I believe all students deserve books in which they see themselves and the world they live in and therefore multicultural literature belongs in every classroom and library shelf. 

I've also found a lesson plan using this literature: https://media.specialolympics.org/soi/files/resources/Schools_Youth/Jenni_SOGetIntoIt_K_2_Lessons_Update_09_16_2010.pdf

I would use this book to explore differences and similarities in the boy’s worlds and lives, and then springboard that into countries, cultures or experiences that the students have had. Has anyone been to another country? Does anyone have a different culture at home? Does anyone have grandparents from another country? Perhaps we can explore online a daily activity that the class chooses and compare how different countries or cultures participate in it.

 

Suggested Age Group: Pre-School and Elementary Classrooms 

Suggested Pedagogy:
Appropriate for ages 8-12, this book also has social studies connections as students explore global connections, social issues, and people, places, and environments. In a grade 5 social studies class, students can first be prompted to jot down what a typical day looks like for them (e.g. wake up, have breakfast, get ready for school, go to school, come home to do homework and play games, etc.). This will spark initial discussion on what we have access to here in our community - housing, food, education. After a read-aloud of Razia's Ray of Hope, the class can have a discussion and write on a Jamboard their responses to the following questions: What do you think life would be like without ever being able to go to school? How might this affect your family, your future 'dream job', and your community? The class can then look into some ways that they can help women and children around the world who do not have access to education (e.g. donating to the Raza's Ray of Hope foundation, raising awareness through social media, donating educational supplies and resources, etc.). This activity will promote empathy, social change, and an awareness of global education. 

Global Themes: Children's Rights, Equity, Quality Education

This book is a wonderful way for teachers to introduce students to the challenges and struggles faced by many children around the world. Readers will meet children of all ages, nationalities and religions and discover differences and similarities in the way children live. 

Suggested Pedagogy/Teaching
Introduction Activity:

Give students a blank piece of paper. Ask students to draw some of their favorite activities. Allow students to share their work once they’ve completed the drawings. Next, ask students to imagine a world where they are not allowed (or do not have the right) to go to school. Share with students the fact that in some parts of the world children are banned from attending school, riding bicycles, wearing brightly colored clothes and laughing loudly. Ask students to revisit their drawings. What would they have to “X out” from the picture if they weren’t allowed to attend school? 

Some essential questions that can be used for discussion:

What if you weren’t allowed to go to school? 

Should all children have the right to an education? 

www.quebecreadingconnection.ca

-        Make children write their own desire to visit a certain landmark i.e Buckingham palace and how they would like to interact with the royal members of the family. 

-        Discuss the importance iconic building from a historical perspective and give them a synopsis behind the architectures of London’s city

-        Ask children to identity shapes of the buildings and their wish to visit the most desired place in London

Global Theme: Inclusion & Diversity 

Summary: This story is about how teachers do much more than teach academics, it is how teachers play an important role for their students to build community and create a home away from how where students feel safe, welcomed, and included. This book helps teach students that this classroom is a place where it is safe to be whoever they want to be. As students are reading they will understand that it is okay to make mistakes and be kind to others. 

Suggested Pedagogy/Teaching Suggestion: During these unprecedented times, teachers and students are being shuffled around from in person learning to virtual learning. It is important to create this message as an educator to ensure that your students are aware that their class is their family even through the distance they are experiencing. I would use this book at the beginning of the school year from kindergarten to grade 3. This book is a great way to begin the conversation with your class to brainstorm what a family looks like and feels like. If you are teaching in a Catholic school I would suggest relating this back to the religion curriculum focusing on love and family relationships. You can have the students create different images of how they feel in your classroom and what might a classroom family look like. 

By: Jeanette Winter

Global Themes: Climate change and climate change action

Teaching Suggestion:  This story would work well in many grade levels in understanding climate change as a global issue. It could even be used as in high school classrooms, where climate change is taught in grade 10 science. I find students can have a hard time understanding issues that impact the entire world as they often focus on the impact in their own community or country. The story also highlights the importance of small changes making a big difference. After reading the story, students could brainstorm ways in which they can make a small change towards improving climate change like Wanagri.

 by Carmen Tafolla

Global Themes: Equity, Poverty, Advocacy, Civil Rights, Hunger, Education, Labor Rights

Teaching Suggestions: 
This book can be a prompt for students to begin to discuss inequalities between people in their own communities and globally. This book would be good for intermediate students to begin to evaluate human rights, differences in global experiences and the role of advocacy to make changes. 

Lesson Ideas: 

- Students can compare/ contrast their personal experiences with those of characters in the books

-Students can research the history of ideas and themes found in the book

-Class discussions around themes of the book

-Students can begin to research human rights and identify inequalities worldwide.

By Joke Van Leeuwen

Global Themes: War and Refugee Status, Immigration, Humanity, Resilience

 

Teaching Suggestion: This book can be used as a starting point for talking about and researching war and refugees. Because Toda (the little girl) has to leave her home country after her dad goes to war, cultural differences can also be explored.

- CBL could be leveraged in working with charities that help refugees or work with immigrants

- Conversations or activities around cultural and etiquette differences between two countries of a student’s choice could be explored

In this story the universal characteristics of love and determination are placed in the context of Japan, and Yumi’s way of life, but the main themes are ones that can be reflected in the lives of children from all cultures. To explore this topic, teachers could ask students to reflect on a person they love very much, and would travel all around the country to see, and ask what they would do when faced with obstacles to be able to see their loved one.  

By Giancarlo Macri & Carolina Zanotti

Published in 2018

We Are All Dots: A Big Plan for a Better World is a book that uses simple black and white drawings to illustrate important topics such as diversity, poverty, immigration and human rights. There are white dots and black dots, who are neighbours, but one set of dots are prosperous and the other set of dots are impoverished. This book has minimal text, but the message is clear: it shows children how some people are born in places that do not have access to clean water, food and the resources needed to flourish and become successful.

This book could be used for many ages (primary or junior) in understanding several topics such as empathy, diversity, immigration, refugees or human rights, to name a few. 

This book could be a starting point for: