Multicultural Children’s Books By Megan White Ivy Tech, EDUC. 255

INTASC Standard INTASC Standard #2: Learning Differences: The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet higher standards. Brief Description: For this project, I found five children’s books that I felt were cultural as well as good teaching tools for K-2 nd grade levels. Rationale: To document my understanding of INTASC standard #2, Learning Differences, I have chosen five children’s books that I felt were culturally diverse, grade appropriate, and interesting for children to listen to or read themselves.

A Picture Book of Sacagawea By David A. Adler, Illustrated By Dan Brown The A Picture Book of Sacagawea briefly explains Sacagawea, who was a Shoshone Native American and her early years and family history. The book mainly focuses on her journey with the explorers Lewis and Clark. Because the Shoshone Tribes were hunter/gathers, Sacagawea was able to find food easily. This become an important part of the exploration with Lewis and Clark. Even though some parts of Sacagawea’s life are unclear, this beautiful children’s picture book provides great evidence of what an important person Sacagawea was in the 1800’s.

Abuela By Arthur Dorros, Illustrated By Elisa Kleven In Abuela, an imaginative little girl, Rosalba and her Grandmother, her Abuela, take an imaginary, flying trip though New York City. This beautifully illustrated children’s book does a wonderful job of using Spanish words and short phrases. The book also does explains the meaning of the Spanish words and phrases well within the text. The back of the book also includes a glossary with all of the Spanish words used in the book, their pronunciation and their meanings. I fell in love with this book because it is intelligently written, even though it is from a little girl’s point of view.

The Story of Ruby Bridges: Special Anniversary Edition By Robert Coles, Illustrated By George Ford In the children’s book, The Story of Ruby Bridges, Ruby’s history, family, faith, hardships, heartache, and bravery are all brought to life. As Ruby entered school every morning, a mob filled with angry, hateful people stood in front of it. Every morning before reaching the school house, Ruby would stop to say a prayer to God, not for herself or her own safety but for forgiveness of the people who yelled hurtful things at her every morning. For the first part of the school year, Ruby sat alone learning to read and write, as the white children’s parents would not allow their children go to school with a black girl. Even through all of the hate, this brave little girl doesn’t let anything stand in her way of happiness and her education.

Bringing in the New Year By Grace Lin The adorable and entertaining book, Bringing in the New Year, brings the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year alive through a child’s point of view. The book hits on all of the important parts and rituals of the Chinese New Year, including decorations, colors, new haircuts and clothing, food, fireworks, lanterns, dancing, music and the most familiar part: the dragon. The last page goes into detail about the Chinese New Year. Inside the cover pages, this book has tons of pictures that are labeled for those who have not seen or know what some of the pictures are within the pages of the book. This helps children who are unfamiliar with Chinese New Year and are learning about it for the first time. Because this book has easy to read words and sentences, it makes it a great first reader for younger aged children.

Many People, Many Voices Stories of America Pecos Bill’s Widow-Maker: Tall tale by Margaret Hodges Brer Rabbit Goes Back to Mr. Man’s Garden: From The Tales of Uncle Remus, Folk tale by Julius Lester, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney Her Seven Brothers a Cheyenne myth: By Paul Goble An Errand to Town, from the Long Winter: Historical fiction by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Illustrated by Garth Williams Samuel’s Choice: Historical fiction by Richard Berleth, Illustrated by James Watling The Mysterious Mr. Lincoln from Lincoln: A Photobiography: Biography by Russell Freedman A Word from the Author: Essay by Russell Freedman A Cow Herder on Horseback from Cowboys of the Wild West: Expository nonfiction by Russell Freedman Hector from Hector Lives in the United States Now: Nonfiction by Joan Hewett Anastasia: Essay by Shannon Liffland Saigon of Vietnam a Poem by Linh To Sinh Bui from Stone Soup, the Magazine by Children My moccasins have not walked: a Poem by Duke Redbird

Many People, Many Voices Stories of America The book, Many People, Many Voices: Stories of America, contains thirteen stories from many different authors, view points and cultures. It has songs, poems, short stories, fiction and non-fictions; a little bit for every type of reader. I also love that it has a “Thinking About it” section after every story, which contains some thoughtful questions for the reader to answer about the story. This collection of stories also has a “Literary Terms” page, and a “Glossary”, which helps the child’s understand of the stories. My personal favorite story in this book is the story called “Her Seven Brothers, about a young girl who made clothes for the Seven Brothers who she does not know. Because she is a only child, she plans to ask the brothers if they will be her brothers, and she takes a journey with the birds and her trusty dog to find the Seven Brothers. The Seven Brothers love her and take her in as their sister, but soon after a chief wants the little girl back, and the sister and seven brothers climb a tree so high, they turn into the seven northern stars (called the big dipper). If you look closely, you will see there is an eighth star, the littlest brother holding his sister’s hand.