Read to celebrate Multicultural Children's Book Day! |
Today, January 27th, is Multicultural Children's Book Day! Join me and many others in sharing and celebrating books that honor multicultural characters, themes, and ideas. Check out the MCCBD blog for more information, including daily author interviews for the month of January. There is also a huge link-up of multicultural book-related posts here or read on for relevant posts from The Logonauts.
Below is a round up of posts from The Logonauts that feature books and activities appropriate for Multicultural Children's Book Day.
MCCBD Reviews
As a reviewer for the Multicultural Children's Book Day, publisher Lee & Low sent me the following three books to read and review. All three are incredible resources, and I am looking forward to sharing them with my students.- King for a Day - this charming picture book is set in Lahore, Pakistan and introduces readers to the kite festival and fighting of the Basant festival.
- Summoning the Phoenix: Review - this collection of poetry and nonfiction information features unique Chinese musical instruments. The review includes videos and suggestions for making your own instruments.
- Twenty-Two Cents: Review - introduce your child to the world of microfinance and the man behind Grameen Bank. This review also includes recommended books to pair with this one to encourage kids to think about how to make a difference and improve the lives of others.
History and Geography Posts
- We Were There, Too! Young People in US History - book review about this incredibly useful collection of biographies about children throughout American history.
- Picture Book Text Set on Japanese Internment - introduce students to this dark chapter in American history with this series of picture books at their level. See also New Book Alert: Dash, a review of a historical fiction novel set in an Internment camp.
- Look What Came From series - these books focus on an individual country or continent and share the unique inventions and cultural contributions of this place through history.
- Teaching about the Geography of Food - this series of nonfiction books is ideal for teaching students about the history and geography of food.
Folktale Posts
- Worldwide Cinderella Stories - part 1: Asia, Africa, and Europe - an introduction to more than 20 different picture book versions of Cinderella stories from these three continents, including some of the oldest recorded Cinderella stories.
- Worldwide Cinderella Stories - part 2: the Americas - this collection includes several Native American Cinderella stories as well as more recent versions that evolved in the Americas
We love Cinderella stories! |
- "Foolish" Wise Men - folktales from the Middle East and India - this collection of stories features the foolish wise man who uses his supposedly simple nature to teach lessons to the rich and powerful.
- Trickster Tales from Around the World by Gerald McDermott - this collection of trickster tales features a wide-range of tricksters from many countries and cultures that will keep your child in stitches.
- Anansi the Trickster, part 1: stories by Eric Kimmel and part 2: stories by other authors - Anansi is a popular trickster from West Africa and the Ashanti people, and these two posts highlight a variety of picture books featuring him and his tricky antics. In a few, Anansi even finds himself tricked!
Modern People and Cultures Posts
Cultures in General
- Around the World in a Single Book - part 1: children - introduce your students to other children from around the world in this series of picture books.
- Around the World in a Single Book - part 2: cultures - these books focus on cultures around the world in general, including books about houses and food around the world.
- Around the World in a Single Book - part 3: languages and schools - this conclusion to the series focuses on books about languages and schools around the world.
Holidays and Religion
- 5 Positive Picture Books for Ramadan - book review of five realistic fiction picture books about the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.
Languages and Poetry
- Celebrating Bilingualism with Poetry - why write poems in only one language? Use this tri-lingual book to encourage your students to write and express themselves in all their languages.
- Swahili Alphabet and Counting Books - a round up of several different Swahili language books that focus on counting and the alphabet in addition to introducing other Swahili words.
- Amazing Faces: amazing poems - this collection of poems featuring diverse children and adults from the US is a great addition to any celebration of multiculturalism.
- Indigenous Food Haiku - this book of haiku inspired by the indigenous plants of the Americas is a great way to talk to kids about where food comes from and to celebrate the contributions of Native Americans and other indigenous peoples.
World Issues
- Picture Books that Deal with Modern Wars - a review of several picture books that introduce students to modern wars and their impact, either specifically or more indirectly.
- The Power of Girls and Schools: text set - this collection of picture books focuses on the plight of girls and education through history and around the world, focusing on inspiring stories of girls who fought to get an education.
- Biographies about People and Trees - these books share the stories of inspiring individuals who worked hard to preserve, plant, and protect trees and their environment.
What a great collection of books! I don't think children are ever too young to learn about multi-culturals and its sometimes difficult when we live in smaller towns. Thanks for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Kristen! There are so many great picture books out there that are culturally-authentic; they can be a great resource.
DeleteGreat recommendations for multicultural books. I love the photo of you students! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! They really enjoyed finding a favorite book to share.
DeleteI absolutely loved King for a Day - great to see the kids in your classroom here. :) And for the lovely links! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Myra! It was nice to actually "share" them without feeling nervous about it.
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