Kids and Families

Multicultural Books for Children

Baby - Preschool | Ages 5-7 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 9-12 | Teens

Baby - Preschool

Cummings, Pat. My Aunt Came Back. HarperCollins, 1998. (African American)
A favorite aunt travels to far away lands and returns with presents and exotic tales to her awaiting niece. Presented in the form of a chant, this book makes a perfect read-aloud.

Havill, Juanita. Treasure Nap. Houghton Mifflin, 1992. (Latino)
Rita travels to say good-bye to her grandfather in Mexico and receives treasures she brings to the United States and that are passed down to Alicia, her great-granddaughter. Wonderful story relating the importance of cultural heritage.

Heo, Yumi. One Afternoon. Orchard, 1994. (Asian American)
Engaging and colorful illustrations highlight a look at the busy day had by Minho and his mother, as they run errands and take special note of the familiar sounds of their busy neighborhood.

Reiser, Lynn. Margaret and Margarita/Margarita y Margaret. Greenwillow,1993. (Latino)
A well-executed bilingual picture book in which English and Spanish interact with each other. The text concerns the pleasant interaction between two children who don't allow the fact that they speak different languages get in the way of enjoying each other's company.

Scott, Ann Herbert. On Mother's Lap. Clarion, 1992. (Inuit)
Michael, a little Inuit boy, discovers there's room for both himself and his baby sister on their mother's lap. This book correctly captures the universal comforts of childhood in an Inuit setting.

Van Frankenhuyzen, Gijsbert. The Legend of Sleeping Bear. Sleeping Bear Press, 1998. (Native American)
In a retelling of an Ojibwe Indian tale, a mother bear can't locate her two cubs as they escape a forest fire by swimming Lake Michigan. This beautifully illustrated and touching story describes a parent's unfailing love for her children.

Williams, Vera B. "More More More" Said the Baby. Greenwillow, 1990. (Multi-ethnic)
Three babies, from Multi-ethnic families, are showered with love, kisses, and attention from the people who care for them. A simple story affirming the close bond between a baby and those who love him or her. This book is an old favorite and is beautifully illustrated.

Ages 5 - 7

Choi, Yangsook. New Cat. Frances Foster, 1999. (Asian American)
While living in Mr. Kim's tofu factory, New Cat becomes a hero one night as she chases a mouse late and discovers fire. Richly illustrated, this story describes the everlasting bond between pets and people.

Havill, Juanita. Jamaica and Brianna. Houghton Mifflin, 1993. (Biethnic)
On the surface, this story is about the decision to wear pink furry versus cowboy boots. The underlying meaning, however, involves true friendship and hurt feelings backdropped with warm family and an ethnically diverse school.

Kuklin, Susan. How My Family Lives in America. Simon & Schuster, 1992. (Multi-ethnic)
Three children-an African American, a Hispanic American, and an Asian American-describe their families and how they've adapted to life in America. Photographs and first-person accounts detail the importance of each unique ethnic tradition.

Mora, Pat. Tomas and the Library Lady. Knopf, 1997. (Latino)
A true story in the life of Tomas Rivera, a famous writer and son of a migrant worker. Captivated by stories told by his grandfather, Tomas ventures to the library in search for more. Dream-like illustrations add depth to this testament to the power of libraries.

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra. Disney, 1998. (African American)
In this tribute to a jazz legend, words and pictures blend together in a fluid swing-easy manner that the Duke himself would have surely approved. An excellent biography for early readers.

Soto, Gary. Snapshots from the Wedding. Putnam, 1997. (Latino)
Maya, flower girl at the wedding, takes the reader on a tour of all the action-including behind-the-scenes-at a family wedding. Use of clay figures and three-dimensional scenes add to the fun.

Van Camp, Richard. A Man Called Raven. Children's Book Press, 1997. (Native American)
In an effort to teach two Native American boys why they should not abuse ravens, a stranger tells them a story of a cruel man who was punished by turning into a raven himself. Powerful illustrations exemplify the reminder that we can all learn from nature.

Ages 7 - 9

Ada, Alma Flor. My Name Is Maria Isabel. Atheneum, 1993. (Latino)
Maria, a third grader who's newly moved from Puerto Rico, is devastated when her teacher decides to call her "Mary" in order to distinguish from the other two Marias in the class. Proud of her name and heritage, Maria finds a way to make her teacher understand.

Bruchac, Joseph. The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale. Dial, 1995. (Native American)
The Milky Way legend tells of an elderly couple who chase the dog that stole their cornmeal into the night sky. The result was a collection of stars that formed into the Milky Way. Exquisite illustrations contribute to the story.

Bunting, Eve. So Far from the Sea. Clarion, 1998. (Asian American)
Seven-year-old Laura Iwasaki travels with her family to visit her Grandfather's grave, at the site of the Manzanar War Relocation Camp. Laura's anger at the injustice to which her family was subjected makes other family members confront their own feelings as well.

Curtis, Gavin. The Bat Boy and His Violin. Simon & Schuster, 1998. (African American)
Though Reginald likes nothing better than playing his violin, his father, as manager of one of the worst teams in the Negro Leagues, needs a bat boy. In an act of compromise, Reginald performs his duties while filling the dugout with Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven. His music soon acts as inspiration to the losing team.

Lin, Grace. The Ugly Vegetables. Charlesbridge, 1999. (Asian American)
In a comfortable neighborhood setting, a girl and her mother dig their garden. While the neighbors' gardens bring sweet smelling flowers, the daughter notices that theirs reaps only ugly vegetables. All ends well, however, when the soup made from the vegetables tantalizes the neighbors into sharing the savory feast. Recipes included.

Steptoe, Javaka. In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall. Lee & Low, 1997. (African American)
Powerful poems celebrate African American fathers and the universal bond between fathers and children. Inventive illustrations created with a variety of materials-found objects, torn and cut paper, photographs-are a perfect match for text.

Woodson, Jacqueline. We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past. Disney, 1998. (African American)
An annual family picnic is the setting for hilarious descriptions and comments of family members and the food that is brought as each appear on the scene. The message here is that, for all the teasing and joking, the gathering of extended family is a time of pure joy.

Ages 9 - 12

Armstrong, Jennifer. Steal Away. Scholastic, 1993. (Multi-ethnic)
In this story of friendship and betrayal, Susannah, ward of a slave owner, helps Bethlehem, a slave girl, escape to freedom. The story the two girls' escape is told alternately by the now elderly Bethlehem and Susannah to thirteen-year-old Mary.

Bruchac, Joseph. The Arrow over the Door. Dial, 1998. (Native American)
In alternating chapters, the reader comes to know two fourteen-year-olds-one Quaker and one an Abenaki Indian, whose lives at the time of the Revolution eventually intersect. Based on an actual historical event, their meeting affects their lives in a deeply spiritual manner.

Grimes, Nikki. Jazmin's Notebook. Dial, 1998. (African American)
This is life seen through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Jazmin, a girl living in Harlem in the 60s and who fills her journal with lots of laughs, anger and hope. In this book about growing up, Jazmin explores life's possibilities and realizes this is only the beginning.

Katz, Jane B. Messengers of the Wind: Native American Women Tell Their Life Stories. Ballantine, 1996. (Native American)
A rich mosaic of powerful personal stories of Native American women. This collection is represented by grandmothers, mothers, artists, activists, daughters, and healers all speaking eloquently and passionately about their lives and experiences. An inspirational and eloquent text.

Martinez, Floyd. Spirits of the High Mesa. Arte Publico, 1997 (Latino)
In a small village in Northern New Mexico, a young Hispanic boy is torn between the cultural values held by his grandfather and the lure of modern life in America. The text is often humorous and is rich in cultural detail and adventure.

Myers, Walter Dean. At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England. Scholastic, 1999. (African American)
Captivated by a packet of letters found in a London bookshop, Myers reconstructs the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a child of royal African descent who was rescued by a British sea-captain. A celebrity of her day, Sarah became goddaughter of Queen Victoria. Illustrated with photos and drawings from the era, and including letters penned by Sarah and her friends, this book provides an intimate portrait of Sarah and her times.

Yep, Laurence. The Amah. Putnam, 1999. (Asian American)
When Amy's mother takes the job as amah (nanny) for 12-year-old Stephanie, Amy must help out at home resulting in less time to practice her role in a school ballet. An authentic look at the struggles and conflicts of Chinese-American family life.

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