. (1995). Chato's Kitchen.
To get the ratoncitos, "little mice," who have moved into the barrio to come to his house, Chato the cat prepares all kinds of good food: fajitas, frijoles, salsa , enchiladas, and more. (JPS)

Soto, Gary. & Guevara, Susan. (2004). Chato Goes Cruisin'.
Chato and Novio win a cruise but are disappointed to find that everyone on board is a dog, and things go from bad to worse when the dogs party themselves sick and it is up to the cats to find help. (JPS)

Souhami, Jessica. (1995). The Leopard's Drum: An Asante Tale from West Africa.
Osebo the leopard has a magnificent drum that he won't share with anyone else, so Nayme, the Sky-God, offers a reward to the animal who will bring him the drum. (J 398.2 S)

Torres, Leyla. (1995). Saturday Sancocho.
Maria Lili and her grandmother barter a dozen eggs at the market square to get the ingredients to cook their traditional Saturday chicken sancocho. Includes recipe. (JPT)

Wells, Ruth. (1996). The Farmer and the Poor God: A Folktale from Japan.
A poor god living in the attic of an unsuccessful family prepares to move with them and causes a reversal of their fortunes. (J 398.2 W)

Woodson, Jacqueline., & Lewis, Earl B. (2004). Coming On Home Soon.
After Mama takes a job in Chicago during Word War II, Ada Ruth stays with Grandma but misses her mother who loves her more than rain and snow. (JPW)

Yolen, Jane., & Colon, Raul. (2003). Mightier Than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys.
A collection of folktales from around the world which demonstrates the triumph of brains over brawn. (J 398.2 Y)

Yoo, Paula., & Lee, Dom. (2005). Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story.
A biography of Korean American diving champion Sammy Lee, focusing on how his childhood determination and his father's dreams set the stage for a medical career as well as his athletic achievements which earned him Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952. (JB Lee)

Youme. (2004). Selavi, That Is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope.
A homeless boy on the streets of Haiti joins other street children, and together they build a home a radio station where they can care for themselves and for other homeless children. (JPY)

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Multicultural Books for Older Children

Bader, Philip. (2004). African-American Writers.
New York: Facts on File, c2004. (J 810.9 B)

Barber, Tiki. (2004). By My Brother's Side.
Introduces twin brothers Tiki and Ronde Barber, who worked hard to overcome obstacles and become National Football League stars, one as runningback for the New York Giants, the other as cornerback for the Tampa Bay Bucs. (J 796.332 B)

Bolden, Tonya. (2004). Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists.
Presents a history of African American visual arts and artists from the days of slavery to the present. (J 704.03 B)

Cruz, Bárbara. (2004). Alvin Ailey: Celebrating African-American Culture in Dance
Profiles the life of one of the most popular and acclaimed dancers and choreographers in the world. (J B Ailey)

Curry, Barbara K. & James Michael Brodie. (1996). Sweet words so Brave: The Story of African American Literature.
A survey of the history of African American literature, from slave narratives to the present, told in the voice of a grandfather speaking to his granddaughter. (J 810.9 C)

D'Amico, Joan. (2005). The Coming to America Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Fascinating Stories from America's Many Cultures.
(J 641.5 D)

Delacre, Lulu. (1996). Golden Tales: Myths, Legends, and Folktales from Latin America.
(J 398.2 D)

Gleimius, Nita., Sibanyoni, Evelina., & Mthimunye, Emma. (2003). The Zulu of Africa
Describes the history, culture, modern and traditional economies, religion, family life, and language of South Africa's Zulu people, as well as the region in which they live. (J 968 G)

Grimes, Nikki., & Lewis, Earl B. (2005). Danitra Brown, Class Clown.
With the help of best friend Danitra, Zuri faces her fears about starting a new school year in this story told in a series of rhyming poesm. (J 811. G)

Hausman, Gerald. (1993). Coyote Walks on Two Legs: A Book of Navajo Myths and Legends.
A collection of Navajo legends featuring the trickster, Coyote. (J 398.2 H)

Jaffe, Nina. (1997). The Mysterious Visitor: Stories of the Prophet Elijah.
(J 222 J)

Katz, William Loren. (1997). Black Legacy: A History of New York's African Americans.
Describes famous Black leaders and cultural movements in New York City from its days as a Dutch colony to the 1990s.(J 974.7 K)

Krull, Kathleen., & Morales, Yuyi. (2003). Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez.
A biography of Cesar Chavez, from age ten when he and his family lived happily on their Arizona ranch, to age thirty-eight when he lead a peaceful protest against California migrant workers' miserable working conditions. (JB Chavez)

McGill, Alice., Tate, Don. (2004). Sure as Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit & His Walkin' Talkin' Friends.
(J 398.2 M)

McKissack, Pat., McKissack, Fredrick Jr., & Fiedler, Joseph Daniel. (2004). Hard Labor: The First African Americans. 1916.
(J 305 M)

Myers, Walter Dean. (2004). Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices.
Acclaimed writer Walter Dean Myers celebrates the people of Harlem with these powerful and soulful first-person poems in the voices of the residents who make up the legendary neighborhod: basketball players, teachers, mail carriers, jazz artists, maids, veterans, nannies, students, and more. Exhilarating and electric, these poems capture the energy and resilience of a neighborhood and a people. (J 811 M)

Press, Petra. (1996). A Multicultural Portrait of Immigration.
Presents the history of immigration to the United States beginning with the Indians. (J 304.8 P)

Rappaport, Doreen., & Evans, Shane. (2004). Free At Last!: Stories and Songs of Emancipation.
Describes the experiences of African Americans in the South, from Emancipation in 1863 to the 1954 Supreme Court decision that declared school segregation illegal. (J 973 R)

Ryan, Pam Mu~noz. (2000). Esperanza Rising.
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression. (F R)

Schnur, Steven. (1997). The Koufax Dilemma.
Angry when he cannot pitch in the season's opening game because of Passover, Danny finally makes some important decisions about loyalty to his divorced parents, his team, his heritage, and himself. (JFS)

Shange, Ntozake.,& Nelson, Kadir. (2004). Ellington Was Not a Street.
(J 811.54 S)

Sirimarco, Elizabeth. (2004). The Civil Rights Movement.
Presents the history of the civil rights movement in the United States from Reconstruction to the late 1960's through excerpts from letters, newspaper articles, speeches, songs, and poems of the time (J 323.1 S)

Skelton, Renee. (2005). Hariet Tubman, a Woman of Courage.
(JB Tubman)

Washburne, Carolyn Kott. (1994). A Multicultural Portrait of Colonial Life.
Colonial history from the point of view of minorities and women. (F W)

Williams, Mary E. (2001). Race Relations: Opposing Viewpoints.
This book of readings has four sections on the following topics: What is the state of race relations today in America? Is racism a serious problem? How should policymakers respond to minority concerns? How can race relations be improved? (J 305.8 R)

Winter, Jeanette. (2004). Calavera Abecedario: A Day in the Dead Alphabet Book
(J 394 W)

Woodson, Jacqueline. (2004). Behind You.
After fifteen-year-old Jeremiah is mistakenly shot by police, the people who love him struggle to cope with their loss as they recall his life and death, unaware that 'Miah is watching over them. (F W)

Zell, Fran. (1996). A Multicultural Portrait of the American Revolution.
The history of the American Revolution, focusing on the lives of Afro-Americans, Native Americans and women. (J 973.3 Z)

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