Alyssa Stuk's Multicultural Book List for K-6 by Alyssa M Rapes

Multi-Award Winning books; confidence; be yourself

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 14:12:28 UTC

I loved the language used in this story. It used word that are apart of our students vocabulary today. The young boy walks into a barbershop ready to get a new haircut. These amazing fresh cut happening in the barber shop are setting people up for doing great in school, being a CEO , or even president. This book show us that having confidence within yourself can set you up for success. I also would use this book to express differences, the book shows may different hairstyles and no matter which style or design someone has that doesn't put them into a certain stereotype. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut as won multiple awards including A Coretta Scott King Honor Book for the Author and Illustrator, and named one of the best books in 2017 by NPR

Power of Family; Impact of Indian Relocation Act

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 14:26:45 UTC

This book tells the story of two cousin who are separated as one is moving to the Reservation. Upon their family reunion the girls are nervous but soon learn upon reuniting that they're still best friends. The book opens up conversation about some of the Indigenous word used throughout the story. These words could be used in lesson. The playful illustrations make it a great fit for this age group as some miss their family, even while at school. Regardless of how long you've been away from family, the bond between you will never fade.

Jewish Past:; Holocaust Memorial; Humanity; Honor and Dedication

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 14:42:00 UTC

This story starts in Poland explaining the beautiful life of Yaffa and her family. But her town would be completed lost on a Jewish holiday during the Holocaust. Fast forward 30 years and Yaffa made it her life mission to find photographs of the people in her town, so these photos could be displayed and show the wonderful lives they lived. Yaffa never wanted the memorial to be a place of sadness showing the dark side of the Holocaust rather it be a place were you could see how great of life everyone enjoyed beforehand. This book is illustrated beautifully and won awards for the artwork. For this age group, students will get to see dedication of just one person and see how through a challenging time in history she chose to be a light and honor those lost.

Indigenous Storytelling; Protect the Earth; Environmental Justice

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 15:01:34 UTC

This story I placed under for 2-3 grade because of the imagery. Similar to poetry it would be fun to break down the story to discuss what each image represents. I loved how the black snack is a representation of oil, and this young girl is trying to protect her land, her people, and even the animals. The beautiful storytelling by this young girls brings up stories that have been passed down to her from her grandmother about protecting the water. This book is a great way to show students how important it is to protect our land and could be used around Earth Day. This was the first book where the illustration won the Caldecott Medal as an Indigenous recipient.

All the Same; Interracial Family

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 15:17:19 UTC

This is a great story about an interracial couple and their children. The constant retell of "black is brown is tan is girl is boy is nose is face is all the colors of the race" reminds us that maybe look different but were all the same, people who love and are kind. This book shows the love of a family, all who have different skin tones but they're an American family filled with warmth, joy, and love just like all the other families. Although this book is older and was one for the 1st books that showed a biracial couple in a children's book, it's still just as meaningful today.

Immigration; Refuge; Vietnam; Family

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 15:33:33 UTC

This is a great book bringing up what a life is like for a family immigrating to the United States. The boy and father fishing, just like his father would in Vietnam, is there dinner for the night as food cost more money in the states. Both parents have to work as the kids stay home, their English is improving but not great, they're doing their best to live their best life in a new country. I love the illustrations of the book and the storyline as it references back to their homeland. It brings up great points of the difficulties moving to a new country and refuges have starting over.

Family memories; Culture

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 15:44:35 UTC

As Lola gets an assignment to draw a picture of their homeland, she doesn't remember much so she needs the help of family and friends. This is such a heartwarming tail about finding out about your homeland. Every person that Lola asked had a different memory that they loved about the Island and what they remembered most. This book shows how talking to others can give you an idea of a place you may not remember but you can feel the energy as people talk about it. I think the book is a great reminder that although we may not have the memories or stories to share about homelands, there will always be a part of first home in all of us.

Identity; Love; Acceptance

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 15:52:48 UTC

This story is about a young boy and his love for mermaids. The boy is amazed by their beauty and wants to be just like them. He creates a wonderful outfit to look just like the mermaids and when his abuela finds him he is worried about what she might say/do. Instead she gives him a necklace in acceptance. She even takes he to see the mermaid is his outfit. This story is wonderful in showing that children and seen and heard. A beautiful written and illustrated book about self-love.

Non-Traditional Family; Homosexuality;

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 17:03:05 UTC

I was able to listen to this read aloud and I love how this book uses penguins at the zoo to describe a family. They're not worried about what color skin in this story but focusing on on the love of a family. The parents can be a mom and dad or two dad, but not matter they love their children just the same. I enjoyed the simple language in this story and it is easily relatable for young readers. Plus who doesn't just love a story about penguins! This book is on a few banned list but so many reviews say wonderful things about it for this age group. This age group needs to be able to read books that show differences in family as they grow and see throughout their communities.

Self Love; Body Positivity; Award-Winning(Many)

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 18:58:38 UTC

This book was one of my favorites to listen too. It's not text heavy but the combination of the words and pictures make it a wonderful read. After getting stuck on a swing, hateful words were said to the little girl. She then feels out of place, unwanted, and bad about herself as she prepares for a dance recital. I love that this books starts out with the positives, saying how she grew, not that she was big. You learn that words are hurtful to others and even if you think it's a joke it doesn't matter. This book was won many awards including the Coretta Scott King Award Author and Illustrator Honor book, a National Book Award finalist, and a New York Times bestseller.

Enslavement; American History; Non-fiction

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 19:16:11 UTC

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to using in the classroom someday. This non-fiction story shows us what it was like for Ona Judge to be enslaved to George and Martha Washington. As the country was just being built, we get the opportunity to see what life was like for Ona, how she was treated, the rules, and what it was like to be a run away. Although Ona was never freed, we do get to see how of some freed enslaved people lived during this time. This book does show more of the life of an enslaved girl who was treated better than most, but you also get to understand the history of the nation at the time.

Labor Unions; Power of a voice;Latinx Immigration

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 19:30:55 UTC

Although Viva is young, she is bright and love's going with her father to work. He's a bus driver in Los Angles and she thinks it's the greatest thing, until it all stops. Her father is on strike and not working. She doesn't understand why they can't go on the bus and help people get around. This book does a great job taking about labor unions, strikes, and workers rights. This book show on many voices working together for a cause they care about can make a difference.

Segregation; Latinx; Bullying; Civil Rights

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 19:52:57 UTC

This book is banned in many places yet as I was reading reviews, I honestly think it's an important to share with young readers. This book takes place in California. Slyvia just moved to California and when she was ready to attend her new school, her family learns they won't attend the same school as the boys and girls next door. Instead Sylvia and her siblings get to attend the Mexican school, even though they're American citizens. This book takes you back in to American History where it took a law suit to finally end this segregation. This book has always won awards including Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner and Robert F. Sibert Honor Book.

Refugee; Memoir; Hope;Family

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 20:12:28 UTC

This story follows the early life of Omar and Hassan, who had to abandon their rural home in Somalia and find themselves living in a Refugee camp in Kenya by the age of 4. Omar, although young, had to grow up quickly to care for his brother Hassan who was mentally challenged. This story follows them through 12 years at the camp until they resettlement was made for them to arrive in the U.S. at age 18. We get to follow Omar through his hopes, dreams, and all attempts to try and make the refugee camp feel like home. The desire to have anything that feels like a family was all that Omar could hope for and wishes he could be reunited with his family. This book shows the hardship of these camps, all the emotions you feel while there, and a little touch of honor.

Civil Rights; Black Panther; Racial Equality; Award-Winning

stukal2 — 2024-07-30 20:24:00 UTC

Three young sisters are heading to California to see their mother who left them years before. Little do they know they won't be enjoy a true Cali summer but instead are placed in a summer day camp ran by the Black Panthers. During this camp the girls learn more about their history, culture, their country, and also more about themselves during this time. This book helps understand racial equality, explains some history, and teaches that history is important in helping shape our future. One Crazy Summer won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and the Coretta Scott King Award and was a National Book Award Finalist.

Freedom; Heartache; Strength; Latinx

stukal2 — 2024-07-31 00:04:32 UTC

This book follows the a 12 year old girl and her family in the Dominican Republic. Taking place in 1960, we see how the life of this girls is ever changing with the Trujillo dictatorship having power over her homeland. Throughout the story family member leave to country, some disappear with no trace, and others are arrested. The young girl see that her homeland is no longer safe and we see her families journey through this difficult time.

Transgender; Acceptance; Self-Love

stukal2 — 2024-07-31 01:16:10 UTC

This book is also on many banned book list, which to me is really sad. I feel like. books like this need to be available to kids to help who are working through gender identity. Calvin is about a young boy who has also felt to be a boy and had the heart of a boy. Unfortunately everyone on the outside see him as a girl. We get to see the acceptance, love, support of his family through this book. Calvin was worried about school and what others will think, but with the help of friends AND TEACHERS, everything goes smoothly.

Poetry; Activism; 14 different stories

stukal2 — 2024-07-31 01:41:22 UTC

I think this book is a like a jackpot for poetry. This book contains 14 different poems that each discribe a young American child who's let their voice be heard in something that feel strongly about. Some are activist for LGBTQ+ rights, a young girl speaking up for the Flint water crisis, climate change and more. After each poem there is a short paragraph about the young activist, giving the reader some insight to what they accomplished and how they're changing the world.

Lyrical Book; Community; Inclusion; Diversity

stukal2 — 2024-07-31 13:20:54 UTC

A New York Times Best-Selling Book but it's also on many banned book list. This book explores many themes and there's so many lesson you can learn from the book. It talks about differences in skin, color, hair, favorite foods, even clothes, and how a little courage can allow others to see differences but also learn. This show's children that it's okay to have differences, it's what makes us all special in our own way.

Asian American; Immigration; Own Voice; Banned Book

stukal2 — 2024-07-31 13:38:56 UTC

This book was the winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature and in just 5 short years is already on some banned list.Front Desk is written after the author's own personal experience of growing up living in a motel and other students have no idea. This story is about Mia Tang who lives in the motel where her parents clean the rooms as she runs the front desk. Her parents hide immigrants in empty room in hope that no one finds out. This story show's Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work which is great for this age group.