Multicultural Children's Books

A small sampling of multicultural resources available in the Curriculum Materials Center of the David and Lorraine Cheng Library.

• Fiction
• Non Fiction

Fiction:

Chinn, K. (1995). Sam and the lucky money. New York: Lee & Low Books.

On Chinese New Year, Sam has to decide how to spend the lucky money he received. (Grades K-3).

Call Number: PJ Chi

Fleischman, P. (1997). Seedfolks. New York: HarperCollins.

A group of people of varying ages and backgrounds transform a trash-filled inner-city lot into a productive and beautiful garden, and in doing so, the gardeners are themselves transformed. (Grades 5 and up).

Call Number: J Fle

Goble, P. (2003). The girl who loved horses. New York: Aladdin Books.

A Native Indian girl is fond of her people, but she prefers to live among the wild horses where she is truly happy and free. (Grades K-3).

Call Number: J Gob 2003

Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Bobby's teenage life changes when he becomes a father and must care for his baby daughter. (Grades 7 to 12).

Call Number: J Joh

Meyer, C. (1996). Gideon's people. San Diego: Harcourt Brace.

Two boys from very different cultures--one Amish, one Orthodox Jew --discover just how similar they really are. (Grades 4 - 7).

Call Number: J Mey

Perez, L.K. (2002). First day in grapes. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Chico starts third grade and finds that self confidence and math skills help him cope with the first day of school. (Grades K-3).

Call Number: PJ Per

Ringgold, F. (1996). Bonjour, Lonnie. New York: Hyperion.

An African-American Jewish boy is led by a Love Bird to a place where he discovers his family heritage. (Grades K - 12).

Call Number: J Rin

Taylor, M. D. (1995). The well: David's story. New York: Simon & Schuster.

The Logan family in Mississippi in the early 1900's share their well water with both white and black neighbors in an atmosphere where there is a potential for racial violence. (Grades 7 to 12).

Call Number: J Tay

Williams, K. L. (1998). Painted dreams. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard.

Ti Marie, a poor eight year old, finds her own way to make pictures that inspire the heart. (Grades PreK - 3).

Call Number: PJ Wil

Wisniewski, D. (1996). Golem. New York: Clarion Books.

A clay giant is brought to life that helps a saintly rabbi watch over the Jews of sixteenth-century Prague. (Grades Pre K - 3).

Call Number: j398.21 Wis

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Non-Fiction

Ada, A. (1998). Under the royal palms: A childhood in Cuba. New York: Atheneum.

She talks about her childhood in Cuba. (Grades 4-7).

Call Number: jB Ada

Elish, D. (1993). Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press.

A biography of the African American woman who escaped from slavery, led slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad, aided Northern troops during the Civil War, and worked for women's suffrage. (Grades K-3).

Call Number: jB Tub

Flanagan, A. K. (1996). A busy day at Mr. Kang's grocery store. New York: Children's Press.

The story is a description of the work done each day by a Korean American who owns the neighborhood grocery store. (Grades K -3).

Call Number: j381.14 Fla

Freedman, R. (1999). Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The making of a champion. New York: Clarion Books.

A biography about Babe Didrikson, who broke records in golf, track and field, and other sports, at a time when there were few opportunities for female athletes. (Grades 9- 12).

Call Number: jB Zah

Gutman, B. (1998). Tiger Woods: Golf's shining young star. Brookfield,CT: Millbrook Press.

From his childhood in California this tells the story about Tiger Woods, the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament, and the most highly recognized player of the game. (Grades 4 - 7).

Call Number: jB Woo

Hansen, J. (1998). Women of hope: African Americans who made a difference. New York: Scholastic Press.

Twelve courageous African American women who inspired the world. (Grades 4-10).

Call Number: j920 Han

Haskin, J. (2000). One Nation under a groove: Rap music and its roots. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.

Talks about the origins and evolution of rap music, its African roots, and continuing popularity. (Grade 7 -12).

Call Number: j782.421 Has

Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1996). April, a Pueblo storyteller. New York: Newbridge.

In the Cochiti Pueblo near Santa Fe, New Mexico, a young Cochiti Indian girl describes her home and family and the day-to-day life and customs of her people. (Grades K-3).

Call Number: [Big Book] j970.004 Hoy

Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1996). Alex: A Chinese American boy. New York: Newbridge.

Describes the life of a Chinese boy. (Grades 1-3).

Call Number:[Big Book] j305.8 Hoy

Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1996). Clay Hernandez: A Mexican American. New York: Newbridge.

Describes the life, family and activities of a Mexican American boy living in San Antonio, Texas. (Grades 1-3).

Call Number: [Big Book] j305.8 Hoy

Illsley, L. (1995). A taste of Mexico. New York: Thomson Learning.

A Mexican cookbook that talks about the history of food in Mexico and offers recipes that you can use as well. (Grades 3 - 6).

Call Number: j641.597 Ill

Jiang, J. (1997). Red scarf girl: A memoir of the Cultural Revolution. New York: HarperCollins.

Based on the author's experiences during the Cultural Revolution in China. She and her family were subjected to public humiliation, and witnessed the murder of neighbors and other atrocities. (Grades 5 - 9).

Call Number: j951.05 Jia

Koller, J.F. (1999). Nickommoh!: A Thanksgiving celebration. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

In this story the Narragansett people have a harvest celebration long before the Pilgrims arrived in New England. (Grades K-3).

Call Number: j394.264 Kol

Krull, K. (1996). Wilma unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph became the world's fastest woman. San Diego: Harcourt Brace.

A biography about an African American woman who overcame polio as a child to become the first woman to win three gold medals in track in a single Olympics. (Grades 4-7).

Call Number: jB Rud

Morris, A. (2003). Grandma Hekmatt remembers: An Arab-American family story. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press.

Three Arab-American girls learn about their family and cultural history from their grandmother, who grew up in Cairo, Egypt. (Grade 2-4).

Call Number: j305.89 Mor

Spinelli, J. (1998). Knots in my yo-yo string: The autobiography of a kid. New York: Knopf.

The story of an Italian-American child who grew up in Norristown, PA, and received the Newbery Medalist award as an adult. (Grades 5-8).

Call Number: jB Spi

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