Multicultural Literature

A clever twist on the traditional Gingerbread man story, The Matzo Ball Boy introduces readers to Jewish terms and traditions. A bubbe is preparing for seder dinner by making a matzo ball boy. He tries to run away to see the world, which is reflective of the effort to escape persecution and imprisonment the Jewish community has faced in the past.

This book tells of one little girl's experience in a new school after her family moves from China to the United States. Unyei is scared that her peers won't be able to say her name so they create a name jar full of names for her to pick from. This heartfelt story reveals the importance of valuing your native culture and how it makes you unique.

This award winning story shows us how to appreciate simple beauty and what we have. Wabi Sabi is a cat who has never liked her name. When asked about its meaning, Wabi Sabi searches for its significance and finds that it is from a valued Japanese saying.

This book teaches about the significance of traditional clothing in Indian culture. Little Rupa wonders why her grandmother always wears saris instead of pants or dresses. Her grandmother shares with her that saris are reminders of different times in a woman’s life and they hold special significance as they get handed down from generation to generation.

This award winning picture book explores the traditions of Mexican culture through a birthday party that is visited by Senor Calaveras, the skeleton who escorts you when it is time to pass on. The authentic food, decorations, and customs in this story give readers insight into what makes this culture unique while providing a review of numbers 1-10.

Close to Famous is a story about a young girl's dream to become a celebrity chef. Her reading disability jeapordizes her chances when it affects her ability to succeed. With love from her mom and support from her new small town neighbors, Foster is able to shine.

This book tells the story of a young girl's experience growing up on an Indian reserve. After waiting in line to pick a Christmas gift from the donated clothes and picking last, she finds that the coat she wanted has already been claimed. In the midst of her disappointment, she is surprised to get a beautiful red coat perfect for keeping out the winter cold.

In this story, every person and animal on the farm has a job to do to help make arroz con leche, or rice pudding. The gradual incorporation of Spanish words into the story provides a context for learning Spanish while learning how to make a traditional Mexican dish.

Multicultural Literature Glogster

by Katie Stults