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For literature to be considered multicultural, I believe that it's not only important that this kind of literature simply features other cultures. The token appearance of a person from a different country, different background, or different walk of life is not enough. I believe that true multicultural literature is an authentic look into life through the eyes of someone whose culture may not be the dominant one in their region. A culture is a way of life for people, encompassing so much (from customs, beliefs, history, language, arts etc) more than can be summed up or represented by way of a side character or a passing acknowledgement.   Children's literature should serve not only as a window, but a mirror. In that way, multicultural literature is one of the most essential parts of being a good teacher and good librarian. A diverse collection and atmosphere that fosters diversity is positive for every single student in a school. It gives a voice and a personal refection to one side while giving the other side a chance to broaden their knowledge and develop crucial empathy. Everyone is represented, everyone is learning.

This, in my opinion, is an endeavor so important that it will take constant work. It's not enough to even just have a few trusty titles or to view incorporating multiculturalism in as some sort of trend or fad.  It's something that needs to be woven into the very fabric of everyday library life.  That's not an easy task, and that's why it's important to be aware of the infinite amount of resources there are to diversify both your library collection and your own mind.

This "shelf" will serve as a springboard to some of those resources -- a (growing) taste of what is out there.

Please scroll to the side to view the many areas of interest. When concentrating on anyone section, scroll down to view all resources that pertain to that header.

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These page is a constant work in progress, below is a list of "shelves" I plan to work to include and flesh out.

Websites

Articles

Book Lists

Videos

Book Trailers

Specific shelves for a variety of cultures

Podcasts

Author Interviews/ Specific Book Reviews

Spotlights on libraries that are wonderfully diverse

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"The Importance of Multicultural Literature" by Marianne Grasso  from Connections  -- this a PDF of the full journal for view/download. Article is on pg. 4

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"10 Ways to Support ELLs in the School Library" by Jacqueline Jules

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The school library is an important resource for English language learners. It may be the first place many students and their families get experience using a lending library. What can school librarians do to show ELLs that libraries are welcoming places of entertainment and enrichment?

Here are some ideas, and don't miss the recommended resources or the American Association of School Librarians' report on ELLs included at the end of the article.

1. Provide Foreign Language Materials in Easy-Access Displays

There are a number of ways to keep bilingual or foreign language books front and center in the library, and to integrate them into the curriculum:

Translated books: Keep your Spanish and other translated books on shelves close to the action, rather than in a hidden corner. If possible, mark these sections with bilingual signs in Spanish/English, Chinese/English, etc.

Curriculum resources: Be familiar with the curriculum and have as many translated books as possible on topics students will be studying. For example, many of the Magic School Bus books are available in Spanish and French as well as in English and could be powerful learning tools for ELLs who need some extra support in a science class.

2. Provide Books and Information on Countries of Origin

ELLs love seeing colorful pictures from their birth countries in books or online. You can offer them access to those resources by making these materials available:

Books about different countries: With limited school and library budgets, you might not be able to buy many books in languages other than Spanish. Perhaps if you don't have a large population from Vietnam, for example, you won't be able to buy more than two books in Vietnamese - but you can have books about Vietnam! Choose books with dynamic photos and illustrations of important symbols such as the flag or national bird.

Online resources: There are also a number of educational websites that provide information and pictures from countries around the world. Some are free, while others require a paid subscription to access a database or encyclopedia. (See the recommended websites below for some ideas.) A homesick child might really enjoy an online trip back home and will learn some computer skills in the process.

3. Provide Electronic Access to Materials in Other Languages

Many online resources are also available in other languages, such as the following:

Reference materials: Spanish versions of World Book Online, Grolier Online, and Encyclopædia Britannica's PlanetaSaber are available as part of these websites' subscription packages. You may also wish to show students how to use the English-Spanish online dictionaries that include audio pronunciation guides, such as Merriam-Webster or WordReference.com.

Reading materials: Share stories with your students from the International Children's Digital Library, which includes children's books in more than 50 languages.

Post links to these websites on your library web page for easy access from school or home.

4. Provide Audio Materials and Instruction on How to Use Them

Audio materials can be very helpful to ELL learners, from books on CD to free podcasts. However, some students will not have the electronic devices required to play the materials at home. Here are some ways around that:

Playaways®: These are audio books that are preloaded on a portable player. A number of children's and young adult titles are available. Students may need instruction on how to use the players and help changing batteries.

Library-owned CD players, MP3 players, or iPods: Many classrooms and libraries are using technology to support ELLs' language acquisition. Students can use these players in the library to listen to ESL podcasts, listening activities on CD, or other audio programs.

Library computers: Students can use headphones to listen to free podcasts or watch educational videos.

Short translated instruction sheets and stickers for players and computers will help students learn how to use these technologies effectively.

5. Share Culturally Meaningful Stories

With curricular demands, classroom teachers have little time to acknowledge holidays through stories and read-alouds. This can be done in the library, however. Here are some ideas for different holidays:

Halloween: Read one of the children's book versions of "La Llorona, the Weeping Woman" - a Hispanic folktale the students may have heard from family members.

Thanksgiving: Remember that ELLs may feel left out when hearing stories of families eating traditional American foods which are not served in their own homes. Share stories of immigrants celebrating Thanksgiving in their own way, such as Molly's Pilgrim and other titles featured on the Colorín Colorado bilingual Thanksgiving Tales booklist. This topic is near and dear to my heart, and I focus on this issue in my children's book Duck for Turkey Day.

Ramadan, Divali, or Chinese New Year: Recognize ELL students' home celebrations by doing read-alouds on these holidays and asking students to share their own traditions.

Winter break: Spend a week promoting winter and holiday stories from around the world that feature a number of traditions and cultures.

By incorporating these stories into library time, we validate a child's cultural heritage, and foster their self-esteem and adjustment.

6. Watch Your Words!

ELLs sometimes need help with instructions, vocabulary, or understanding a key piece of background knowledge in a story. It's important not to take their comprehension for granted as you might for English-speaking students. Support their comprehension in the following ways:

Clarify instructions: Be on the lookout for puzzled faces. Reading instructions aloud doesn't always clear confusion for ELL learners. If you ask your students to practice Atlas skills with a worksheet and you see they are having trouble getting started, find out if there is an unfamiliar word in the directions or questions.

Help students build background knowledge: During read-alouds, be prepared to stop and explain words like "patriotic" and "accomplishment." Never make assumptions that students will understand references to American culture and geography. Ask if the students know where the Grand Canyon is if it is referenced in the story. Encourage students to raise their hand if they don't understand a word.

7. Make Story Time Interactive

Interactive story time is a favorite activity for many ELLs at our library. You can get kids participating by using these strategies:

Choral response: Everyone can say "Moo!" For story time, choose books that have a short repeated chorus or animal sounds everyone can chime in with. ELL students like to participate, and a repeated phrase or song will allow them to feel included, even if they don't yet understand the meaning of "I'll huff and I'll puff!"

Music: Songs are a great way to teach library skills and promote a love of reading. Easy-to-learn ditties can become earworms students will repeat, giving them more practice with the English language. Use simple songs to begin and end story time. I have a favorite reading song, which you can listen to on my website.

8. Use Visuals at Story Time

Using visuals will help ELLs learn new vocabulary words and will add meaning to stories or read-alouds:

Flannel board pieces, props, and puppets: These are great tools for engaging all students and will enhance comprehension of new stories.

Tangible objects: If a gourd is featured prominently in a story, bring one in to show ELL learners who might not understand the word in English. Whenever possible, use "realia" - ELL learners especially benefit from any three dimensional objects you bring in to enhance the reading experience.

9. Use Visuals in Your Correspondence Home

The concept of a lending library may be new to immigrant families. You can help them get familiar with library books by doing the following:

Recognizing library books: Prepare a short translated note explaining when library books must be returned. Include a bar code, a spine sticker, and library stamp on the letter to help parents identify library materials, which must be returned in a timely manner, as opposed to RIF books and Title I materials.

Overdue notices: If books are overdue, send home a print-out from your catalogue that contains the book cover, or send an e-mail with the book cover graphic. Visuals can get better results than a translated note simply listing the name of the overdue book.

10. Promote the Public Library, too!

There are a number of things that school librarians can do to encourage ELL families to use the public library:

Library cards: Encourage your ELL families to obtain a public library card. Keep a list available (in different languages if possible) of different resources at your local library so that you can show parents what they will be able to use if they get a card.

Librarian outreach: Invite a public librarian to come to an evening event, provide an overview of library materials and resources (with lots of visuals!), and sign up new families for library cards.

Family night: Arrange for an evening family event at the public library, where families can take a tour, visit the children's section, and learn about programs offered at their local branches.

Try some of these ideas this year! I hope you find they go a long way in helping ELLs feel comfortable and welcome in the school library, and that they support student learning throughout the year.

AASL Report on ELLs: School Libraries Count!

In 2007, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) initiated an annual survey of school library media programs. Each year, the survey addresses a current issue within the school library field in addition to its standard questions. In 2009 AASL focused these questions on English Language Learners (ELLs). This report summarizes those findings.

Recommended Websites and Databases

*This website requires a subscription.

A Welcoming Library

Learn how to make your library accessible for children in multiple languages in this clip from Launching Young Readers: Becoming Bilingual.

This video is also available on YouTube.

About the Author

Jacqueline Jules is a teacher, librarian, poet, and author of fourteen children's books. Two of them, No English and Duck for Turkey Day, were directly inspired by her work with English Language Learners as an elementary school librarian in a Title I school in Virginia. No English is the story of two second grade girls who find a creative way to overcome a language barrier. Duck for Turkey Day is the story of Tuyet, who is worried because her family is not following the "rules" for Thanksgiving she learned in school. Both books validate the immigrant experience in America, encourage readers to reach out to newcomers, and embrace the diversity in our schools. To learn more about Jacqueline, take a look at Colorín Colorado's 2008 interview with her and her website!

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10 Ways to Support ELLs in the School Library

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The school library is an important resource for English language learners. It may be the first place many students and their families get experience using a lending library. What can school librarians do to show ELLs that libraries are welcoming places of entertainment and enrichment?

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A web-page ran by a non-profit organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.

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A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, WNDB aims to create a world where every reader can find themselves in the pages of a book. To reach this goal, we've created programs to mentor diverse writers and illustrators, support diverse publishing professionals, and provide books to classrooms nationwide.

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Diverse BookFinder | Identify & Explore Multicultural Picture Books

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Are you looking for multicultural children’s books? We’ve got you covered! You can search our circulating collection of picture books (2002-present), explore our quick lists, then borrow our books from your own library through interlibrary loan. We believe that too many children are left out of main…

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ICDL - International Children’s Digital Library

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You will be redirected to https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=42

This list of must-have multicultural books was originally compiled by the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is reprinted here with their permission.

Preschool

Ages 5-7

Ages 7-9

Ages 9-12

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50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Read

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You will be redirected to https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=42 This list of must-have multicultural books was originally compiled by the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is reprinted here with their permission.

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Multicultural Children's Book Day - #ReadYourWorld

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Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators—teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners—who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants."

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Understanding how school discipline policies can contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline is essential for educators and families. Harsh punishments, automatic out-of-class time and police involvement for discipline can push young people out of classrooms and into the criminal legal system. But educators, parents and caregivers can help to change this harmful system by advocating for and implementing practices that prioritize mental health and well-being.

We offer this new resource page that highlights LFJ articles and content to open dialogue, shift practices and foster change to benefit all young people.

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Learning for Justice | Education Resources

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Learning for Justice provides free resources to educators-teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners-who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.

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Professor of English at Stanford Paula Moya discusses how reading multicultural literature can teach us how our world is shaped by race.

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TED Talk with Brynn Welch on diversity and children's literature.

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Missing Adventures: Diversity and Children's Literature | Brynn Welch | TEDxEHC

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A cartoon explaining explanation of diversity in libraries.

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"PFLAG NYC is often asked to recommend books on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) subjects. From the early stages of learning about an LGBT loved one or coming out, to finding out more about the LGBT community and current issues, the books listed here are helpful in becoming well-informed."

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PFLAG NYC - Suggested Reading on Coming Out for Families & LGBT People

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Providing book recommendations on LGBT subject matters ranging from coming out, living with a gay person, books on religion, and for children.

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"Bridging the Cultural Divide Through Multicultural Children's Literature" By Marie Hseu and June Hetzel

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Introduction

In the summer of 1999, 30 teachers in graduate education gathered at Biola University to study multicultural children's literature and its application to their elementary and secondary classrooms. During this course, picture books and novels from Asian American, African American, Latino, Native American, and European genres were discussed. Teachers in the graduate program provided written responses to the literature selections in their personalized journals. Among the favorite novels was Bette Bao Lord's In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson (1984), the story of a young girl, Shirley Temple Wong, who immigrates from China to America. Because many of the teachers enrolled in the course were children of immigrants or immigrants themselves, they closely identified with this particular selection.

For example, Connie Wong, immigrant from Hong Kong, wrote "As a Chinese, I laughed with the author; however, sometimes, I knew I laughed with tears inside my heart." Connie went on to say, "Like Shirley, I too miss my country and my family members when having the Chinese New Year, the Moon Cake Festival and the recent Dragon Boat Festival. Things seem different when not having the family together when you celebrate those days. Childhood memories usually flash back and they are so precious when you are away from your [home] country." This journal response is an example of how multicultural children's literature can capture common childhood experiences, emotions, and adjustments and elicit personal reflection for the immigrant as well as providing insight for the non-immigrant.

Cindy Hsu, an immigrant from Taiwan, also enrolled in the same graduate children's literature course reflected in her journal, "I remember having finished first grade here [in the U.S.] after my family moved from Taiwan. I was about one of maybe five Chinese students at my elementary school. Everyone was friendly, and said 'hi' to me often. When I said 'hi' back, they would get very excited. By the middle of second grade I could speak and read English. My parents, like Shirley's (the main character), kept telling me not to forget about being Chinese, and speaking Chinese. And, like Shirley, I sometimes wished that if I had come from a different cultural background, then all my problems would be solved. The important issue this novel pointed out is that wherever you came from only adds the spices to your problems, but that the main ingredients of growing up are all the same."

This article attempts to demonstrate how multicultural children's literature can heighten students' awareness of both common and diverse childhood experiences, bridging the gap between home and school. Through a deepened understanding of the student's own culture, as well as the cultures of others, multicultural children's literature serves as a powerful tool for strengthening identity formation, closing the gap that potentially can occur for the student who struggles with the transition between his or her home and school cultures and closing the social gaps between students who need a deepened appreciation for each other's cultural heritage.

Bridging the Cultural Divide

Multicultural children's literature is one way to effectively bridge the gap between immigrant students' home and school cultures. This learning gap is related to students' schema, defined as the context in which students construct knowledge to learn and understand the meaning of texts (Greene, 1988). Schema theory involves Vygotsky's idea of activating students' prior knowledge and balancing the assimilation and accommodation processes based on Piaget's theory of cognitive development (Martinez & Nash, 1990).

Immigrants who have limited English skills may be more motivated to read material that contains themes and events that are already in their schema. For example, one teacher who used multicultural literature in her classroom observed how multicultural literature that depicted immigrant themes affirmed the knowledge of immigrant students (Greene, 1988). The literature also provided opportunities for immigrant students' own growth in "knowledge about the culture of other people, and provide[d] them with exposure to the structures necessary for improving school and cultural literacy" (Greene, 1988, p. 46).

However, the richness of multicultural literature should not be confined to immigrant students only. The benefits of multicultural literature can positively affect, educate, and enrich children and adults from the mainstream culture. For example, after reading Mildred Taylor's The Gold Cadillac (1987), Carrie Moy, graduate student recalled, "This story reminds me of a time when the local police, for no legitimate reason, arrested my brother and his friends. They were teenagers driving around in the city that I lived in. When my mother went down to pick them up from the police station, the first thing the police officer said to my mother was, 'Do you speak English?' Did this police officer not understand that some Asians grew up speaking English as their primary language like my mother and I did? I was only eleven years old at the time, but I still remember how angry I was at the situation, and how I was so disappointed in the police officers who misjudged my own brother and my mom." Open discussion of Carrie's personal classroom experience in response to the literature opened the eyes of many mainstream students who had not experienced being treated differently, based upon their ethnic identity. Discussion ensued that helped many students realize patterns in their own thinking where they themselves had made generalized assumptions about people based upon ethnic identity, rather than the individual.

If cultural awareness and understanding are our goals, then mainstream students (children and adults) must also become educated about other cultures and the struggles that many of their non-mainstream peers and colleagues face every day. Mainstream and non-mainstream students of the twenty-first century live in a global society; their future interactions will be international (Licktieg, 1996). Therefore, the need for students of all backgrounds to be aware of the cultural values, beliefs, and traditions of other people groups is greater than in the past and a heightened sensitivity towards the individual is a nonnegotiable character quality.

Unfortunately, immigrant children and mainstream students often have limited access to quality multicultural literature that would assist them in cultural understanding. When June Hetzel, Ph.D. (coauthor) surveyed her graduate students, asking how many books they had as children, some of her immigrant students had as few as three books in their home during their childhood, while some of her mainstream graduate students estimated they had 2,500 books or more in their homes. Additionally, when asked about the type of literature in their homes, limited multicultural literature was available for all. When asked about the type of required reading during their elementary and secondary schooling experiences, predominately mainstream and Eurocentric literature was read by the majority of her class, despite the fact that the majority of her class was not from mainstream Eurocentric backgrounds.

Short and Goodman (as cited in Martinez & Nash, 1990) argue that the myth that only mainstream books are for everyone and that multicultural literature only pertains to minority children is false. Mainstream graduate students continue to document in their journals the personal benefits of reading multicultural children's literature, even as adults. Violet Harris, a prominent editor and writer about multicultural literature sadly states that "fewer than five to eight percent of the approximate 5,000 children's books published each year can be classified as multicultural" (as cited in Martinez & Nash, 1990, p. 600). The paucity of multicultural children's books available to students makes it vital for librarians and teachers to put forth a concerted effort in providing access to a plethora of multicultural children's books in the classroom.

Multicultural Literature and the Identity Formation of
Immigrants and First Generation Americans

Recent research proposes the incorporation of quality and authentic multicultural children's literature to aid immigrant students in their identity formation and adjustment to the assimilation process in the U.S. Steiner (1998) explains that identity formation is critical in the development of children because it gives them the sense that they belong and are accepted in society. Multicultural children's literature can affirm their identity by showing that their opinions exist within the context of history, the classroom, and beyond (Martinez & Nash, 1990; Steiner, 1998). Harris (1990) also found that children derive "pleasure and pride" from reading about familiar characters and cultural experiences (as cited in Martinez & Nash, p. 599).

James Lee, a first generation Chinese American, responded in his journal after reading In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, "I could identify a lot with many of her [Shirley Temple Wong's] experiences as she struggled and attempted to squeeze herself into her new role. I remember the feelings of aloneness and unhappiness when you feel so isolated, even though you are surrounded by many children, yet none are your friends and there is no one that you can confide in and share with. Yet slowly you become a part of them [as] you start sharing common experiences and activities and hobbies." James' journal entry shows how multicultural children's literature can benefit the identity formation of immigrant students and first generation Americans. Broadening students' perspectives of culture and solidifying their own identities will empower students to take an active role in preventing the future perpetuation of racist philosophies in our society.

Furthermore, multicultural literature "offer[s] hope and encouragement to children who face many dilemmas and experiences depicted in some of the texts" (Harris, as cited in Martinez & Nash, 1990, p. 599). Many immigrant families are living in poverty, are frustrated with language barriers and combating racial discrimination. Literature can provide a gateway for students to critically examine their own problems in relation to the characters in the text. For example, immigrants who struggle with language barriers can empathize with the characters portrayed in I'm New Here (Howlett, 1993) and I Speak English for My Mom (Stanek, 1989) that address the adjustments to a new school culture and learning English. Other genres, such as multicultural biographies, historical fiction and nonfiction, can also help students see how other immigrants have overcome their difficulties in the past and triumphed in the process.

One of the primary struggles that immigrant students face is establishing their national identity. Students may find it difficult to balance "maintaining [their] ethnic roots and becoming Americanized" (Steiner, 1998, p. 23). Shannon (1988) summarizes this growth process well in his four stages of cross-cultural identity formation that briefly describe how immigrant children deal with living in dual cultures. In the first stage the student rejects both his or her native culture and the dominant culture and ends up feeling "homeless" (Shannon, 1988). During the second stage, students decide to keep one culture and reject the other, yet in actuality they are rejecting a part of themselves that "leaves them feeling less than whole" (Shannon, 1988, p. 15). The third stage is to keep "dual identities" based on others' opinions and still not feeling accepted in either group (Shannon, 1988, p. 16).

Marie Hseu, the primary author and a first generation Chinese American, recalls, "I remember fighting with my mother about attending the local Chinese school to learn Mandarin, because I felt that I only needed to speak English, and I wanted to fit in with all my Caucasian friends. I was also timid about speaking Chinese with my mother when my Caucasian friends were around, because I thought they would make fun of me or not accept me as one of them. It is unfortunate that I felt ashamed of my cultural heritage, because I longed to assimilate into the American mainstream. It was not until I was an undergraduate and took some Chinese courses in college that I realized the importance of learning how to read and write Mandarin."

Thus, multicultural literature serves an important role in helping students arrive at the fourth and final stage of identity formation, rather than feeling disenfranchised from the mainstream. During this stage the student has a "self-created inclusive identity" and is "defined ... from within" (Shannon, 1988, p. 16). "As cross-cultural children hear stories of other searchers and experience the act of telling itself, they are more able to create their own stories and their own identities" (Shannon, 1988, p. 14).

Multicultural literature can help students begin to tell their own stories and bridge the gap between the home and mainstream cultures. An example of a multicultural children's book that applies to immigrant children is Who Belongs Here? (Knight, 1993). In this book, "all readers are sensitized to the reasons for immigration and problems facing new immigrants; they will be motivated to examine their personal heritage and the definition of what it means to be 'American'" (Steiner, 1998, p. 26). Empowerment and change occurs as the term "American" is redefined to include minorities and immigrants.

Empowering Students to Promote Social Change

Finally, the value of incorporating multicultural children's literature into the classroom is that it will empower its readers to social action. Students cannot defend a cause that they know nothing about nor ever knew existed. Students who are living through these prejudices need a safe forum in which to discuss these cultural issues and how to effectively and peacefully solve these problems. Students who have misperceptions, stereotypes, and racist tendencies need to broaden their perspectives and oftentimes are unaware that they carry these misperceptions and overgeneralizations until they are enlightened by a friend from another culture or an effectively written multicultural selection. Multicultural children's literature is one way teachers can aid students at an early age in cultural understanding and constructive social problem-solving, promoting acceptance of a pluralistic society.

However, empowerment of minorities can only occur if multicultural literature is available to educate students studying in predominantly white European-American schools as well. For example, Macphee (1997), a 30-year veteran teacher introduced multicultural children's literature to her first grade class, all European Americans living in the mid-western U.S. She audiotaped their responses and discussed their drawings about four African-American books. Her main concern was that "most ethnically-encapsulated white students' experiences of other sociocultural groups are through television or marginal and superficial interaction that does not present a whole or true picture of the groups" (Macphee, 1997, p. 33).

In her student samples, Macphee (1997) found that the students understood when Jackie Robinson was unjustly treated because of the color of his skin and that his pain was the direct result of another group's oppression. Furthermore, students incorporated "personal experience" to empathize with the characters of another race. The white children could relate to the universal need to be accepted and loved. Thus, as mainstream students read about other people groups, shared values and experiences came to the forefront.

Empowerment of a non-mainstream student is not a fast process. It requires great thought to plan an in-depth study of cultural groups. Oftentimes, teachers mistakenly try to patch up these large and significant omissions of minority contributions in the textbooks by haphazardly inserting cultural heritage days in the schedule, focusing on food, holidays and customs, but overlooking the core cultural values and beliefs. The dangers of the "contributions approach" to multicultural education is it can lead to a "superficial treatment of different cultures" and "a reinforcement of stereotypes and misconceptions, including the notion that ethnic cultures are not integral parts of the dominant cultures" (Banks, as cited in Rasinski & Padak, 1990, p. 577).

Strategies for Including Multicultural Literature in the Literary Canon

Norton (1990) has suggested a well-organized phase model of sequencing the multicultural children's literature curriculum into one's classroom. Her five-phase model is based on her ten years of research of multicultural literature in upper elementary and middle schools and in the university. Her model is described here as a recommended starting point for integrating multicultural children's literature into the classroom. The following is a brief summary of her five-phase model with each genre described.

Phase One: Traditional Literature--General

Phase one consists of teaching traditional literature and oral stories of a large cultural group that is usually not found in the western literary canon (Norton, 1990). For example, students would enjoy hearing Tales from the Bamboo Grove (1986) by Yoko Kawashima Watkins or Junko Morimoto's folktale, The Inch Boy (1986), a Japanese rendition of Tom Thumb.

Phase Two: Traditional Literature--Specific

Phase two involves discussions of traditional tales for one specific area, such as identifying values, beliefs, and themes from a specific group of people within a larger culture. For example, students might study Native American literature in phase one, examining a broad brushstroke of picture books and novels. However, if students read literature reflecting a specific people group or nation, such the Sioux, Navajo, or Iroquois, they would become familiar with a particular nation's values. An example of specific literature would be The Legend of Scarface: A Blackfeet Indian Tale (San Souci, 1978) or Welsch's Omaha Tribal Myths and Trickster Tales (1981).

Phase Three: Historical Autobiographies, Biographies, and NonFiction

Phase three uses autobiographies, biographies, and historical nonfiction to analyze values and beliefs. This phase provides a foundation for understanding authentic beliefs of people groups. Farewell to Manzanar (1973), a Japanese-American story of Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's experience in an American internment camp and Tatjana Wassiljewa's Hostage to War (1996), which tells her Russian experience of growing up during WWII, are both autobiographies that depict cultural values and perspectives during the WWII era.

Phase Four: Historical Fiction

Phase four delves into historical fiction. Students evaluate the fiction for authentic cultural beliefs and alignment with values presented in historical nonfiction sources. Enriching literary works in this genre might include Theodore Taylor's The Bomb (1995), a story of how the era surrounding the bombing of Hiroshima affected South Pacific Island cultures, or Karen Hesse's Letters from Rifka (1992), depicting a Jewish family's experience fleeing Russia to America during WWII.

Phase Five: Contemporary Works

Finally, in phase five, students analyze contemporary fiction, biography, and poetry for values and beliefs that correlate with traditional works, analyzing "themes and threads across literature" (Norton, 1990, p.30-31). Globe Fearon's Latino Poetry (1994) collection, Gary Soto's Baseball in April (1990), and Sandra Cisneros' House on Mango Street (1989) all represent quality contemporary Latino literature. Joyce Carol Thomas' Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea (1993), Faith Ringgold's Dinner at Aunt Connie's House (1993), and Dolores Johnson's The Children's Book of Kwanzaa (1996) express the richness of contemporary African-American poetry and family celebrations.

The main benefit of this five-phase model is its holistic literary perspective of a particular culture. A classroom literature study that examines only traditional literature of the past provides a one-dimensional view of a particular culture. Providing the past and present literature of a culture provides a two-dimensional model. However, by examining the literature of a culture's past and present and connecting the values with the student's own cultures, provides a three-dimensional holistic model through which students can affirm their own identities and through which the texture of a culture is truly understood.

Intentional, purposeful, and careful sequencing and selection of quality multicultural children's literature is essential in depicting an accurate view of American culture as well as facilitating our students' abilities to seamlessly serve in a multicultural global community.

References

Bao Lord, B. (1984). In the year of the boar and Jackie Robinson. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Cisneros, S. (1989). The house on Mango Street. New York, NY: Random House.

Greene, B.M. (1988). A cross-cultural approach to literacy: the immigrant experience. English Journal, 77 (5), 45-48.

Hesse, K. (1992). Letters from Rifka. New York, NY: Puffin.

Howlett, B. (1993). I'm new here. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Kawashima Watkins, Y. (1992). Tales from the bamboo grove. New York, NY: Bradbury Press.

Knight, M.B. (1993). Who belongs here? An American story. Gardiner, ME: Tilburty House.

Johnson, D. (1996). The children's book of Kwanzaa. New York, NY: Atheneum Books.

Latino poetry (1994). Paramus, NJ: Globe Fearon.

Licktieg, M.J. (1996). Books of Japanese Americans, books of Japan: a recommended list. MultiCultural Review, 5 (3), 26-33.

Macphee, J.S. (1997). "That's not fair!": A white teacher reports on white first graders' responses to multicultural literature. Language Arts, 74 (1), 33-40.

Martinez, M., & Nash, M.F. (1990). Bookalogues: talking about children's literature. Language Arts, 67 (6), 599-606.

Morimoto, J. (1986). The inch boy. New York: Viking.

Norton, D.E. (1990). Teaching multicultural literature in the reading curriculum. The Reading Teacher, 44 (1), 28-40.

Rasinski, T.V., & Padak, N.D. (1990). Multicultural learning through children's literature. Language Arts, 67 (6), 576-580.

Ringgold, F. (1993). Dinner at aunt Connie's house. New York, NY: Hyperion.

San Souci, R. (1978). The legend of Scarface: A Blackfeet Indian tale. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing.

Shannon, G. (1988). Making a home of one's own: the young in cross-cultural fiction. English Journal, 77 (5), 14-19.

Soto, G. (1990). Baseball in April. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace and Company.

Stanek, M. (1989). I speak English for my mom. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman and Company.

Steiner, S.F. (1998). Who belongs here? Portraying American identity in children's picture books. MultiCultural Review, 7 (2), 20-27.

Taylor, M. (1987). The gold cadillac. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

Taylor, T. (1995). The bomb. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace.

Thomas, J.C. (1993). Brown honey and broomwheat tea. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Wakatsuki Houston, J. & J.D. Houston (1973). Farewell to Manzanar. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Wassiljewa, T. (1996). Hostage to war: A true story. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Welsch, R. (1981). Omaha tribal myths and trickster tales. Chicago: Swallow.

written ©2000

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Introduction In the summer of 1999, 30 teachers in graduate education gathered at Biola University to study multicultural children's literature and its application to their elementary and secondary classrooms. During this course, picture books and novels from Asian American, African American, Latino, Native American, and European genres were discussed.

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A video highlighting African-American voices in children's literature from Scholastic.

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Live From Our Library: Celebrating African American Voices in Children's Literature

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The top 100 titles in African-American children's literature.

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AALBC is curating a list of the best 100 Children's books published in 2023. The books include board books, early reader, middle grade, and young adult titles ( defintion of children book categories). Here is a printable list of all the books on this list. Here is a beautiful collage of the book covers. Read more about this list ▶

Books 1 to 20 (of 113)

More Information

If you feel strongly about uplifting children through books please read and share, "Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children's Literature." Also, be sure to check out The Brown Book Shelf a great source to discover children's books and authors.

Keep in mind, no one list can possible include all the excellent books written by or about Black young people. Please feel free to share your favorites in the comments below.

Check out these other excellent sources for children's books;

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Top 100 Recommended African-American Children's Books - 2023

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Updated for 2023! Children Book authors, avid readers, and industry professionals contributed their favorite children's Books to a list of the, "Top 100 Recommended African-American Children's Books."

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A guide from Scholastic on choosing the best multicultural books -- sectioned off with specific advice about many cultures, with book recommendations and candid advice from authors, etc under each!

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Teaching Tools | Resources for Teachers from Scholastic

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A short collection of titles regarding Indigenous people.

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June is Indigenous Book Club Month and National Indigenous History Month in Canada. To mark this occasion, Métis writer Cherie Dimaline curated this list of nine children's books by Indigenous writers and artists that are worth checking out.

Dimaline is the author of the books , The Girl Who Grew a Galaxy, A Gentle Habit and The Marrow Thieves. In 2017, she won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature - text and Kirkus Prize for young readers' literature for The Marrow Thieves. In 2018, singer Jully Black defended The Marrow Thieves on Canada Reads.

Nicola I. Campbell is a powerful storyteller (you should go to a reading, trust me) and a unique voice. Passionately connected to her community, she works to preserve, protect and hand down her stories - and she does so while putting forth excellence in the craft. A Day with Yayah is one of those books parents are happy to read again and again to their children.

Winner of the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award for children's illustration, this heartwarming story of a grandmother explaining residential schools will bring you all the feels. It's so beautiful and so gentle, and therein lies its transformative power. Julie Flett continues to dazzle with her highly original illustrations.

This remarkable story of Dupuis' grandmother and her family's journey with residential schools deserves every accolade it's received since being published. Dupuis is an advocate for community stories and it shows in her vivid book, a volume that has made it into classrooms and homes across the continent, sparking conversation and building reconciliation through story.

Kids' books need to be joyful, full of adventure, lively and most of all, to have a great and lovable hero. Wheeler manages to bring all these elements together in his fun-loving children's book.

Amik Loves School is just one book in a seven volume series written by multi-award winning superstar Katherena Vermette and illustrated by Irene Kuziw. Each story illustrates one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings (Anishinaabe): Humility, Truth, Wisdom, Love, Bravery, Honesty and Respect. Geared toward readers from kindergarten to Grade 4, this is an invaluable teaching tool for all children.

We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp, illustrated by Julie Flett

There are works that remind you that there is still magic in the world. This one reminds you that the magic is you. The dynamic duo of Richard Van Camp and Julie Flett is nothing short of the very best. Get this board book for every little one you know.

What's My Superpower? by Aviaq Johnston, illustrated by Tim Mack

Governor General's Literary Award-nominated YA author Aviaq Johnston proves she is as versatile as she is skilled with her children's book about a little Inuk girl trying to find her own power. We get to meet the immensely likable Nalvana and learn Inuktitut words as we follow her on her journey. Heartwarming and energizing for all readers. Oh, and the kids will love it too.

Flett's work is like a quilt cut from storybooks - the images folded into one another to make a beautiful whole, yet each one is a piece of art worthy of a frame. Here she brings her stand-out style to preserve and illuminate the endangered Michif language.

A gorgeously illustrated picture book, You Hold Me Up is an important tool in starting and maintaining conversation about just what it means to have connections, to build relationships and to truly find reconciliation. It is exactly the kind of top-notch children's literature we have come to expect from Monique Gray Smith. And she delivers every time.

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9 beautiful children's books by Indigenous writers to read | CBC Books

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Cherie Dimaline shares the children's books, written and illustrated by Indigenous authors, we should all be reading.

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A collection of books geared toward special needs stud

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BY Becca Eisenberg

As a speech language pathologist and parent, I love to use storytelling as an opportunity to initiate meaningful conversations and encourage children to follow their dreams regardless of their disabilities and delays. Children with special needs face many challenges in their lives, and reading inspirational children's literature can help improve their self-esteem and make them more mindful and confident in their skills and abilities. These five inspiring children's books are a great place to start.

1. Happy Dreamer by Peter Reynolds

Happy Dreamer is a wonderful and inspiring book for children with a variety of special needs, but most specifically, those with ADHD. For children with ADHD, sitting still and focusing for long periods of time can be difficult and challenging. Happy Dreamer tells the story of a boy who follows his heart and can't help but "hear a beat and I gotta move." Each page describes a different kind of dreamer. At the end of the book, the author includes a comprehensive and beautiful spread of different kinds of dreamers as well as different types of happiness. This is a children's book that can be read over and over again and can stimulate important conversations.

2. Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan

Willow is a story about a free-spirited girl named Willow who has a creative imagination. Willow's teacher, Mrs. Hawthorn, doesn't like children to use their imagination. She just wants them to follow the rules and stay within the lines. Willow is constantly getting in trouble for breaking crayons, drawing something a different color than it should be, and just being plain different. She even gets teased by her peers for being different and thinking "outside the box." For the holidays, Willow gives her mean-spirited teacher Mrs. Hawthorn her beloved art book. Mrs. Hawthorn is so touched by Willow's generosity that she decides to turn over a new leaf for the New Year. I love this story because it encourages children to be themselves and never lose hope in others. I think it's important to celebrate our children's differences and encourage them to express themselves in all ways, especially through art.

3. What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yomada

What Do You Do with an Idea? takes the reader through the process of having an idea that you love and believe in, but others might not agree with. The main character in this book struggles with this huge idea because he is not sure what to do with it. The boy tries to forget the idea, but it keeps following him and begins to grow and grow. He realizes that he feels most content when he is with his idea. At the end of the story, his idea "went from being here to everywhere. It wasn't a part of me anymore ... it was a part of everything."

4. The Dot by Peter Reynolds

The Dot, written as part of a trilogy, is a significant book that should be part of everyone's library. The story begins with Vashti saying "I just can't draw." Her art teacher tells her to "make a mark and see where it takes you." After Vashti makes a dot on the paper, her teacher tells her, "Now sign it." Her teacher frames her dot picture in a special gold frame showing everyone how creative and inventive she thinks Vashti's artwork is. Once Vashti realizes that her teacher believes in her, she decides to make all different kinds of dots-small dots, large dots, different color dots, etc. Her artwork becomes so popular it's displayed at the school art show. At the end of the book, a little boy sees her artwork and tells her that he wishes he could be a great artist like her. She then gives him the inspiration to be creative and keep trying. The Dot is a book about believing in yourself and using your creativity to make your dreams come true.

5. The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater

The Big Orange Splot tells the story of Mr. Plumbean, who lives on a neat street where every house is exactly the same. One day, a seagull flies by carrying a pail full of orange paint. He drops the paint on Mr. Plumbean's house, which creates a big orange splot on his roof. Mr. Plumbean is immediately told to repaint his house by his neighbors, but he has a very different idea: Why not be unique? Why not express his creativity by decorating his house the way he wants to, not the way his neighbors want him to? Mr. Plumbean decides to get more paint of many different colors and make his house the house of his dreams. He adds more creative decorations, such as a hammock, palm trees, and even an alligator. The neighbors are furious, but Mr. Plumbean consistently responds by saying, "My house is me and I am it. My house is where I like to be and it looks like all my dreams." One by one, each neighbor becomes inspired by Mr. Plumbean, until they all decide to change their own houses to reflect their own individual dreams. One neighbor changes his house to look like a hot air balloon, another a monument, and one a big ship. This book relays a meaningful message about staying true to yourself. Mr. Plumbean was willing to stand up for himself to protect his ideas and identity, which I think is very admirable.

For more suggestions on children's books, visit my blog at www.gravitybread.com.

Latest Special Needs Products

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5 Inspiring Children's Books for Your Child with Special Needs

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Reading is a great way to start meaningful conversations and encourage kids to follow their dreams. Try these inspiring children's books with your child.

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A collection of books specifically celebrating black boys!

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Black Books Matter: Children's Books Celebrating Black Boys - the conscious kid

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Each year, there are more children's books published about animals than Black people. Black people have historically been, and continue to be, underrepresented, misrepresented, or invisible in children's literature. Black male characters are even less visible, and even fewer still, are books reflecting positive and empowered depictions of Black boys.

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An FAQ style series of articles about reading diversely.

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It's no secret that diversity in reading is an important value at Book Riot. We write about it so often, in fact, that we've noticed that the same questions come up again and again from our readers in the comment sections of those posts. I, along with Riot Contributing Editors Swapna and Preeti, are going to answer those questions in a series of posts coming out over the next few weeks, so anyone who has asked these questions (to us or just to yourselves) can get a straight answer. Just search the "readdiverseFAQ" tag on the site to find every post in the series. Let's get started:

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1. Why Is Reading Diversely Important, Anyway?

Preeti: When I was 9 or 10 years old, I desperately wanted to be a blonde girl named Tiffany. Mostly because I thought being brown was weird and being white was normal. I was the only brown kid in my class, the only one who ate weird food and hey, was it true Indian people ate monkey brains - you see where this story is going.

Seeing yourself reflected on the page imparts an important understanding of your role in society. If someone gets no representation, or if it is only negative, what does that say to that person? Your people don't matter enough to be written about as the fully realized character that you think you are. You are not important.

"Ok," someone might say, "So those people can read books about themselves, but what does that have to do with me?" Well, a lack of diversity in books and television is harmful to everyone. Reading about cultures, races, and sexuality outside of your own breeds empathy and respect. It expands your world view. And honestly, who wants to keep reading books about people like you by people like you? Doesn't it get repetitive? Don't you want a new and different perspective?

And speaking pragmatically, more people reading diversely means more diverse books being published. That's just how the world works. If you support diversity in a big way, then so will publishers.

Swapna: I wanted to be a blonde girl named basically anything that wasn't Swapna. The first time I read something about someone who looked like me, it was revolutionary. Though I'm pretty sure it didn't happen until college because there were really no books about POC characters when we were growing up. Or at least none that I knew of.

I like to read diversely, about other cultures, not just Indians, because I feel like it makes me smarter, sharper, broader minded, and just a better human being.

In other words, what Preeti said.

Amanda: I second (third?) everything Preeti said, as well. It's an especially big problem in children's books- in 2013, 3,200 children's books were published, and only 93 of those were about black children, for example. Young readers of color have very few places to go to read stories where they are represented at all.

Beyond the importance of providing stories in which readers of all types can see themselves, reading diversely is important because of the racial disparity that exists within publishing itself, and the disproportionate difficulty writers of color have in getting their books publicized. Authors of color have difficulty securing agents who don't pigeon-hole their stories, and they experience countless racial micro-aggressions in the quest to get published. 89% of the publishing industry is white, with only 1% being African-American. A mostly white publishing industry produces mostly books by white authors (not intentionally, necessarily, just as the result of internalized biases we all carry and of systemic racism) and put publicity money mostly behind white authors. That means those white authors then go on to win most of the awards, land most (or all) the spots on the best-seller lists, and be singled-out for recognition by readers on the biggest bookish social media platforms - whether or not better books were written that year by POC- which means more white authors are signed to publishing houses, and on the cycle goes. The only thing readers can do to break that cycle is to make sure publishers notice that we're buying more and more books by diverse authors. It's the thing readers can do to combat prejudice in both the publishing and book world, and within ourselves.

2. Isn't Paying Attention to the Race of an Author Racist?

Swapna: I understand why this is a question we get so often. We're told that we live in a postracial society (or at least, that's the ideal) and that we shouldn't notice race. So specifically seeking out an author based on race feels wrong. Let's dispense with the whole notion that I find the idea of a postracial society bothersome, because I think our differences are a thing to be celebrated, and focus on the fact that WE DO NOT LIVE IN ONE. Not even close.

We talk a lot about how publishing is a very white business. White authors are more likely to get published (in this study from the Cooperative Children's Book Center, less than 20% of the children's books they looked at featured PoC authors) and much more likely to get coverage for their books ( this study by Roxane Gay looking at all the books covered by the New York Times in one year divided by author's race is fascinating). This means that what we're being sold and marketed (which is usually what we buy) is overwhelmingly white.

And as far as we can tell, most readers want to read more diverse authors, more POC authors. They just don't know how to find them, and not enough of them are being published.

If more people are buying/checking out books by diverse authors, then publishers will put out more. It's a pretty simple equation. And it starts with deliberately seeking out authors of color, by specifically paying attention to race instead of ignoring it like you've been taught your whole life. If you haven't been consciously seeking out diverse authors, then take a second to look at your bookshelves. What percentage of the authors on them are white? I didn't feel great after taking a hard look at my own reading, but that's what not paying attention to race got me. It has nothing to do with racism, it's just a by product of what is available and marketed to us as readers.

Preeti: Swapna has it pretty much spot on. If you want a more diverse number of books to choose from, you have to prove that you'll buy diverse stories. For the longest time, bookstores and publishers were convinced that "multicultural stories don't sell." We're slowly changing that point of view by recognizing who is in the books we're reading and who is writing the books we're reading (and by realizing that diverse books should not be labeled 'multicultural stories' by default).

We don't live in a color blind society. And we shouldn't. People shouldn't be judged based on the color of their skin, or their religion, or any one characteristic they might have. But we can recognize and celebrate the differences between us. And reading diversely gives people a chance to do that.

Amanda: Pretending that a person's color isn't important negates that person's experience, which is a crushing feeling. When you look at someone and say, "I don't see your color," you're saying that this part of my identity that has been very important to my life- both in positive and negative ways- simply isn't relevant. But you don't get to make that decision. Color-blindness is erasure of a person's humanity, even if it comes from a well-meaning place. But the bottom line is this: paying attention to to the racial diversity of your reading with the purpose of reading about marginalized groups or reading work from authors whose voices are not being heard as loudly as they should be cannot make racism worse. That's like saying fighting for women's rights is sexist, or that the Civil Rights movement was racist, or that recognizing LGBTQ rights is homophobic. It feels strange to recognize an author's race because of what Swapna said about what we've been taught in regards to living in a post-racial society, but what we've been taught is ineffectual, offensive, and wrong.

For the vast majority of us, not paying attention means we'll buy and read what we're sold, and that means we'll buy and read almost exclusively white authors. The only way to correct that is to pay attention.

3. What If I Just Want to Read a Good Story?

Amanda: That's all any of us want to do. There are a few assumptions here: one, that people who read with intention are reading stories of questionable quality in order to check some sort of proverbial box. That's simply not true- if a book is bad, it's bad, and I won't finish it. I don't care who the author is. Secondly, there's the assumption that books written by people of color are automatically of questionable quality in the first place, even though someone you trust is recommending it to you at the moment. If someone says to you, "I think it's important to read books by people from other backgrounds, here are a few great examples" and you say "I just want to read a good story," you're in essence saying "Books from people from other backgrounds don't meet my criteria for being a good story." There's a lot of bias in that statement. Reading good stories and reading books by people of color are not mutually exclusive, and examining the bias in assuming that they are can be really eye-opening. It takes a second or two of mental effort to find a good story that is also by an author of a diverse background, but the excellent, fascinating, transporting literature you'll read as a result of that effort make it well worth it.

Essentially, I think when most people say "I just want to read a good story," what they mean is "I want to read a comfortable story about people to whom I can relate." But we're all human beings: there's something there for you to relate to in every author and every character. If you just don't want to do the mental work to get there, that's a personal issue, not an issue with the idea of reading diversely in general.

Swapna: I totally agree with Amanda. All I want is a good story too; I read for fun and amusement. But diversifying your reading doesn't mean you have to give up on good stories in order to accommodate PoC authors. Think about it this way: it's even harder for a PoC author to be published than a white author (which isn't easy to begin with). So the books out there by PoC authors REALLY have to be the best of the best. I'm not saying you're guaranteed a good story, but the statistics are in your favor.

Really, the bottom line is, I want a good story, and I also didn't like looking at my reading stats and discovering that 85% of what I was reading was by white people (which happened to me in 2014). That made me feel REALLY uncomfortable, to say the least. But the two are not mutually exclusive; PoC writers write good stories too!

Preeti: All any of us want is to read a good story, that almost goes without saying. But it doesn't hurt to take a step back and think about what you're exposing yourself to. All that's doing is actually giving you an even bigger list of potential stories to pull from. Because as Amanda and Swapna said, there's a huge cache of diverse writers who have written beautiful, wonderful books. And it might sound hokey, or sentimental, but what a way to learn and grow. Carl Sagan has this quote about how incredible books are, and in it he says, "an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you." Reading diverse books is an opportunity to experience an unknown quantity, to catch a glimpse of a piece of human experience that is outside anything you've seen before. I mean, talk about a good story.

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That's it for installment 1! Keep an eye out for the next installments coming over the upcoming weeks (or months). In those, we'll be answering the following questions:

1. Where can I go to find authors from diverse backgrounds?

2. Isn't this publishing's problem?

3. Who counts as a "POC"? For example, does someone from Spain count? Or someone who is Jewish? And what's up with the term "POC" anyway?

4. What about other kinds of diversity? Isn't reading diversely important in terms of politics, religion, and where an author is from, as well as race?

5. What about books written by white people that are about POC? Do those "count"? And as an author, what if I'm uncomfortable writing a character who is a POC?

6. How can I, as a non-POC person, relate to a story by/about a POC?

7. Why does everything have to be political?

8. So what's a "good" percentage to aim for? And isn't that just filling a quota?

9. Am I a racist if I just don't care?

10. Why are diverse books specifically important in children's literature?

11. Isn't it enough to have at least one PoC character?

12. Why is it important to have PoC characters in stories that are about more than just their racial background?

Have a question not on this list? Leave it in the comments, and we'll do our best to answer it for you!

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Read the rest of the series here:

Do you like podcasts like This American Life, RadioLab, or Planet Money? Annotated is kinda like those, but for books. Go here to find out more, or click the image below:

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Why is reading diversely important? Is paying attention to an author's race racist? Those questions answered and more!

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A comprehensive list of LGBTQIA kids' books.

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There are so many different reasons to be proud to be LGBTQ or an ally, and June, aka National LGBTQ Pride Month, is the perfect time to share that pride with the kids in your life. Children, after all, are the future of the world (cue adorable, cheesy song here), and don't you want that future to be filled with accepting, tolerant, and loving human beings?

Books are a great way of showing them how to be just that. When Leslea Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies in 1989, it became the first children's book to depict lesbian parenthood. A few years later, Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite sent waves through the kids' lit world with its story of a divorced father and his new male partner. These two pioneering works laid the important groundwork for all of the LGBTQIA children's books that came after. Despite the negativity and backlash surrounding this kind of literature, the world has spoken and #WeNeedDiverseBooks.

LGBTQIA-positive children's books have something to offer every kind of kid and every kind of family. Children who come from homes that don't fit traditional stereotypes can find their families in the stories, and tiny humans who don't fit traditional stereotypes can find themselves. For other youngsters, books are a window into the diverse lives and experiences of the world around them, and they can help explain family dynamics outside of their own. Whether a book's plot is centered around LGBT-related issues or it feature a character who is a positive LGBT role model, they teach children to be not just tolerant, but to be loving.

Pride can never start too early, so here are 30 LGBTQIA-positive books to share with the young readers in your life. Or, hey, maybe yourself.

Bailey loves dresses of all kinds - dresses that sparkle, dresses that shine, dresses that have all the colors of the rainbow - but his parents are there constantly reminding him that he's a boy, and boys don't wear dresses. Luckily, he befriends Laurel, who shows him that it's OK to be whoever he is. This imaginative and cheerful picture book is an inspiring story any kid can relate to, but especially those those who refuse to conform.

Two male penguins, Roy and Silo, start their own family when a zoo keeper gives them an egg all their own to hatch. Though frequently banned for "promoting a homosexual agenda," And Tango Makes Three is charming tale based on a true story celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and its message about the meaning of family is just as heartwarming as ever.

A truly all-inclusive book, What Makes a Baby uses bright, bold illustrations to teach children about all the different places children come from, including adoption, IVF, and surrogacy. Every kind of family can find their own origin story on its pages, whose characters aren't specified in color or gender, while learning about others' stories, too. The newly released follow up for older children, Sex is a Funny Word , uses a comic book format to tackle the topics of sex, boundaries, gender identity, and much more.

Another all-encompassing picture book, Families, Families, Families! uses lovable and utterly adorable animals to demonstrate all the different shapes and sizes that families come in. Colorful spreads depicting family portraits of chickens, turtles, bears and more celebrate every kind of family - because whether yours have two moms or one dad, a family is a family.

When Morris Micklewhite's classmates won't let him on the spaceship they're building because of his love for a certain tangerine dress, his dreams inspire him to build his own. When he invites two of his classmates to join, they go on an adventure that shows Morris - and readers - that you can reach the stars just by being who you are. A 2015 Stonewall Award Honor Book, Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress is a testament to importance of embracing each other's uniqueness.

There may not be a dad in Marmee and Meema's house, but there is more than enough love and support to go around. Even when some of the neighbors don't accept the family, Marmee and Meema's daughter, who narrates the book, learns that her family is perfect the way it is. In Our Mothers' House tactfully interweaves the important topics of growing up with same-sex parents, adoption and multicultural families into moving family story.

Every child should have a chance to read Phyllis Rothblatt's beautifully written picture book about learning to accept and express your own gender identity. Touching and inspirational, All I Want To Be Is Me encourages children to explore who they are and to honor their true selves.

From the author of such LGBT-friendly picture books as Mommy, Mama, and Me and Daddy, Papa, and Me comes the story of Donovan's big day as the ringbearer at his two moms' wedding. Without being preachy, Donovan's Big Day takes a stand for same-sex marriage and teaches readers that "Love makes a family." This book is not only enjoyable for children with same-sex parents, but it is a great story about love, family, and marriage that every kid can learn from.

Although it is a great educational tool, This Day In June is so much more than the facts and figures (which are also included in the Reader's Guide.) A 2015 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards in the Children's and YA category, this tribute to the ongoing battle for LGBTQIA rights is empowering while remaining a fun and fanciful.

Author Jennifer Bryan was "tired of reading LGBT books that 'explained' or 'defended' our type of family. Those books have served an important purpose, but I wanted to read a book to my kids that is FUN and MAGICAL, a great story," so instead she made a fantastical book about a boy at bedtime, who just so happened to have two moms. By incorporating that fact into the story in an incidental way, Bryan's book shows children just how perfectly normal a same-sex household, or any other nontraditional family make up, is.

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jenning

I Am Jazz tells the amazing true story of Jazz Jenning, an American transgender woman who has become an outspoken activist and role model in the transgender community. Even Laverne Cox has said "I wish I had had a book like this when I was a kid struggling with gender identity questions." Need I say more?

A family-oriented treasury of stories from all different traditional and nontraditional homes, The Great Big Book of Families shows just how colorful the world can be. Different cultures, races, religions, family make up, and sexual orientations are incorporated into vibrant illustrations that kids will love poring over again and again.

Who says coloring books can't be fun and revolutionary? In Jacinta Bunnell's illustrated retelling of traditional fairytales, princes run off with princes and princesses search for other princesses to love. Sometimes the Spoon Runs Away With Another Spoon is an interactive way for children to explore diversity.

A kindergarten class has to decorate their room for Open School Night, and when Molly draws pictures of her family, which has two moms, her classmate Tommy and the other children tell her that can't be possible. Readers will follow Molly's emotions as she goes from defensive to confused to downright upset over the course of the picture book, but she finally lands on acceptance when she realizes her mothers' love is no different than the love from the other families in her class. Relatable and direct, Molly's Family is a great starting point for a discussion on bullying and discrimination.

Although not entirely about LGBT families, Everywhere Babies has illustrations that cover just about every different kind of family and parents, some of which are same-sex couples. Seamlessly incorporated into the the more traditional family models, the same-sex couples assure readers that they fit in alongside everyone else, no matter what their family looks like.

In this witty and fun picture book, Lou, a young boy with two blue dads compares families with his friend who has a more conventional family. Lou's friend has so many questions about the unfamiliar family, but Lou explains that his two blue dads are the same as any other dad and that their two families aren't so different. The clever rhymes throughout help make One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dad both entertaining and accessible to kids, all the while demonstrating the importance of embracing diversity in all its forms.

When it comes to positive LGBT role models, look no further than The Manny. Third grader Keats's fabulous gay male babysitter is not only fun and interesting, but he always knows just what to do and he always has Keats's back.The subtle yet loving relationship that blooms between the Manny and Keats's Uncle Max is touching, sincere show of same-sex romance.

Bruce Coville is a beloved children's book for many reasons, one of which is his mastery of storytelling. In a subplot of Coville's fourth Magic Shop book, Charlie's Uncle Bennie explains that he is gay. The two are able to have an open conversation about love, honesty, and respect, and the takeaway message is a beautiful one: "Love is nothing to be ashamed of." How can anyone argue against that, am I right?

In this sentimental book about love and loss, a young Colin tries to save his sick brother anyway he can. In the process, he meets Ted who is also determined to save the life of someone he loves - his partner, Giff, who is dying of AIDS. The book deals with heavier topics of homophobia, harassment, and violence in a frank and unpatronizing way middle grade readers can appreciate. Sad yet hopeful, Two Weeks With The Queen is an honest look the hardships that the LGBTQIA community faces every day.

The second installment of the hit Misfits series Totally Joe focuses on the trials and tribulations of gay 7th grader Joe Bunch. Not only does Joe have to deal with the normal headaches and heartaches of middle school, but he also has to face homophobia and bullying. Luckily, he has a tight-knit group of friends who assure him he has every right to kiss whom he wants to. A great tale of tolerance, diversity, and, ultimately, acceptance.

To everyone else, Grayson is a boy, but on the inside, Grayson knows her true identity is a girl. Through the support and help of her friends, Grayson is able to find the strength to become who she was meant to be. A beautiful, courageous tale Gracefully Grayson is a story every middle grader, transgender or not, needs to read.

June just wants to hang out with her friends and work on baking the best pie for the Champlain Valley Fair, but when her mother and her mother's longtime girlfriend decide to wed under Vermont's civil union law and her town lashes out on them, June is afraid she will loose more than just the pie contest. My Mixed Up Berry Blue Summer explores not only the emotions of being a child of lesbian parents who are discriminated against, but it also introduces readers to the political side of the fight for LGBT rights.

The only thing bigger than Nate's personality is his dream to star in a Broadway show, where boys can dance with other boys without fear of being harassed. Better Nate Than Ever and the follow-up Five, Six, Seven Nate , which just won this year's Lambda Literary Award in the LGBT Children's/Young Adult category, are hilarious and triumphant coming of age stories. Complete with a lovable hero worth cheering for, this series is perfect for any young reader questioning his or her own sexuality.

Augie has a hard enough time surviving his tough guy neighborhood as it is, so he can't imagine what will happen when the bullies find out his newly assigned Big Brother is gay. Themes of intolerance and discrimination are presented in a straight-forward manner, but the story finds an air of lightheartedness by incorporating elements of magic and adventure. No Castles Here may seem dark and bleak at times, but in the end, it is really about overcoming personal prejudices, fears, and insecurities in order to not only survive, but live.

In the fourth installment of superstar Rick Riordan's best-selling The Heroes of Olympus series, Demigod Nico comes out and admits he is in love with Percy. Riordan has said on the subject of Nico's sexuality "The idea that we should treat sexual orientation itself as an adults-only topic, however, is absurd. Non-heterosexual children exist. To pretend they do not, to fail to recognize that they have needs for support and validation like any child, would be bad teaching, bad writing, and bad citizenship." The gay subplot is woven into the ongoing action and adventure in the book in a way that is forthright without overdoing it.

This historical fiction novel may be set in the late 19th century, but the topics it deals with are more timely than ever. After Amelia, her mother, and her mother's partner, Estelle, move to San Francisco to start a new, independent life, they find that their new home is far less hospitable women then they had hoped. In order to survive, Amelia has to disguise herself as a boy and her mother and Estelle are forced to leave dressmaking behind in favor of men's clothing. Both fascinating and well researched, Newsgirl takes a close, important look at gender nonconformity, gender roles, and alternate family structures.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Raina Telgemeier, who is best know for her wildly popular Smile, presents readers with an accurate depiction of what it's like to develop those new, messy, confusing, feelings of sexual attraction for the first time in her graphic novel The main character, Callie, struggles with her own heteronormative feelings for a cute boy at her school, but when she finds out that some of her theater buddies are gay, or at least questioning, her nonchalant response and immediate acceptance of it is a refreshing and positive way of dealing with issues of coming out to your friends.

Like all of the other books in the highly acclaimed Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Alice on the Outside deals with issues of identity and sexuality in a frank and genuine way. In this case, Alice's new friend comes out and tells her she has a crush on her, and Alice reacts with care and respect. Though technically a YA, the Alice series is still appropriate for mature middle grade readers.

Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson

Since she was young, Sylvie has always imagined spending her life with her best friend Carl, but there's one problem - Carl isn't interested in kissing girls. When Sylvie learns out that Carl is gay, she has to grapple with her own hurt feelings while learning to support and accept Carl, which she does whole-hardheartedly. Carl's family, especially his mother who tells him she has no issues with his sexuality, also provides a hopeful example of a supportive family unit. Like Alice on the Outside, Kiss is another great choice for more mature middle grade readers.

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30 LGBTQIA Kids' Books That Make The World Better

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There are so many different reasons to be proud to be LGBTQ or an ally, and June, aka National LGBTQ Pride Month, is the perfect time to share that pride with the kids in your life. Children, after all, are the future of the world (cue adorable, chee...

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"Missing Mirrors, Missing Windows: Children's Literature Textbooks and LGBT Topics" by Laura Smolkin

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Missing Mirrors, Missing Windows: Children's Literature Textbooks and LGBT Topics - ProQuest

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This is a short preview of the document. Your library or institution may give you access to the complete full text for this document in ProQuest.

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The human rights campaign's list of inclusive books for children from LGBTQ families.

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Reading LGBTQ-Inclusive Children's Books in Schools | Welcoming Schools

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One way to make children feel welcome in your classroom and school is to ensure that all kinds of families are portrayed in the books that are available in the classroom and in the library.

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A list of literature recommendations for books specific to kids with gender issues - such as trans and non-binary.

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Diverse Children's Books Trans and Non-Binary Children | Welcoming Schools

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Up-to-date, recommended children's books to help students understand transgender, non-binary and gender expansive children.

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A downloadable version of a long-form article about the history of African American children's literature to better understand the genre.

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An read-aloud of an LGBTQ fairytale. Very cute!

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Promised Land: LGBTQ Children's Book Read Aloud [FULL]

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Even though I grew up eating kimchi and saying ko-map-sup-ni-da, the only "Asian" book I read as a child was Tikki Tikki Tembo. It was a favorite of mine, but looking back, I'm not sure that I learned much about Asian culture. People even argue whether the folktale is Chinese or Japanese.

My two kids also love the breathless tongue twister of Tikki's full name. But I'm happy to report that thirty-some years later, there are some truly great books about the various Asian cultures - almost all with a focus on family and food. (But mostly food.)

Beginner Books

by Grace Lin

Again with the food? Yes, because who doesn't love dim sum? This book features the à la carte yumminess that is the Chinese dim sum tradition and highlights a key Asian cultural tradition - eating together.

Early Readers

by Soyung Park, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung

I was an English-speaking toddler cared for by a grandmother who spoke only Korean, so I know well how two people who love each other can surpass whatever intergenerational, cross-cultural hurdles there may be to communicate. Juno's grandmother writes in Korean; Juno sends pictures - and they understand each other just fine.

by Yangsook Choi

My daughter is only one-quarter Korean, but we share the same Korean middle name, and there's something about the plight of little Unhei, the new Korean-from-Korea kid in class, that speaks to her. Unhei is so shy about people pronouncing her names that she claims she doesn't yet have one. As her fellow classmates fill a name jar with ideas, Unhei comes to embrace what's uniquely hers.

Middle Grade Readers

So, clearly, this list doesn't quite cover all things Asian. There are countries we didn't cover - and cuisines! Which of your favorite Asian books are missing from the list?

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13 Books for Kids that Celebrate All Things Asian | Brightly

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Even though I grew up eating kimchi and saying ko-map-sup-ni-da, the only "Asian" book I read as a child was Tikki Tikki Tembo . It was a favorite of mine, but looking back, I'm not sure that I learned much about Asian culture. People even argue whether the folktale is Chinese or Japanese.

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We hope you enjoy our new website, some parts are still under construction! Be sure to sign up for our teacher newsletter to get updates on our new Global Resource search that will help you find the best kit, article or other resource for your classroom!

What can you do with Carolina Navigators?

We offer...

Choose from 134 Kits from 94 different countries

Shipped FREE of charge, BOTH ways

Illustrate life in other cultures through everyday items

Organized by country and theme

Reserve quickly and easily with our online booking system!

Click on a culture kit, and scroll down to see lesson ideas in the PDF document!

Help you integrate global and intercultural education in your classroom

Include Kit item descriptions, discussion questions, Pinterest boards, and website and YouTube video links

Can be used in many subject areas and across multiple grade levels

Infuse the core curriculum with global content

Emailed to you as a PDF as soon as your request is approved. Plan your lessons in advance!

Model Lesson Plans coming soon!

Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at navigators@unc.edu

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What can you do with Carolina Navigators? We offer... CULTURE KITS Choose from 134 Kits from 94 different countries Shipped FREE of charge, BOTH ways Illustrate life in other cultures through everyday items Organized by country and theme Reserve quickly ... Continued

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Inside: Celebrate diversity and culture with this vast collection of multicultural books for children! Includes 60+ book lists, from toddlers through big kids.
I was dismayed to discover that the number of multicultural books for children that have been published hasn't increased during the last 18 years. All this is despite census data showing 37% of the US population consists of people of color.
This graphic is from Lee and Low publishers.
I have posted a large number of book lists focusing on multicultural books for children (some my own creations but others that I've happily discovered).

I am organizing them all here in hopes that more people will read multicultural children's books. Hopefully, this will spark an interest that will lead to more books depicting people of color being published. Moreover, if you are an essay writer who needs materials to write something on multi-culture topics, this list will be a great source.

If you want to deepen your kid's absorption of multicultural reading, then custom bookmarks and stickers would be a great choice as memory keepers and reminders. You can customize them aligned with any highlighted themes, events, and ideas in the books. Create more fun while reading. Furthermore, if you are a bookstore owner, go with some customized bookmarks and stickers with your store logo as promotional gifts, which is a great support to multiculturalism as well.

Also, anyone can create their own digital book and make it interactive by adding videos, images, and buttons with flipbook software. Children will have a great experience when flipping through the pages.

For all of my book lists, please see List of Lists: All My Book Lists (300+)

p.s. Here is another list of classic Best Books for Children from BestBooks.to website.

Multicultural books for children: 60+ Book Lists

I've broken down my multicultural lists by:

Multicultural Book Lists for Kids (a catch-all for those lists that don't fit the categories below)

Civil Rights Movement Books for Kids

Asian American Books for Kids with subcategories

Korean American Books for Kids

Japanese American Books for Kids

Chinese American Books for Kids

Southeast Asian Books for Kids

Native American Books for Kids

Hispanic American Books for Kids

Arab American Books for Kids

LGBTQ Books for Kids

Multicultural Book Lists for Kids
White Privilege Books for Kids A Unit on Skin Color: Children's Books & Videos Immigration and the Refugee Experience Books for Kids 50 Must Read Diversity Picture Books Homelessness in Children's Books Special Needs Books for Kids Chapter Book Series Starring Diverse Girl Characters Picture Books to Teach Gratitude Top 10 Diverse Superhero Books 10 Picture Books About Africa to Teach Empathy W Favorite Diversity Picture Books for 4th of July Great Diverse Books from Peachtree Publishing Top 1o Favorite Diversity Books For Kids By Kids Top 10 Multicultural Books for Kids ages 2-14 Books for Kids About Cambodia Children's Africana Book Award Top 10 Multicultural Board Books for Babies and Toddlers Top 10 Best Multicultural Easy Readers Best Multicultural Chapter Books 10 Amazing Multicultural Picture Books About Helping Others 17 Wonderful Multicultural Picture Books About Food 5 Amazing Diversity Read Alouds Multicultural Adoption Books for Kids 5 Feel-Good Picture Books About Africa Top 10 Multicultural Dance Picture Books for Kids Top 50: Best Multicultural Children's Books Top 10: Best World Religion Children's Books Chapter Books to Support 4th Grade or 5th Grade Immigration Unit Great Biographies from Author Paula Yoo Multicultural Soccer Books for Kids Best Multicultural YA Books A Unit to Learn About the Tokyo Olympics Best Multicultural YA Books for Teens 25 Diversity Authors and Illustrators for Kids Spotlighted Black History Month with Carole Boston Weatherford Civil Rights Movement Through Art and Books for Kids HARLEM: Found Ways art exhibit and Children's Books Reflecting Harlem Civil Rights Movement Books for 4th Grade Top 10: Best Children's Books On Civil Rights Movement Top 10: Best African-American Picture Books (ages 4-12) Ruby Bridges and Picture Book As Fast as Words Could Fly Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr with Three Books 5th Grade Social Studies And How to Make It Interesting 5th Grade Enslavement Unit Books 3 Amazing Wordless Picture Books Top 10: Best Asian American Books by CoolAsianKids Asian in America (Amy Chua, new Asian KidLit, dumpling recipe!) Exploring Vietnam: Culture and KitLit Sri Lanka with Kids Books, Recipe and Design Exploring Laos with Books for Kids, Culture and Art Bangladesh: Culture, Alpanas, Children's Books, Recipe and More! 15 Great Korean Folk Tales Top 10: Korean American Children's Books (ages 2-16) Discovering Korea for Kids with Kids' Books, Art and Food Korean-American Picture Book Teaches Multicultural Lesson Japanese Internment Books for Kids Learning About Japan Picture Books for Kids Connecting Science and Art: Hokusai's The Great Wave In Memory of Hiroshima Bombing Books and Crane Origami for Kids Top 10: Japanese American Children's Books (ages 2-16) Let's Go Fly a Kite! Best Bilingual Japanese Books for Kids Japan: Books for Kids on Shogun, Family Crests, Block Prints Japanese American Post Internment Story: Journey Home (ages 8-12) Chinese New Year Picture Books INSTEAD of Tiki Tiki Tembo Top 10: Chinese American Children's Books (ages 2-14) Top 10: Best Chinese New Year Books for Kids 4th of July Picture Books with an Asian Twist Asian American Chapter Book for Girls Percy Jackson + Chinese Mythology = The Monkey King's Daughter Top 10: Best Southeast Asian American Children's Books (ages 2-14) 4th Grade Skype Author Visit: Sheela Chari of Vanished Contemporary Native Americans in KidLit Plimoth Plantation: Learning About Native Americans Top 10: Native American Children's Books (ages 2-16) Top 10: Best Native American Middle School Books Top 10: Best Native American Picture Book Top 10: Best Native American Young Adult Books Notable Native American Children's Author: Joseph Bruchac The Navajo Code Talkers of WWII Best Bilingual Spanish Picture Books Top 10 Hispanic American Heritage Books for Kids Top 10 Bilingual Spanish Books for Kids Top 10: Best Latino American Children's Books (ages 2-16) The Américas Award Hispanic American Books for Kids: Link Round Up 18 Wonderful Picture Books about the Arab World 27 Books for Kids About the Arab World Top 10: Middle Eastern American Children's Books Five Muslim Girl Characters to Read Today Middle East Outreach Council Award How To: Teach Your Children About Islam (and tolerance in the process!) Life in Afghanistan for Girls The Pharoah's Secret at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts 10 Groundbreaking LGBTQ Children's Books Understanding Transgender with LGBTQ Books for Kids To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

Junior Library Guild Gold selection

Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children's Book Fair

Starred review from School Library Journal

anting to Go To School Books: When School is a Privilege
Africa Access was founded in 1989 to help schools, public libraries, and parents improve the quality of their K-12 collections on Africa.

It was surprisingly hard to find board books with diversity and inclusive themes.

I searched my public library for the best diversity easy readers.

These books are from the 2015 Notable Books for a Global Society Award, for middle grade readers ages 8 and up.

I hope these picture books inspire readers about the power of one ... just one person can do amazing things!

My favorite way to learn about new cultures is through food. Explore with me as we read (and eat as recipes are linked) around the world!

These are some of my very favorite diversity chapter books that I hope can read with your kids too!

These five books show different perspectives from the story of a young Masaii girl who wants to touch the moon to visiting family in Tanzania and The Gambia.

May all dancers of color be inspired to reach for their dreams with this book list.

This covers many ethnicities and is categorized by genre.

We are "homeschooling" world religion.

Our elementary school does an immigration unit using these chapter books. I've also added a few newly published books as well.

I hope this list inspires children, parents, and teachers to visit their local libraries and explore the biography bookshelves! I've also included many biographies below featuring diverse historical characters.

View soccer as it's played around the world through the eyes of these picture books.

These are the Young Adult books from the 2015 Notable Books for a Global Society.

I'm new to YA so I was excited to discover this great list.

Civil Rights Movement Books for Kids

My kids study the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in 4th grade and I'm pleased to see a handful of important and often, award-winning, picture books, chapter books, and Young Adult books published each year.

This list covers picture books, chapter books, and young adult.

If you read these picture books in order, it gives an overview of the African-American experience historically starting from slavery to the present day.

Meeting Ruby Bridges was a thrill for me and further reinforced how important it is for kids to learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

Young Booker T. Washington: Fifty Cents and a Dream.

An advanced picture book that paints a portrait of Booker T. Washington as a determined young boy.

If you just want a snapshot of the Civil Rights Movement for young children, try these three books: two picture books and a chapter book.

I have a section in this post about the Civil Rights Movement.

Black History Month Books for Kids and Teens

Asian American Books for Kids

One of the most exciting things for me about blogging was discovering Asian American books for kids.

This genre was just starting to emerge a few years ago when I started blogging. Growing up, I read extensively but I never found books that were like me - an Asian American 2nd and 3rd generation girl living in the suburbs. I'm thrilled to find that this is no longer the case.

Recognizing Children's Books for AAPI Heritage Month (a huge list)

I love these wordless picture books by Asian and Asian American authors/illustrators so much that I made videos of them on my Instagram.

CoolAsianKids made a wonderful list of their favorite Asian American KidLit.

These recently published books show the new diversity of Asian American KidLit as well as the high quality of this genre.

APALA Awards for Best Asian American Children's Books 2013

The Asian Pacific American Libraries Association has announced their 2013 literature award winners.

I created a series of posts a while back that I called Teach Me Tuesday. I wanted to explore a country using children's books as well as different elements of their culture from art to food to artisans. This was the first post I did of this series on Vietnam (and my best one!). The Teach Me Tuesday series is here.

A friend from Sri Lanka gave me a recipe that he loved as a child and this sparked this post. Finding the books is always the toughest part for me.

The more I learned about Laos, the more I want to go to this mysterious, beautiful and tragic country.

Korean American Books for Kids

I'm half Chinese and Japanese and I married a Korean. My first lists of multicultural books for children were on these three ethnicities as a way to show my children their heritage. The Korean American culture is so strong in America that this first post went viral.

This is the first post of mine ever to go viral.

I wanted to learn more about my husband's family history so this is a very personal journey of discovery.

I don't often do individual book reviews but finding this great Asian American book at the library made me want to post on it.

Japanese American Books for Kids

For your young ninja, books to learn about Japan.

It's amazing how a single piece of art can have a ripple effect, inspiring others all around the world and for many generations.

WWII Internment seems to dominate Japanese American books for kids. I agree that it is an important lesson in history - my own mother was forced to relocate but I also hunger for books that explore other facets of being Japanese American.

Kite flying is an important ritual in Asia and I've rounded up every great kite flying book thanks to a little help from my friends and readers.

This was my response to a reader request.

I explore my own Japanese history in this post.

These older books explore the Japanese American internment experience during WWII, a shameful chapter in America's history.

Chinese American Books For Kids

There is such a diversity of Chinese American books for kids from philosophy, culture and contemporary times.

I wanted to show the breadth and depth of Chinese American books for kids. These were our favorites.

I never had a great Chinese New Year picture book despite always doing a Chinese New Year presentation for my children's preschool so I was determined to upgrade!

Fourth of July from a Chinese American immigrant's perspective via picture books. Yep, this is what I blog about!

Lisa Yee portrays the dilemmas of modern day Asian American kids caught between assimilation and Tiger parents.

A Chinese mythology action-adventure series.

Southeast Asian Books for Kids

Southeast Asian culture and books are foreign to me too so I wanted to learn more.

Sheela Chari's debut mystery chapter book is award winning!

Native American Books For Kids

My first list was criticized by Debbie Reese, the preeminent scholar on this topic, for including books that she did not feel accurately depicted the Native Americans. My response was to repost her great lists!

Do kids think that Native Americans are only the past? This list will hopefully change that!

What to read when preparing for a visit to Plimoth Plantation.

This is the list I made.

Debbie Reese's list for middle-grade chapter books.

Debbie Reese's list for picture books.

Debbie Reese's list of YA books is very popular.

I am a huge fan of Joseph Bruchac, a happy discovery from chatting with my librarian when creating my list.

The author of this advanced picture book lives one town over!

Hispanic American Books for Kids

My guest author Derek Taylor Kent comes up with his list for best bilingual Spanish picture books for kids.

I'm noticing some great Hispanic American KidLit lately across all children's book genres!

I'm doing a round-up of Hispanic books for kids of all ages, from picture books to young adult.

Arab American Books for Kids

This is my collection of the best picture books I've read so far about the Arab world.

In the wake of the conflicts in the Middle East, I thought it especially important for kids to learn about Islam and the people of the Middle East which might also teach them tolerance in the process. There is so much negative stereotyping during a war that can color a child's perspective.

Deborah Ellis's Parvana series shows a realistic view of what life is like in Afghanistan for girls today. It's heartbreaking but also so important.

Chapter book The Pharoah's Secret by Marissa Moss discovered in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Did I find Senenmut, Hatshepsut's love there?!

LBGTQ Books for Kids

More lists and reviews of diverse, inclusive, and multicultural books for children from KidLit bloggers here on my Pinterest board:

Follow PragmaticMom's board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

My books:

Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN'S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.

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Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists

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Inside: Celebrate diversity and culture with this vast collection of multicultural books for children! Includes 60+ book lists, from toddlers through big kids. I was dismayed to discover that the number of multicultural books for children that have been published hasn't increased during the last 18 years.

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Oh the weather outside is frightful, but a middle school sense of humor is so delightful! When the temperature is freezing, what better way to spend your time than by reading a hilarious book? We've put together a list of middle grade humor books (all of which feature diverse main characters), so get ready to have your funny bone tickled!

Note: In general, middle grade books are appropriate for kids ages 8-12. If any of these books fall outside that range, we've tried to note that below.

For you visual learners, we've also pinned these titles on Pinterest:

These books have been recommended in various places - we haven't (yet) read them all ourselves. If you have other recommended humorous middle grade titles that feature characters of color or are written by authors of color, let us know in the comments! For more on middle grade humor, check out Cat Girl's Day Off author Kimberly Pauley's guest post she wrote on How to Write Humor for Young Readers.

Let the giggles and laughs commence!

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night by Lenore Look, ill. by LeUyen Pham: Alvin Ho is an Asian American second grader who is afraid of everything-elevators, tunnels, girls, and, most of all, school. But at home he's a very loud superhero named Firecracker Man, a brother to Calvin and Anibelly, and a gentleman-in-training, so he can be just like his dad.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell, ill. by Joe Berger: The much-anticipated sequel to the children's classic by Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond - featuring a contemporary family and a camper van with a mind of its own.

Eighth-Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich: A Brooklyn middle-schooler finds the superhero within himself thanks to old friends, new dreams, and a pair of magical "Dora the Explorer" sneakers.

Galaxy Games: The Challengers by Greg R. Fishbone, ill. by Ethen Beavers: Eleven-year-old Tyler Sato and his friends who are recruited by aliens to compete in the Galaxy Games, an Olympics-style outer space sports competition.

Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities by Mike Jung, ill. by Mike Maihack: Vincent Wu and his pals Max and George are the leaders (and, well, sole members) of the (unofficial) Captain Stupendous Fan Club. But when the Captain is hurt, the entire city is in danger, and Vincent's parents and his friends aren't safe, only Vincent has what it takes to save the day!

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami: Eleven-year-old Dini and her best friend Maddie are in love . . . with Dolly Singh, the most beautiful and talented actress/singer/dancer in all of Bollywood. But they have been picking up on signs - signs that only a true fan would notice! - that Dolly is in some kind of trouble. When Dini's family suddenly moves to India, she knows this is her chance to find Dolly and fix everything. The only problem is, she'll be leaving Maddie behind . . .

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang: Lucy Wu is on the verge of having the best year of her life. She's ready to rule the school as a sixth grader until she finds out that Yi Po, her beloved grandmother's sister, is coming to visit for several months - and is staying in Lucy's room.

Hickey of the Beast by Isabel Kunkle (upper middle grade, younger YA): A hilarious look about all the things that make growing up hell: boys, history class, annoying little brothers, and saving the world from evil. When the supernatural comes to school, it's no field day - and that's before you factor in homework.

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen (upper middle grade, younger YA): Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest, most spectacular bowler at Striker's Bowling Paradise. But while Lamar's a whiz at rolling strikes, he always strikes out with girls and his family. Until bad boy Billy Jenks convinces Lamar that he has a plan that will fix everything . . .

Lowji Discovers America by Candace Fleming (young middle grade, age 6-10): Nine-year-old Lowji relocates from India to a small American town in Illinois. He really wants a pet, but the landlady of his apartment building does not allow them. Lowji, however, is able to cleverly convince Mrs. Crisp that animals can help ease her workload, until everything starts going wrong.

Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee: For Millicent Min, it's tough being a genius (upper middle grade, younger YA). But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn't know Millicent's IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother's advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend.

The Monster in the Mudball by S.P. Gates (young middle grade, age 6-10): When 11-year-old Jin accidentally lets his baby brother drool on a mudball, releasing the monster Zilombo, he must team up with Chief Inspector of Ancient Artifacts Mizz Z to track the monster down.

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex: When twelve-year-old Gratuity ("Tip") Tucci is assigned to write five pages on "The True Meaning of Smekday" for the National Time Capsule contest, she's not sure where to begin. In any case, Gratuity's story is much, much bigger than the assignment.

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Book List: 13 Funny Middle Grade Books with Diverse Characters

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A list of diverse middle grade humor books that are written by an author of color and/or feature a main character of color.

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What is an Everyday Diversity book?

A great book for storytime that:
Predominantly features a racially diverse main character.
Primarily shows modern day contemporary life.
Subject matter is not about race, religion, history, "other cultures," or ability.

Not sure? Submit it anyway!

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The Everyday Diversity project is a tool to help librarians find storytime books that predominantly feature People of Color and Native Americans as main characters in contemporary everyday life. Representation matters. No one should feel like an outsider at storytime.

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All about the Coretta Scott King Award, with a list of past winners.

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I can't get enough of Filipino children's stories because they help bring the culture alive to a young child who may not have experienced it firsthand. They help kids learn about Filipino customs, traditions, values, language, and peak their interest for learning more.

They also feature characters that look like me. I think it's very important that kids read a variety of stories that have characters who look or act just like them. Growing up, there weren't as many books out there with diverse or multicultural characters.

In fact, I love reading multicultural stories from around the world! They are filled with unique traditions, customs, colors, and delicious foods. But the one thing they all have in common is the experience we all share as humans - family, friendship, love, difficulties or struggles, perseverance, triumphs, and more.

By reading multicultural literature to our children we expose them to the beauty that exists throughout our world!
Disclosure Statement: This post may contain some affiliate links. However, as always, all opinions are my own. Read full blog disclosure statement here.
5 Filipino Children's Books You'll Love

Filipino Americans (or anyone interested in the Philippines culture for that matter) will love these five Filipino children's books!

There are celebrations and festivals held in the Philippines all year round! This book gives a fun history of regional fiestas like the Pahiyas Festival, family celebrations like weddings and Baptism, as well as holidays like Christmas and All Souls' Day.

You'll learn all about the local customs, culture, food, and traditions. The illustrations include Tagalog/English captions so you and your kids will be able to pick up tons of fun vocabulary words for many of the objects featured. Kids will also love the activities such as making decorations or candies.

This book is perfect for Filipino American families that want to teach their kids more about Filipino culture, history, and traditions.

Recommended for ages 5-10, but adults will love this one too!

You can get Filipino Celebrations on Amazon, as well as which has it for slightly cheaper. Check it out!

In Cora Cooks Pancit , Cora wants to help cook in the kitchen even though she is not quite old enough. One day, her mother asks her to help her cook pancit, a Filipino noodle dish. I just love reading this story and watching cute little Cora cook with her mother.

She reminds me of myself in the kitchen, wanting to help my mom cook while sneaking a taste of the food when she wasn't looking. And it includes a recipe for pancit in the back of the book! Score!

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Filipino Children's Favorite Stories reminds me of when I was a kid and used to read fairy tales from around the world. These short stories, well-known myths and fables of the Philippines, are filled with fantasy characters, talking animals, and the triumph of good over evil.

My favorite part about this book is actually the beautiful watercolor illustrations, done by Joanne de Leon. I especially loved the illustrations from "Alunsina," a story about the god Langit and the goddess Alunsina who lived in the heavens.

Recommended for ages 6-10.

You can get Filipino Children's Favorite Stories on Amazon, as well as RedShelf which has it for slightly cheaper.

This songbook is filled with the lyrics and music for all the beloved traditional Filipino folk songs including and Leron Leron Sinta . The book is organized according to the different regions of the Philippines, so you can be sure to find what's local to your family's area. With each song is a beautiful illustration including traditional dress, dancing, and food.

I actually bought this in the Philippines so that I would be able to share it with my future kids one day, but if you live in the United States, I discovered you can buy it from the publisher's website at Tahanan Books. I love this book and I highly recommend getting a copy for your kids!

Recommended for kids and adults who love music.

This book features a young Filipino American boy that visits the Philippines for the first time. Can you relate? I know I certainly can! It teaches cultural traditions, games, songs, and Tagalog words. In fact, this book is filled with beginning Tagalog vocabulary. You can teach your little ones everything from numbers, foods, animals, family members, months of the year, etc.

Each of the beautiful watercolor illustrations are labeled with both the English word and the Tagalog translation. This is great for exposing kids to the language and culture in an interactive way!

Recommended for ages 6-9.

You can get Filipino Friends on Amazon, as well as which has it for slightly cheaper.

Now It's Your Turn

Do you have a favorite Filipino children's book you love? Share your recommendations below!

If you liked this post, please send it to a friend who would be interested!

(pin this to save for later)

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Filipino children's stories help bring the culture alive and teach Filipino customs, food, games, celebrations, language, and more! Fill your bookshelf with these favorites!

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About the Brown Bookshelf - The Brown Bookshelf

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The Brown Bookshelf is designed to push awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers. Our flagship initiative is 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by Black creators. You can read more abou…

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Mexico shares a 1,933-mile border with the United States and the flow of people between our two countries has given rise to a glorious interplay of language, food, and tradition. These stories from and inspired by our southern neighbor highlight the incredible and myriad facets of Mexican culture. From picture books to middle grade novels, we've found wonderful tales of Mexican traditions that we hope your entire family will enjoy.

Picture Books

by Jorge Argueta, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng

Mexican food has a long and delicious history - from warm tortillas to filling bean soup to vibrant guacamole. In this story, Jorge Argueta brings one of these these beloved dishes to life through poetry and easy-to-follow recipes. Argueta's other titles include Guacamole, Arroz con leche/Rice Pudding, and Tomalitos.

by Duncan Tonatiuh

Skeletons and skulls often make an appearance in Mexican art, but they aren't meant to frighten, per se. Rather, on Mexico's Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), skeletons, or calaveras, can be found doing all sorts of things thanks to artist and creator José Guadalupe Posada.

Have other favorite Mexican authors or stories? Please share them in the comments!

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Read Globally: 15 Beautiful Books That Introduce Mexican Culture and History to Kids

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From picture books to middle grade novels, we've found wonderful stories from and inspired by the myriad facets of Mexican culture and history.

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Bouba & Zaza protect the Earth - a cartoon based on UNESCO Dakar's children's books collection

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"Bouba & Zaza" is a children's books collection initiated by UNESCO Dakar and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). The aim is to develop quality teaching materials adapted to an African context. The books are now being adapted to short educational films. This is the first one.