How to use this Page

by Kathy Stemke, Contributing Editor

Multicultural literature that represents any cultural group through accurate portrayal and rich detail has become an important ingredient in education. Books with characters of similar backgrounds, familial situations, of a close age, similar ethnicity, or living in familiar geographical settings can be useful tools in guiding children to discover who they are and where they fit into their communities. These books offer motivation for more reading and inspiration to pursue goals because someone like them did the same thing. They also help children solve problems by seeing how others solve similar problems. Children must to be able to find books that focus on many ethnic identities and backgrounds to help develop the sense of self so important to growing up and to the appreciation of others and the world around them.

A great book to use in conjunction with a multicultural lesson is Shoes, Shoes, Shoes by Ann Morris. It features shoes from around the world. After you read this book, talk about individuality and diversity. The following shoe measurement activity celebrates diversity and requires measurement skills, art, body parts identification, and matching skills.

1. Each child traces both his shoes on construction paper, and cuts them out.

2. The children measure the length to the nearest inch, and writes it on the feet.

3. Trace your own shoes and add several others of various sizes.

4. Let the children measure the other feet and record the lengths.

5. The kids can take turns matching up the feet first with the measurement side showing.

6. Now flip the shoes over and see if they can still match up the feet in pairs.

7. The children can practice counting by twos.

8. Now each child can use their art skills to decorate their own set of feet.

9. You can make a great bulletin board of feet, each with the child’s picture next to their feet.

10. Laminate all the other feet. Tape them to the floor in pairs. Have the children jump from pair to pair counting by twos.

Multicultural books:

China Ancient Arts and Sciences by the Franklin Institute includes inventions like the compass, papermaking, printing, and gunpowder.

A Birthday Basket for Tia by Pat Mora. Colorful papercut illustrations accompany this story of Cecilia as she prepares a surprise gift for her great-aunt’s ninetieth birthday with the help and interference of her cat, Chica.

Friends From the Other Side -Amigos del Otro Lado by Gloria Anzaldua. This is a bilingual story of Prietita, a brave young Mexican American girl who befriends and helps Joaquin after he crosses the Rio Grande into Texas with his mother in search of a new life.

The Lotus Seed by S. Garland. Throughout her life, Grandmother has carried a special lotus seed. When her grandson buries the seed, a beautiful pink blossom appears in the garden — a reminder that this symbol of her homeland will bloom wherever it is planted.

Light the Lights written by Margaret Moorman. One of very few pictures books about interfaith holiday celebrations, this is the story of a little girl named Emma whose family happily celebrates both Hannukah and Christmas.

The Butter Man by A. Alalou and E. L. Alalou. During a famine Nora’s grandfather must travel over the mountain to find work so he can provide food for his family. While young Ali waits for his father’s return, he learns a lesson of patience, perseverance, and hope. Fold-art illustrations capture the Moroccan culture and landscape.

Halmoni’s Day by E. C. Bercaw. Jennifer’s grandmother, Halmoni, is visiting all the way from Korea. She’s arrived just in time for Grandparents’ Day at school but she doesn’t speak English. As this moving story shows, there are many ways to express love–ways that bridge differences in generations and cultures.

How My Parents Learned to Eat by I. R. Friedman. An American sailor courts a Japanese girl and each tries, in secret, to learn the other’s way of eating.

Colors of Japan by H. Littlefield. Each double-page spread features one color and includes the Japanese word for the color, along with the pronunciation. The brief text contains basic information about history, daily life, traditions, population, schools, and geography.

In a Circle Long Ago: A Treasury of Native Lore by Nancy Van Laan. This is an impressive collection of Native American tales, songs, and poetry from the Arctic North to the Florida Everglades.

To purchase any of these books, visit our Book Store.

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Kathy Stemke is a freelance writer, author, and educator. Sign up for FREE monthly newsletter here!