48 p., Philomel, 2009. Narrated in the voice of a little girl grown up, this story recounts memories of growing up in a warm, loving family. The two moms, Meema and Marmee, have three children by adoption, each of a different ethnic background. The narrator remembers dancing with her family, celebrating holidays together, having block parties, being sick with a tummy virus, building a tree house, hosting the school's mother-daughter tea, and enjoying Nonno's (grandfather's) cooking. She loves that everyone in the family can speak freely, and recalls tenderly how her moms would do anything for the children. One neighbor is clearly prejudiced against them, which Meema and Marmee explain to the children as being full of fear and lacking in love; the family's other neighbors offer them support. When the children grow up and leave home, they return to marry in their mothers' garden and to share their own children's growing up with Meema and Marmee. After Meema and Marmee die, the narrator's younger brother lives in their house with his family. The house is home to the three now-grown children in the deepest sense of the word. With expressive pencil and marker illustrations, this story celebrates the joys of family life. Ages 7-10
Showing posts with label multicultural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label multicultural. Show all posts
A Box of Friends by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Mary Whyte. 32 p., McGraw Hill/Gingham Dog, 2003. When you move to a new home, you might think you have no friends there. Annie feels so alone at her new house that she wants to go back to the old, familiar one. When she tells her grandma that she has no friends in the new place, Grandma replies that everyone has a box of friends. She shows Annie hers. In the box are mementos of the special friendships in Grandma's life. Grandma is even a friend to herself. Annie wants to make her own box of friends, and Grandma helps her. When Annie is invited to another girl's birthday party, and is told that she can bring a friend, she brings Grandma. We understand that Annie has learned that she's brought friends with her to her new home - both in the connections that remain even when friends are far away, and in the people (and dog) whom she'd forgotten to think of as friends. Illustrated with wistful, light-washed watercolors, this story offers a way to move through the losses that come with a move. Ages 5-8
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska. 32 p., Farrar/Frances Foster, 2003. When children move to a new country, they may feel alone and estranged. Yoon's family moves to the United States from Korea. Her father tells her that she has to learn how to write her name using the Western alphabet. Yoon doesn't like this - she likes it in Korean, the way it's always been. She likes the connection of that written form with her name's meaning, Shining Wisdom. When Yoon starts school, her teacher's first lesson is about a cat. She doesn't want to write "Yoon" on her paper, so she writes "CAT." On another day, she writes "BIRD" instead, and on another day, "CUPCAKE." Each time, the word is what she wants to be, in some way. As this is happening, she is beginning to make friends, her teacher is growing to like her, and she's learning things at school. When her mother expresses pride in this, Yoon can consider the possibility that America could be a good home for her. "Maybe different is good, too." Now she's willing to write "YOON" in English, and feels confident that it still means Shining Wisdom when written that way. Illustrated with expressive, light-filled paintings, this story helps children manage the complex feelings that immigration brings. Ages 4-7
The Deaf Musicians by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs
Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. 32 p., Putnam, 2006. Sometimes our assumptions about disabilities turn out to be inaccurate. Such is the case for Lee, a jazz pianist who loses his hearing. The band leader fires him, asking, "Who will listen to a deaf musician?" Discouraged, Lee enrolls in a school for the deaf, thinking he can learn a new skill. He meets a man there, a saxophonist named Max, who questions his assumption that he can't play music any more. The two have long sign-language conversations about music, and eventually try playing a duet. They find that they play well together. Playing in the subway, they draw the attention of Rose, a bass player who signs, and whom they invite to join them. When they decide that they need a singer, Rose invites her friend, Ellie, a sign-language interpreter. The quartet plays daily in the subway, and Lee realizes that he's playing for his largest audiences ever. When his former band leader shows up with a compliment, Lee reminds him of his question - and Lee has an upbeat answer for it. An afterword celebrates the meaning of music that's beyond sound. With colorful illustrations that match the jazz theme, this story encourages children with and without disabilities to question their assumptions in positive ways. Ages 4-8
Let's Talk About It: Extraordinary Friends by Fred Rogers
Illustrated by Jim Judkis.32 p., Penguin Putnam, 2000. When encountering a person with a disability is new to you, you might feel curious, surprised, or even scared. Mr. Rogers acknowledges all these feelings in this book about understanding disability in particular, and difference in general. He encourages children to talk about their concerns with adults, and suggests that able-bodied children make friends with disabled ones in the same way as with other people: by introducing themselves. In the context of acknowledging universal human experiences such as needing friendship and love, he educates children about ways to address differences. For example, he advises able-bodied children to ask before helping a disabled child, reminding them that they, too, sometimes want help, and sometimes not. Wisely, he remarks that as we get to know people, we learn much about them that isn't obvious from first impressions, and increase our self-knowledge as well. Illustrated wtih color photographs of children who are introduced on the first page, this book offers gentle, supportive, honest encouragement for understanding and looking beyond disability. Ages 3-6
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrated by Henry Cole.32 p., Simon & Shuster, 2005. Children in two-father families may feel that their family is "different." In the context of describing the animal families at the Central Park Zoo in New York City, this sweet story, which recounts actual events, introduces the penguins, Roy and Silo. Roy and Silo are "a little bit different" from the other penguin couples because they were both boys. A devoted couple, they build a nest together, and Roy finds what he thinks is an egg. It's only a stone, but the two penguins take turns sitting on it as if to hatch it. Of course, no baby hatches. But a kind zookeeper realizes that they're in love and want a baby, so he puts an egg in the nest. They take care of the egg very carefully until their baby, Tango, hatches. The two daddy penguins care lovingly for her in the same ways that the other penguin parents care for their babies. Zoo visitors cheer for Tango. With its gentle, expressive watercolor illustrations, this story acknowledges that two-father families may be atypical in some ways, but not in the essential ones: their care and love for their children. Ages 3-8
Good-Bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong by Frances Park and Ginger Park
Illustrated by Yangsook Choi.32 p., National Geographic Society, 2002. It's hard to say goodbye when you move to another country. Jangmi doesn't want to move from Korea to the United States. She'll miss her best friend, Kisuni, and her home. Even the seasons and the food will be different. Her parents describe their new house and other things about America, and reassure her that she'll make new friends, but Jangmi still doesn't want to go. On their last day, friends and relatives come for a goodbye lunch, and Jangmi wants to keep these moments with her forever. She talks with Kisuni about how when one is awake, the other will be sleeping. We see that she's beginning to adjust when Kisuni comments, "'At least we'll always know what the other one is doing.'" As the family rides to the airport, Jangmi cries. She says goodbye to her old house many times. Her parents offer her the possibility of adopting Rose (the translation of Jangmi) as her American name, but Jangmi decides to keep her name exactly as it is. When the family finally arrives at their new home in Massachusetts, everything looks strange to Jangmi, yet it's all as her parents have described. Soon after the movers come, neighbors arrive, bringing food. Among them is Mary, who is Jangmi's age, and becomes her first friend in America. Jangmi is able to see that Mary is like Kisuni in some ways. As the story ends, Jangmi is writing to Kisuni, knowing that she is sleeping at that moment, and knowing the world that she lives in. Based on an event in the life of the authors' older sister, this story is illustrated with glowing, expressive oil paintings. It offers empathy and hope to children facing a move to another country. Ages 4-8
The School Is Not White! by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Curtis James.40 p., Jump At The Sun, 2005. Although the United States Supreme Court declared school segregation illegal in 1954, it still existed in the South in 1965. This book tells the true story of the profoundly courageous family of Mae Bertha and Matthew Carter, who were African American and sent their seven school-age children to a “white” school. Before school even begins, people shoot at their house with rifles. The owner of the plantation where Matthew and Mae Bertha work as sharecroppers fires and evicts them when they refuse to withdraw the children from the “white” school. Other children at the school harass them constantly, year after year, and teachers and administrators are verbally abusive also. But Mae Bertha and Matthew want a better future for their children than sharecropping, and they believe passionately in the importance of education in attaining this. So they continue to encourage their children, who are in great pain from this experience. Eventually, other African American children enroll in the “white” schools. One afterword explains how the story came to be written, and another summarizes the now-grown children’s accomplishments, quoting their dreams for their own children. Suggested readings are also given. The Carter family’s story is illustrated with beautiful, somber oil paintings. Deeply moving, this story offers inspiration for courage and for working to realize equality. Ages 7-11
We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families by Todd Parr
32 p., Little, Brown, 2007. There are so many reasons that families belong together. This story names some of them, from “you needed a home and I had one to share,” to “you needed someone to say ‘I love you’ and we had love to give.” The only time the word adoption is mentioned is in the subtitle. An author’s note suggests that families change the pronouns in the text to fit their own families, and the pictures suggest single-mom, single-dad, mom-and-dad, two-mom, and two-dad families that are yellow, blue, orange, green, red, or purple. An afterword for kids explains that love makes a family. With its energetic, childlike illustrations, this book conveys a positive sense of families fitting together perfectly. Ages 2-6
The Cardboard Piano by Lynne Rae Perkins
32 p., Greenwillow, 2008. Sometimes it's hard to accept differences between friends even when you know that it's OK to have them. Debbie and Tina, who are best friends, are alike in some ways and not in others, and "mostly it evened out." But when Debbie starts taking piano lessons and Tina doesn't, this feels like a big difference. Tina expresses a wish to play the piano, but she doesn't have one to practice on, and doesn't want to practice on Debbie's. Debbie gets the idea to make her a cardboard practice piano. With this piano, you have to hear the music in your mind. Debbie gives the piano to Tina, and dreams about the fun they'll have playing together. She even gives Tina lessons. But Tina finds that she doesn't really like playing the piano, at least this way. Debbie is crushed. She tries out different explanations for her disappointment, but none of them seem to work. Then she tries actually playing the cardboard piano, and she understands Tina's experience - she doesn't hear the music in her mind, and so it isn't fun. Instead, she and Tina bake cookies together, and they bring some to their neighbor, Mr. K. Mr. K teaches them a dance from the country where he was born - a dance that people dance long into the night. Debbie is excited about the three of them dancing together like that. Now she has something that she and Tina can enjoy together again. This book is illustrated with colorful, vibrant, ink and watercolor paintings that feel very true to childhood experience, and comes with a DVD in which the author narrates an animated version. The story supports children in sustaining their friendships while navigating their differences. Ages 4-7
The Bad-News Report Card by Nancy Poydar
32 p., Holiday House, 2009. Report cards can be a source of worry for children. At first, Isabel confidently expects an excellent report card. But at the same time, we can tell that she's preoccupied: she makes a report card for her cat, and talks about report cards with a classmate when she is supposed to be listening to her teacher. When her teacher redirects her, she forgets to write her name on her paper. When she realizes this, she tries to slip her paper out of the teacher's pile to write her name on it. Now she's made three mistakes, and she's sure that her report card is going to be terrible. So she sticks it behind the seat of the school bus. Her parents notice her distress, and she explains this by saying that her report card disappeared. Her papa writes her teacher a note about this, but Isabel sticks that behind the school bus seat too. Eventually, she decides she is going to give the report card to her parents and the note to her teacher - but they've disappeared from the bus. The principal has them - and it turns out that Isabel's report card is just fine, and acknowledges her excellent imagination. With Nancy Poydar's charming, expressive gouache and pencil illustrations, and a clear sense that the adult characters are kind and caring, this story reassures children who worry about their report cards. Ages 6-9
Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig
Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. 32 p., Tricycle, 2006. Bullying can take the form of cruelty that the person describes as a joke. Such is the case for D .J., when Vince decides that the loser of "rock, paper, scissors" gets D. J. on his team. When D. J. leaves, Vince calls after him, "Can't you take a joke?" This isn't the first time that Vince has been mean to D. J.. D. J.'s Dad and brother teach him a game that helps him learn how to respond to being picked on, without being mean. The next day, D. J. uses what he's learned to support his friend, Brian, when Vince picks on Brian. In spite of D. J.'s positive responses, Vince keeps behaving obnoxiously, so D. J. and Dad meet with D. J.'s teacher. She encourages D. J. to tell her if Vince picks on him, and explains the difference between this and tattling. Eventually, Vince stops annoying him. Meanwhile, D. J. spends his time with friends who know how to joke. This book includes a foreword for adults that describes ways to support children, along with resources for children and adults, an afterword about the nature and forms of teasing, discussion questions for children,and a list of do's and don'ts related to teasing. Illustrated with expressive acrylic paintings, this story supports children who have been bullied and helps them respond appropriately. Ages 7-11
My Father is in the Navy by Robin McKinley
Illustrated by Martine Gourbault. 24 p., Greenwillow, 1992. When your parent has been away for so long that you don't remember him, homecoming can be confusing. Sara knows that her daddy is in the Navy, and her mother talks about him and reads her Daddy's letters to her. Sara knows she's supposed to say goodnight to a picture of him every night, but she doesn't remember him. When it's time for him to come home, all the excitement around her perplexes her. But when Daddy asks Sara to say hello to him, she finds that she remembers him after all. With its softly colored illustrations, this story offers empathy to children whose parents have been away for longer than they can remember. Ages 4-6
Love, Lizzie: Letters to a Military Mom by Lisa Tucker McElroy
Illustrated by Diane Paterson. 32 p., Whitman, 2005. Having a parent who is away because of military service can be a particularly difficult form of separation. This story describes Lizzie's time while her mother is deployed overseas through Lizzie's letters to her mother, and occasionally, notes from Mommy to Lizzie. Lizzie describes her everyday life, along with expressing wishes that her mother will be home for special days and concerns about her mother's safety. She also sends Mommy maps that she's drawn with Daddy's help, which illustrate her experiences. At the end of the story, Mommy sends Lizzie a map that leads to Mommy's return. An afterword for parents gives helpful suggestions for supporting children as they manage this kind of separation. illustrated in colorful watercolors, this story supports children's coping with military separation, encouraging an active, age-appropriate role. Ages 6-11
A Good Night for Freedom by Barbara Olenyik Morrow
Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. 32 p., Holiday, 2004. Sometimes, standing up for what's right means disobeying your parents and the law. In this story, Hallie, who is European American, meets two African American slave girls her own age, Susan and Margaret, who are seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad. They are trying to escape to earn enough money to buy their mother, whom their master had sold. When Hallie asks her Pa whether, hypothetically, he would help runaway slaves, he says that he doesn't like slavery, but he respects the law, and ultimately, his conclusion is to avoid meddling. But Hallie can't help wanting to understand more. She talks to Levi Coffin, whose family is hiding the girls. He is deeply respectful, and also encourages Hallie to think for herself. When slave catchers threaten her a second time as they throw rocks through the Coffin family's window, she lies to them to protect Susan and Margaret. Mr. Coffin thanks her, and her father, rather than criticizing her, acknowledges how strong-minded she is. Deeply impressed by Susan's and Margaret's courage, she takes them as role models, and feels satisfaction in having helped them. With beautiful collage-style illustrations, this story shows children that with courage, they can fight prejudice. Ages 6-9
Blackberry Stew by Isabell Monk
Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter. 32 p., Carolrhoda, 2005. Children might understand death as never again seeing the person who died. This is Hope's experience when her beloved Grandpa Jack dies. But on the day of his funeral, her wise Aunt Poogee stops making blackberry stew long enough to question this way of understanding it. She can close her eyes and see Grandpa Jack rocking Hope when she was a baby. Aunt Poogee continues sharing memories of Grandpa Jack, but Hope can't see him until her aunt reminds her of the time they went blackberry picking and met a snake. Aunt Poogee was afraid of the snake, and left. But Hope was able to use Grandpa Jack's encouragement to touch the snake. When Aunt Poogee made blackberry stew that night, it was "warm and gooey-good," and reminded Hope of how she felt with Grandpa Jack. Remembering, Hope understands that Grandpa Jack lives on in their memories of him, and is always with them when they tell stories about him - or eat blackberry stew. She had been afraid to go to the funeral before, but now she's ready; Grandpa Jack had shown her her own courage when they met the snake, and she has access to that courage now. She knows that when she says goodbye to Grandpa Jack, it's only temporary, until the next story. The book ends with the recipe for blackberry stew. Illustrated with warmly-colored oil paintings, this story offers comfort, support, and a genuinely uplifting perspective. Ages 4-8
Help Is On the Way : A Child's Book About ADD by Marc Nemiroff and Jane Annunziata
Illustrated by Margaret Scott. 64 p., Magination, 1998 When you have an attention disorder, many things are difficult, but there are lots of kinds of help. This book explains the difficulties kids can have with an attention disorder or hyperactivity (which the authors refer to collectively as ADD): having trouble staying still, maintaining attention, acting or speaking before thinking, having trouble attending to others' feelings, disorganization, or memory problems. The authors acknowledge the frustration, anger, and sadness that can result from ADD, as well as feelings of low self-confidence and social isolation. In brief, age-appropriate ways, they describe the kinds of help that parents, teachers, tutors, pediatricians, psychologists, psychotherapists, and neurologists can provide, as well as noting that medicine is helpful for some children. They explicitly reassure kids that they are not to blame for having ADD, and that when they make use of the help that's available, they will feel better about themselves and do better at home and at school. They also name some of the benefits of ADD (for example, high energy and creative ideas). An afterword for parents and caregivers explains more about the nature of attention and hyperactivity disorders (including the important point that not all ADD-like behaviors are in fact due to ADD) and provides helpful ideas about ways to support the child who has ADD. With its reassuring illustrations and gentle, informative text, this book will help children and parents understand and manage attention and hyperactivity disorders. Ages 5-9
Daddy, Papa, and Me by Leslea Newman
Illustrated by Carol Thompson. 18 p., Tricycle, 2009. In this sweet, simple, rhyming story, a small child plays with Daddy and Papa, playing make-believe, making paper airplanes, playing with toy cars, painting, sewing, cooking, making music, and playing catch - until both fathers need a rest. When that happens, the child tucks them in on the couch and gives each a good-night kiss. By showing the ordinary, loving moments in this family, his story is an antidote to the notion of two-dad families as "different" without ever having to address that notion explicitly. Available as a board book. Ages 1-3
How to Hug by Maryann Macdonald
Illustrated by Jana Christy. 32 p., Marshall Cavendish, 2011. This story both celebrates the joys of hugs and shows kids “how to hug” in ways that respect both people’s needs. For example, children are advised not to hug too tightly or too long, and to understand that “some creatures are too shy for hugging.” Likewise, the author validates children’s right to say no to hugs that they don’t want. With its colorful illustrations, full of charming facial expressions, this book encourages children to hug with an open heart. Ages 2-5
Humphrey's Bear by Jan Wahl
Illustrated by William Joyce. 32 p., Holt, 1987. Humphrey sleeps with a bear who wears a sailor suit. The bear had belonged to his father when he was a child. Humphrey overhears his father questioning whether he's too old to sleep with the bear. He snuggles the bear close, goes to sleep, and dreams a sailing adventure with the bear. He wakes up yelling for the bear. His father hands it to him, remembering the sailing dreams he had as a child with the bear. Although he doesn't say so, it's clear that it's OK with him now that Humphrey sleeps with the bear. This story gives children encouragement to accept their needs to keep a comforting object, even if that seems immature to others. Ages 4-7