Multicultural and International Books
Page created by Anne Sengebau
Multicultural and international books serve three main functions:
Multicultural Literature
Multicultural literature includes books that portray people of color: African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos. They also, however, include books that help to portray religious groups other than Christians like Jews, Catholics, Muslims, Mormons and Amish. Lastly, they include books that portray the intellectually and physically challenged.
- They help create an awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the differences of others.
- They help children of color to view their culture in a positive light.
- They provide a vehicle for students to travel to different cultures and witness the rich story-telling traditions these countries have to offer.
Multicultural Literature
Multicultural literature includes books that portray people of color: African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos. They also, however, include books that help to portray religious groups other than Christians like Jews, Catholics, Muslims, Mormons and Amish. Lastly, they include books that portray the intellectually and physically challenged.
African American Stories:
Spinelli, J. (1990). Maniac Magee. New York: Scholastic Inc.
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli is a novel about Jeffrey Lionel Magee who was orphaned at three years old when the trolley his parents were in fell into the Schuylkill River. He lived with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan for eight years until he could no longer bear to live in their unhappy home where no one talked. So he ran away. After a year of wandering, he ends up in Two Mills which is across the river where is parents died.
Hector Street divided the East End and West End of the town of Two Mills. The East End is where the blacks lived and the West End is where the whites lived. Jeffery encounters kind families on both side of Hector Street that take him in and feed him, but he ends up living with the Beale’s, a black family. When his presence causes problems for the Beale’s, Jeffery leaves and finds a place to sleep in the buffalo pen at the nearby zoo. He is hungry and exhausted when Grayson, the grounds keeper, finds him collapsed on the ground. The old man cleans and feeds him, and they become good friends. It is the only time Jeffrey does not have to deal with the hatefulness of people. His happiness is short lived though. Grayson does not awake one morning. No one comes to his funeral except Jeffery. Jeffrey is then forced to face the hateful people in Two Mills once again.
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli is a novel about Jeffrey Lionel Magee who was orphaned at three years old when the trolley his parents were in fell into the Schuylkill River. He lived with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan for eight years until he could no longer bear to live in their unhappy home where no one talked. So he ran away. After a year of wandering, he ends up in Two Mills which is across the river where is parents died.
Hector Street divided the East End and West End of the town of Two Mills. The East End is where the blacks lived and the West End is where the whites lived. Jeffery encounters kind families on both side of Hector Street that take him in and feed him, but he ends up living with the Beale’s, a black family. When his presence causes problems for the Beale’s, Jeffery leaves and finds a place to sleep in the buffalo pen at the nearby zoo. He is hungry and exhausted when Grayson, the grounds keeper, finds him collapsed on the ground. The old man cleans and feeds him, and they become good friends. It is the only time Jeffrey does not have to deal with the hatefulness of people. His happiness is short lived though. Grayson does not awake one morning. No one comes to his funeral except Jeffery. Jeffrey is then forced to face the hateful people in Two Mills once again.
Hill, L.C. (2010). Dave the Potter, Artist, Poet, Slave. (Kindle DX Version)
Dave the Potter, Artist, Poet, Slave is a picture book written in verse about an African American slave who lived in the 1800's in South Carolina. Dave created pottery and then wrote a short poem on them. This seems unimpressive at first, but Dave did this during a period in our country's history when it was illegal for slaves to learn to read or write. The punishment 50 lashes. Many of the poems Dave wrote on his pottery were humorous: "I, made this Jar all of cross / If, you don't repent, you will be, lost."
Dave the Potter, Artist, Poet, Slave is a picture book written in verse about an African American slave who lived in the 1800's in South Carolina. Dave created pottery and then wrote a short poem on them. This seems unimpressive at first, but Dave did this during a period in our country's history when it was illegal for slaves to learn to read or write. The punishment 50 lashes. Many of the poems Dave wrote on his pottery were humorous: "I, made this Jar all of cross / If, you don't repent, you will be, lost."
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac is a novel about the Navajo's part in helping the United States win World War Two.
Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London is a picture book with a collection of poems. The poems explain the Native American lunar calendar that includes 13 moons.
Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London is a picture book with a collection of poems. The poems explain the Native American lunar calendar that includes 13 moons.
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is based on the true story of the Sudanese lost boys.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park is a historical novel about a small seaside village in the west coast of Korea where celadon pottery has been made since 918 A.D. The novel is also about accepting life’s adversities and becoming triumphant in spite of them. Crane-man, a homeless, village cripple takes charge of an unwanted, abandoned orphan, Tree-ear. They take care of each other by scrounging for food during the day, and sleeping under a bridge at night. Crane-man has been the only father thirteen-year old Tree-ear has known. Ironically, it is the vagrant who teaches Tree-ear about living honorably. They live in a small, seaside village, Ch’ulp’o, known for its grayish-green pottery called celadon. When Tree-ear stumbles onto a job helping a gifted, aging, celadon potter named Min, life for the two vagrants becomes purposeful and less concerned with basic survival. It is at this point in the novel that the reader learns of the rich history behind the Korean celadon pottery.
Tree-ear must accomplish blistering tasks to gain Min’s trust and respect. Min is stingy with his compliments, but he allows the boy to learn some of crafts of the trade. Tree-ear learns where and how to get the clay for the pottery, he learns how to draining the clay, he learns how to glaze and how to load the pottery into the kiln. After months of working with Min, Tree-ear asks Min if he can learn to form the clay on the wheel. Min replies that he will never teach him the trade because that is passed from father to son. Despite this crushing disappointment, the boy remains loyal to Min and risks his life to get Min a royal commission.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park is a historical novel about a small seaside village in the west coast of Korea where celadon pottery has been made since 918 A.D. The novel is also about accepting life’s adversities and becoming triumphant in spite of them. Crane-man, a homeless, village cripple takes charge of an unwanted, abandoned orphan, Tree-ear. They take care of each other by scrounging for food during the day, and sleeping under a bridge at night. Crane-man has been the only father thirteen-year old Tree-ear has known. Ironically, it is the vagrant who teaches Tree-ear about living honorably. They live in a small, seaside village, Ch’ulp’o, known for its grayish-green pottery called celadon. When Tree-ear stumbles onto a job helping a gifted, aging, celadon potter named Min, life for the two vagrants becomes purposeful and less concerned with basic survival. It is at this point in the novel that the reader learns of the rich history behind the Korean celadon pottery.
Tree-ear must accomplish blistering tasks to gain Min’s trust and respect. Min is stingy with his compliments, but he allows the boy to learn some of crafts of the trade. Tree-ear learns where and how to get the clay for the pottery, he learns how to draining the clay, he learns how to glaze and how to load the pottery into the kiln. After months of working with Min, Tree-ear asks Min if he can learn to form the clay on the wheel. Min replies that he will never teach him the trade because that is passed from father to son. Despite this crushing disappointment, the boy remains loyal to Min and risks his life to get Min a royal commission.
Grace Lin
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin received a 2010 Newbery Honor. Lin skillfully weaves forty-eight chapters of short Chinese tales into a cohesive story that is captivating and enriching. Her illustrations are also vibrant and intricate, transporting the reader to a China long ago. The Chinese culture, wit, and values resound in each tale.
Minli’s motivations and journey in the novel are relevant to all children today. Her character, determination and fearlessness will inspire readers to look for and embrace the small blessings in their lives.
Dumpling Days
The Year of the Dog
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin received a 2010 Newbery Honor. Lin skillfully weaves forty-eight chapters of short Chinese tales into a cohesive story that is captivating and enriching. Her illustrations are also vibrant and intricate, transporting the reader to a China long ago. The Chinese culture, wit, and values resound in each tale.
Minli’s motivations and journey in the novel are relevant to all children today. Her character, determination and fearlessness will inspire readers to look for and embrace the small blessings in their lives.
Dumpling Days
The Year of the Dog
Latinos/Latinas Stories
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan is a novel about a wealthy Mexican landowner’s only daughter, Esperanza Ortega. The story starts out weeks before her thirteenth birthday. Esperanza’s lives a pampered, sheltered life. She goes to a private all girls’ school, she has a servant that still helps her bath, and she has never had to work a single day of her young life. Things change suddenly when the day before her birthday her father is robbed and killed by bandits. Esperanza, her mother, and grandmother wait up all night for her father’s return, but instead her greedy Tio Luis hovers as they wait for news. When Alfonso, their trusted field-worker and father’s close friend, returns with his son Miguel and her father’s lifeless body, Esperanza’s perfect world is shattered. Tio Luis owns the land, but Romona, Esperanza’s mother, has inherited the large house on the land. He offers Romona a proposal of marriage, but she refuses. Their home with all their belongings is torched in the darkness of early morning.
Esperanza, Romona, Alfonso, his wife Hortensia, and son Miguel, escape to Los Angeles, California to find work on the large vegetable and fruit farms. Esperanza must adjust from having everything done for her, to cleaning dirty diapers, cleaning and packing produce for market, bathing only once a week, and sharing. When her mother becomes gravely ill and must be hospitalized for five months, Esperanza realizes that the most valuable possessions are loved ones during the valleys in life
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan is a novel based on the childhood of the Chilean Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda, the pseudonym of Naftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. Neruda won the Nobel prize for Literature in 1971. Ryan's character is named Naftali Reyes.
Esperanza, Romona, Alfonso, his wife Hortensia, and son Miguel, escape to Los Angeles, California to find work on the large vegetable and fruit farms. Esperanza must adjust from having everything done for her, to cleaning dirty diapers, cleaning and packing produce for market, bathing only once a week, and sharing. When her mother becomes gravely ill and must be hospitalized for five months, Esperanza realizes that the most valuable possessions are loved ones during the valleys in life
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan is a novel based on the childhood of the Chilean Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda, the pseudonym of Naftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. Neruda won the Nobel prize for Literature in 1971. Ryan's character is named Naftali Reyes.
Judging Multicultural Literature
When selecting multicultural literature, teachers must first look at the normal standards for judging literature: believable story line, interesting plot, and important theme. The literature must also avoid racial or cultural stereotypes. The cultural details included need to be accurate relation to: idioms, food, customs, clothing, and religious beliefs.
Multicultural literature must also be sensitive to subcultures: dress codes for certain groups, or lifestyles for different tribes.
Cultural authenticity must also be considered. Do people within a culture feel that the literature has correctly portrayed their beliefs and cultural idiosyncrasies.
When selecting multicultural literature, teachers must first look at the normal standards for judging literature: believable story line, interesting plot, and important theme. The literature must also avoid racial or cultural stereotypes. The cultural details included need to be accurate relation to: idioms, food, customs, clothing, and religious beliefs.
Multicultural literature must also be sensitive to subcultures: dress codes for certain groups, or lifestyles for different tribes.
Cultural authenticity must also be considered. Do people within a culture feel that the literature has correctly portrayed their beliefs and cultural idiosyncrasies.
International Books
The accuracy and quality of the translation of international books is a major focus in the selection process.
International Children's Digital Library offers hundreds of books from around the world that teachers can peruse.
Inaba no Shirousagi (The Hare of Inaba)
Where is the Bear?
The accuracy and quality of the translation of international books is a major focus in the selection process.
International Children's Digital Library offers hundreds of books from around the world that teachers can peruse.
Inaba no Shirousagi (The Hare of Inaba)
Where is the Bear?
Links about teaching children to be culturally sensitive, and to appreciate other's differences.
Religious Beliefs
Scholastic
Colin Colorado: A Party in Ramadan by Asma Mobin-Uddin Book Reviews
Chinese New Year by Grace Lin Preview the Book
Religious Beliefs
Scholastic
Colin Colorado: A Party in Ramadan by Asma Mobin-Uddin Book Reviews
Chinese New Year by Grace Lin Preview the Book
Books that teach children to be sensitive to others who are physically and intellectually challenged.
John Stienbeck's Of Mice and Men
Teacher Vision's list of books that talk about disabilities
Are You Alone on Purpose? by Nancy Werlin
Little Stevie Wonder by Quincy Troupe
John Stienbeck's Of Mice and Men
Teacher Vision's list of books that talk about disabilities
Are You Alone on Purpose? by Nancy Werlin
Little Stevie Wonder by Quincy Troupe
Multicultural and International books help to educate children about the many rich cultures around the world, they help children to appreciate the differences in each culture, but also, they help children to recognize our many similarities that, hopefully, dispels the fears that generate prejudices, hatred, and eventual clashes that lead to us to battles.