Multicultural Bibliography
prepared by Lisa A. Ward
for ECE 507 -01
Spring 2008
We Are A Rainbow
Written and Illustrated by Nancy Maria Grande Tabor
Charlesbridge Publishing (MA)
ISBN# 0-88106-646-X
Summary: simple text and illustrations explore some of the similarities and differences that a child recognizes after moving to the United States from a Spanish-speaking country.
My Brother Sammy
by Becky Edwards and David Armitage
The Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT)
ISBN# 0-7613-1417-2
Summary: a boy describes some of the many feelings he has about his brother Sammy, who is autistic.
Andy and His Yellow Frisbee
Written and Illustrated by Mary Thompson
Woodbine House (Bethesda, MD)
ISBN# 0-933149-83-2
Summary: the new girl at school tries to befriend Andy, an autistic boy who spends every recess by himself, spinning a yellow frisbee under the watchful
eye of his older sister.
The Ugly Duckling
Retold by Stephen Mitchell
Paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA)
ISBN# 0-763621-59-5
Summary: a stunning retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's story about a very large and very ugly duckling who learns the true meaning of beauty and belonging.
Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman
Frances Foster Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-374-35067-1
Summary: Moses and his schoolmates, all deaf, attend a concert where the orchestra's percussionist is also deaf. Includes illustrations in sign language and a page showing the manual alphabet.
Moses Goes to School by Isaac Millman
Frances Foster Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-374-35069-8
Summary: Moses and his friends enjoy the first day of school at their special school for the deaf and hard of hearing, where they use sign language to talk
to each other.
Moses Sees a Play by Isaac Millman
Frances Foster Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-374-35066-3
Summary: Moses and his classmates, who are deaf or hard of hearing, attend a play at their school, and Moses makes a new friend from another class.
Moses Goes to the Circus by Isaac Millman
Frances Foster Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-374-35064-7
Summary: Moses, who is deaf, has a good time with his family at the circus, where they communicate using sign language. Includes illustrations of some of the signs
they use.
Just Kids: Visiting a Class for Children with Special Needs by Ellen B. Senisi
Dutton Children's Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-525-45646-5
Summary: second-grader Cindy is assigned to spend part of each day in the class for students with special needs, where she finds out that even though some kids may learn differently or have different abilities, they are all "just kids."
Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco
A PaperStar Book by The Putnam & Grosset Group (New York)
ISBN# 0-698-11615-1
An ALA Notable Book, a Booklist Editor's Choice, and an IRA-CBC Children's Choice Book
Summary: to thank old Eula for her wonderful Sunday chicken dinners, the children sell decorated eggs and buy her a beautiful Easter hat.
The Legend of the Bluebonnet
Retold and Illustrated by Tomie DePaola
G. P. Putnam's Sons (New York)
ISBN# 0-399-20937-9
Summary: a retelling of the Comanche Indian legend of how a little girl's sacrifice brought the flower called bluebonnet to Texas.
Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan
with Roslyn M. Jordan and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York)
ISBN: 0-689-83371-7
Summary: young Michael Jordan, who is smaller than the other players, learns that determination and hard work are more important than size when playing the game of basketball.
Uncle Rain Cloud by Tony Johnston
Illustrations by Fabricio VandenBroeck
A Talewinds Book by Charlesbridge Publishing (MA)
ISBN# 0-88106-371-1
Summary: Carlos tries to help his uncle, who is frustrated and angry at his inability to speak English, adjust to their new home in Los Angeles.
The Quilt Story by Tony Johnston
Pictures by Tomie DePaola
G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York)
ISBN#: 0-399-21009-1
Summary: a pioneer mother lovingly stitches a beautiful quilt which warms and comforts her daughter Abigail; many years later another mother mends and patches it for her little girl.
Abuela by Arthur Dorros
Illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Dutton Children's Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-525-44750-4
Summary: while riding a bus with her grandmother, a little girl imagines that they are carried up into the sky and fly over the sights of New York City.
The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York)
ISBN#: 0-689-82090-9
Summary: a homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of an immigrant Jewish family, remaining a symbol of their enduring love and faith.
Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong
Pictures by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Harcourt, Inc. (New York)
ISBN# 0-15-202543-x
A Los Angeles Times Book Review Best Book of the Year
Summary: a Chinese-American child fears that the food her parents are preparing to sell on the fourth of July will not be eaten.
A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
Greenwillow Books (New York)
ISBN#: 0-688-00914-X
A Caldecott Honor Book
Summary: a child, her waitress mother, and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after all their furniture is lost in a fire.
Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott
The Viking Press (New York)
ISBN#: 0-670-13369-8
A Caldecott Award Book
Summary: an adaptation of the Pueblo Indian myth which explains how the spirit of the Lord of the Sun was brought to the world of men.
A Day in the Life of Murphy by Alice Provensen
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
SimonSchuster, New York
ISBN#: 0-689-84884-6
Summary: Murphy, a farm terrier, describes a day in his life as he gets fed in the kitchen, hunts mice, goes to the vet, returns to the house for dinner, investigates
a noise outside, and retires to the barn for sleep.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Written and Illustrated by Mark Teague
Dragonfly Books
Crown Publishers, Inc. (New York)
ISBN# 0-517-59999-6
Summary: A schoolboy tells his class about his summer vacation, during which he joined a group of cowboys and stopped a cattle stampede.
Cherries and Cherry Pits by Vera B. Williams
Greenwillow Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-688-05145-6
Summary: Bidemmi, a young African-American girl, draws wonderful pictures. Each picture tells a story. Bidemmi tells her own story about her wish for her neighborhood and her world.
Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability by Pat Thomas
Illustrated by Lesley Harker
Barron's Educational Series, Inc. (New York)
ISBN# 0-7641-2118-9
Summary: This delightful picture book explores questions
and concerns about disability in a simple and reassuring way. Younger children can find out what a disability is, and learn how people deal with their disabilities to live happy and full lives.
Possum Magic by Mem Fox
Illustrated by Julie Vivas
Gulliver Books (New York)
ISBN# 0-15-200572-2
Summary: When Grandma Poss' magic turns Hush invisible, the two possums travel around Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible again.
Suki's Kimono by Chieri Uegaki
Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch
Kids Can Press (Toronto)
ISBN# 1-55337-084-8
Summary: Suki decides to wear her traditional Japanese kimono on her first day of school. Her older sisters try to dissuade herm and despite the initial laughter from her classmates, Suki wins them and her teacher over by the end of the day with a traditional Japanese dance performance. A great story illustrating courage, independence, and pride in one's heritage.