Multicultural children`s Lit - Multiculturalism in the Classroom: A

Multicultural Literature for Children, Adolescents and Adults*
An annotated bibliography
Most sections have sub-sections by age of reader (early childhood, adolescent, adult, etc.) or by genre (fiction, nonfiction, poetry etc.)
Contents:
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32
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273
Topic/Theme
Some favorites (mixed age, culture, genre)
Chinese/American books
Latin American
Jewish
African/African-American
Middle Eastern/American
Native American
Japanese/American
Korean/American
*NB: All lists, descriptions and summaries have been culled from various websites; any inaccuracies in the descriptions
were not intentionally included. Please let me know if there is any inaccurate, inappropriate or otherwise objectionable
material herein so I can edit as necessary. Additionally, if you know of other works that are missing but should be
included, please let me know so I can keep the list current.
(Some of My Favorites)
Going Home (Eve Bunting, 1998. Going home. Illustrated by D. Diaz. New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3))
From a Caldecott-medal winning team comes the heartwarming story of one family’s special Christmas homecoming. On
his trip to Mexico for the holidays, Carlos comes to realize that home can be anywhere, because it stays in the hearts
of the people who love you.
Bein’ with you this way. (Nikola-Lisa, W. (1995). Illustrated by M. Bryant. New York: Lee and Low. (K-3))
An African American girl visits the park and rounds up a group of her friends for an afternoon of fun and playground
games. The children discover that despite their physical differences, they are all really the same, and the similarities
and differences alike are all beautiful. Wonderful rhymes and multicultural pictures.
Stellaluna (Janell Cannon)
Attacked by an owl, Stellaluna (a fruit bat) is separated from her mother and taken in by a bird and her nestlings.
Dutifully, she tries to accommodate--she eats insects, hangs head up, and sleeps at night, as Mama Bird says she must-but once Stellaluna learns to fly, it's a huge relief when her own mother finds her and explains that the behavior that
comes naturally is appropriate to her species. An adorable cross-cultural metaphor.
Oliver Button is a Sissy (Tommie DiPaola)
This is an excellent book that confronts gender stereotypes and the importance of accepting people for who they are.
Oliver Button does not engage in the traditional activities that boys do, and thus, he is faced with repercussions and
consequences (based on how others feel Oliver should behave/act).
The Woman who Outshone the Sun (Alejandro Cruz Martinez, Rosalma Zubizarreta, and Harriet Rohmer)
(Bilingual Sp/Eng) Kindergarten-Grade 3—(Hispanic folk tale) Lucia Zenteno is a mythic character, a woman of great
beauty who is perfectly in tune with nature. She is indeed larger than life, and though beloved by the creatures of the
countryside, she becomes the target of human hatred and fear and is driven out of her village because she is different.
It is only as nature mourns and the river leaves with her that the people realize that they need her. Dealing with issues
of the differences between people and respect for nature.
Mommy far, mommy near: An adoption story. (Peacock, C. A. 2000, illustrated by S. C. Brownell. Morton Grove, IL:
Albert Whitman.) (K-3)
Although Elizabeth, a young Chinese girl, is secure in the love of her adoptive Caucasian American family, she still has
questions. Why, if China is such a big country, wasn’t there room for all the babies? Didn’t her mother love her? Such
questions surface in games with her younger Chinese sister, in loving give-and-take with her American mother, and in
hurt feelings after seeing a Chinese mother and daughter at the playground. Decorated in floral patterns and colored
in lush, velvety hues, the thickly stroked, realistic artwork expands on the text while heightening the emotions it
conveys. Elizabeth’s misgivings are met head-on by her adoptive mother’s reassurance, love, and thoughtful
responses. The mother’s tender support not only reassures Elizabeth but will also benefit other adoptees, especially
those from developing countries, as it reinforces the efforts of all loving, adoptive parents.
Gertruda’s Oath: A Child, a Promise and a Heroic Escape During WWII (Ram Oren; Translated by Barbara Harshav;
Random House Pubs.)
(Non-fiction) Michael Stolowitzky, the only son of a wealthy Jewish family in Poland, was just three years old when war
broke out and the family lost everything. He is left in the care of Gertruda Bablinska, a Catholic nanny devoted to the
family, who promises his dying mother that she will make her way to Palestine and raise him as her own son. Told
from Michael’s perspective, now in his 70s and living in NY.
Laughing without an Accent: Adventures of a Global Citizen (Firoozeh Dumas; Random House)
(Non-fiction) Autobiographical account of growing up Iranian American in Southern California. She mines her rich
Persian heritage, saring stories on being a citezen of the world, her well-meaning family, new motherhood, and
amusing cultural conundrums, all told with insights into the universality of the human condition.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Jamie Ford; Ballantine press)
A novel exploring the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese
Americans in the Seattle area during World War II, and the depths and longing of deep-heart love.
Shanghai Girls (Lisa See; Random House Pubs)
A novel about two sisters, two cultures, and the struggle to find a new life in America while bound to the old, trying to
assimilate into the strange new world of Los Angeles.
America Street (short story collection) (Gr6-12)
Fourteen short stories about growing up in America's diverse society. Written by such authors as Robert Cormier,
Langston Hughes, Lensey Namioka, Grace Paley, Gary Soto, and Michele Wallace, they range from powerful to
poignant to downright hilarious. Multiethnic experiences with 14 slice-of-life stories featuring teens (mostly
contemporary) whose parents or grandparents immigrated to the U.S. The sociocultural backgrounds of characters are
diverse, yet all share the common goal of finding a place for themselves. Some strive to rise above the crowd and to
be recognized for their abilities. Other protagonists are concerned primarily with blending in and remaining as
inconspicuous as possible. Incidents chronicled in this highly readable volume provide first-rate entertainment while
shedding light on the unique struggles and dreams of first-, second- and third-generation Americans. It reflects the
dignity of individuals and the strength of family bonds across different cultures.
Ages 10-up.
How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accent (High school and up)
This sensitive story of four sisters who must adjust to life in America after having to flee from the Dominican Republic is
told through a series of episodes beginning in adulthood, when their lives have been shaped by U. S. mores, and
moving backwards to their wealthy childhood on the island. Adapting to American life is difficult and causes
embarrassment when friends meet their parents, anger as they are bullied and called "spics," and identity confusion
following summer trips to the family compound in the Dominican Republic. These interconnected vignettes of family
life, resilience, and love are skillfully intertwined and offer young adults a perspective on immigration and families as
well as a look at America through Hispanic eyes. This unique coming-of-age tale is a feast of stories that will enchant
and captivate readers.
American Chica. Arana, M. 2006.
(Non-fiction) Biographical story of a woman raised in Peru to a Peruvian father and American mother, questioning her
own history and the mysteries of her mother’s past.
The spirit catches you and you fall down
(non-fiction) A compelling anthropological study. The Hmong people in America are mainly refugee families who
supported the CIA militaristic efforts in Laos. They are a clannish group with a firmly established culture that combines
issues of health care with a deep spirituality that may be deemed primitive by Western standards. In Merced, CA,
which has a large Hmong community, Lia Lee was born, the 13th child in a family coping with their plunge into a
modern and mechanized way of life. The child suffered an initial seizure at the age of three months. Her family
attributed it to the slamming of the front door by an older sister. They felt the fright had caused the baby's soul to flee
her body and become lost to a malignant spirit. The report of the family's attempts to cure Lia through shamanistic
intervention and the home sacrifices of pigs and chickens is balanced by the intervention of the medical community
that insisted upon the removal of the child from deeply loving parents with disastrous results. This compassionate and
understanding account fairly represents the positions of all the parties involved. The suspense of the child's precarious
health, the understanding characterization of the parents and doctors, and especially the insights into Hmong culture
make this a very worthwhile read.
Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus' Name Amen (Howe, 2004, Atheneum,)
Five year old Emily, whose father was born into a Christian family but converted to Judaism, describes how it feels to go
to a Christian funeral for her grandfather, and then to share in a Jewish ceremony of mourning as well. Meanwhile,
she forms her own way of remembering her grandfather. "It wasn't the Christian way and it wasn't the Jewish way. It
was just my way, My Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus' name amen."
Mismatch (Namioka, 2006; Delacorte Books) Gr. 6-9.
When Suzanne Hua, a Chinese American, and Andy Suzuki, a Japanese American, meet in their high-school orchestra,
their white classmates see them as a good match (Aren't all Asians the same?). But at home, things are different:
Suzanne's beloved grandmother can't forget the brutality of the Japanese who invaded China, and Andy's father is
prejudiced about the "dirty, backward" Chinese. Andy's dad hopes his son will find his roots when he visits Japan;
instead, Andy discovers he's more American than he realized, and Suzanne must answer similar questions.
Half and Half (Namioka, 2004; Yearling pubs.) Gr. 3-5.
Her mother is Scottish and her father is Chinese, so Fiona Cheng, 11, doesn't know which box to check on the enrollment
form for the folk-dancing festival in Seattle. She doesn't want to check "other," which will make her feel like a weirdo.
Why don't they have a box for half and half?
I Speak English for My Mom (Stanek, 1992, Houghton Mifflin) (2-5)
Rosa, a Mexican immigrant and widow, needs her daughter Lupe's help in almost every aspect of daily life. Lupe quickly
learns English, and so acts as interpreter for her mother, whether they are shopping in stores where Spanish isn't
spoken, or going to the doctor for check-ups. Lupe usually doesn't mind, but there are times when she gets tired of
being called on for help. When Rosa enrolls in night school to learn English, Lupe encourages her mother, but admits
she'll miss helping Rosa.
No English. (Jules, J. 2008. Illustrated by A. Huntington.) Mitten. (K-2)
"No English” is all that Blanca, the new girl from Argentina, says. She spends her time drawing pictures instead of doing
class work, and that hardly seems fair to second-grader Diane. One misunderstanding follows another until Diane
begins to see how afraid Blanca must feel in their classroom. Their teacher helps her class understand that "different”
is just different, not strange or weird.
I hate English! (Levine, E. 1995). New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-2)
Mei Mei, a bright and articulate immigrant from Hong Kong, is having much difficulty adjusting to the new language and
culture at school in New York City. A sensitive teacher helps Mei Mei and succeeds in breaking through her fear of
losing her identity.
Maizon at Blue Hill (Woodson, 1992, Delacorte). Gr. 5-7.
One of only five African-American students at a private girls' school, Maizon feels misplaced and lonely as she tries to fit
in. She struggles to cope with snobbery and is distressed by both black elitism and white curiosity. Rather than
admitting defeat, Maizon is determined to “find a place where smart black girls from Brooklyn could feel like they
belonged.”
Chopsticks from America (Hosozawa-Nagano, 1994; Polychrome) Gr 2-4
Tiffany, 11, describes her Japanese-American family's move to Japan. Explores the differences between being Japanese
and Japanese American. It really captures the feeling of isolation that a Japanese American can feel living in Japan. The
book presents a fairly accurate portrait of kiddie culture shock, as well as an interesting child's-eye view of Japan.
The Jacket (Clements, A. 2002. New York: Simon & Schuster.) (Gr 4-6)
After wrongly accusing a boy--an African American boy—of stealing his brother’s jacket, Phil--a white boy--has some
hard thinking to do. And a tough question for his mom: “How come you never told me I was prejudiced?” This
seemingly small school incident turns into a painful, but ultimately satisfying, learning opportunity for the sixth grader,
as he explores the myriad influences in his life and the way his thought patterns have formed... and finds a new friend
in the process. The intellectual evolution Phil goes through may be somewhat facile for a child his age, but Andrew
Clements’ message will undoubtedly hit home for many readers. This is exactly the kind of situation that arises every
day in schools (and offices and buses) all over the world.
It doesn’t have to be this way: A Barrio story. Rodriguez, L. J. (1999). San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (4-6)
One day, a member of the local gang tells Monchi it’s time to join up. He is scared but excited. The older boys give him
the handshake, girls talk to him, and even teachers are afraid of him. But when a tragic event changes everything,
Monchi must make an important decision. The love and respect of his uncle helps him find a way out. (amazon.com)
Smoky night. Bunting, E. (1999). Illustrated by D. Diaz. New York: Harcourt Brace. (1-4)
When the smell of smoke wakens Daniel and his mother during the night, they flee from the rioting outside their
apartment to a shelter. Inspired by an innocent comment from Daniel, his mother introduces herself to a neighbor;
the African-American woman’s attempt to reach out to the Korean-American woman is a clear result of surviving the
riots together.
Neighborhood Odes. Illustrated by David Diaz. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1992.
Black and white illustrations accompany twenty-one poems about growing up in a Mexican-American neighborhood,
finding delight in everyday places and items, such as the library, tennis shoes, sprinklers, and tortillas.
Taking Sides. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1991.
Fourteen year old, Lincoln Mendoza, an aspiring basketball player, must come to terms with his divided loyalties when
he moves from the Hispanic inner city to a white suburban neighborhood. Glossary of Spanish words and phrases
included.
Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World. Mildred Pitts Walter. Lothrop, 1986. Gr. 3-5.
10-year-old Justin jumps at the chance to visit his cowboy grandfather, where he traces his black cowboy ancestors and
learns that cooking is not just "women's work."
Grandfather’s Journey. Say, A. (1993).New York: Houghton Mifflin. (2-4)
A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather’s journey to America which he later also undertakes, and the
feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries.
How my parents learned to eat. Friedman, I. R. (1987). New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
An American sailor courts a Japanese girl and each tries, in secret, to learn the other’s way of eating. Told from the point
of view of their daughter, many years later.
Cleversticks. Ashley, B. (1995). Illustrated by D. Brazell. New York: Random House. (K-3)
Wishing he had something to be clever at like each of the other children in his class, Ling Sung unexpectedly and happily
discovers the others admire his prowess with chopsticks.
Everybody Cooks Rice. Dooley, N. (1992)
Carrie canvasses the neighborhood, trying to round up her younger brother in time for dinner. Every household she
visits represents a different ethnic heritage--Fendra Diaz's grandmother lives in Puerto Rico, Madame Bleu hails from
Haiti, the Huas have emigrated from China, etc. All the families are either preparing or consuming dinner, and Carrie
discovers that despite divergent backgrounds, "everybody cooks rice."
Chicken Sunday. Polacco, P. 1998. Gr 1-3
Despite the differences in religion, sex, and race, Winston and Stewart Washington are young Patricia's best friends, and
she considers their grandmother, Miss Eula, a surrogate since her own ``babushka'' died. On Sundays, she often
attends Baptist services with her friends, and Miss Eula fixes a sumptuous fried chicken dinner with all the trimmings,
after stopping to admire the hats in Mr. Kodinski's shop. The youngsters hope to buy her one, but when they approach
the merchant looking for work, he mistakenly accuses them of pelting his shop with eggs. To prove their innocence,
the children hand-dye eggs in the folk-art style that Patricia's grandmother had taught her and present them to the
milliner. Moved by the rememberance of his homeland, the Russian Jewish emigre encourages the children to sell the
``Pysanky'' eggs in his shop and rewards their industry with a gift of the hat, which Miss Eula proudly wears on Easter
Sunday.
Chinese Americans
Realistic Fiction:
www.multiculturalchildrenslit.com
Ashley, B. (1995). Cleversticks. Illustrated by D. Brazell. New York: Random House. (K-3)
Wishing he had something to be clever at like each of the other children in his class, Ling Sung
unexpectedly and happily discovers the others admire his prowess with chopsticks. (amazon.com)
Cheng, A. (2003). Grandfather counts. Illustrated by A. Zhang. Lee & Low. (K-4)
When Helen‖s grandfather, Gong Gong, comes from China to live with her family, he‘s shocked to
find that none of his grandchildren speak Chinese. How will he communicate with them? At first he
keeps to himself. Then one day he joins Helen to watch the trains. He starts counting the train cars
in Chinese, and she repeats the words. Then Helen says the numbers in English. They continue to
teach each other, and Helen even learns her Chinese name, which means "flower.‖ In this
luminously illustrated intergenerational story, the devotion between a young girl and her
grandfather helps them overcome barriers of age and language. (amazon.com)
Cheng, A. (2004). Honeysuckle house. Front Street. (3-5)
Alienation, longing, prejudice, and cultural difference are touched on in this immigrant story told in
the voices of two ten-year-old girls. Sarah and Tina are fourth graders. The most important thing in
the world to Sarah - American-born Chinese - is the recent departure of her best friend, Victoria.
She misses her terribly. Tina has just recently moved to Cincinnati from Shanghai, and is trying to
make sense of a whole new world - pretty much clueless to all the things Sarah is hip to. The two
girls are paired together in school, as if Asian appearance were proof of parallel lives and
experience. ("I don't speak Chinese,‖ Sarah keeps having to explain.) It‘s the daily, common stuff of
childhood intrigue that finally manages to connect their stories and forge a friendship. A whole
constellation of adult concerns swirl around them - green card worries, assimilation, absent fathers,
family tensions - but Andrea Cheng remains true to the heart and voice and vision of two ten-yearold girls, in a story which blends tears and games, drama and play. (amazon.com)
Cheng, A. (2003). The key collection. Illustrated by Y. Choi. Holt. (3-5)
Ten-year-old Jimmy has a close relationship with his grandmother, Ni Ni, whom he visits nearly
every day. She cooks delicious treats for him, teaches him Chinese characters, tells wonderful
stories about growing up in Shanghai, and shows him such things as a fascinating collection of keys.
Jimmy is heartbroken when he learns Ni Ni is moving to San Francisco to live with his aunt, but the
blow of losing Ni Ni is softened somewhat by a friendship that develops between Jimmy and a boy
named Jason. Jimmy is reunited with Ni Ni after his aunt sends a ticket for him to fly out to San
Francisco for his grandmother‘s eightieth birthday. During the visit, Jimmy comes to realize that
there are ways for him and his grandmother to bridge the distance between them. This warm,
reassuring story of intergenerational friendship is decorated with black-and-white illustrations of
key scenes that add further emotional content. (Booklist)
Chin-Lee, C. (1993). Almond cookies and Dragon Well tea. Illustrated by Y. S. Tang. Chicago. IL:
Polychrome. (K-3)
Erica visits the home of Nancy, a Chinese American girl, and makes many delightful discoveries
about her friend‘s cultural heritage. (card catalog)
Chinn, K. (1997). Sam and the lucky money. New York: Lee and Low Books. (K-3)
Anticipating spending his gift of Lucky Money on Chinese New Year‘s day, Sam accompanies his
mother to Chinatown, where he watches a dancing New Year‘s lion, visits many colorful and goodsmelling shops, and learns a special lesson. (amazon.com)
Lee, H. V. (1998). At the beach. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
A little boy and his mother go to the beach. There she teaches him how to make Chinese words by
drawing pictures in the sand. Young readers can learn ten Chinese characters in this wonderfully
innovative picture book. (amazon.com)
Lee, H. V. (1998). In the park. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
Spring has arrived and Xiao Ming can‘t wait to spend the day in the park with his mother. All
around them are signs of the season: insects flying, leaves on the trees, and flowers in bloom. Xiao
Ming‘s mother teaches Xiao Ming how to write the words for these things in Chinese by first
drawing pictures of them. (amazon.com)
Lee, H. V. (2000). In the snow. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
A mother and son practice writing Chinese characters in the snow. Introduces the characters for ten
simple words. (Borders.com)
Levine, E. (1995). I hate English! Illustrated by S. Bjorkman. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-2)
A realistic, sympathetic story of the problems of learning a new language and culture, with
cartoonlike illustrations of a distraught, angry, or pleased young girl from Hong Kong set against a
background of New York‘s Chinatown. (Horn Book, 1990)
Lin, G. (2006). The year of the dog. Little, Brown Young Readers. (4-6)
It‘s the Chinese Year of the Dog, and as Pacy celebrates with her family, she finds out that this is the
year she is supposed to find herself. As the year goes on, she struggles to find her talent, makes a
new best friend, and discovers just why the Year of the Dog is a lucky one for her after all. Universal
themes of friendship, family, and finding one‘s passion in life make this novel appealing to readers
of all backgrounds. This funny and profound book is a wonderful debut novel by prolific picture
book author and illustrator Grace Lin, and has all the makings of a modern classic. (amazon.com)
Lin, G. (2008). The year of the rat. Little, Brown Young Readers. (4-6)
In this sequel to Year of the Dog, Pacy has another big year in store for her. The Year of the Dog
was a very lucky year: she met her best friend Melody and discovered her true talents. However, the
Year of the Rat brings big changes: Pacy must deal with Melody moving to California, find the
courage to forge on with her dream of becoming a writer and illustrator, and learn to face some of
her own flaws. Pacy encounters prejudice, struggles with acceptance, and must find the beauty in
change. Based on the author‘s childhood adventures, Year of the Rat, features the whimsical black
and white illustrations and the hilarious and touching anecdotes that helped Year of the Dog earn
rave reviews and satisfied readers. (amazon,com)
Look, L. (2001). Henry‘s First-Moon birthday. Illustrated by Y. Heo. New York: Simon &
Schuster/Atheneum. (K-3)
Jenny‘s baby brother Henry is having his one-month birthday -- his first-moon, as it‘s called in
Chinese. And even though Jenny‘s sure he doesn‘t deserve it -- all Henry does is sleep, eat, and cry
– there‘s a big celebration planned for him. Together, Jenny and her grandma get everything ready,
from dyeing eggs a lucky red to preparing pigs‘ feet and ginger soup. And someday, when Henry‘s
old enough to appreciate all her hard work, Jenny will tell him how lucky he was to have her in
charge. The childlike charm of Lenore Look‘s story is perfectly captured in Yumi Heo‘s naïve
illustrations, which give readers the impression that Jenny drew them herself. (amazon.com)
Look, L. (2004). Ruby Lu, brave and true. Illustrated by A. Wilsdorf. Atheneum/Anne Schwartz
Books. (1-3)
Most days the best thing about being Ruby is everything. Like when she’s the star of her own
backyard magic show. Or when she gives a talk at the school safety assembly on the benefits of
reflective tape. Or when she rides the No. 3 bus all the way to Chinatown to visit GungGung and
PohPoh. And then there are the days when it’s very hard to be Ruby. Like when her mom suggests
Chinese school on Saturdays. Or when her little brother, Oscar, spills all of Ruby’s best magician
secrets. Or when her parents don’t think she’s old enough to drive! Come along with Ruby Lu in her
chapter-book debut -- which even includes a flip book of a magic trick -- and share the good and the
not-so-good days with an (almost) eight-year-old Asian-American kid. (amazon.com)
Look, L. (2006). Ruby Lu, Empress of everything. Illustrated by A. Wilsdorf. Atheneum/Anne
Schwartz Books. (2-4).
When Ruby’s cousin Flying Duck emigrates from China to live with her, Ruby decides the best thing
about Flying Duck is that she is a great new friend. BUT the worst thing about Flying Duck is that
now, no one speaks English at home. Plus, there’s strange food on the table every night and only
chopsticks to eat it with. And Flying Duck is deaf, and Ruby doesn’t know any Chinese Sign
Language.
As if that weren’t enough, this summer proves to be even more perilous as Ruby faces the dangers
of swimming lessons, the joys of summer school, the difficulty of staying with a twelve-step
program, the miracle needed to keep a beautiful stray dog that wanders into her life, and much
more. Is it all too much for anyone -- even the Empress of Everything -- to handle? (amazon.com)
Look, L. (2006). Uncle Peter‘s amazing Chinese wedding. Illustrated by Y. Heo. Atheneum/Anne
Schwartz Books. (K-3)
Jenny’s favorite uncle, Peter, is getting married, and everyone is happy happy -- everyone, that is,
except Jenny. While her family runs about getting ready for the traditional Chinese wedding -preparing for the tea ceremony, exchanging good-luck money called hungbau, helping the bride
with her many dresses -- Jenny is crying on the inside. How is she supposed to still be Uncle Peter’s
number-one girl, with her new aunt Stella around? Maybe if she can stop the day’s events from
happening, he won’t get married at all... Mischievous kids will love following Lenore Look and Yumi
Heo’s feisty heroine from Henry’s First-Moon Birthday in this charming story that also illuminates
the many traditions of the Chinese wedding. (amazon.com)
Low, W. (1997). Chinatown. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
In this tribute to his own childhood in Chinatown, William Low melds a spare, evocative text with
richly descriptive art, a combination that lends a feeling of immediacy to every page. Herbal shops,
outdoor markets, and a tai chi chuan class in the park are among the many sights a young boy sees
when taking a walk with his grandmother. (amazon.com)
Marsden, C. & Loh, V. S. (2008). The jade dragon. Candlewick. (2-4)
Second-grader Ginny is thrilled when another Chinese girl joins her class. But Stephanie is adopted
and her fondest wish is to be Caucasian like her parents. Despite Stephanie‘s initial unwillingness,
the girls eventually become friends, and Ginny gives Stephanie a valuable jade dragon to seal the
deal. The story, set in the 1980s, brings up some interesting issues, including the embarrassment
some first-generation children feel about their heritage, the things children will do to make and keep
friends, and the uncertainty foreign adoptees can feel about fitting into their families. The authors
tackle it all with a light touch, centering the story on Ginny‘s desire to make a new friend, especially
one that looks like her. Though it will take a skilled second-grade reader to read the book (it might
have attracted a wider audience had the characters been slightly older), children who stick with it
will enjoy the story, and the compelling cover photo will draw an audience. Pair this with Grace
Lin's Year of the Dog (2006). (Booklist)
Molnar-Fenton, S. (1998). An Mei‘s strange and wondrous journey. Illustrated by V. Flesher. New
York: Dorling Kindersley. (K-3))
Molnar-Fenton has much to say about how the past can prey on the present, despite the loving
attentions of others, in this story about his adopted Chinese daughter‘s journey from her birthplace
to a new home in the U. S. (Kirkus Reviews, 1998)
Namioka, L. (2002). Yang the eldest and his odd jobs. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New York:
Yearling Books. (4-6)
In this final installment in the Yang family quartet, Eldest Brother discovers he needs a new violin
and is forced to get a job to pay for it. After trying his hand at everything from baby-sitting to
serving sushi, he becomes obsessed with making money and gives up on the violin altogether, until
his younger siblings lead him to resume his music. (Borders.com)
Namioka, L. (2000). Yang the second and her secret admirers. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New York:
Yearling Books. (4-6)
While her younger siblings have adopted many American customs since moving from China to
Seattle, Yinglan Yang clings to her Chinese heritage so her brother and sister hatch a plot to convert
her to American culture. (card catalog)
Namioka, L. (1999). Yang the third and her impossible family. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New
York: Yearling Books. (4-6)
Yingmai Yang has changed her name to Mary now that she‘s learning how to ―be American‖. It‘s
hard since her family sticks to their Chinese customs. Still, Mary wants to be best friends with
popular Holly Hanson and sees her chance when she adopts one of Holly‘s kittens. Now, to prove
her friendship to Holly, Mary must find a way to keep the kitten a secret from her impossible family.
(Borders.com)
Namioka, L. (1994). Yang the youngest and his terrible ear. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New York:
Yearling Books. (4-6)
Recently arrived in Seattle from China, musically untalented Yangtao is faced with giving a violin
performance to attract new students for his father when he would rather be working on friendships
and playing baseball. (card catalog)
Nunes, S. M. (1997). The last dragon. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
(K-3))
While spending the summer in Chinatown with his great-aunt, a young boy finds an old ten-man
dragon in a shop and gets a number of people to help him repair it. (amazon.com)
Peacock, C. A. (2000). Mommy far, mommy near: An adoption story. Illustrated by S. C. Brownell.
Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (K-3)
Although Elizabeth, a young Chinese girl, is secure in the love of her adoptive Caucasian
American family, she still has questions. Why, if China is such a big country, wasn’t there room
for all the babies? Didn’t her mother love her? Such questions surface in games with her
younger Chinese sister, in loving give-and-take with her American mother, and in hurt feelings
after seeing a Chinese mother and daughter at the playground. Decorated in floral patterns and
colored in lush, velvety hues, the thickly stroked, realistic artwork expands on the text while
heightening the emotions it conveys. Elizabeth’s misgivings are met head-on by her adoptive
mother’s reassurance, love, and thoughtful responses. The mother’s tender support not only
reassures Elizabeth but will also benefit other adoptees, especially those from Third World
countries, as it reinforces the efforts of all loving, adoptive parents. (Booklist)
Porte, B. A. (1993). Leave that cricket be, Alan Lee. Illustrated by D. Ruff. New York:
Greenwillow. (K-3)
Chinese and American cultures blend in the colorfully illustrated tale of young Alan Lee, who
searches for the cricket in his house, while his uncle Clemson tells of his youth in China, where
crickets were kept in cages. (amazon.com)
Sing, R. (1994). Chinese New Year‘s dragon. Illustrated by S. W. Liu. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
This New Year, the Year of the Dragon, something magical happens. A young girl‘s grandmother
tells her about dragons, and suddenly she finds herself on a dragon‘s back soaring over ancient
China. Bright, colorful illustrations complement this informative and imaginative tale.
(amazon.com)
Tan, A. (1995). The Moon Lady. Illustrated by G. Schields. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (1-5)
On a rainy afternoon, three sisters wish for the rain to stop, wish they could play in the puddles,
wish for something, anything, to do. So Ying-Ying, their grandmother, tells them a tale from long
ago. On the night of the Moon Festival, when Ying-Ying was a little girl, she encountered the Moon
Lady, who grants the secret wishes of those who ask, and learned from her that the best wishes are
those you can make come true yourself. (amazon.com)
Tompert, A. (1997). Grandfather Tang‘s story. Illustrated by R. A. Parker. New York: Dragonfly.
(K-3)
Grandfather tells a story about shape-changing fox fairies who try to best each other until a hunter
brings danger to both of them. (card catalog)
Trottier, M. (1996). The tiny kite of Eddie Wing. Illustrated by A. Van Mil. New York: Kane/Miller.
(K-3)
This story tells of how a small boy‘s passion for kite flying and his ability to dream helps an old man
bring meaning to his own life. (Borders.com)
Vaughan, M. K. (1996). The dancing dragon. Illustrated by S. W. Foon. New York: Mondo. (K-3)
The Chinese New Year is about to begin. There‘s lots to do - tie strings of firecrackers outside, hang
up red scrolls, bake special cakes, and sing New Year‘s songs. And when family and friends are
gathered together, it‘s time for the parade to begin. This book folds out to reveal all the color and
excitement of a traditional Chinese New Year celebration, complete with dancing dragon!
(amazon.com)
Wallace, I. (1998). Chin Chiang and the dragon‘s dance. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. (K-1).
From the award-winning illustrator of "The Very Last First Time‖ and "The Name of the Tree‖
comes the story of a young Chinese boy who has the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream of
dancing in the New Year‘s parade, and almost lets fear ruin everything. (Borders.com)
Williams, V. B. (1997). Lucky song. New York: Greenwillow Books. (K-2)
Listen to this lucky song about Evie and her blue-sky, kite-flying day. But Evie‘s day wouldn‘t be
nearly as special without a little help from her family. Young readers will want to hear Evie‘s lucky
song again and again and again.
Yang, B. (2004). Hannah is my name. Candlewick. (1-3)
In an upbeat immigration story, Yang draws on her own experience of coming to America from
Taiwan at age seven in the late 1960s. The bright gouache pictures of San Francisco draw strongly
on Chinese and American traditions, with geometric cutout shapes depicting people crowding the
streets, at school, and at the workplace--all from the child‘s viewpoint. This story isn‘t about
missing the old country or being a stranger, and most people are friendly. Hannah learns to sing
"This Land Is My Land,‖ and she reads Curious George in Woolworths. The tension is in the threat
of deportation as the family waits for green cards that will allow everyone to live freely in the U.S.
Mama and Papa work, but they hide from the officials who come to check their papers; Hannah‘s
friend‘s family is sent back to Taiwan. The struggle with documentation and the celebration when
the green cards finally arrive in the mail is a drama many immigrant families will recognize.
(Booklist)
Ye, T. X. (1999). Share the sky. Illustrated by S. Langlois. Willowdale, ON: Annick Press. (K-3)
Young Fei-Fei loves kites and often flies them with her grandfather in China. When her parents,
living in North America, send for her, she is filled with misgivings but adjusts smoothly to her new
life. Despite the appealing kite motif, the story is a little too prim and proper to really soar.
However, the illustrations are lively, and cultural misperceptions are presented with charming
simplicity. (Horn Book, 1999)
Yee, L. (2005). Millicent Min, Girl Genius. Scholastic. (5-6)
Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the
curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for
her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily
doesn‘t know Millicent‘s IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her
awards, ignore her grandmother‘s advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and
keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend. What‘s it gong to take? Sheer genius.
(amazon.com)
Yee, L. (2005). Stanford Wong flunks big time. Levine/Scholastic. (5-6)
Yee, who won the 2004 Sid Fleischman Humor Award for Millicent Minn, Girl Genius (2003), offers
an equally funny sequel, switching viewpoints to Stanford Wong, who, after flunking sixth-grade
English, must forgo celebrity basketball camp for summer school and afternoon tutoring with
Millicent. During their sessions, the former adversaries grudgingly discover that they have more in
common than just their grandmothers, who are best friends, and each helps the other move through
messy predicaments grounded in their own embarrassment and lies. Yee weights the lively sparring
between her young characters (and Stanford‘s new crush on Millicent‘s friend) with Stanford‘s
worries at home: his grandmother, recently placed in a nursing home; his parents‘ fights; and his
remote, hard-to-please father. Young readers will find themselves chortling over comedic scenes,
delivered in Stanford‘s genuine, age-appropriate voice, even as the well-drawn, authentic heartache
about family, friends, and integrity reaches directly into their lives. Young sports fans, particularly
boys, will appreciate a portrait of a wholly likable underachiever in the classroom who shines on the
court. (Booklist)
Yep, L. (1990). Child of the owl. New York: HarperTrophy. (5-6)
This spellbinding tale of the contradictions and special heritage of growing up Chinese-American is
set in early 1960s Chinatown in San Francisco. (amazon.com)
Yep, L. (2002). Dream soul. New York: HarperTrophy. (5-6).
All Joan Lee and her younger siblings, Bobby and Emily, want for Christmas in 1927 is to be
allowed to celebrate it. Joan longs to be just like everyone else, even if she is Chinese, but this will
be the Lees‘ first Christmas in West Virginia! Miss Lucy, their landlady and friend, innocently
invites the family to celebrate Christmas with her. Joan‘s parents resist at first, but that changes
when Papa realizes he can turn it to his advantage. The children can have Christmas, but only if
they are good--all the time. (amazon.com)
Yep, L. (1997). Later, gator. Illustrated by E. Valasquez. New York: Disney Press. (4-6)
Teddy finds that his imagination once more has gotten him into trouble, when he buys a baby
alligator for his younger brother Bobby‘s birthday. (amazon.com)
Yep, L. (1997). Ribbons. New York: Scott Foresman. (5-6)
When Robin Lee is forced to give up her beloved ballet lessons because her parents need the money
to bring her grandmother to America from China, Robin finds herself resenting this difficult--and
different--elderly foreign woman, crippled by years of having her feet bound. (amazon.com)
Yep, L. (1998). The case of the goblin pearls. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
When Tiger Lil‘s priceless Goblin Pearls are stolen during Chinatown‘s New Year‘s parade, she
and her niece, Lily, go on an adventurous search through the town to find them and get them back
from the bandits. (amazon.com)
Yep, L. (1999). The case of the lion dance. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
After a bomb explodes in front of a Chinatown restaurant, twelve-year-old Lily and her great aunt,
Tiger Lil, a former Hollywood actress, uncover a waitress‘s longtime plot for revenge. The action
packed mystery neatly weaves in explanations of Chinese culture including a glimpse into the
sometimes uncomfortable relationship between native born and foreign born Chinese which serves
to balance the few unbelievable coincidences. (amazon.com)
Yep, L. (1992). The Star Fisher. New York: Puffin. (5-6)
The lovely Chinese legend of the star fisher serves as an analogy to the plight of the Lee family, who
in 1927 move from Ohio to West Virginia in search of a better life. A pleasure to read, entertaining
its audience even as it educates their hearts. (Horn Book, 1991)
Yep, L. (1997). Thief of hearts. New York: HarperTrophy. (5-6)
In this sequel to the award-winning Child of the Owl, Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep
continues the story of Casey Young and her daughter, Stacy, as Stacy struggles to come to terms
with her Chinese-American heritage. (amazon.com)
BACK
Non-fiction:
Anderson, D. (2006). Chinese Americans. Gareth Stevens. (4-6)
No synopsis available.
Behrens, J. (1989). Gung hay fat choy. Chicago: Children‘s Press. (K-3)
Explains the significance of the Chinese New Year and describes its celebration by Chinese
Americans. (card catalog)
Brown, T. (1997). Chinese New Year. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
Text and photographs depict the celebration of Chinese New Year by Chinese-Americans living in
San Francisco‘s Chinatown. (card catalog)
Burckhardt, A. L. (1996). The people of China and their food. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books.
(4-6)
Describes food customs and preparation in China, regional dishes, and cooking techniques;
includes recipes for a variety of meals. (card catalog)
Chin, S. (1996). Dragon parade: A Chinese New Year Story. Illustrated by M. Tseng. Austin, TX:
Raintree Steck-Vaughn. (4-6)
Norman Ah Sing, an immigrant from China, organized the first big Chinese New Year celebration
in San Francisco in 1851. (Horn Book, 1993)
Daley, W. & Stotsky, S. (1995). The Chinese Americans. New York: Chelsea House. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, and religion of the Chinese, factors encouraging their immigration,
and their acceptance as an ethnic group in North America. (card catalog)
Demi. (1999). Happy New Year! Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts‘Ai! New York: Dragonfly. (K-3)
This joyful exploration of the rituals of the Chinese New Year celebration is filled with
illustrations and labels explaining the images associated with the festival, including lion dances,
firecrackers, heavenly beings, and food symbolism. (amazon.com)
Fisher, L. E. (1995). The great wall of China. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
A brief history of the Great Wall of China, begun about 2,200 years ago to keep out Mongol
invaders. (card catalog)
Hobbler, D & Hoobler, T. (1998). The Chinese American family album. New York: Oxford
University Press. (5-6)
Using oral histories, letters, diaries, excerpts from literature, and authentic photographs, an
album capturing the experiences, dreams, and struggles of Chinese immigrants in America offers
a slice of living history for the multicultural American family. (amazon.com)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1999). Celebrating Chinese New Year. Illustrated by L. Migdale. New York:
Holiday House. (1-5)
The text follows a young boy named Ryan as he and his family prepare to celebrate Chinese New
Year in their home and community. Illustrated with captioned color photographs, the book
introduces the holiday‘s foods and customs and provides information about the history of San
Francisco‘s Chinatown. (Horn Book, 1999)
Kite, L. (2000). The Chinese (We came to North America). New York: Crabtree Publications. (46)
With the opening of the west in North America, many Chinese left great hardship behind to work
in the gold mines, on farms, and on the railroads. This fascinating account of their early
contributions and the prejudice they faced is highlighted with full-color artwork and eyewitness
accounts. Detailed maps show where they settled and how their traditions are still celebrated
today. (amazon.com)
Krach, M. S. (2000). D is for Doufu: A Book of Chinese Culture. Illustrated by H. Zhang.
Chicago, IL: Shen‘s Books. (4-6)
Carefully selected Chinese words and phrases take you on a wondrous journey through Chinese
history and through the lives and customs of its people. The meaning of 23 phrases (46 characters)
are included in this beautifully illustrated book that explores the richness of the Chinese culture.
Each phrase is introduced by a written image and an explanation of the spoken Mandarin
language, as well as a picture representing the concept. Some of these Chinese words have been
borrowed and shared by other people. (amazon.com)
MacDonald, F. (1998). Marco Polo: A journey through China (Expedition). Illustrated by M.
Bergin. Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts. (4-6)
A fascinating book with detailed illustrations of the many wonders that Marco Polo saw on his
journey to China and back. Visit with the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan, sail on a giant Chinese
junk and explore the dangers of the Silk Road. (Asia for Kids 2000 – 2001 Educational Catalog, p.
22)
Tan, J. (1989). Food in China. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publications. (All ages)
Surveys food products, customs, and preparation in China, describing regional dishes, cooking
techniques, and recipes for a variety of meals. (card catalog)
Waters, K. & Slovenz-Low, M. (1991). Lion dancer: Ernie Wan‘s Chinese New Year.
Photographs by M. Cooper. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Describes six-year-old Ernie Wong‘s preparations, at home and in school, for the Chinese New
Year celebrations and his first public performance of the lion dance. (card catalog)
Williams, S. (1997). Made in China: Ideas and inventions from ancient China. Illustrated by A.
Fong. San Francisco, CA: Pacific View Press. (4-6)
Chronologically told, this well-researched history of scientific achievements introduces scientific
inventions and discoveries within their social and political contexts. Watercolors, along with
woodblock prints, paintings, drawings, and photographs, help clarify the descriptions of
crossbows, papermaking, seismographs, silk making, printing, compasses, medicine, shipbuilding,
and more. (Horn Book, 1997)
Wong, L. K. (2006). Good fortune: My journey to Gold Mountain. Peachtree. (3-6)
An elementary school teacher for 35 years tells about her family‘s journey to America, their
interrogation at Angel Island, and the difficult life they faced in Oakland, CA, where her father
ran an illegal lottery business. Paw Paw worked in Gold Mountain and sent money home. One
day, the author, her two sisters, and their mother received a letter announcing that they would be
returning with him after his next visit. The family studied the papers that he sent to prepare them
for the difficult questions they would be asked upon their arrival. Particularly worrisome was the
fact that Paw Paw wasn‘t allowed to bring his wife to America, so she would be posing as his
sister. This memoir clearly shows the hardships, sacrifices, and eventual successes of the Chinese
families who came to America during the Depression. The extensive use of dialogue, which of
course cannot be accurate after so many years have passed, and the plain telling of the story make
the book easily accessible to elementary school readers. However, some explanation for the
unusual spelling of the Chinese words would have been helpful since the transliteration does not
appear to be the standard pinyin or Wade-Giles used for Mandarin and Cantonese. Photographs
of the family when they are older show prosperous and happy people and leave readers with a
sense of the richness of the immigrant experience. (School Library Journal)
Young, E. (2006). My Mei Mei. Philomel. (K-2)
There are other picture books about traveling to China to adopt a child, but what sets this one
apart is the relationship between the first adoptive daughter, Antonia, and her Mei Mei, or
younger sister. Based on Young‘s experience, the text follows Antonia‘s story beginning with her
arrival from China and her early years, to her request for a Mei Mei, to her disillusionment with
her less-than-perfect sibling, to the girls evolving closeness and love for each other. The narrative
is told gracefully in Antonia‘s expressive, childlike voice: ―When we returned, I found out that she
was not what she ought to be. She couldn‘t walk. She couldn‘t talk. She couldn‘t play. She took all
the attention away from me.‖ Young‘s illustrations in gouache, pastel, and collage are irresistibly
beautiful and filled with feeling. A significant page turn takes readers from Antonia‘s anticipation
about their first meeting to Mei Mei‘s crying baby face filling an entire page. Most spreads
achieve a serene unity through the use of varying wallpaper-like designs. A definitive composition
shows the sisters lying together, legs intertwined, sharing a book, their form echoed against a
gently curving floral background. A simple story of family bonds unerringly told. (School Library
Journal)
Young, E. (2003). Voices of the heart. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Explores twenty-six Chinese characters that describe feelings or emotions, interpreting the visual
elements within each character while guiding readers through an underlying theme emphasizing
the importance of truthfully expressing thoughts and feelings. (amazon.com)
BACK
Traditional:
Bang, M. G. (1992). Tye May and the magic brush. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)
In a dream a poor orphan is given a brush that brings to life everything she paints. (amazon.com)
Bateson-Hill, M. (1998). Lao Lao of dragon mountain. New York: Larousse Kingfisher Chambers.
(K-3)
Lao Lao is known all over Dragon Mountain for her simple, yet beautiful paper cuts. But when the
powerful emperor hears of her skill, he has her locked away in a tower, forgetting about the dragon
who lives nearby. This beautifully written story of a simple peasant woman weaves together many
themes from traditional Chinese folktales. (amazon.com)
Casanova, M. (2000). The hunter: A Chinese folktale. Illustrated by E. Young. New York:
Atheneum. (K-3)
Hai Li Bu is a good hunter, but not even he can find enough food for his village when the drought
comes. The people grow thin and weak, the children rarely laugh -- but worst of all, they begin to
argue and stop listening to one another. Out on a hunt one day, Hai Li Bu saves a small snake from
the beak of a crane. He is surprised to learn that he has rescued the daughter of the Dragon King
of the Sea. The Dragon King offers Hai Li Bu the reward of his choice. Hai Li Bu asks only to know
the language of animals. Then he can be a better hunter for his village. His wish is granted with a
provision: He must never reveal the secret of his gift to anyone. Hai Li Bu‘s people are saved from
famine, but when he hears from the animals that a flood is coming that will destroy everything in
his village, the people do not listen to him. ―You ask us to leave our homes. How can we know what
you say is true?‖ a village elder asks him. Now Hai Li Bu is faced with a terrible choice: to let the
people of his village die in the flood or to reveal his secret, knowing the dire consequences for
himself. Caldecott Medal and Honor-winner Ed Young‘s magnificent illustrations bring this
poignant traditional folktale to life. (amazon.com)
Chang, C. (1994). The seventh sister: A Chinese legend. Illustrated by C. Reasoner. New York:
Troll Associates. (K-3)
A lonely shepherd is saddened when he must let the maiden he loves return to help her sisters
weave the tapestry of the night sky. (amazon.com)
Chang, M. & Chang, R. (1997). The beggar‘s magic: A Chinese tale. Illustrated by D. Johnson.
New York: Margaret McElderry. (2-5)
A cautionary tale from ancient China, full of contemporary appeal. A greedy, selfish farmer gets
his comeuppance at the August Moon Festival, when the kindly beggar priest whom he has slighted
performs a magic trick that makes the farmer a laughingstock of the village. (amazon.com)
Chen, K. (2000). Lord of the cranes: A Chinese Tale. Illustrated by J. J. Chen. New York: NorthSouth. (K-3)
Tien, the Lord of the cranes, comes to earth to check on the kindness of mankind. In this beautifully
illustrated retelling of a Chinese wisdom tale, the kindness and generosity of an innkeeper is
rewarded. Tien‘s lesson is, ―Be kind to the poor.‖ (Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young
People, 2001, p. 6)
Chin, C. (1997). China‘s bravest girl: The legend of Hua Mu Lan. Illustrated by T. Arai. San
Francisco, CA: Children‘s Book Press. (4-6)
Hua Mu Lan convinces her father that she must go to war to protect the family honor - because
there is no eldest son. In this adaptation of the beloved Chinese legend of the maiden warrior, poet
Charlie Chin shows us a heroine who is courageous and wise, respectful and loving, and able to
meet men on equal terms. (Borders.com)
Czernecki, S. (1997). The cricket‘s cage: A Chinese folktale. New York: Disney Press. (1-4)
The emperor of China orders the design of his towers to be perfect or the architect will be put to
death, but when Kuai Xiang is forced to take on this very difficult task, he finds a friend in his
newly adopted cricket, Pipa, who helps him along the way. (amazon.com)
Davol, M. W. (1997). The paper dragon. Illustrated by R. Sabuda. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)
When a terrible dragon awakens and begins to wreak havoc on all the villages in his path, only
humble scroll painter Mi Lei is wise and clever enough to confront the scaly beast. Visually told in
a series of gatefold illustrations, all the storytelling majesty of the Chinese narrative scroll-maker‘s
art is revealed. (amazon.com)
Demi. (1991). The artist and the architect. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
In ancient China a jealous artist plots to eliminate the favorite architect of the Emperor. (card
catalog)
Demi. (2007). The boy who painted dragons. McElderry. (1-4)
The dragons are playing in heaven, riding clouds and creating things such as "thunder and
lightning, flying comets…sparkling northern lights,‖ and rain. They also look for "pearls of
heavenly wisdom‖ that are concealed in the clouds. One day, they peer through a hole in the
heavens to Earth where they spy on a boy named Ping. Although he is terrified of dragons, he keeps
his feelings secret and paints elaborate pictures of the creatures. Flattered, the Heavenly Dragon
visits him and—quickly realizing that the boy paints these images out of fear—promises him three
treasures if he can earn them. The pearls of wisdom read "Seek Your Truth,‖ "Find Your Truth,‖
and "Dare to Be True.‖ In order to attain them, Ping must overcome his apprehensions by visiting
four elemental dragons: Water Dragon, Fire Dragon, Earth Dragon, and Wind Dragon. Each page
contains paintings of gilt-colored creatures and swatches of delicate Chinese silk brocade. The
colors range from rich purples and vibrant reds to cool blues and muted beiges, emphasizing the
mood of each scene. Ping is always drawn in small scale compared to the magnificent dragons, and
fold-out pages add to the book‘s visual impact. An elegantly told tale, enhanced by exquisite
illustrations. (School Library Journal)
Demi. (1996). The dragon‘s tale and other animal fables of the Chinese Zodiac. New York: Henry
Holt. (3-6)
A clever fox shows how small creatures must live by their wits. A boastful bear learns the hard way
that pride invites calamity. A wise dragon teaches that the more you know, the more you know there
is to know. Each of these fables about the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac contains a jewel of
wisdom. (amazon.com)
Demi. (2000). The emperor‘s new clothes: A tale set in China. New York: Margaret McElderry.
(K-3)
Based upon several different translations of the original Danish story, Demi‘s tale is set in old
provincial China. Filled with exquisite details, bright panoramas, and golden hues that leap off a
wealth of fold-out pages, this story lures readers into a magical place and time. The story follows
the four seasons of the year and is packed with visual elements of Chinese culture for readers to
pore over for hours. (amazon.com)
Demi. (1996). The empty pot. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
When Ping admits that he is the only child in China unable to grow a flower from the seeds
distributed by the Emperor, he is rewarded for his honesty. (card catalog)
Demi. (2004). The greatest power. McElderry. (2-4)
This companion to The Empty Pot (1990) continues the story of the life of Ping, the young emperor
who wants to bring harmony to his kingdom. Ping sends all the children in the kingdom on a yearlong quest to find the greatest power in the world, telling them, "A wise person must be able to see
the unseen and know the unknown.‖ The boys believe the power is great weapons; the girls, great
beauty; the students, great technology; and the practical children, great amounts of money. When
the children come to show the emperor what they have discovered, the last child in line, a little girl
named Sing, remembers Ping‘s words. She presents a lotus seed as the powerful force of eternal
life, and Ping names her the new prime minister. The text and the handsomely designed, richly
colored artwork, which is touched with gold leaf, are set within a circular motif that reinforces the
idea of eternity. As usual, Demi ably combines striking artwork and a meaningful story, with quiet
dignity and wisdom. (Booklist)
Demi. (1998). The greatest treasure. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
In this traditional Chinese tale, a poor man receives a treasure of gold and discovers the true value
of simple pleasures. (amazon.com)
Demi. (2000). Kites: Magic wishes that fly up to the sky. New York: Random House. (K-3)
With the signature style and extraordinary artistry that have won her a loyal following, Demi tells
the story of how kites came to be. Long ago in China, holy painters would paint the townspeople‘s
wishes on paper to be left in temples for the gods to see and grant. But one day, an impatient
mother who wanted her son to grow up strong and wise, had a holy painter paint a dragon, the
symbol of strength and wisdom, on a kite. She then flew the kite up to the heavens where the gods
lived so they would see the wish sooner and grant it more quickly. Kites also explains the
significance of different kinds of kite symbols, provides information about kite festivals celebrated
around the world, and gives clear, kid-friendly directions for making and painting kites.
(amazon.com)
Demi. (1988). Liang and the magic paintbrush. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
When a poor boy in China receives a magical paintbrush, everything he paints turns to life. But the
wicked emperor wants to capture the boy when he hears the news. The story will excite readers as
the ruler gets his just reward when the boy creates a masterpiece that spells his doom.
(amazon.com)
Demi. (2008). The magic pillow. McElderry. (1-3)
Based on a famous Chinese folktale, The Magic Pillow tells the story of a poor boy named Ping
who is given a magic pillow by a mysterious magician. Ping sees what a lifetime of wealth and
power would be like, and discovers that the riches of family and freedom are much more valuable.
(amazon.com)
Demi. (1994). The magic tapestry: A Chinese folktale. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
Demi embroiders her retelling of this ancient fairy tale from China with richly textured words and
finely detailed pictures inspired by Chinese art and fabrics. Readers will be caught up in the action
and enchantment of the son's heroic quest of a magic tapestry as it unfolds page by page in dazzling
gold ink. (Borders.com)
Demi. (1979). Under the shade of the mulberry tree. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. (2-4)
Retells an old Chinese folk tale in which a greedy rich man is outwitted by a beggar to whom he
sells the shade of the mulberry tree. (card catalog)
Heyer, M. (1989). The weaving of a dream: A Chinese folktale. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
When the beautiful tapestry woven by a poor woman is stolen by fairies, her three sons set out on a
magical journey to retrieve it. A retelling of a traditional Chinese tale. (card catalog)
Hillman, E. (1996). Min-Yo and the moon dragon. Illustrated by J. Wallner. New York: Voyager
Books. (K-3)
The people in a small village in China notice that the moon is falling from the sky and select the
tiny Min-Yo to climb the cobweb staircase to reckon with the moon dragon. (amazon.com)
Hong, L. T. (1995). The empress and the silkworm. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (K-3)
A fictionalized account of the Empress of China's discovery, around 2700 B.C., that the cocoons of
the worms in her mulberry trees were made of fine, shiny, silken thread which could be made into
beautiful cloth. (Borders.com)
Hong, L. T. (1993). Two of everything: A Chinese folktale. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman and
Company. (K-3)
A poor old Chinese farmer finds a magic brass pot that doubles or duplicates whatever is placed
inside it, but his effort to make himself wealthy leads to unexpected complications. (card catalog)
Jiang, J. (2002). The magical Monkey King: Mischief in heaven. Illustrated by H. H. Su-Kennedy.
New York: HarperCollins. (2-5)
Chinese children grow up hearing stories about the Monkey King. Here is a series of these stories
retold with humor and affection by Ji-li Jiang, the author of Red Scarf Girl (an ALA Notable Book),
and charmingly illustrated in the style of classic Chinese prints by Hui Hui Su-Kennedy.
(amazon.com)
Kimmel, E. A. (1998). Ten suns: A Chinese legend. Illustrated by Y. Xuan. New York: Holiday
House. (4-6)
When the ten sons of Di Jun walk across the sky together causing the earth to burn from the
blazing heat, their father looks for a way to stop the destruction. (amazon.com)
Lee, J. M. (2002). Bitter dumplings. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. (K-3)
This striking picture book ends with a new beginning for three people who never expected to be
friends -- an orphaned girl cast out by her siblings, a slave escaping from a mighty emperor‘s ship,
and a hunchbacked old woman known for the bitter-melon and shrimp dumplings she brings to
market each day -- and for living in a haunted house at the edge of the marshes. As their hardshipfilled paths cross, each of their lives begins to change for the better, in a moving affirmation of the
power of compassion. (amazon.com)
Lee, J. M. (1995). The song of Mu-Lan. New York: Front Street. (K-5)
A retelling of a sixth century Chinese folk poem illustrated with watercolor paintings. A young girl
named Mu Lan disguises herself as man to take her father‘s place when the Emperor calls his
vassals to war. (Borders.com)
Louie, A. (1996). Yen-Shen, a Cinderella story from China. Illustrated by E. Young. New York:
Paper Star. (K-3)
This version of the Cinderella story, in which a young girl overcomes the wickedness of her
stepsister and stepmother to become the bride of a prince, is based on ancient Chinese manuscripts
written 1000 years before the earliest European version. (card catalog)
Mahy, M. (1992). The seven Chinese brothers. Illustrated by J. & M. Tseng. New York: Scholastic
Trade. (K-3)
Bold, colorful, and historically accurate illustrations adorn a classic Chinese folktale, in which
seven brothers use their supernatural gifts to overpower a cruel emperor. (amazon.com)
McCunn, R. L. (1998). Pie-biter. Illustrated by Y. Tang. Auburn, CA: Shen‘s Books. (K-3)
Based on real characters in the 1800s, Hoi, a young Chinese immigrant, was left to his own devices
after the Continental Railroad was finished. With the help of Spanish Louis, he turned his creativity
into success by way of good-old American pies. Initially published in 1983 as the Chinese American
answer to Paul Bunyan, the story is now re-published in a new design and a tri-lingual format.
(amazon.com)
Mosel, A. (1989). Tikki tikki tembo. Illustrated by B. Lent. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
When the eldest son fell in the well and most of the time getting help was spent pronouncing the
name of the one in trouble, the Chinese, according to legend, decided to give all their children
short names. (card catalog)
Pittman, H. C. (1996). A grain of rice. New York: Skylark. (K-3)
A clever, cheerful, hard-working farmer’s son wins the hand of a Chinese princess by outwitting her
father the Emperor, who treasures his daughter more than all the rice in China. (amazon.com)
Tompert, A. (1996). The jade horse, the cricket and the peach stone. Illustrated by W. Trang.
Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, Inc. (K-3)
In ancient China, a small boy, Pan Su, catches in his fishing net a small jade horse and after some
persuasion, ventures off to give the horse to the emperor, if he can defeat the swindlers along the
way. (amazon.com)
Tseng, G. (1999). White tiger, blue serpent. Illustrated by J. & M. Tseng. New York: Lothrop Lee &
Shepard. (K-3)
When his mother’s beautiful brocade is snatched away by a greedy goddess, a young Chinese boy
faces many perils as he attempts to get it back. (amazon.com)
Wang, R. C. (1995). The treasure chest: A Chinese tale. Illustrated by W. Hillenbrand. New York:
Holiday House. (3-5)
A rainbow-colored magic fish helps Laifu protect his bride-to-be from the evil ruler Funtong.
(Borders.com)
Wolkstein, D. (1996). White wave: A Chinese tale. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Harcourt
Brace. (K-3)
This well-known Chinese tale speaks of love, loss, grief and rebirth. A young farmer discovers an
iridescent snail shell gleaming in the moonlight, later to find that he has been blessed with the
companionship of a moon goddess, White Wave. His life is slowly transformed and his loneliness
disappears, but in his joy the farmer wants more than he was given and he loses what he loves.
(Borders.com)
Yen, C. (1991). Why rat comes first: A story of the Chinese Zodiac. Photographs by H. C. Yoshida.
San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (1-4))
Explains why Rat comes first in the Chinese calendar cycle of twelve years. (card catalog)
Yep, L. (1999). The dragon prince: A Chinese beauty and the beast tale. Illustrated by K. Mak.
New York: Harpercollins. (4-6)
Long ago in China, there lived a poor farmer with seven daughters. One afternoon a huge dragon
sprang from a nearby cave, seized the farmer and demanded one of his daughters in exchange for
the farmer‘s life. The youngest daughter agrees to marry the dragon, but in his palace beneath the
sea, she soon discovers that her dragon bridegroom is not at all what he seems. (amazon.com)
Yep. L. (1992). The rainbow people. Illustrated by D. Wiesner. New York: Harpercollins. (4-6)
A collection of twenty Chinese folk tales that were passed on by word of mouth for generations, as
told by some old timers newly settled in the United States. (card catalog)
Yep, L. (1993). The shell woman and the king: A Chinese folktale. Illustrated by Y. Ming-Yi. New
York: Dial Books. (K-3)
Good Wu marries a young woman who can change herself into a shell. Because of this ability, a
cruel ruler wishes to own her. In order to escape and save herself and her husband, she must
perform three wonders. Ming-Yi’s watercolor paintings give the reader a real feel for China.
(Borders.com)
Yep, L. (1995). Tiger woman. Illustrated by R. Roth. Mahwah, NJ: Troll Communications L. L. C. (K3)
When a beggar asks a greedy woman to share some of her food with him, she replies: “I’m a tiger
when I’m famished, so begone, old beggar, vanish!” Truer words were never spoken for as the
greedy woman eats her meal she really does become a tiger. Chased from her village, she learns
the importance of sharing. This story, told in rhyme, is a retelling of a Shantung folk song.
(Borders.com)
Yolen, J. (1998). The emperor and the kite. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
When the emperor is imprisoned in a high tower, his smallest daughter, whom he has always
ignored, uses her kite to save him. (card catalog)
Young, E. (1998). Cat and Rat: The legend of the Chinese Zodiac. New York: Henry Holt. (1-4)
According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals of the zodiac were selected by the Jade Emperor
after he invited all the animals to participate in a race. This is the story of that race, the legend of
how the 5,000-year-old zodiac came to be. It is also the story of Cat and Rat, and why they will
always be enemies. (amazon.com)
Young, E. (1994). Little Plum. New York: Philomel. (K-3)
In a Chinese version of Tom Thumb, Little Plum, a tiny boy no bigger than a plum seed, proves his
worth by helping his father farm his land and by defeating the wicked lord and his soldiers who
attack their village. (amazon.com)
Young, E. (1996). Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood story from China. New York: Paper Star. (2-4)
Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their
grandmother. (card catalog)
Young, E. (2001). Monkey King. New York: Harpercollins. (K-3)
From a fantastic explosion is born the legendary Monkey King, the clever and courageous hero of
one of the best-known stories from China. Ambitious Monkey travels to Square Inch Mountain,
where he trains with Master Putt to perfect the art of turning cloud somersaults, riding the wind,
changing shape, and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Then Monkey eagerly shows off his magic
skills by tricking Dragon King and battling Jade Emperor. Monkey is so arrogant, he even gets into
trouble with Buddha himself. Caldecott Award-winning author-illustrator Ed Young has created
colorful and lively collages and specially designed two fold-out pages to animate the story of
Monkey King and his acrobatic, high-spirited adventures. This unprecedented picture-book
adaptation introduces just the beginning of the classic epic Journey to the West, about the mission
to bring Buddhist scriptures to China. Monkey is only one of its many characters, but he is
undeniably the most beloved of them all. (amazon.com)
Young, E. (1997). Mouse match: A Chinese folktale. New York: Harcourt Brace. (K-3)
Caldecott medalist Ed Young retells an ancient Chinese tale of how a father mouse travels to the
end of the earth in search of the perfect husband for his wonderful daughter. How could he have
known when he set out that his journey would lead him back home? (amazon.com)
Young, E. (1995). Night visitors. New York: Philomel. (1-3)
When his father threatens to flood out the ants that have invaded his storehouse, young Ho Kuan
protests, and one night, he follows the ants to their secret kingdom, in a story based on an ancient
Chinese folktale. (amazon.com)
Young, E. (1998). The lost horse: A Chinese folktale. New York: Silver Whistle. (K-3)
With delicate and dramatic collage illustrations in pastel and watercolor, Young retells an old
Chinese folktale that has echoes in many cultures. (Booklist)
BACK
Biography:
Ditchfield, C. (1999). Sports great Michael Chang. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. (4-6)
A biography of the Chinese-American tennis player who, in 1989, became the youngest man to win
the prestigious French Open tournament. (card catalog)
Freedman, R. (2002). Confucius: The golden rule. Illustrated by F. Clement. New York:
Levine/Scholastic. (4-6)
Born in China in 551 B.C., Confucius rose from poverty to the heights of his country‟s ruling class.
But then he quit his high post for the life of an itinerant philosopher. "The Analects” collects his
teachings on education and government, the definition of nobility, the equality of man, and the right
way and purpose of living - ideas that eventually spread to the West and influenced the great
thinkers of the Enlightenment. And five centuries before Christ, Confucius set forth his own Golden
Rule: "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.” (amazon.com)
Lee, A. & Turk, R. (1998). I am Chinese American (Our American Family Series). New York:
Powerkids Press. (1-4)
Briefly discusses a Chinese American’s heritage. (Borders.com)
Ling, B. (1997). Maya Lin. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Company. (4-6)
Informative but flatly written, this biography opens with Lin’s winning the design contest for the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, then briefly covers her childhood, education, and career. Lin’s
memorial artwork and public art projects are detailed, and difficulties she has faced are lightly
touched upon. (Horn Book, 1997)
Malone, M. (1992). Connie Chung: Broadcast journalist. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. (4-6)
A detailed, informative, and readable chronicle of this resourceful, tenacious, and popular ChineseAmerican and her career in television newscasting. Little of her personal life is revealed, but the
book explains her coverage of McGovern’s presidential campaign and Watergate, as well as
discussing the development of television news. (Horn Book, 1992)
Rambeck, R. (1997). Michele Kwan. Chanhassen, MN: Child’s World. (4-6)
A biography of world champion figure skater whose goal is to win gold medals in the 1998, 2002,
and 2006 Winter Olympics. (amazon.com)
Riley, G. B. (1995). Wah Ming Chang: Artist and master of special effects. Berkeley Heights, NJ:
Enslow. (4-6)
Examines the life of artist Wah Ming Chang, who is best known for his special effects for Disney
films and the Star Trek series. (card catalog)
Say, A. (1996). El Chino. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. (4-6)
A biography of Bill Wong, a Chinese American who became a famous bullfighter in Spain. (card
catalog)
Torres, J. (1999). Michelle Kwan: (Real-life reader biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)
A biography of the young Chinese-American figure skater who won national and world
championships in 1996 and a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics. (amazon.com)
Wellman, S. (1998). Michele Kwan. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House. (4-6)
Describes the personal life and figure skating career of the young Chinese American who won the
National and World Championships in 1996. (card catalog)
BACK
Historical Fiction:
Coerr, E. (1993). Chang’s paper pony. Illustrated by D. K. Ray. New York: HarperTrophy. (1-3)
In San Francisco during the 1850‘s gold rush, Chang, the son of Chinese immigrants, wants a
pony but cannot afford one until his friend Big Pete finds a solution. (card catalog)
Fritz, J. (1999). Homesick: My own story. Illustrated by M. Tomes. New York: Paper Star. (3-6)
This is the author‘s own story of her upbringing in China by a missionary father, a distant mother,
and an affectionate Chinese nurse, Lin Nai-Nai. The book examines the added difficulties
foreigners experienced in a country where life was harsh even for natives, and chronicles the
loneliness of an only child who longs to discover her roots in the homeland she never knew.
(Borders.com)
Goldin, B. (1996). Red means good fortune: A story of San Francisco‘s Chinatown. Illustrated by
W. Ma. New York: Puffin. (3-5)
A twelve-year old named Jin Mun works for his father doing laundry. Jin Mun is shocked to
discover that one of his neighbors is a slave girl, unable to leave her house. (card catalog)
Hong, L. T. (1995). The empress and the silkworm. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (2-4)
A fictionalized account of the Empress of China‘s discovery, around 2700 B.C., that the cocoons
of the worms in her mulberry trees were made of fine, shiny, silken thread which could be made
into beautiful cloth. (Borders. com)
Krensky, S. (1995). The iron dragon never sleeps. Illustrated by T. Fulweiler. New York: Yearling
Books. (3-5)
Ten-year-old Winnie and her mother spend the summer of 1867 with Winnie‘s father, a mining
engineer for the Central Pacific Railroad. While the Central Pacific weathers a strike by the
Chinese immigrant laborers, Winnie‘s view of the world is forever changed by Lee Cheng, a young
tea carrier. (amazon.com)
Lord, B. B. (1986). In the year of the boar and Jackie Robinson. Illustrated by M. Simont. New
York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
In 1947, a Chinese child comes to Brooklyn where she becomes Americanized at school, in her
apartment building, and by her love for baseball. (card catalog)
Partridge, E. (2003). Oranges on Golden Mountain. Illustrated by A. Sogabe. New York: Puffin. (13)
"You are never alone. Your dream spirit, your Hun, will make sure of that,” Jo Lee‟s mother tells
him when she sends him across the ocean to fish with Fourth Uncle on Golden MountainCalifornia. Adjusting to the strange new land is not easy, but the orange branches he has brought
from home and his Hun‟s nighttime travels remind Jo Lee of his roots and nourish his growth. In
this finely wrought story of one Chinese boy‟s transition to a new life in late-nineteenth-century
California, Elizabeth Partridge captures the determination, family strength, and courage needed
by all immigrants. Aki Sogabe‟s cut-paper illustrations, as rich in character and historical detail
as the text, soar with drama, imagination, and-like Jo Lee‟s Hun-a deep desire to connect.
(amazon.com)
Yee, P. (1999). Tales from Gold Mountain: Stories of the Chinese in the new world. Illustrated by
S. Ng. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. (4-6)
Eight original stories give readers a sense of the hardships faced by the first Chinese-Americans. In
“Spirits of the Railway”, a young man appeases the ghosts of dead railroad workers who were
never properly buried. In “Forbidden Fruit”, a father’s prejudice keeps his daughter from marrying
her beloved. Dramatic, full-color illustrations accompany the stories. (Borders.com)
Yep, L. (1989). Dragonwings: Golden Mountain Chronicles, 1903. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
In the early twentieth century a young Chinese boy joins his father in San Francisco and helps him
realize his dream of making a flying machine. (card catalog)
Yep, L. (2006). The Earth Dragon awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. HarperCollins.
(3-5)
On the evening of April 17, 1906, neither eight-year-old Henry nor his friend Ching is aware that
the earth beneath their San Francisco homes is shifting. Devotees of "penny dreadfuls,” both boys
long for excitement, not their fathers’ ordinary routine lives. When the earthquake shakes the city
and a firestorm breaks out, Henry and his parents scramble in the chaos and battle the fire, but
must ultimately evacuate their home. Ching and his father survive the collapse of their Chinatown
tenement, and flee to the ferry through the debris and turmoil. In the midst of catastrophe, the
boys realize that their fathers are real-life heroes. Henry and Ching’s stories are told in alternating
chapters with a few interruptions for the insertion of earthquake information. Told in the present
tense, the narration provides a "you are there” sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers
who enjoy action-packed survival stories. (Booklist)
Yin. (2001). Coolies. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Philomel. (1-4)
When Shek and little Wong journey to America in 1865, they have work! Along with hundreds of
other Chinese, the brothers are going to help build a great railroad across the West. But as days
grow into months, Shek and Wong endure more than they could have imagined - bleeding hands,
blasting dynamite, and treacherous avalanches - for very little pay. Are they being treated this
way because of their almond-shaped eyes-because they are coolies? Inspired by actual events in
the history of the American railroad, Coolies reveals the harsh truth about life for thousands of
Chinese laborers, while it celebrates the love and loyalty between two brothers who were
determined not only to survive, but to succeed. (amazon.com)
BACK
Poetry:
Ho, M., editor. (1996). Maples in the mist: Poems for children from the Tang Dynasty.
Illustrated by J & M Tseng. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. (K-3)
Chinese children have always learned to read by memorizing poetry, and the poems of
the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) are widely accepted as the best classical poems in
China‘s two-thousand-year literary history. (amazon.com)
Mak, K. (2001). My Chinatown: One year in poems. New York: HarperCollins. (1-5)
Kam Mak grew up in a place of two cultures, one existing within the other. Using
extraordinarily beautiful paintings and moving poems, he shares a year of growing up in
this small city within a city, which is called Chinatown. (amazon.com)
Wong, J. S. (1994). Good luck gold and other poems. New York: Scott Foresman. (3-5)
The collection of poems, most written from the point of view of a young Asian-American
girl, capture loving and poignant recollections of family members and tell of moments
where American, Chinese, and Korean cultures meet or clash. (Horn Book, 1995)
Wong, J. S. (2000). This next New Year. Illustrated by Y. Choi. New York:
Farrar/Frances Foster. (K-3)
A young boy prepares for Chinese New Year with rituals and wide hopes, in this
illustrated, free verse poem. The narrator, who is half Korean, describes how he and his
friends, like so many people in a multicultural society, celebrate the holiday with a
modern blend of adopted and inherited traditions: the boy‟s mother makes traditional
Korean new year soup; Evelyn, part Hopi and Mexican, loves the money-stuffed red
envelopes from her Singaporean neighbor; and Glenn, part French and German, “calls it
Chinese New Year, too, even though he celebrates it at his house by eating Thai food to
go.” At home, the boy cleans the house, “so it can soak up good luck like an empty
sponge,” grooms himself, and pledges to be brave and positive—“none of that can't do,
don't have, why me.” Choi‟s smooth, brightly colored paintings--filled with firecrackers,
dragons, and other cultural symbols--ably illustrate the optimistic activity and the
yearning in the accessible, rhythmic text. Children of diverse backgrounds will connect
with the boy‟s earnest desire to help change the family‟s luck and realize his own
potential. (Booklist)
Wyndham, R., editor. (1998). Chinese Mother Goose rhymes. Illustrated by E. Young.
New York: Paper Star. (K-2)
Enchanting album of rhymes, riddles, lullabies and games that have amused Chinese
children for centuries. English with traditional Chinese calligraphy. (Asia for Kids 2000
– 2001 Educational Catalog, p. 20)
Young, E. (2005). Beyond the great mountains. Chronicle Books. (4-6)
Ed Young‘s spare prose, as lovely as a rice-paper painting, describes in measured detail
the beautiful and mystical land that the author so clearly loves. The unique format and
gorgeous paper-collage illustrations, highlighted with Chinese characters, combine to
convey the many facets of China to form a poetic picture of the land‘s grace, depth, and
majesty. (amazon.com)
BACK
Fantasy:
Armstrong, J. (1996). Chin Yu Min and the ginger cat. Illustrated by M. Grandpre. New York:
Random House. (4-6)
The proud and haughty widow Chin Yu Min finds happiness and humility through her friendship
with a mysterious ginger cat in an original, moving and beautifully told story of Chinese culture.
(amazon.com)
Flack, M. (1977). The story about Ping. Illustrated by K. Wiese. New York: Viking Press. (K-1)
A little duck finds adventure on the Yangtze River when he is too late to board his master's
houseboat one evening. (card catalog)
Lobel, A. (1993). Ming Lo moves the mountain. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)
A wise man tells Ming Lo how to move the mountain away from his house. (card catalog)
Partridge, E. (2001). Oranges on Golden Mountain. Illustrated by A. Sogabe. New York: Dutton:
(K-3)
"You are never alone. Your dream spirit, your Hun, will make sure of that‖, Jo Lee‘s mother tells
him when she sends him across the ocean to fish with Fourth Uncle on Golden MountainCalifornia. Adjusting to the strange new land is not easy, but the orange branches he has brought
from home and his Hun‘s nighttime travels remind Jo Lee of his roots and nourish his growth. In
this finely wrought story of one Chinese boy‘s transition to a new life in late-nineteenth-century
California, Elizabeth Partridge captures the determination, family strength, and courage needed
by all immigrants. Aki Sogabe‘s cut-paper illustrations, as rich in character and historical detail
as the text, soar with drama, imagination, and - like Jo Lee‘s Hun - a deep desire to connect.
(amazon.com)
Steckman, E. (1997). Silk peony, parade dragon. Illustrated by C. Inouye. Honesdale, PA: Boyds
Mills Press. (K-3)
Mrs. Ming owns a dragon farm, and the dragon, Silk Peony, is her pride and joy. But negotiating
a fair rental price for Silk Peony to march in the New Year’s Day parade turns out to be quite a
task. First the mandarin is rude, then he bargains mercilessly, and finally he won't cough up! In
the end, happily, Mrs. Ming gets her way in this original fable. (Borders.com)
Latin American Themes
Resources for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents
de Cortes, Oralia Garza, and Louise Yarian Zwick. "Hispanic Materials and Programs: Bibliography." Chap. in
Venture into Cultures: A Resource Book of Multicultural Materials and Programs, ed. Carla D. Hayden.
Chicago: American Library Association, 1992. 82-99.
ISBN: 0-8389-0579-X
The listings of both fiction and non-fiction are divided into English and Spanish titles. Appropriate grade levels
are included with detailed annotations.
Duran, Daniel Flores. Latino Materials: a Multimedia Guide for Children and Young Adults. New York: Neal
Schuman, Publishers, 1979.
ISBN: 0-87436-262-8
Books and films for elementary and secondary grades are divided within three bibliographies, those having a
Mexican-American focus, those with a Puerto Rican focus, and general, referring to all Spanish speaking
groups. See pages 41-51, 63-141, and 161- 194 for listings. The author and title index refers to entry number of
items. English and Spanish titles included.
Rochman, Hazel. "Latinos." Chap. in Against Borders: Promoting Books for a Multicultural World. Chicago:
American Library Association, 1993. 207-218.
ISBN: 0-8389-0601-X
One section of the chapter on Ethnic U.S.A. is devoted to Latinos. The majority of the books listed were
published in the 1980's and 1990's. Divided into non-fiction, fiction, and videos, each entry includes appropriate
grade level and a detailed annotation.
Schon, Isabel. A Bicultural Heritage: Themes for the Exploration of Mexican and Mexican-American
Culture in Books for Children and Adolescents. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1978.
ISBN: 0-8108-1128-6
The themes of customs, lifestyles, heroes, folklore, and history are covered with each area divided into three age
levels from K-12. Each grade level is further divided into outcomes, books, discussions, and evaluation &
follow-up activities. The lists of books include recommended as well as not recommended titles, with the stated
idea that there are too many stereotypes and misconceptions about Mexican- Americans, and these books should
not be allowed to perpetuate them. Author and title indexes.
"Recommended and Not Recommended Books About Latinas/os for Young Readers." Multicultural Review, 2
(December 1994): 30-34.
Ten recommended titles and thirteen not recommended. With all the positive and realistic books being
published portraying Latina/o culture and people, seventeen years after the above bibliography was published,
there are many books that continue to instill stereotypes and are inferior and awkward Spanish translations.
Talbot, Jane Mitchell, and Gilbert R. Cruz. "Children's Literature." Chap. in A Comprehensive Chicano
Bibliography, 1960-1972, 285-298. Austin, Texas: Jenkins Publishing Co., 1973.
Brief citations for one hundred titles.
Literature for Children
PICTURE BOOKS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN
Altman, Linda Jacobs. Amelia's Road. Illustrated by Enrique Sanchez. New York: Lee and Low Books, 1993.
ISBN: 1-880000-04-0. 29 p. Grade K-2.
Amelia, the daughter of migrant farm workers, learns to cope with moving from harvest to harvest while
dreaming of a stable home.
Anzaldua, Gloria. Friends From the Other Side=Amigos del Otro Lado. Illustrated by Consuelo Mendez. San
Francisco: Children's Book Press, 1993.
ISBN: 0-89239-113-8. 30 p. Grade 2-3. Bilingual.
Vibrant colored-pencil illustrations accompany this 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.
Argueta, Manilo. Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes=Los Perros Magicos de Los Valcanes. Illustrated by Elly
Simmons. English translation by Stacey Ross. San Francisco: Children's Book Press, 1990.
ISBN: 0-89239-064-6. 32 p. Grade 2-3. Bilingual.
Colorfully illustrated folk tale of the magic dogs who live in the volcanoes of El Salvador and protect the
villagers from harm.
Brown, Tricia. Hello Amigos!. Photographs by Fran Ortiz. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1986.
ISBN: 0-80500-090-9. Grade 2-4
Black and white photographs and narration by a Mexican American child, describe a day in his life, going to
school and celebrating his birthday, living with his family in the Mission District of San Francisco.
Hewett, Joan. Hector Lives in the United States Now: the Story of a Mexican American Child. Photographs by
Richard Hewett. New York: Lippincott, 1990.
ISBN: 0-397-32295-X. 44 p. Grade 2-4.
Black and white photographs illustrate the day-to-day happenings and milestones in the life of a young Mexican
boy whose family seeks amnesty in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act.
Mora, Pat. A Birthday Basket for Tia. Illustrated by Cecily Lang. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.
ISBN: 0-02-767400-2. 29 p. Grade K-2.
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.
Rohmer, Harriet & Anchondo, Mary, adapted by. How we Came to the Fifth World=Cómo Vinimos al Quinto
Mundo. Illustrated by Graciela Carrillo. San Francisco: Children's Book Press, 1988 (c.1976).
ISBN: 0-89239-024-7. 24 p. Grade 2-3. Bilingual.
Brilliant illustrations based on the original Indian picture writings accompany this Aztec myth recounting the
creation and destruction of the world by the deities of the four great elements - Water, Air, Fire, and Earth. A
brief explanation of the Aztec belief is on the last page.
FICTION
Soto, Gary. Baseball in April and Other Stories. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1990.
ISBN: 0-15-205720-X. 111 p. Grade 7-8.
Youth and age, love and friendship, success and failure are the themes of these eleven short stories focusing on
the everyday adventures of Mexican-American young people growing up in Fresno, California. Glossary of
Spanish words and phrases included.
Crazy Weekend. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1994.
ISBN: 0-590-47814-1. 144 p. Grade 5-6.
Funny and fast-paced story of Hector and Mando who find themselves pursued by two goofy thieves after their
photograph of a robbery is published in the newspaper. Glossary of Spanish words and phrases included.
Local News. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1993.
ISBN: 0-15-248117-6. 148 p. Grade 6-7.
A collection of thirteen short stories about the everyday lives of Mexican-American youth in California's
Central Valley. Glossary of Spanish words and phrases included.
Pacific Crossing. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1992.
ISBN: 0-15-259187-7. 134 p. Grade 4-6.
A fourteen year old Mexican-American boy spends a summer with a host family in Japan, encountering new
experiences and making new friends. Glossary of Japanese words and phrases included.
The Skirt. Illustrated by Eric Velasquez. New York: Delacorte Press, 1992.
ISBN: 0-385-30665-2. 74 p. Grade 2-4.
When Miata leaves the special skirt that she planned to wear in a dance performance on the school bus, she
needs all her wits to get it back without her parents finding out.
Taking Sides. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1991.
ISBN: 0-15-284076-1. 138 p.
Fourteen year old, Lincoln Mendoza, an aspiring basketball player, must come to terms with his divided
loyalties when he moves from the Hispanic inner city to a white suburban neighborhood. Glossary of Spanish
words and phrases included.
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. New York: Vintage Books, 1989.
ISBN: 0-679-73477-5. 110 p. Grade 9-12.
A series of vingnettes captures the thoughts and emotions in poems and stories, of Esperanza Cordero, a young
girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago.
POETRY
Carlson, Lori M., ed. Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States. Introduction
by Oscar Hijuelos. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1994.
ISBN: o-805-03135-9. Bilingual.
Thirty-seven poems in English and Spanish by contemporary Latino/a writers.
Soto, Gary. A Fire in My Hands: A Book of Poems. Illustrated by James M. Cardillo. New York: Scholastic,
1990.
ISBN: 0-590-45021-2.
Happy, sad, funny, touching, and thoughtful poems about growing up, family, friendships, and first love drawn
from a background of growing up Mexican-American in the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. Detailed
black and white drawings. Author's anecdotes precede each poem. Foreword and a question and answer section
about poetry is included.
Neighborhood Odes. Illustrated by David Diaz. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1992.
ISBN: 0-15-256879-4.
Black and white illustrations accompany twenty-one poems about growing up in a Mexican-American
neighborhood, finding delight in everyday places and items, such as the library, tennis shoes, sprinklers, and
tortillas.
NON-FICTION
Aliotta, Jerome J. The Puerto Ricans. Introductory essay by Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The Peoples of North
America. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1991.
ISBN: 0-87754-897-8. 110 p. Grade 5-7.
Discusses the history, culture, and relgion of Puerto Ricans, their place in American society, and the problems
they face as an ethnic group in North America. Photographs, bibliography, and index included.
Arnold, Sandra Martin. Alicia Alonso: First Lady of the Ballet. New York: Walker and Company, 1993.
ISBN: 0-8027-8242-6. 100 p. Grade 4-6
The story of the Cuban ballerina who founded her own ballet school and company, performed with the Ballet
Russe, and continued to dance after she lost her sight. Includes photographs, bibliography, and index.
Bandon, Alexandra. Mexican Americans. Footsteps to America. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company,
1993.
ISBN: 0-02-768142-4. 110 p. Grade 4-6.
An account of immigration to the United States by Mexicans, focusing on recent history, with first person
narratives. Photographs, bibliography, and index included.
Catalano, Julie. The Mexican Americans. Introductory essay by Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The Peoples of
North America. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988.
ISBN: 0-87754-857-9. 95 p. Grade 5-7.
Discusses the history, culture, and religion of Mexican Americans, factors enouraging their emigration and their
acceptance as an ethnic group in North America. Photographs, bibliography, and index included.
Cedeno, Maria E. Cesar Chavez: Labor Leader. Brookfield, CT: Hispanic Heritage, The Millbrook Press,
1993.
ISBN: 1-56294-280-8. 32 p. Grade 3-4.
Traces the accomplishments of the labor leader who fought to improve the lives of Mexican-American farm
workers in California.
de Ruiz, Dana Catharine, and Richard Larios. La Causa: The Migrant Farmworkers' Story. Illustrated by
Rudy Gutierrez. Stories of America, Alex Haley, general editor. Austin: Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 1993.
ISBN: 0-8114-7231-0. 92 p. Grade 3-5.
Describes the efforts of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to organize migrant workers during the 1960's in
California into a union which became the United Farm Workers.
Fernandez-Shaw, Carlos M. The Hispanic Presence in North America From 1492 to Today. Translated by
Alfonso Bertodano Stourton and others. New York: Facts on File, 1991.
ISBN: 0-8160-2133-3. 375 p. Grade 6-10.
A general historical overview beginning with colonization and a discussion of Hispanic culture is followed by a
state-by-state study of the history and influence of Hispanics in the United States. Photographs, listings of
media, associations, selected readings, and index are included. A valuable reference tool.
Garver, Susan, and Paula McGuire. Coming to North America: From Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. New
York: Delacorte Press, 1981.
ISBN: 0-440-01459-X. 161 p. Grade 5-6.
Explores the immigrant experiences of Mexicans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans in the United States through
personal accounts, histories, and photographs. Includes bibliography, a history of U.S. Immigration Laws, and
an index.
Gilbert, Thomas W. Roberto Clemente. New York: Chelsea House, 1991.
ISBN: 0-7910-1240-9. 111 p. Grade 5-7.
Biography of the baseball hero who was born in Puerto Rico and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Includes
photographs, index, bibliography, chronology, and career statistics.
Kanellos, Nicolas. The Hispanic-American Almanac: A Reference Work on Hispanics in the United States.
Detroit: Gale Research, Inc., 1993.
ISBN: 0-8103-7944-9. 780 p. Grade 7-12.
Discusses a broad range of important aspects of Hispanic life and culture in the United States. It covers such
topics as population, the family, education, law and politics, religion, literature, art, and business. A chronology,
a historical overview, significant documents, and historical landmarks are also included. Photographs, glossary,
general bibliography, and index. A very useful reference tool.
Lankerford, Mary D. Quinceañera: A Latina's Journey to Womanhood. Photographs by Jesse Herrera.
Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press, 1994.
ISBN: 1-56294-363-4. 47 p. Grade 2-4.
Photographs and narration describe the preparation and ceremony of a young girl's quinceañera, a rite of
passage at age fifteen for Latinas, celebrating their journey from childhood to womenhood.
Lannert, Paula. Mexican Americans. American Voices. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Corporation, Inc., 1991.
ISBN: 0-86593-139-9 103 p. Grade 4-6.
Discusses the motivations and contributions of Mexicans who have immigrated to the United States.
Photographs, short biographies of famous Mexican Americans, a time line, glossary, list of resources,
bibliographies, and index are included.
Morey, Janet, and Wendy Dunn. Famous Mexican-Americans. New York: Cobblehill Books, 1989.
ISBN: 0-525-65012-1. 176 p. Grade 5-6.
Discusses the accomplishments and contributions to society of fourteen Mexican-Americans, representing a
variety of professions. Includes photographs, index, and selected bibliography.
Rudeen, Kenneth. Roberto Clemente. Illustrated by Frank Mullins. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1974.
ISBN: 0-690-00315-3. 33 p. Grade 2-4.
Biography of the baseball hero from Puerto Rico who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sinnott, Susan. Extraordinary Hispanic Americans. Chicago: Children's Press, 1991.
ISBN: 0-516-00582-1. 277 p. Grade 6-8.
Organized chronologically, profiles the lives of Hispanics who helped shape the history of the United States,
from fifteenth century explorers to twentieth century writers, entertainers, and politicans.
Telgen, Diane, ed. Notable Hispanic American Women. Detroit: Gale Research, Inc. 1993.
ISBN: 0-81-037578-8. 448 p. Grade 9-12.
Short biographies of famous Hispanic American women, some with photographs. Occupational index and
Ethnicity index included.
Walker, Paul Robert. Pride of Puerto Rico: the Life of Roberto Clemente. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace,
Jovanovich, 1988.
ISBN: 0-15-200562-5. 135 p. Grade 5-7.
Biography of the baseball hero from Puerto Rico who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Includes career record.
This bibliography was compiled by Amy Goldenberg, as a first year Graduate student at UCLA in the
Department of Library and Information Science, in March 1995. She is the author of PAPERCUTTING:
Reviving a Jewish Folk Art published by Jason Aron son, Inc., Spring 1994. Feedback, comments, questions,
and suggestions for furture compilations are welcome. Amy can be reached at [email protected] or by snail
mail at P.O. Box 48142, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
LATINO/LATINA - HISPANIC AMERICANS
Realistic
fiction
Non-fiction
Traditional
Biography
Historical
fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
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NOTE: RECENLTY ADDED TITLES APPEAR IN RED.
NOTE: TITLES ADDED Winter 2008/2009 APPEAR IN BLUE.
Realistic fiction
Ada, A. F. (2002). I love Saturdays y Domingos. Illustrated by E. Savadier. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)
Saturdays and Sundays are very special days for the child in this story. On Saturdays, she visits
Grandma and Grandpa, who come from a European-American background, and on Sundays -- los
domingos -- she visits Abuelito y Abuelita, who are Mexican-American. While the two sets of
grandparents are different in many ways, they also have a great deal in common -- in particular,
their love for their granddaughter. While we follow our narrator to the circus and the pier, share
stories from her grandparents‘ pasts, and celebrate her birthday, the depth and joy of both cultures
are conveyed in Spanish and English. This affirmation of both heritages will speak to all children
who want to know more about their own families and ethnic backgrounds. (amazon.com)
Ada, A. F. (1995). My name is Maria Isabel. Illustrated by K. D. Thompson. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
(2-5)
Third grader Maria Isabel, born in Puerto Rico and now living in the U.S., wants badly to fit in at school; and
the teacher’s writing assignment “My Greatest Wish” gives her that opportunity. (amazon.com)
Ada, A. F. (199). The gold coin. Illustrated by N. Waldman. New York: Scott Foresman. (K-3)
Determined to steal an old woman’s gold coin, a young thief follows her around the countryside and finds
himself involved in a series of unexpected activities. (card catalog)
Altman, L. J. (1995). Amelia’s road. Illustrated by E. O. Sanchez. New York: Lee & Low. (K-3)
Tired of moving around so much, Amelia, the daughter of migrant farm workers, dreams of a stable
home. (amazon.com)
Anaya, R. (1999). Farolitos for Abuelo. Illustrated by E. Gonzales. Hyperion. (1-4)
When Luz’s beloved grandfather dies, she places luminaria around his grave on Christmas Eve as a way of
remembering him. (card catalog)
Anaya, R. (1995). The farolitos of Christmas. Illustrated by E. Gonzales. Hyperion. (1-4)
With her father away fighting in World War II and her grandfather too sick to create the traditional
luminaria, Luz helps create farolitos, little lanterns, for their Christmas celebration instead. (card catalog)
Anaya, R. (2004). The santero’s miracle: A bilingual story. Illustrated by A. Cordova.
University of New Mexico Press. (1-4)
In this bilingual story of faith, Don Jacobo has a dream that, in the end, is a reminder that miracles do
happen. Jacobo is teaching his visiting grandson Andrés how to become a santero. Christmas is coming,
snow is falling in the village, and the two are working on a carving of San Isidro, the patron saint of farmers.
The half-finished carving stands in the living room beside the two oxen and the angel that don Jacobo
carved earlier in the month. The snow-covered mountains are beautiful, but the road to the village is
impassable. Andrés’s parents will not be able to get to the house for the holiday, and Jacobo’s neighbor
Leopoldo is desperately ill but cannot get to the hospital. Then comes Jacobo’s dream; San Isidro is plowing
with the two oxen and the angel is helping. "But we don’t plow ’til April” don Jacobo muses upon
awakening. "What does it mean?” The night had been bitterly cold and don Jacobo must bundle up to go to
the barn to feed his cows and chickens. As he steps outside, he can hardly believe his eyes. The snow-packed
road is clear. (amazon.com)
Brusca, M. (1993). On the pampas. Madison, WS: Turtleback Books. (K-3)
An account of a little girl’s idyllic summer at her grandparents’ ranch on the pampas of Argentina. (card
catalog)
Bunting, E. (1998). Going home. Illustrated by D. Diaz. New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)
From a Caldecott-medal winning team comes the heartwarming story of one family’s special Christmas
homecoming. On his trip to Mexico for the holidays, Carlos comes to realize that home can be anywhere,
because it stays in the hearts of the people who love you. (amazon.com)
Buss, F. L. (1993). Journey of the sparrows. New York: Yearling. (4-6)
The story of fifteen-year-old Maria Acosta, fleeing El Salvador with her sister and brother, is told in a
devastating narrative. The writing is direct, almost documentary, with the emphasis on the plight of the
refugees and their desperate attempt to survive and reunite their family. (Horn Book, 1992)
Calhoun, M. (1996). Tonio’s cat. Illustrated by E. Martinez. New York: William Morrow & Company. (K-3)
Brought to life through sun-drenching illustrations, this is the heartwarming story of the love that grows
between a lonely little boy and a streetwise cat. (amazon.com)
Casteneda, O. S. (1995). Abuela’s weave. Illustrated by E. O. Sanchez. New York: Lee & Low. (K-4)
A young Guatemalan girl and her grandmother grow closer as they weave some special creations and then
make a trip to the market in hopes of selling them. (card catalog)
Christopher, M. (1994). Centerfield ballhawk. Illustrated by E. Beier. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
(3-5)
While grounded from team play for two weeks after breaking a neighbor’s window, Jose Mendez bemoans
his inability to be a .375 hitter like his father was in the minor leagues. Even his sister is a good hitter. Jose
comes to recognize his value as a fielder in the satisfying, if predictable, resolution. (Horn Book, 1992)
Ciavonne, J. (2001). Carlos, light the farolito. Illustrated by D. Clair. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
In a unique, illustrated holiday story, little Carlos must overcome his shyness when he is forced to play his
grandfather’s part in the traditional Mexican Christmas pageant known as Las Posadas, a reenactment of
the Nativity. (amazon.com)
Cohn, D. (2002). Dream carver. Illustrated by A. Cordova. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle. (K-3)
Mateo and his father carve juguetes, the traditional small wooden animals their family sells at the
fiestas in Oaxaca. But Mateo wants to create great big carvings of goats that are pink as
bougainvillea and have cactus-green speckles; purple cats with corn-yellow spots and rose-colored
jaguars. When he tells his father this dream, he‟s scolded for his foolishness, but Mateo perseveres
and at the next fiesta, everyone wants one of his creations! Including an informative afterword on
this vibrant Mexican art form, this colorful take encourages readers of all ages to follow their
dreams. (amazon.com)
Crowley, J. (1998). Gracias the Thanksgiving turkey. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K3)
Young Puerto Rican boy Miguel refuses to go anywhere without his turkey companion, a bird too dear for
the Thanksgiving table, and the pair delights everyone in their New York City neighborhood. (amazon.com)
Cumpiano, I. (2008). Quinito, day and night/ Quinito, dia y noche. Illustrated by J. Ramirez. Children’s
Book Press. (K-2)
From dawn till dusk, Quinito’s life is full of opposites. In the morning, he’s up and running — fast or slowly,
depending on the day. If it’s sunny, he’s off to the park to swing high and low. If it’s a rainy, stay-at-home
day, Quinito’s quiet at naptime and noisy at playtime. So much to do before the sun sets! This playful story
builds awareness in young readers that everywhere they look, opposites abound. Told in both English and
Spanish, Quinito, Day and Night is a delight for readers young or old, tall or short, messy or neat.
(amazon.com)
Cumpiano, I (2009). Quinito’s neighborhood/ El vecindario de Quinito. Illustrated by J. Ramirez. Children’s
Book Press. (K-2)
What makes a neighborhood? Is it the shops, the buildings, the roads, the schools? Or is it the people?
Answering this question is easy for effervescent young Quinito, who knows most of his neighbors–in fact, he
is related to many of them. From his carpenter mother and nurse father to his aunt the muralist and cousin
Tita, a clown, his is a network of love that encompasses teachers, crossing guards, bankers, postal workers,
dance instructors, and truck drivers. Ramírez’s vibrant acrylic-on-canvas paintings bring this community to
life, the primitive forms fairly bursting from the book’s pages with their deep hues and sense of emotional
warmth. The simple text, equally good in both English and Spanish, is in a font that resembles a child’s
printing. Its child appeal, lovely message, and potential inspiration to young authors and artists make
Quinito’s Neighborhood a place that youngsters will enjoy visiting. (School Library Journal)
Dominguez, K. K. (2002). The perfect piñata/La piñata perfecta. Illustrated by D. Paterson. Morton Grove,
IL: Albert Whitman. (K-3)
In preparation for her birthday party, five-year-old Marisa picks out a colorful, butterfly pinata
and insists on placing it on her dresser, instead of storing it in the closet. The more she plays with
the pinata, the more attached to it she becomes.. On the day of her party, she can‟t bear to hit the
beautiful pinata. Fortunately, her understanding. creative parents solve the problem and all ends
well, with candy streaming from a homemade pinata, and the butterfly safe in Marisa‟s arms. Told
in English and Spanish, the story is well paced and satisfying. Spanish words placed in the English
narrative are easily understood in context. The watercolor pictures convey Marisa‟s attachment to
the butterfly and her emotional turmoil in the midst of a lively party. Birthday stories are always
popular; this new one adds a Latin flavor and an unusual twist. (Booklist)
Dorros, A. (1997). Radio Man: A story in English and Spanish. Translated by S. M. Dorros. New York:
HarperTrophy. (1-4)
Diego and his family are migrant farmers who move from state to state picking fruits and vegetables. Each
day brings a new experience – a different place, a different crop, and different people to meet. But no
matter where Diego goes, his radio goes with him – it helps him to learn about the places he’s going and to
keep in touch with the people he meets along the way. (amazon.com)
Dorros, A. (1995). Tonight is Carnaval. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
A family in South America eagerly prepares for the excitement of Carnaval. (card catalog).
Estes, K. R. (1999). Manuela’s gift. Illustrated by C. Cotts. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (K-3)
A young girl is disappointed when she doesn’t get the new party dress she wanted for her birthday. But a
dream shows her all the things she has to be thankful for. Poetic text and magical paintings make a
touching story. (amazon.com)
Figueredo, D. H. (1999). When this world was new. Illustrated by E. O. Sanchez. New York: Lee & Low. (K-3)
When Danilito and his parents move from the Caribbean to New York City, Danilito is scared. He
doesn‘t speak any English, and he‘s heard that some Americans aren‘t friendly to foreigners.
Danilito‘s parents have worries too, about finding new jobs and a new house. But Danilito‘s fears
disappear when he wakes to the wonder of his first snowfall. His father leads him on a magical trip
of discovery that helps Danilito embrace his new home and realize his bond with his family.
(amazon.com)
Fine, E. H. (2002). Under the lemon moon. Illustrated by R. K. Moreno. New York: Lee & Low.
(K-3)
The theft of all the lemons from her lemon tree leads Rosalinda to an encounter with la Anciana,
the Old One, who walks the Mexican countryside helping things grow, and an understanding of
generosity and forgiveness. (amazon.com)
Hurwitz, J. (1999). New shoes for Silvia. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Mulberry Press. (K-3)
A young girl receives a beautiful pair of red shoes from her Tia Rosita and finds different uses for them until
she grows enough for them to fit. (card catalog)
Jimenez, F. (2000). La mariposa. Illustrated by S. Silva. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
In his first year of school, Francisco understands little of what his teacher says. But he is drawn to
the silent, slow-moving caterpillar in the jar next to his desk. He knows caterpillars turn into
butterflies, but just how do they do it? To find out, he studies the words in a butterfly book so many
times that he can close his eyes and see the black letters, but he still can‟t understand their
meaning. Illustrated with paintings as deep and rich as the wings of a butterfly, this honest,
unsentimental account of a schoolchild‟s struggle to learn language reveals that our imaginations
powerfully sustain us. La Mariposa makes a subtle plea for tolerance in our homes, our
communities, and in our schools. (amazon.com)
Jimenez, F. (2000). The Christmas gift. Illustrated by C. Cotts. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
With honesty and rare grace, award-winning author Francisco Jimenez shares his most
poignant Christmas memory in this remarkable book. Illustrated with paintings full of
strength and warmth, written in spare bilingual text, this simple story celebrates the true
spirit of Christmas, and illuminates how children do indeed draw strength from the bonds of
their families. (amazon.com)
Johnston, T. (2006). Angel City. Illustrated by C. Byard. Philomel. (2-4)
In the broken streets of Los Angeles, elderly Joseph finds a baby in a dumpster and brings him home to
raise--his "gift from God.” In moving lines that read like free-verse poetry, Johnston describes how man and
boy become a family. The survival struggle is clear and heartbreaking: "Will I get to grow up?” nine-yearold Juan asks after his best friend is killed by a stray bullet. The luxuriant field of corn that Juan and Joseph
grow in a vacant lot is a symbol of hope, but children will be most reassured by the obvious, unwavering
love between man and child. Johnston’s language frequently invokes God and also includes one curse: "The
old man has promised to raise that baby. / Damned if he won't.” Byard’s feathery acrylics extend the sense
of fierce love and even religious symbolism in scenes of Joseph cradling the swaddled infant and, later, the
growing boy. For more powerful views of growing up in urban violence, suggest Eve Bunting’s Smoky Night
(1994) and Barbara Joosse’s Stars in the Darkness (2002). (Booklist)
Jules, J. (2008). No English. Illustrated by A. Huntington. Mitten. (K-2)
"No English” is all that Blanca, the new girl from Argentina, says. She spends her time drawing pictures
instead of doing class work, and that hardly seems fair to second-grader Diane. One misunderstanding
follows another until Diane begins to see how afraid Blanca must feel in their classroom. Their teacher, Mrs.
Bertram, helps her class understand that "different” is just different, not strange or weird. She encourages
the students to learn about Blanca’s home country. Diane must make things right, but how will she do that
when they don't speak the same language? (amazon.com)
Lachtman, O. D. (1995). Pepita talks twice. Illustrated by A. P. DeLange. Houston, TX: Arte Publico/Pinata.
(K-3)
This colorfully illustrated picture book charmingly explores the joys and benefits of bilingualism.
Capturing the beauty and flavor of biculturalism, this story of a little girl at the crossroads of the
English and Spanish-speaking worlds will delight children of all backgrounds who enjoy
multicultural identities. (amazon.com)
Leiner, K. (2001). Mama does the Mambo. Illustrated by E. Rodriguez. New York: Hyperion. (K-4)
Sofia tells this story set in Cuba during a time when LPs, not CDs, provided entertainment. Since
her papa‟s death, the music has stopped in their household and the girl worries that her mother
will never find another dance partner. From all over Havana, men line up to get the chance to
dance with her, but she is not interested. In the end, Mama chooses to mambo with Sofia at
carnival. The text is peppered with easily understood Spanish phrases. Rodriguez‟s artwork, done
in pastel, gouache, and spray paint with woodblock-ink linework, is dramatic and attractive.
Vibrant oranges and reds express the passion mother and daughter have for music and dance.
(School Library Journal)
Luenn, N. (1998). A gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead. Illustrated by R. Chapman. Flagstaff,
AZ: Northland Publishing. (K-3)
After her beloved grandmother dies, Rosita hopes to be reunited with Abuelita as she prepares a gift to give
her when her family celebrates the Day of the Dead. (amazon.com)
Markel, M. (1995). Gracias, Rosa. Illustrated by D. Paterson. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman. (K-3)
Kate has a new babysitter, Rosa, who speaks Spanish and comes from Guatemala. Despite their different
backgrounds, a sense of appreciation and acceptance of cultural diversity develops between the child and
her caretaker. The text is sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases that Rosa teaches Kate. Gentle
watercolors capture the evolving friendship in this affectionate story. (Horn Book, 1995)
Marzollo, J. (1997). Soccer cousins. Illustrated by I. Trivas. Canada: Cartwheel Books. (2-4)
This entry in the Hello Reader! Series works some basic Spanish and information about Mexico’s celebration
of the Day of the Dead into the story. David’s lack of success on the soccer field convinces him that he’s not
cut out to play. However, he’s thrilled to be invited to Mexico to watch his cousin play. The visit turns out to
be a great opportunity for David to learn about the holiday and to regain his confidence on the sports field.
(Booklist)
Miller, E. I. (1999). Just like home! Come en mi tierra. Illustrated by M. Reisberg. Morton Grove, IL: Albert
Whitman. (K-3)
A young girl describes how she adjusts to life in the United States as she evaluates the similarities and
differences between her new home and her former home. Some things are the same, while others are vastly
different. The child’s viewpoint is conveyed through folkloric-style illustrations accompanied by a succinct,
lively text in both Spanish and English. (Horn Book, 1999)
Mohr, N. (1999). Going home. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
Everything in Felita’s life seems to change the year she turns twelve. Felita spends her summer in Puerto
Rico, where she struggles to fit in. By the time summer has ended, Felita is beginning to feel at home with
herself and her Puerto Rican heritage. (amazon.com)
Mora, P. (1997). A birthday basket for Tia. Illustrated by C. Lang. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
With the help and interference of her cat Chica, Cecilia prepares a surprise gift for her great-aunt’s ninetieth
birthday. (card catalog).
Mora, P. (1994). Pablo’s tree. Illustrated by C. Lang. New York: Simon & Schuster. (K-3)
Each year on his birthday, a young Mexican American boy looks forward to seeing how his grandfather has
decorated the tree he planted on the day the boy was adopted. (card catalog)
Mora., P. (1999). The rainbow tulip. Illustrated by E. Sayles. New York: Viking. (K-3)
A Mexican-American first-grader experiences the difficulties and pleasures of being different when she
wears a tulip costume with all the colors of the rainbow for the school May Day parade. (amazon.com)
Perez, A. I. (2002). My diary from here to there/Mi diario de aqui hasta alla. Illustrated by M. C. Gonzalez.
San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (2-5)
One night young Amada overhears her parents whisper of moving from Mexico to Los Angeles
where greater opportunity awaits. As she and her family journey north, Amada records in her diary
her fears, hopes, and dreams for their lives in the United States. Amada learns that with her
family‟s love and a belief in herself, she can make any journey and triumph over any change —
here, there, anywhere. (amazon.com)
Perez, A. I. (2000). My very own room: Mi propio cuartito. Illustrated by M. C. Gonzalez. San Francisco, CA:
Children’s Book Press. (K-3)
As the oldest and only girl in her family, the determined narrator not only dreams of having her own room,
she finds a way to make it happen. With her mother’s permission and her four brothers’ help, she
transforms a storage closet into a small bedroom. The bilingual first-person text realistically portrays a child
who takes charge and makes changes. The art’s curved lines and warm colors add to the sense of family
unity and security. (Horn Book, 2001)
Perez, L. K. (2002). First day in grapes. Illustrated by R. Casilla. Lee and Low Books. (3-5)
All year long, Chico’s family moves up and down the state of California to pick fruits and vegetables. Every
September, Chico starts at a new school. Often, the other kids pick on him — maybe because he’s always
new, or maybe because he speaks Spanish sometimes. But third grade promises to be different. He likes his
teacher, and she recognizes his excellent abilities in math — he may even get to go to the math fair! When
some fourth-grade bullies tease him, he surprises them with strengths of his own. (amazon.com)
Reeve, K. (1998). Lolo and Red-Legs. Flagstaff, AZ: Rising Moon Books for Young Readers. (4-6)
When eleven-year-old Lolo captures a tarantula, it turns an ordinary summer into a series of adventures
that take him and his friends beyond their Mexican-American neighborhood in East Los Angeles.
(amazon.com)
Reiser, L. (1996). Margaret and Margarita – Margarita y Margaret. New York: Pearson Learning. (K-3)
Margaret speaks English but not Spanish. Margarita speaks Spanish but not English. Can they still play? Of
course they can! (amazon.com)
Reiser, L. (1998). Tortillas and lullabies. Illustrated by C. Valientes Organization. New York: Greenwillow. (K3)
Written in English and Spanish, this companion to Reiser’s "Cherry Pies and Lullabies” tells another story of
family love - this time within a Costa Rican culture. Extraordinary folk-art paintings by "Corazones
Valientes”, an organization of Costa Rican women artists, accompany the tale. (amazon.com)
Rodriguez, L. J. (1999). It doesn’t have to be this way: A Barrio story. Illustrated by D. Galvez. San Francisco,
CA: Children’s Book Press. (4-6)
One day, a member of the local gang tells Monchi it’s time to join up. He is scared but
excited. The older boys give him the handshake, girls talk to him, and even teachers are
afraid of him. But when a tragic event changes everything, Monchi must make an important
decision. The love and respect of his uncle helps him find a way out. (amazon.com)
Ryan. P. M. (2005). Becoming Naomi Leon. Scholastic. (4-7)
Half-Mexican Naomi Soledad, 11, and her younger disabled brother, Owen, have been brought up by their
tough, loving great-grandmother in a California trailer park, and they feel at home in the multiracial
community. Then their alcoholic mom reappears after seven years with her slimy boyfriend, hoping to take
Naomi (not Owen) back and collect the welfare check. Determined not to let that happen, Gram drives the
trailer across the border to a barrio in Oaxaca to search for the children’s dad at the city’s annual Christmas
arts festival. In true mythic tradition, Ryan, the author of the award-winning Esperanza Rising (2000),
makes Naomi’s search for her dad a search for identity, and both are exciting. Mom is demonized, but the
other characters are more complex, and the quest is heartbreaking. The dense factual detail about the
festival sometimes slows the story, but it’s an effective tool for dramatizing Naomi’s discovery of her
Mexican roots and the artist inside herself. (Booklist)
Soto, G. (1998). Big bushy mustache. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York: Knopf. (K-3)
It’s almost Cinco de Mayo, and Ricky’s class is going to put on a play to celebrate the festive Mexican
holiday. When asked to choose his costume, Ricky picks a big, bushy mustache, just like his dad’s. With
humor and tenderness, Soto evokes a warm celebration of both the beloved tradition of Cinco de Mayo and
the strong bonds of love between father and son. (amazon.com)
Soto, G. (2002). If the shoe fits. Illustrated by T. Widener. New York: Putnam. (K-4)
Rigo doesn‟t like being the youngest brother. He always has to wear his big brothers‟ hand-medowns. Plus, his brothers-Hector, Manuel, and Carlos-always seem to lose buttons, rip holes, and
wear the clothes out before they get to Rigo! But Rigo‟s luck changes on his birthday when his mom
gives him a pair of shoes. He loves them for their shine and style, but most of all he loves them
because they are brand-new. After he outgrows the shoes, and trades them to his uncle for old
Mexican centavos, Rigo learns that some hand-me-downs are better than brand-new.
(amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1998). Snapshots from the wedding. Illustrated by S. Garcia. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
Maya attends a family wedding and captures it all on film, from her cousin getting rice in his eye to the cake
that tasted as delicious as it looked, in a beautifully illustrated tale of a special family day. (amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1992). Taking sides. New York: Harcourt Brace. (4-6)
Fourteen-year-old Lincoln Mendoza, an aspiring basketball player, must come to terms with his divided
loyalties when he moves from the Hispanic inner city to a white suburban neighborhood. (card catalog)
Soto, G. (1998). The old man and his door. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
Failing to pay attention to his wife’s instructions to bring el puerco, the main dish, to his neighbor’s
barbecue, an elderly gardener brings instead la puerca, a door, with educational results. (amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1994). The skirt. Illustrated by E. Velasquez. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)
Miata Ramirez is heartsick after leaving her mother’s folklorico skirt on the bus, so she enlists the help of
her best friend, Ana, to find the skirt before the upcoming folklorico dance. (amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1996). Too many tamales. Illustrated by E. Martinez. New York: Scott Foresman. (K-3)
Maria tries on her mother’s wedding ring while helping make tamales for a Christmas family
get-together. Panic ensues when hours later, she realizes the ring is missing. (card catalog)
Torres, L. (1999). Saturday sancocho. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. (K-3)
Everyday Saturday, Maria Lili makes chicken sancocho with her grandparents. Mama Ana
and Papa Angelino. One Saturday they discover that there is nothing in the house except eggs.
Somehow, Mama Ana has a way to make chicken sancocho with eggs, and Maria Lili can’t
wait to find out how. (amazon.com)
Velasquez, E. (2001). Grandma’s records. New York: Walker & Company. (K-3)
Velasquez relates his personal experience as a young boy who spent summers with his
grandmother in 1950s Spanish Harlem, where “Grandma wrapped me in her world of
music.” As merengues and salsas played all through the long, hot summer, Grandma would
dance and tell Eric about her life in Puerto Rico. One day, Grandma’s nephew Sammy, who
plays percussion in the best band in Puerto Rico, comes to town for a concert. He surprises
Grandma and Eric with tickets to the show. The concert proves to be "a magical moment in
time” for Eric, and particularly for Grandma, whose special song, "In My Old San Juan,” is
sung directly to her. The song, which describes the sadness and uncertainties of leaving
Puerto Rico for a foreign country, is reproduced at the book’s end in both Spanish and
English. Rich oil paintings lovingly depict the special times in Grandma’s New York
apartment and the excitement of the live concert. Short biographies of the band’s three
famous members add to the book’s value as a resource for a study of the Puerto Rican
culture. (Booklist)
Vidal, B. (2004). Federico and the Magi’s gift: A Latin American Christmas story. Knopf. (K-2)
On the night of January fifth, Federico and his sisters go to sleep hoping for gifts from the
Magi, who "ride though the night sky bringing regalos to good girls and boys.” While his
sisters and parents are sleeping, wakeful Federico goes out and watches the stars until he sees
the Magi approaching on their flying camels. The appended glossary helpfully translates
regalos (gifts) and eight other Spanish words, though the meanings are usually evident from
the context and illustrations. Decoratively patterned, the gouache-and-watercolor paintings
employ naive forms and glowing colors to create magical scenes expressing a child's delight in
a world that is full of wonders: the dark, quiet garden; the constellations; and the Magi
themselves. According to the jacket flap, the story is based on Vidal's childhood experiences
in Argentina, and the artwork does have the look of a lovingly re-created time and place.
With its quiet narrative and beautiful illustrations, this celebrates the end of the Christmas
season in a distinctly Latin American way, yet its story is accessible to every child. (Booklist)
Wing, N. (1996). Jalapeno bagels. Illustrated by R. Casilla. New York: Atheneum Books. (K-3)
While trying to decide what to take for his school’s International Day, Pablo helps his
Mexican mother and Jewish father at their bakery and discovers a food that represents both
his parents’ backgrounds. (amazon. com)
Winter, J. (2003). Nino’s mask. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
When Nino is told he is too young to wear a mask at the fiesta, he carves his own and
surprises his family and the village by becoming the hero Perro who catches the Tigre and
saves the corn crop for the year. The story, relayed in hand-lettered dialogue balloons, is told
in first person with Spanish words (in capitals) incorporated into Nino’s thoughts as he
considers all the masks and figures he could be. Winter’s art is more textured than usual,
with decorative lines creating patterns that reflect Mexican motifs. Her felt-tip-pen pictures,
infused with warm pinks and oranges, capture the flavor of the story’s backdrop. An
illustrated glossary and an explanation of the fiesta customs can be found on the back page.
(Booklist)
BACK
Non-fiction
Ada, A. F. (2001). Gathering the sun: An alphabet in Spanish and English (Spanish edition). Illustrated by
S. Silva. Rayo. (4-6)
Using the Spanish alphabet as a template, Ada has written 27 poems that celebrate both the bounty of
the harvest and the Mexican heritage of the farmworkers and their families. The poems, presented in
both Spanish and English, are short and simple bursts of flavor: "Árboles/Trees,” "Betabel/Beet,” "César
Chávez,” etc. Silva’s sun-drenched gouache paintings are robust, with images sculpted in paint. Brimming
with respect and pride, the book, with its mythic vision of the migrant farm worker, will add much to any
unit on farming or Mexican American heritage. (Booklist)
Amado, E. (1999). Barrilete: A kite for the Day of the Dead. Photographs by J. Hairs. Toronto, CA:
Groundwood. (K-3)
Every year on November 2, the Day of the Dead, the villagers of Santiago Sacatepequez in
Guatemala fly some of the biggest kites in the world in memory of their deceased loved ones.
Brilliantly colored and often spanning 23 feet, the kites fill the sky over the cemetery. This is the
story of Juan, who has built a kite every year with his grandfather. Since his grandfather has
died, Juan must now carry on the tradition alone. Beautiful photographs show Juan, with his
friends‘ help, sending his kite soaring into the sky. (amazon.com)
Ancona, G. (1998). Barrio: Jose’s neighborhood. New York: Harcourt Brace. (4-6)
Presents life in a barrio in San Francisco, describing the school, recreation, holidays, and family
life of an eight-year-old boy who lives there. (amazon.com)
Ancona, G. (1995). Fiesta U.S.A. New York: Lodestar Books. (3-6)
In a tribute to the customs and traditions of Latinos in the United States, engaging photographs
capture four fiestas: the Day of the Dead, las Posadas, the dance of the Matachines, and Three
Kings' Day. (amazon.com)
Ancona, G. (1994). El pinatero: The piñata maker. New York: Harcourt Brace. (2-4)
Describes how Don Ricardo, a craftsman from Ejutla de Crespo in southern Mexico, makes pinatas for all
the village birthday parties and other fiestas. (card catalog)
Bandon, A. (1993). Mexican Americans (Footsteps to America). Parsippany, NJ: Silver Burdett. (4-6)
A discussion of the economic differences between Mexico and the United States and how they
have led to an increase in Mexican immigration spotlights the problems faced by those who cross
the border in search of a better life. (amazon.com)
Brown, T. (1992). Hello, amigos! Photographed by F. Ortiz. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
Follows a day, a birthday, in the life of a Mexican American child, who lives with his family in the Mission
District of San Francisco. (card catalog)
Crandell, R. (2002). Hands of the Maya: Villagers at work and play. New York: Holt. (K-3)
Experience a day in the life of a Maya village. The wisdom of the phrase "Many hands make light
work” comes across in vivid detail as the community prepares a warm meal, weaves clothing,
constructs roofs, and creates art and music. Best of all-in the morning or at the end of the busy
day, a pair of strong, gentle hands never seems hard to find.
With its lyrical prose and richly textured photographs, this engaging picture book captures the
hard work, love, and respect of the Maya culture. (amazon.com)
Delacre, L. (2000). Salsa stories. New York: Scholastic. (4-6)
Welcome to Carmen Teresa’s festive home, where relatives, friends, and neighbors from all over Latin
America gather to celebrate New Year’s Day. Dona Josepha gives Carmen Teresa a blank notebook, and
everyone suggests that she fill it with stories that the guests remember from childhood. So begins a
unique collection of tales told by a charming cast of characters. In the end, Carmen Teresa decides to
create a cookbook filled with recipes for the dishes mentioned in each story. (amazon.com)
Emberley, R. (2000). My day, mi dia. New York: Little, Brown and Company. (K-3)
In simple phrases and bold, colorful images, Rebecca Emberley invites the youngest readers to learn basic
words in both Spanish and English. Using brilliantly colored paper cutouts, she has created settings filled
with familiar objects, each clearly labeled with both its Spanish and English names. Just right for children
who speak either language at home, these bilingual books introduce the very young to the richness of our
multicultural society and make learning a new language - be it Spanish or English - fun. (amazon.com)
Emberley, R. (1993). My house, mi casa. New York: Little, Brown and Co. (K-3)
Captioned illustrations and Spanish and English text describe things found in a house.
(amazon.com)
Eyla, S. M. & Banks, M. (2007). N is for Navidad. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. Chronicle. (K-2)
Bienvenidos! to a celebration of Christmas, Latino-style! From the ngel (angel) hung above the
door to the zapatos (shoes) filled with grass for the wise men‘s camels, each letter in this festive
alphabet introduces children to a Spanish word, and each colorful page takes them through
another joyous aspect of the 22 days of the traditional holiday. Vibrant art from acclaimed
illustrator Joe Cepeda beautifully complements the lively, rhythmic text to bring the reader a
wealth of heritage and a season of light! Feliz Navidad! (amazon.com)
Eyla, S. M. (1998). Say hola to Spanish. Illustrated by L. Lopez. New York: Lee and Low Books. (K-4)
An entertaining introduction to the Spanish language features kid-friendly rhyming text and colorful
illustrations that make words easier to remember, as well as a variety of activities. (amazon.com)
Foley, E. (1997). Puerto Rico (Festivals of the World). Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens. (K-3)
Describes how the culture of Puerto Rico is reflected in its festivals. (card catalog)
Garland, S. (2000). Voices of the Alamo. Illustrated by R. Himler. New York: Scholastic Trade.
(4-6)
Hear the dramatic story of the Alamo told by the people who shaped the history of the land, from
a Spanish padre who helped build the mission in the 1700s to a young boy who visits the modernday Alamo museum. Meticulously researched and masterfully written, VOICES OF THE ALAMO
is a ground-breaking and provocative book. (amazon.com)
Garza, C. L. (1993). Family pictures/cuadros de familia. Translated by R. Zubizarreta. San Francisco, CA:
Children’s Book Press. (all ages)
The author describes, in bilingual text and illustrations, her experiences growing up in a Hispanic
community in Texas. (amazon.com)
Garza, C. L. (1996). In my family/en mi familia. Translated by F. X. Alarcon. San Francisco, CA: Children’s
Book Press. (all ages)
Following the best-selling Family Pictures, In My Family/En mi familia is Carmen Lomas Garza’s continuing
tribute to the family and community that shaped her childhood and her life. Lomas Garza’s vibrant
paintings and warm personal stories depict memories of growing up in the traditional Mexican-American
community of her hometown of Kingsville, Texas. (amazon.com)
Garza, C. L. (1999). Magic windows/ventanas magicas. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (all ages)
In her third book, the author takes readers on a fascinating journey--in both English and Spanish--that
explores her family, community, and ancestors through the traditional folk art of "papel picado” or cutpaper art. (amazon.com)
Gonzalez, M. C. (2007). My colors, my world/ Mis colores, mi mundo. Children’s Book Press. (K-1)
Little Maya longs to find brilliant, beautiful, inspiring color in her world…but Maya’s world, the Mojave
Desert, seems to be filled with nothing but sand. With the help of a feathered friend, she searches
everywhere to discover color in her world. In the brilliant purple of her mother’s flowers, the cool green of
a cactus, the hot pink sunset, and the shiny black of Papi’s hair, Maya finally finds what she was looking
for. The book’s appealing narrative and bold illustrations encourage early readers to observe and explore,
and to discover the colors in their own. (amazon.com)
Guy, G. F. (2003). Fiesta. Illustrated by R. K. Moreno. Rayo. (PreK-1)
Three children begin with una canasta (one basket) and proceed to fill it with scrumptious candies,
trinkets, and toys in preparation for a Mexican fiesta. Readers are invited to count along as they gather
dos trompetas (two horns), tres animalitos (three little animals), cuartro aviones (four airplanes), cinco
trompos (five tops), etc. in joyous anticipation of the party and the cracking open of the pinata. A simple
bilingual text provides numbers in English and in Spanish. The soft-edged full-color illustrations done in
pencils, pastels, and watercolors have a subtle folkloric quality. The colorful artwork complements the
simplicity and childlike appeal of this delightful picture book. (School Library Journal)
Guy, G. F. (2005). Siesta. Illustrated by R. K. Moreno. Greenwillow. (PreK-1)
A sister and brother and a stuffed bear embark on an adventure. An empty blue backpack is packed with
an interesting array of items: a red jacket, green flute, yellow book, black flashlight, white clock, and
multicolored blanket. Then it’s off to the backyard where the clothesline and blanket make the perfect
tent, the flute provides a bedtime serenade for the jacket-wrapped teddy, and soon, all are sleeping. This
charmingly simple story is told in short sentences, Spanish first, followed by the English translation. The
words for colors are written in their appropriate hues and reinforced by the gorgeous pastel, watercolor,
and pencil illustrations. Soft edges, pure glowing colors, and rounded forms create a sense of warmth and
reassurance. Like Fiesta (HarperCollins, 1996), this book has appeal far beyond its obvious teaching
function. (School Library Journal)
Herrera, J. F. (2000). The upside down boy: El nino de cabeza. Illustrated by E. Gomez. San Francisco, CA:
Children’s Book Press. (K-3)
The Upside Down Boy is Juan Felipe Herrera‘s memoir of the year his migrant family settled
down so that he could go to school for the first time. Jaunito is bewildered by the new school and
misses the warmth of country life. Everything he does feels upside down. He eats lunch when it‘s
recess, he goes out to play when it‘s time for lunch, and his tongue feels like a rock when he
speaks English. But his sensitive teacher and loving family help him find his voice through poetry,
art, and music. (amazon.com)
Hoobler, D. & Hoobler, T. (1998). The Mexican American family album. New York: Oxford
University Press Children‘s Books. (4-6)
History comes alive through the eyes of Mexican Americans as we share their true life experiences. Cesar
Chavez, Sandra Cisneros, Lee Trevino, and Linda Ronstadt are just a few examples of celebrated Mexican
Americans. Their stories, and the stories of thousands of others like them, combined with more than 150
photos, provide a rare glimpse into the immigrant experience. (amazon.com)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1995). Day of the Dead: A Mexican-American celebration. Photographs by L.
Migdale. New York: Holiday House. (4-6)
Ten-year-old twins from Sacramento, California, tell the story of their family’s Day of the Dead
celebration. In contrast to books that portray the holiday in rural Mexico, this explains the holiday’s
history while focusing on celebrations of an American family living in a Mexican American community.
The twins and their mother are photographed in ordinary clothes, with the state capitol in the
background, as well as in costume and in a procession. Aztec beliefs and their intermingling with Catholic
rituals are explained, and descriptions of dancing, art, and prayer repeatedly illustrate the unity of past
and present during festival days. A glossary of terms with clear phonetic pronunciations follows. (Booklist)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (2000). Las Posadas: An Hispanic Christmas celebration. Photographs by L.
Migdale. New York: Holiday House. (4-6)
Las Posadas is a nine-night celebration that tells the story of Mary and Joseph‘s journey to
Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. It began more than 400 years ago in Spain, and today Las
Posadas is celebrated in Mexico, some Latin American countries, and in U.S. communities with a
strong Spanish cultural influence. Hoyt-Goldsmith follows 11-year-old Kristen and her family as
they prepare for and participate in the festival. Numerous clear, colorful photos bring the text to
life. Kristen is shown preparing special foods with her mother and grandmother, the neighbors
carve figures of saints, and Kristen plays the role of Mary on the second night of the festival. A
recipe for Las Posadas cookies, biscochitos, is provided, along with The Song of Las Posadas in
both Spanish and English. Musical notation is included. Photos by Lawrence Migdale convey the
excitement of the celebration. Once again Hoyt-Goldsmith and Migdale offer young readers a
comprehensive, inviting look at a unique cultural experience. (Booklist)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (2004). Three Kings Day: A celebration at Christmastime. Illustrated by L.
Migdale. Holiday. (2-4)
In many countries with a strong Catholic tradition, Three Kings Day, celebrated on January 6, is
as important as Christmas Day itself. It is the day when gifts are exchanged. In some
communities, including the Puerto Rican barrio of New York City depicted here, it is also a time
for parades, fancy dress, and parties. This photo-essay looks at El Día de los Tres Reyes through
the eyes of a 10-year-old girl and her family. Informative sidebars, a glossary of Spanish terms,
and evocative full-color photos add to the straightforward, readable text. An essential purchase
for multicultural collections and libraries serving Latino communities, this is also a good
resource for students doing research on Christmas customs. (School Library Journal)
Lowery, L. (2003). Day of the dead. Illustrated by B. Knutson. Carolrhoda Books. (K-3)
Introduces the holiday, Day of the Dead, or Dâia de los Muertos, and describes how it is
celebrated in Mexico and in the United States. (card catalog)
MacMillan, D. M. (1997). Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo (Best holiday books).
Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers. (K-3)
The historical origins of these culturally diverse holidays and the ways they are observed are
presented in these useful, but unexciting, volumes. The books particularly focus on how the
holidays are celebrated in modern day America with public festivals featuring traditional foods,
music, and clothing. (Horn Book, 1998)
Martinez, E. C. (1995). The Mexican-American experience (Coming to America). Brookfield,
CT: Millbrook Press. (4-6)
Highlighting important Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, this overview deals with the history of
Mexico and what has prompted Mexicans to immigrate to the United States. Illustrated with
black-and-white and color photographs, the book discusses important issues such as bilingualism
and illegal immigration, but the brevity of the text results in an incomplete look at the MexicanAmerican experience. (Horn Book, 1995)
Menard, V. (2000). The Latino holiday book from Cinco de Mayo to Dia de los Muertos: The
celebrations and traditions of Hispanic Americans. New York: Marlowe & Company. (4-6)
The Latino Holiday Book is the essential resource for everyone wanting to celebrate and honor
the special traditions and celebrations of Hispanic-Americans. Author Valerie Menard takes us
through the full year, covering new year‟s traditions, Día de los Reyes, Calle Ocho, Easter, Cinco
de Mayo, the feast day of San Juan Bautista, the Cuban and Mexican celebrations of
independence, National Puerto Rican Day, the feast of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre and Our
Lady of the Divine Inspiration, Día de la Raza (the Latin American version of Columbus Day),
Día de los Muertos, the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and Christmas. Weddings,
birthdays, and quinceañeras are also explored in rich detail. For each celebration, Menard
discusses their religious or social history, typical customs, special foods and activities, and gives
recipes and instructions for making the authentic foods and crafts that particularly represent a
day‟s traditions. (amazon.com)
Mora, P. (2007). Yum!; Mmmm!; Que rico! America‘s sproutings. Illustrated by R. Lopez. Lee
& Low. (K-3)
This concept book serves as a delicious introduction to 14 types of food, all of which have their
origins in the Americas. Snippets of information and a haiku poem accompany each one, ranging
from blueberry and chili pepper through papaya, prickly pear, and vanilla. Using English and a
smattering of Spanish words, Mora crafts a playful introduction to each one, as in "Pumpkin‖:
"Under round luna,/scattered tumblings down the rows,/autumn‘s orange face.‖ The sense of
whimsy is further underscored in López‘s colorful acrylic on wood-panel illustrations. Artful
compositions and brilliant complementary colors bear out the book‘s multicultural themes. The
art conveys an infectious sense of fun, as smiling suns and moons beam down upon happy
children and animals, along with a trumpet-wielding peanut-butter sandwich and a dancing
pineapple. Teachers will find this a welcome addition to their social-studies units, but it should
also win a broad general audience for its inventive, fun-filled approach to an ever-popular topic:
food. (School Library Journal)
Nickles, G. (2000). The Hispanics. New York: Crabtree. (4-6)
The search for gold and other treasures brought the earliest Hispanic migrants to North, Central,
and South America in the 1500s. This intriguing look at the many Hispanic cultures who came to
stake their claims in North America and how their traditions are still celebrated today features
full-color artwork and eyewitness accounts. (amazon.com)
Ochoa, G. (1998). The New York Public Library Amazing Hispanic American history: A book of
answers for kids. New York: John Wiley and Sons. (4-6)
Consists of questions and answers about Latinos, revealing the common history which unites
them while also showing how they differ depending upon their country of origin. (amazon.com)
Paulsen, G. (1998). The tortilla factory. Illustrated by R. W. Paulsen. New York: Voyager Picture
Books. (1-4)
In a lyrical tribute to the Mexican farm worker, award-winning author Gary Paulsen pays
homage to a cycle of life - from seed to plant to tortilla. With Ruth Wright Paulsen‘s expressive
paintings, the story brings forth the poetry and beauty of a simple way of life. (amazon.com)
Perez, L. K. (2002). First day in grapes. Illustrated by R. Casilla. Lee & Low. (3-5)
Growing up in a migrant family, Chico has experienced first school days in artichokes and first
days in onions, and "now his first day in third grade would be in grapes.‖ His encounters with
bullies and the grumpy school bus driver shake Chico‘s confidence, but a friendly classmate and
an understanding teacher help him adjust. In fact, Ms. Andrews admires his remarkable math
talent and invites Chico to compete in the Math Fair. When the bullies return at lunch, Chico
stands up to them and challenges them with math questions until they retreat, and the day ends
with an upbeat bus ride home. The quick resolution with the school bullies strains credibility, but
the rest of the story rings true. Realistic watercolor, pastel, and colored-pencil illustrations are
especially adept at portraying Chico‘s emotions. His story will resonate with migrant students
and those who have moved frequently. For others, it‘s an insightful glimpse of another way of life
and a reminder that different kids have different talents. (Booklist)
Press, P. (1996). Puerto Rican Americans. New York: Benchmark Press. (5-6)
No synopsis available.
Silverthorne, E. (1994). Fiesta! Mexico‘s great celebrations. Illustrated by J. D. Ellis. Brookfield,
CT: The Millbrook Press. (4-6)
Describes the cultural and historical background and ways of celebrating many religious and patriotic
festivals of Mexico. Includes instructions for making some of the traditional crafts and foods. (card
catalog)
Simmons, M. (2003). Jose’s buffalo hunt: A story from history. Illustrated by R. Kil. University of New
Mexico Press. (3-5)
Based on actual events, José’s Buffalo Hunt is the true story of an eleven-year-old boy and his first
participation in the annual buffalo hunt on the Llano Estacado in 1866. José Arrellanes lived with his
parents and his older brother Pablo in the hamlet of San Miguel, on the Pecos River in northern New
Mexico. Like their neighbors, the family farmed, raising corn, beans, chile, and onions. Each fall they
traveled to the Texas Panhandle to bring down the buffalo, or cíbolas, and carry the meat back to their
village so everyone would have plenty to eat during the long, cold winter. This beautifully illustrated book
brings to life a world where people travel by ox cart and where wolves trot beside them across the empty
plains. The ciboleros dress in buckskins and are on friendly terms with the Comanches. A classic tale of a
boy’s initiation to manhood, this story has been an oral tradition in the Arrellanes family for almost a
century and a half.
(amazon.com)
Tafolla, C. (2008). What can you do with a rebozo? Illustrated by A. Cordova. (Tricyle). (K-1)
A cradle for baby, a superhero’s cape, a warm blanket on a cool night--there are so many things you can
do with a rebozo. Through the eyes of a young girl, readers are introduced to the traditional shawl found
in many Mexican and Mexican-American households. Lively rhyme and illustrations as brightly colored as
the woven cloths themselves celebrate a warm cultural icon that, with a little imagination, can be used in
many different ways. (amazon.com)
Vazquez, S. (1999). Cinco De Mayo. Austin, TX: Raintree/Steck-Vaughn. (4-6)
Introduces the customs and practices of this Mexican holiday. Mexican Americans observe this holiday in
California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. (amazon.com)
Westridge Young Writers Workshop. (1999). Kids explore America‘s Hispanic heritage.
New York: Econo-Clad Books. (3-6)
Presents writings by students in grades three to seven on topics of Hispanic culture, including dance,
cooking, games, history, art, songs, and role models. (card catalog)
BACK
Traditional Literature
Aardema, V. (1998). Borreguita and the coyote: A tale from Ayulta, Mexico. P. Mathers. New
York: Scott Foresman. (K-3)
A little lamb uses her clever wiles to keep a coyote from eating her up. (card catalog)
Aardema, V. (1991). Pedro and the padre: A tale from Jalisco, Mexico. Illustrated by F. Henstra.
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
Lazy Pedro is a likable rascal who enjoys deceiving people, but after narrowly escaping a
drowning because of one of his lies, he vows to amend his ways. This lively tale incorporates
expressive noises and selected Spanish phrases, enhancing the storytelling flavor. The muted
watercolors depict the Mexican setting aptly. (Horn Book, 1991)
Ada, A. F. (1999). The lizard and the sun. Illustrated by F. Davalos. New York: Scott Foresman.
(K-3)
When the sun disappears from ancient Mexico, a little lizard refuses to give up her quest to bring
back light and warmth to everyone. (amazon.com)
Ada, A. F. (1997). Mediopollito/half-chicken: A folktale in Spanish and English. Illustrated by
K. Howard. New York: Scott Foresman/. (K-3)
A bilingual folktale about the creation of the weather vane finds Half-Chicken, who has one eye,
one leg, and one wing, enjoying a series of adventures that finally take him to the top.
(amazon.com)
Ada, A. F. (1998). The rooster who went to his uncle‘s wedding. Illustrated by K. Kuchera. New
York: PaperStar. (K-3)
Late for his uncle‘s wedding, Rooster has a beak full of mud and no one - neither the grass, nor
the sheep, nor the dog - will help him get clean, that is, until the sun decides to help Rooster.
(amazon.com)
Ada, A. F. (1999). The three golden oranges. Illustrated by R. Cartwright. New York: Atheneum
Books. (K-3)
In this version of a popular Hispanic folktale, three brothers in search of brides are told by an
old woman that they will each find the wives they want - if they work together. She sends them on
a quest to bring her three golden oranges. Of course, the two oldest try on their own and fail, and
the youngest pulls them together. In a nice twist, he is finally rewarded by a strong bride who
chooses him. (Booklist, 1999)
Anzaldua, G. E. (2001). Prieteta and the ghost woman. Illustrated by C. Gonzalez. San Francisco, CA:
Children’s Book Press. (K-4)
In a bilingual retelling of a famous Mexican legend, Prietita sets out to find the missing herb that
can cure her mother‘s illness and, while lost in the woods, comes face to face with the mysterious
la Llorona, the ghost woman. (amazon.com)
Argueta, M. (1995). Magic dogs of the volcanoes. Illustrated by E. Simmons. San Francisco, CA:
Children‘s Book Press. (K-3)
When the magic dogs who live on the volcanoes of El Salvador and protect the villagers from
harm are pursued by lead soldiers, they are aided by two ancient volcanoes. (card catalog)
Bernier-Grand, C. T. (1995). Juan Bobo: Four folktales from Puerto Rico. Illustrated by E. R.
Nieves. New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)
True to their oral tradition, these tales from rural Puerto Rico are told with immediacy and spirit.
The exuberant folk-style illustrations in bright tropical colors reflect the island setting and the
scenes of comic confrontation. Juan Bobo is a classic fool character who manages, somehow, to
muddle things up yet work things out. He always gets the last word. In the funniest story, he
dresses a pig for church in Sunday best, complete with mantilla and high heels. In another piece,
he just can‟t make sense of formal table manners. New readers will enjoy the dialogue and the
general silliness. Younger children will enjoy hearing these stories read aloud. Part of the fine I
Can Read series, the book has a clear design with large type and illustrations on almost every
page; a Spanish translation is provided in small print at the back. (Booklist)
Campoy, F. I. (2002). Rosa Raposa. Illustrated by J. Aruego & A. Dewey. New York: Gulliver.
(K-2)
Jaguar, the sharp-toothed, beady-eyed bully, is determined to eat Rosa Raposa for dinner. But
Jaguar had better watch out, because clever Rosa has some surprises in store for him! In three
hilarious South American trickster episodes, Rosa uses her sharp imagination to make Jaguar
look like the biggest fool in the forest. F. Isabel Campoy and bestselling illustrators Jose Aruego
and Ariane Dewey have created a story that will keep readers wondering how Rosa Raposa will
get the last laugh this time. (amazon.com)
Coburn, J. R. (2000). Domitila: A Cinderella tale from the Mexican tradition. Illustrated by C.
McLennan. Auburn CA: Shen‘s Books. (4-6)
Domitila is not only "sweeter than a cactus bloom in early spring‖, she is also a talented cook
and an amazing leather artist. Most of the classical elements of a Cinderella story can be found
in Domitila. A gentle weaving of her mother‘s nurturing with strong family traditions is the secret
ingredient for Domitila to rise above hardship to eventually become the Governor‘s bride.
Moreover, with a firm belief in simplicity and realism, Domitila makes a lasting impression as a
triumphant Cinderella in her humility, service, and unassuming modesty. Unlike most ivory tower
Cinderellas, the only transformation in this story is Timoteo‘s—Domitila‘s suitor—as we watch
him mature from an arrogant politician‘s son to a compassionate family man. There is no glass
slipper to fight over, and no fairy godmother to save the day. All Domitila has are her innate
qualities and her family legacy. Finally, the readers are invited to get to know Cinderella for who
she is, unlike the typical fantasy character! With love and care in every stroke, McLennan
captured on canvas the warmth of relationships, the fondness for color and texture, and the
versatile patterns characteristic of the Mexican people. Readers will soon fall in love with the
shimmering light of the desert landscape and this well-told story of Cinderella-with-a-twist.
(amazon.com)
Czernecki, S. & Rhodes, T. (1994). Pancho‘s piñata. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
(1-3)
On Christmas Eve Pancho rescues a star from a cactus and receives the gift of happiness. (card
catalog)
Deedy, C. A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach: A Cuban folktale. Illustrated by M.
Austin. (K-2)
Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn‘t know coffee beans about love and marriage. That‘s
where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts to make her more
attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful: un consejo increa-
ble, some shocking advice.
―You want me to do what?‖ Martina gasps.
At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela‘s unorthodox suggestion, but when suitor after suitor
fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. Soon, only
the gardener Pérez, a tiny brown mouse, is left. But what will happen when Martina offers him
café cubano?
After reading this sweet and witty retelling of the Cuban folktale, you‘ ll never look at a
cockroach the same way again. (amazon.com)
DePaola, T. (1997). The legend of the poinsettia. Putnam Juvenile. (k-3)
When Lucida is unable to finish her gift for the Baby Jesus in time for the Christmas procession,
a miracle enables her to offer the beautiful flower we now call the poinsettia. (card catalog)
DePaola, T. (2001). The night of Las Posadas. New York: Penguin. (K-4)
The young people chosen to portray Mary and Joseph in the Santa Fe Las Posadas celebration
are delayed by a snowstorm. Instead, another couple arrives to act the part of the Holy Family.
Later, Sister Angie discovers that her beloved carving of Mary and Joseph seems to have come to
life to save the pageant. DePaola's characteristic warm illustrations and detailed retelling of the
miracle make this a satisfying Christmas story. (Horn Book, 1999)
Ehlert, L. (2000). Cuckoo: A Mexican folktale. New York: Voyager Books. (K-3)
A story told in both English and Spanish follows the vain Cuckoo, who despite her beauty is lazy
and selfish and who finally overcomes her faults when a fire threatens the season‘s seed crop.
(amazon.com)
Ehlert, L. (1997). Moon rope: A Peruvian folktale. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace. (K-3)
An adaptation of the Peruvian folktale in which Fox and Mole try to climb to the moon on a rope
woven of grass. (card catalog)
Gerson, M. J. (2001). Fiesta femenina: Celebrating women in Mexican folktale. Illustrated by C.
Gonzalez. New York: Barefoot Books. (4-6)
A celebration, not only of the strength of Mexican women, but the richness and miraculous
qualities of Mexican culture. (Kirkus, August 15, 2001)
Haviland, V. (1999). Favorite fairy tales told in Spain. Illustrated by M. Passicot. New York: Bt.
Bound. (4-6)
Includes ―The flea‖, ―Four brothers who were both wise and foolish‖, ―The half-chick‖, ―The
carlanco‖, ―Juan Cigarron‖, and ―The enchanted mule‖. (card catalog)
Hayes, J. (1999). A spoon for every bite. Illustrated by R. Leer. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
In a humorous cautionary story based on traditional Hispanic folktales from the Southwest, a
proud and wealthy man foolishly squanders his fortune in a game of one-upmanship by trying to
buy enough spoons to use a different one for each bite of food. (amazon.com)
Jaffe, N. (1996). The golden flower: A Taino myth from Puerto Rico. Illustrated by E. O.
Sanchez. New York: Simon & Schuster. (K-3)
A myth from one of the indigenous cultures of the West Indies explains how a golden flower first
brought water to the world and how Puerto Rico came into existence. (amazon.com)
Johnston, T. (1998). The tale of rabbit and coyote. Illustrated by T. dePaolo. New York: Paper
Star. (K-3)
Rabbit outwits Coyote in this Zapotec tale which explains why coyotes howl at the moon. (card
catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (2004). Cactus soup. Illustrated by P. Huling. Cavendish. (1-3)
When a group of hungry soldiers rides into San Miguel, the townspeople don‘t want to share their
food. They hide their tortillas, tamales, beans, and flour and put on torn clothes to look poor. But
the Capitan is not fooled …he asks for a cactus thorn to make some cactus soup, and before long
he has tricked the townspeople into giving him salt and chilies, vegetables, and a chicken as well!
Whimsical watercolors add to the humor in this Southwestern twist on the classic Stone Soup.
(amazon.com)
Kimmel, E. A. (2007). The three cabritos. Illustrated by S. Gilpin. Marshall Cavendish. (K-3)
Noted folklorist Kimmel presents his own version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff.‖ Here the
goats (cabritos) are on their way to Mexico for a fiesta across the border. Alas, each in his turn is
stopped by Chupacabra, a legendary creature who attacks farm animals. The story follows the
familiar form but with a decidedly Spanish-flavored bent, including Spanish words (defined in the
glossary). In Kimmel‘s telling, it is the eldest brother who conquers the monster, not through
might but by playing the accordion. (His accordion is a magical instrument, and it makes the
chupacabra dance until he bursts.) The story moves briskly, but the fat, blue chupacabra is far
from frightening, looking more like a Macy‘s holiday balloon than anything that would scare a
hardy goat. Recommended for larger libraries or those serving Hispanic communities. (Booklist)
Kurtz, J. (1996). Miro in the kingdom of the sun. Illustrated by D. Frampton. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin. (K-3)
A retelling of an ancient folktale follows Miro, a young Incan girl, who struggles to find the cure
for the city‘s sick and dying prince, whose only hope lies in the water from a lake ―at the corner
of the world.‖ (amazon.com)
Lowell, S. (1992). The three little javelinas. Illustrated by J. Harris. Flagstaff, AZ: Rising Moon
Books for Young Readers. (all ages)
A southwestern adaptation of ―The Three Little Pigs.‖ (card catalog)
Marcantonio, P. S. (2005). Red Ridin‘ in the Hood: And other cuentos. Illustrated by R. Alarcao.
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (3-5)
The fractured fairy tale gets cool Latino flavor in this lively collection of 11 fresh retellings, with
witty reversals of class and gender roles and powerful, full-page pictures that set the drama in
venues ranging from the desert and the barrio to a skyscraper. The old scary demons, such as the
witch in the forest, are in evidence, but there‘s also a Sleeping Beauty story told about a hurt,
angry orphan witch who gets revenge for not being invited to a spoiled, rich girl‘s quinceacera.
In "Emperador‘s New Clothes,"‖ Emperador runs the high-school scene. His perfectly gelled,
spiky hair makes him look as if he just popped out of a teen magazine. Then Veronica tricks him
into appearing at the assembly in his underpants. Unfortunately, some messages are much too
heavily spelled out: Beauty teaches Beast not only about the revolution but also about the
meaning of fear and true ugliness; Jack finds his dream not in the sky but in hard work. But the
lively, fast-paced retellings, the Spanish idiom (there‘s a glossary at the back), and the dynamic,
full-page pictures, several per story, make this great for storytelling collections. (Booklist)
Mike, J. M. (1995). Juan Bobo and the horse of seven colors: A Puerto Rican legend. Illustrated
by H. Reasoner. New York: Troll Associates. (4-6)
After winning seven wishes from a magical horse, the foolish Juan Bobo wastes six of them on his
way to try to make the king's daughter laugh. (Borders.com)
Mohr, N. & Martorell, A. (1995). The song of El Coqui and other tales of Puerto Rico. Illustrated
by A. Martorell. New York: Viking Children‘s Books. (K-3)
Three Puerto Rican stories include the title story, which represents the land‘s indigenous Tainos;
the tale of la Guinea, which is rooted in the nation‘s African culture; and la Mula‘s tale, a story
of Spanish origin. (amazon.com)
Montes, M. (2000). Juan Bobo goes to work: A Puerto Rican folktale. Illustrated by J. Cepeda.
New York: HarperCollins Juvenile Books. (K-3)
In this rollicking Juan Bobo tale, our hero sets out to find work at the farm and the grocery.
Although the tasks are simple and the directions couldn‟t be clearer, he always find a way to
bungle things up as only a character whose name means “Simple John” could! (amazon.com)
Mora, P. (2005). Dona Flor: A tall tale about a great woman with a great big heart. Illustrated by
R. Colon. Knopf. (2-5)
The creators of Tomas and the Library Lady (1997) offer another glowing picture book set in the
American Southwest, but this time, the story is a magical tall tale. In a cozy village, Dona Flor
grows from an unusual child, who can speak the language of plants and animals, into a giant,
whose heart is as large as her enormous hands and feet. After ferocious animal cries terrorize the
villagers, Flor sets out to find their source. The culprit--a tiny, mischievous puma, who
ingeniously amplifies his kittenish growl into a beastly roar--is an amusing surprise, and Flor
soothes the cat in its own language, returning peace to her village. Mora strengthens her
economical, poetic text with vivid, fanciful touches: the villagers use Flor‘s colossal homemade
tortillas as roofs, for example. Colon‘s signature scratchboard art extends the whimsy and gentle
humor in lovely scenes of the serene heroine sweet-talking the animals or plucking a star from the
sky. A winning read-aloud, particularly for children who can recognize the intermittent Spanish
phrases. (Booklist)
Morales, Y. (2004). Just a minute: A trickster tale and counting book. Chronicle Boooks. (K-2)
In this original trickster tale, Senor Calavera arrives unexpectedly at Grandma Beetle‘s door. He
requests that she leave with him right away. "Just a minute,‖ Grandma Beetle tells him. She still
has one house to sweep, two pots of tea to boil, three pounds of corn to make into tortillas -- and
that‘s just the start! Using both Spanish and English words to tally the party preparations,
Grandma Beetle cleverly delays her trip and spends her birthday with a table full of
grandchildren and her surprise guest. This spirited tribute to the rich traditions of Mexican
culture is the perfect introduction to counting in both English and Spanish. The vivacious
illustrations and universal depiction of a family celebration are sure to be adored by young
readers everywhere. (amazon.com)
Palacios, A. (1993). The hummingbird king: A Guatemalan legend. Illustrated by F. Davalos.
New York: Troll Associates.
A young chief who had been protected by a hummingbird is killed by his jealous uncle and then
transformed into a quetzal, symbol of freedom. (amazon.com)
Palazzo-Craig, J. (1996). Bobo‘s magic wishes: A story from Puerto Rico. Illustrated by H.
Reasoner. New York: Troll Associates. (K-3)
Juan Bobo, the shepherd, catches a beast -- a horse of seven colors. What happens when he
agrees to free the horse in exchange for magic wishes? (amazon.com)
Pitcher, C. (2000). Mariana and the Merchild: A folk tale from Chile. Illustrated by J. Morris.
Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. (1-4)
Old Mariana longs for friendship, but she is feared by the village children and fearful of the
hungry sea-wolves that hide in the sea-caves near her hut. When one day Mariana finds a
Merchild inside a crab shell her whole life changes --but she knows that one day, when the sea is
calm again, the Merchild‘s mother will come to take her daughter back... (amazon.com)
Ramirez, M. R. (1998). The legend of the hummingbird: A tale from Puerto Rico. Illustrated by
M. Sanfilippo. New York: Mondo. (K-3)
In stories, people may be changed into plants or animals for protection or punishment. In this
magical tale from Puerto Rico, children meet Alida and Taroo and find out why a beautiful
flower and a tiny bird were created. (Borders.com)
Rohmer, H. (1993). Uncle Nacho‘s hat. Illustrated by V. Reisberg. San Francisco, CA: Children‘s
Book Press. (K-3)
A bilingual folk tale from Nicaragua about a well-meaning man who can‘t figure out how to make
changes in his life until his niece, Ambrosia, shows him how. (card catalog)
Ryan, P. N. (2005). Nacho and Lolita. Illustrated by C. Rueda. New York: Scholastic. (1-3)
Once, when the two Californias ran alta y baja, high and low, along the Pacific, there lived a rare and
majestic bird named Nacho, the only pitacoche for thousands of miles. He was proud of his brilliant
feathers and haunting songs, but what good were they with no one to share them? Then the swallows
came to nest and Nacho met Lolita. His heart filled with affection. Was it possible for two such different
birds to find happiness together? And what would happen to Nacho when Lolita and the other swallows
migrated back to South America? (amazon.com)
San Souci, R. D. (2000). Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella tale. Illustrated by S.
Martinez. New York: HarperCollins. (1-4)
Blessed Mary rewards Teresa‘s good deeds with a shining gold star. Later she punishes Teresa‘s
unkind stepsisters, Isabel and Inez, with hideous horns and donkey‘s ears that they try to hide
under heavy veils! But will Teresa outshine her stepsisters at the festival? (amazon.com)
Sierra, J. (2000). The beautiful butterfly: A folktale from Spain. Illustrated by V. Chess. New
York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
A beautiful butterfly is courted by many suitors. She finally finds a husband who has a singing
voice soft and sweet enough to please her, but no sooner does the honeymoon begin than he is
swallowed by a giant fish! All of nature joins her in mourning, setting off a comical chain of
events that results in a second chance for the beautiful butterfly and her devoted husband.
Enchantingly original depictions of the beautiful butterfly and her friends and an inventive happy
ending reveal the sweetness and humor of this enduring Spanish folktale. (amazon.com)
Simons, S. (2000). Trouble dolls: A Guatemalan legend. Illustrated by D. Mendez. New York:
Scholastic Trade. (1-3))
Discover the legend of the magical trouble dolls - traditional Guatemalan good luck charms.
Learn about the fascinating games, foods, crafts, and folktales of the Mayan civilization in
Guatemala. Then, with your own set of six tiny trouble dolls, wish for good luck and happiness!
(amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1998). The old man and the door. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
Instead of bringing el puerco, a pig, to their neighbors‟ barbecue as his wife asks, an old man
puts the door, la puerta, over his back and heads to the house of la comadre. Along the way, the
door becomes very useful to him, assisting him in good deeds. Thickly textured illustrations in
rich colors place the amiable, rotund man at center stage, emphasizing the story‟s humor.
(amazon.com)
BACK
Biography
Andrews-Goebel, N. (2002). The pot that Juan built. Illustrated by D. Diaz. Lee and Low Books.
(2-5)
Juan Quezada is one of the best-known potters in Mexico. Using only natural materials to form
and paint his pots, he is responsible for creating a vibrant folk-art economy in his small town of
Mata Ortiz. This unusual book is set up to allow for differing levels of reading expertise,
presenting information about Quezada in such a way that it can be read as a story or as an
informational book, part biography, part fine-arts discussion. One page contains a catchy
cumulative rhyme modeled on "This Is the House That Jack Built,‖ which outlines the process of
making a pot. The facing page offers a clearly written prose presentation, laying out the story of
the potter‘s life and his method of constructing pots in the classic style of the Casas Grandes
Indians. Diaz‘s arresting illustrations, rendered in Adobe Photoshop, use yellows, oranges, and
reds in a layered effect that seems to glow with an inward light. The use of stylized forms-all of
the people with a full-face front eye in the manner of ancient Egyptian art-adds a sense of
gravitas and historical continuity to the artwork. An afterword gives a more in-depth treatment of
Quezada‘s life and work, and is illustrated with small inset color photographs. This is a must
purchase for all collections, and could be used with Diana Cohn‘s Dream Carver (Chronicle,
2002) for a look at how both art and economies of scale can work to enrich our lives and to build
community. (School Library Journal)
Benson, M. (2000). Gloria Estefan. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. (4-6)
Gloria Estefan‘s life was altered forever in 1990. A semitrailer truck crushed the singersongwriter‘s tour bus, and Gloria‘s back was broken. Fans were amazed when she was back on
stage, singing and dancing, less than a year later. But to those who knew her, Gloria‘s courage
and strength were a part of her even as a young girl growing up in Miami, Florida. The year she
graduated from high school, Gloria began college, met her future husband, and started the
journey to become the most popular Cuban-American entertainer in the world. Discover the
woman behind the microphone in this fascinating look at Gloria Estefan - mother, humanitarian,
wife, and pop music "diva.‖ (amazon.com)
Buckley, J. (2007). Pele. DK Children (4-6)
This amply illustrated title in the DK Biographies series introduces Edson Arantes do
Nascimento, known to the world as soccer legend Pelé. The chapters stretch from Pelé‘s
Brazilian youth, when he honed his soccer skills with homemade balls, through his astonishing
career and his current retirement. Buckley‘s awe for his subject results in heavy superlatives—
Pelé‘s legacy is "unmatched in sports,‖ for example—but his knowledge of the player and his
sport creates thrilling play-by-play accounts of key matches and puts Pelé‘s extraordinary career
into context. Buckley grounds his enthusiasm with well-integrated facts and quotes, many of
which are drawn from Pelé‘s autobiography. Crisply reproduced photographs appear on every
page, pulling readers into the inviting design, while fact boxes introduce other international
soccer figures and define specific terms, such as bicycle kick. An illustrated time line and short
bibliography close this well-rounded title for young researchers or soccer fans seeking a deeper
understanding of their beloved sport. (Booklist)
Burch, J. J. (1994). Chico Mendes: Defender of the rain forest. Connecticut: The Millbrook Press.
(2-4)
Discusses the life and work of the Brazilian rubber tapper whose efforts to secure fair treatment
for other tappers and to preserve the Amazon rain forests resulted in his murder in 1988. (card
catalog)
Chambers, V. (2005). Celia Cruz, Queen of salsa. Illustrated by J. Maren. Dial. (2-4)
Everyone knows the flamboyant, larger-than-life Celia, the extraordinary salsa singer who
passed away in 2003, leaving millions of fans brokenhearted. Now accomplished children‘s book
author Veronica Chambers gives young readers a lyrical glimpse into Celia‘s childhood and her
inspiring rise to worldwide fame and recognition. First-time illustrator Julie Maren truly
captures the movement and the vibrancy of the Latina legend and the sizzling sights and sounds
of her legacy. (amazon.com)
Clive-Ransome, L. (2007). Young Pele: Soccer‘s first star. Illustrated by J. Ransome. Schwartz
&Wade. (K-4)
With handsome oil paintings and a stirring story, this picture-book biography will first grab
children with its action. Just as exciting, though, is the account of Brazilian-born Pelé‘s personal
struggle—his amazing rise from poverty to international soccer stardom. The focus is on Pelé‘s
childhood in Bauru, Brazil, in the 1940s and early 1950s. The pictures show him in his
multiracial community, especially on the soccer field. He is punished for not paying attention in
class; then he gives up school altogether to play soccer. His team, the Shoeless Ones, play
barefoot; the ball is a sock stuffed with rags. The kids shine shoes and sell peanuts, until they
earn enough for uniforms and second-hand shoes. Inspired by his dad, Pelé plays hard and is
chosen as the team captain, and in a triumphant climax, he scores the winning goal in a big youth
tournament. An afterword fills in the facts about how Edson (Pelé was a nickname) went on to
become the greatest soccer player ever known. The small painting of the team‘s battered secondhand shoes is a moving testament to its struggle, particularly in contrast to the final triumphant
pages when Pelé kicks the ball straight into the goal. (Booklist)
Cole, M. (1997). Jimmy Smits (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)
Biography of award-winning actor, Jimmy Smits, best known for his televison roles in “L.A.
Law” and “NYPD BLUE.” (amazon.com)
Conord, B. W. (1994). Cesar Chavez: Union leader. New York: Chelsea House. (4-6)
A biography of the union activist who led the struggle of migrant farm workers for better working
conditions. (card catalog)
Engel, T. (1999). We‘ll never forget you, Roberto Clemente. New York: Bt. Bound. (3-4)
Chronicles the life and accomplishments of baseball star Roberto Clemente, from his youth in
Puerto Rico, through his record-breaking career in Pittsburgh, to his tragic death during a
mission of mercy. (amazon.com)
Furman, L. (2001). Jennifer Lopez (Latinos in the Limelight). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House.
(4-6)
No synopsis available.
Granados, C. (2000). Christina Aguilera (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane.
(4-6)
Real-Life Reader Biographies present the lives of contemporary role models for young readers.
These are the stories of real men and women who, despite many obstacles, followed their dreams.
(amazon.com)
Herrera, J. F. (2001). Calling the doves. Illustrated by E. Simmons. San Francisco, CA:
Children‘s Book Press. (3-6)
The Mexican-American poet tells the story of his childhood as a migrant farmhand in the fields of
California, where his parents taught him a love for life outdoors and handed down the precious
gift of poetry. (amazon.com)
Krull, K. (2003). Harvesting hope: The story of Cesar Chavez. Illustrated by Y. Morales.
Harcourt Children‘s Books. (2-5)
A biography of Cesar Chavez, from age ten when he and his family lived happily on their Arizona
ranch, to age thirty-eight when he led a peaceful protest against California migrant workers‘
miserable working conditions. (card catalog)
Korman, S. (2001). Christina Aguilera (Latinos in the Limelight). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea
House. (4-6)
No synopsis available.
Marquez, H. (2001). Latin sensations. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. (4-6)
Profiles five influential Latino entertainers of the 1990s, Ricky Martin, Selena, Jennifer Lopez,
Enrique Iglesias, and Marc Anthony, detailing their rise to stardom and their effects on the
American music scene. (card catalog)
Marvis, B. J. (1997). Rafael Palmeiro (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (46)
Authorized biography of the Orioles first baseman, Rafael Palmeiro. (amazon.com)
Marvis, B. J. (1997). Selena (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)
A biography of the slain, Grammy Award-winning Tejano singer. (amazon.com)
Menard, V. (2000). Jennifer Lopez (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)
Real-Life Reader Biographies present the lives of contemporary role models for young readers.
These are the stories of real men and women who, despite many obstacles, followed their dreams.
(amazon.com)
Menard, V. (1998). Oscar De La Hoya (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane.
(4-6)
Real-Life Reader Biographies present the lives of contemporary role models for young readers.
These are the stories of real men and women who, despite many obstacles, followed their dreams.
(amazon.com)
Menard, V. (1999). Ricky Martin (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)
Biography of popular Latino entertainer, Ricky Martin. (amazon.com)
Mora, P. (2002). A library for Juana: The world of Sor Juana Ines. Illustrated by B. Vidal.
Alfred A. Knopf. (2-4)
Juana Ines de la Cruz died in 1695 in a convent in Mexico. Despite the passage of more than 300
years, she is still considered one of Mexico‘s most brilliant scholars. An internationally known
bibliophile and poet whose works are studied in university Spanish literature courses, she was a
Renaissance woman in the most complete sense of the word. Mora‘s beautifully crafted text does
credit to its subject, following her from birth to death. Sor Juana Ines comes across as intelligent,
headstrong, humorous, and kind, and her retreat to the convent as a place of learning seems
natural. The use of one of her riddle poems, both in Spanish and in a witty English translation,
gives young readers a taste of this eminent poet. The text is perfectly complemented by Vidal‘s
brilliant, detailed illustrations that have the look and exactitude of Renaissance miniatures. This
is an exceptional introduction to an exceptional woman, and would enhance any collection.
(School Library Journal)
Mora, P. (2000). Tomas and the library lady. Illustrated by R. Colon. New York: Dragonfly. (K3)
The son of migrant workers, Tomas loves the stories his grandfather tells, and then the library
lady introduces him to the wonderful world of books and reading, in a story based on the life of
Mexican-American author-educator Tomas Rivera. (amazon.com)
Palacios, A. (1999). Standing tall. New York: Bt. Bound. (4-6)
A collection of mini-biographies follows the achievements of U.S. Navy Admiral David Farragut,
baseball player Roberto Clemente, singer Gloria Estefan, schoolteacher Jaime Escalente, and six
other notable Hispanic Americans. (amazon.com)
Perez, A. I. (2009). My diary from here to there/Mi diario de aqui hasta alla. Illustrated by M. C.
Gonzalez. Children‘s Book Press. (2-4)
One night, Amada overhears her parents whisper about moving from Mexico to Los Angeles, where
greater opportunity awaits. As she and her family make the journey north, Amada records her fears,
hopes, and dreams for their new life in her diary. What if she can’t learn English? How can she leave her
best friend? Along the way, Amada learns that with her family’s love and her belief in herself, she can
weather any change. With humor and insight, Pérez recounts the story of her family’s immigration to
America. Maya Christina Gonzalez’ vibrant artwork captures every detail of their journey. (amazon.com)
Quinn, R. J. (2001). Oscar De La Hoya (Latinos in the Limelight). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea
House. (4-6)
No synopsis available.
Savage, J. (2000). Sammy Sosa: Home run hero. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. (4-6)
Emphasizing Sosa‘s talent as a home run hitter, as well as his pleasant personality, this
biography of the Chicago Cubs outfielder, originally from the Dominican Republic, will certainly
appeal to his numerous fans. A glossary of baseball terms, candid color photos, and major and
minor league statistics are included. (Book Links, December 2001/January 2002, p. 11)
Scott, K. (2001). Cameron Diaz (Latinos in the Limelight). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House. (46)
No synopsis available.
Stefoff, R. (1992). Gloria Estefan (Hispanics of Achievement). New York: Chelsea House. (4-6)
Profiles the Cuban-American pop singer who is the lead singer of the popular Latin music group
the Miami Sound Machine. (amazon.com)
Stewart, M. (2000). Pedro Martinez: Picture perfect. New York: Children‘s Press. (4-6)
A biography of the Boston Red Sox pitcher who won the Cy Young Award in 1997 and 1999.
(card catalog)
Strazzabosco, J. (1997). Learning about determination from the life of Gloria Estefan. New York:
Powerkids Press. (4-6)
A biography of the Cuban-born rock singer with a focus on her determination to succeed and be
happy in spite of serious obstacles. (card catalog)
Torres, J. A. (2001). Marc Anthony (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)
Real-Life Reader Biographies present the lives of contemporary models for young readers. These
are the stories of real men and women who, dispite many obstacles, followed their dreams.
(amazon.com)
Narrates the life of the Puerto Rican born actor whose versatility was evident throughout thirty
years of performances in theater, movies, and television. (card catalog)
Walker, P. R. (1991). Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente. New York: Odyssey
Classics. (4-6)
This is the story of the great right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Roberto Clemente. An
outstanding athlete and a dedicated family man, whose love for his native land of Puerto Rico
was unsurpassed. This book tells an inspiring story of this Baseball Hall of Famer. Great reading
for young sports fans. (amazon.com)
Weil, A. & Perez, F. (1996). Raul Julia. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn. (4-6)
Narrates the life of the Puerto Rican born actor whose versatility was evident throughout thirty
years of performances in theater, movies, and television. (card catalog)
West, A. (1993). Roberto Clemente: Baseball legend. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press. (2-4)
Introduces the life of Pittsburgh Pirates rightfielder Roberto Clemente, the first Latino baseball
player to gain wide recognition for his contributions on and off the playing field. (card catalog)
Winter, J. (1994). Diego. Illustrated by J. Winter. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. (1-4)
Discusses the childhood of Diego Rivera and how it influenced his art. (amazon.com)
Winter, J. (2002). Frida. Illustrated by A. Juan. New York: Arthur R. Levine Books. (1-4)
When her mother was worn out from caring for her five sisters, her father gave her lessons in
brushwork and color. When polio kept her bedridden for nine months, drawing saved her from
boredom. When a bus accident left her in unimaginable agony, her paintings expressed her pain
and depression and eventually, her joys and triumphs. Again and again, Frida Kahlo turned the
challenges of her life into art. Now Jonah Winter and Ana Juan have drawn on both the art and
the life to create an insightful, playful tribute to one of the twentieth century‟s most influential
artists. (amazon.com)
Zannos, S. (1998). Cesar Chavez (Real-life Reader Biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)
Long after his death, this hard-working labor leader is still being heard.
(www.angelfire.com/biz/mitchelllane)
Zymet, C. A. (2001). Ricky Martin (Latinos in the Limelight). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House.
(4-6)
No synopsis available.
BACK
Historical fiction
Fine, E. H. & Josephson, J. P. (2007). Armando and the blue tarp school. Illustrated by H. Sosa.
Lee & Low. (1-4)
This poignant picture book narrated by a young boy is based on a true story of a New York City
teacher who set up a school on a blue tarp spread on the ground near a garbage dump in Tijuana,
Mexico. Armando works all day with his father in the foul-smelling dump, picking through trash,
―some to sell, some to use.‖ He begs his parents to let him go to the blue tarp school, and at last,
his parents allow him to attend in the afternoons. Clear, unframed, double-page pictures in
watercolor and ink with thick white outlines show the children on the tarp in the midst of the noisy
colonia (neighborhood) and also the bond between the boy and his teacher. When a huge fire burns
the neighborhood, Armando‘s picture of the fiery night is printed alongside the story in the
newspaper, and people send money to build a real schoolhouse. A lengthy final note fills in the
facts and includes photos of the teacher and the pupils at the school now. Without melodrama,
Armando‘s story shows what poverty means and the hope that things can change. (Booklist)
Gonzalez, L. (2008). The storyteller‘s candle/La velita de los cuentos. Illustrated by L. Delacre.
Children‘s Book Press. (K-3)
It is the winter of 1929, and cousins Hildamar and Santiago have just moved to enormous, chilly
New York from their native Puerto Rico. As Three Kings‘ Day approaches, Hildamar and Santiago
mourn the loss of their sunny home and wonder about their future in their adopted city. But when a
storyteller and librarian named Pura Belpré arrives in their classroom, the children begin to
understand just what a library can mean to a community. In this fitting tribute to a remarkable
woman, Lucía González and Lulu Delacre have captured the truly astounding effect that Belpré
had on the city of New York. (amazon.com)
Krumgold, J. (1984). And now Miguel. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
A memorable and deeply moving story of a family of New Mexican sheepherders, in which Miguel,
neither child nor man, tells of his great longing to accompany men and sheep to summer pasture,
and expresses his need to be recognized as a maturing individual. (Booklist)
Pico, F. (1998). The red comb. Illustrated by M. A. Ordonez. New York: Troll Associates. (K-3)
Set in eighteenth-century Puerto Rico, the intriguing story, based on historical fact, tells about a
young girl and an older woman who help a runaway slave and outwit the local slave-catcher, a
wealthy and admired man. Though younger readers may need additional historical context to
understand the story fully, it is well told and raises important issues about race, freedom, and
courage. (Horn Book, 1995)
Ryan, P. M. (2002). Esperanza rising. New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (5-6)
After a fire destroys their home and belongings, Esperanza (Hope) and her mother must flee their
native Mexico to the United States with the help of their housekeeper and her family. The formerly
wealthy Ortega women are now ―peasants‖ and must work to survive. Despite the difficulties of life
at the camp, Esperanza learns to work, to care for others, and to give rather than take. When her
mother becomes ill and is hospitalized, Esperanza is alone except for the companionship of her
friend and former servant, Miguel, and his family. After a year, on the eve of Esperanza‘s
fourteenth birthday, her beloved grandmother arrives from Mexico, Mama is released from the
hospital, and the little family is reunited. Now Esperanza is rising above circumstances, filled with
dreams and possibilities. (Borders.com)
BACK
Poetry
Alarcon, F. X. (1999). Angels ride bikes and other fall poems. Illustrated by M. C. Gonzalez. San
Francisco, CA: Children‘s Book Press. (K-4)
In Angels Ride Bikes, Francisco Alarcon invites readers to experience autumn in Los Angeles,
where dreams can come true. In the poet‟s imagination, mariachis play like angels, angels ride
bikes, and the earth dances the cha-cha. In this bilingual edition, the images and the poems bring
to life the people and places from Alarcon‟s childhood. (amazon.com)
Alarcon, F. X. (1998). From the bellybutton of the moon and other summer poems. Illustrated by
M. C. Gonzalez. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (K-4)
Inspired by his poignant recollections of magical childhood summers in Mexico, the author of
“Laughing Tomatoes” presents a new collection of poems that celebrate family and the joys of
summer. 15 color illustrations. (amazon.com)
Alarcon, F. X. (2001). Iguanas in the snow and other winter poems. Illustrated by M. C.
Gonzalez. San Francisco, CA: Children‘s Book Press. (K-4)
This collection invites us to celebrate winter -- by the seashore, in the city of San Francisco, and
in the ancient redwood forests of the Sierras. We see a city where people have become bridges to
each other and children sing in two languages. A family frolic in the snow reminds the poet of the
iguanas playing by his grandmother‘s house in Mexico. The seedling redwoods promise
tomorrow. Maya Christina Gonzalez creates a spirited family of children and adults making their
way through lively settings. (amazon.com)
Alarcon, F. X. (1997). Laughing tomatoes and other spring poems. Illustrated by M. C. Gonzalez.
San Francisco, CA: Children‘s Book Press. (K-4)
A bilingual collection of humorous and serious poems about family, nature, and celebrations by a
renowned Mexican American poet. (amazon.com)
Anaya, R. (2000). An elegy on the death of Cesar Chavez. Illustrated by G. Enriques. El Paso,
TX: Cinco Puntos. (4-6)
The heroic life of labor and civil rights activist César Chávez greatly influenced the political and
creative thinking of famed Chicano novelist Rudolfo Anaya. After Chávez‘ death in 1993, Anaya
wrote this elegy eulogizing the man and his life‘s work. Echoing Shelley‘s elegy on the death of
John Keats, the poem expresses the grief of la gente, but closes by calling all peoples together to
continue his non-violent struggle for freedom and justice. The book--endorsed by the César
Chávez Foundation--includes an essay by Anaya detailing the effect that Chávez had on his own
vision and a chronology of Chávez‘ life. Powerful illustrations by Gaspar Enriquez bring home
the significance of César Chávez to the American cultural landscape. (amazon.com)
Carlson, L. M. (1998). Sol a sol: Bilingual poems. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
A collection of poems by various Hispanic American writers that celebrate a full day of family
activities. (amazon.com)
Delacre, L. (1999). Arroz con leche: Popular songs and rhymes from Latin America.
New York: Bt. Bound. (K-3)
A wonderful collection of beloved Latin American songs, games, and rhymes, with text in both Spanish
and English, complemented by beautiful watercolor illustrations of Latin American land-and-city-scapes.
(amazon.com)
Griego, M. C. (1987). Tortillitas para Mama and other Spanish rhymes. Illustrated by B. Cooney.
New York: Henry Holt. (K-2)
Young children will treasure this collection of Latin-American nursery rhymes. Preserved
through oral tradition, these rhymes have been passed on from generation to generation. They
have been lovingly gathered for this book and many are accompanied by instructions for finger
play. (amazon.com)
Hall, N. A. & Syverson-Stork, J. (1999). Los pollitos dicen/the baby chicks sing. Toronto, ON:
Little, Brown and Company. (K-1)
An acclaimed bilingual songbook now in paperback! This collection of children‘s songs and
rhymes celebrates playtime while offering a glimpse into the culture and traditions of Spanishspeaking countries. The selections are by turns playful, joyful, and thoughtful, with exquisite
watercolors that make this a book the entire family will treasure. (amazon.com)
Haskins, J. (1990). Counting your way through Mexico. Illustrated by H. Byers. Minneapolis:
Carolrhoda Books. (K-3)
Presents the numbers one to ten in Spanish, using each number to introduce concepts about Mexico and
its culture. (card catalog)
Johnston, T. (1999). My Mexico - Mexico mio. Illustrated by J. Sierra. New York: Paper Star.
(K-5)
Ranging in subject from the music of Nahuatl to pet iguanas sold at the Taxco Road, a collection
of poems about Mexico introduces readers to many different facets of the nation's history and
customs. (amazon.com)
Medina, J. (1999). My name is Jorge: On both sides of the river. Illustrated by F. V. Broeck.
Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills. (4-6)
These truly bilingual poems are packed with poignant, tender moments in the life of a Mexican
immigrant child trying to fit in without losing his identity. Jorge tells of his defeats and victories
in school, of prejudice and making friends. The black-and-white drawings punctuate the poems in
a spare manner that lets the poetry speak for itself. Finally--bilingual poems that aren‘t
overflowing with happy colors and tortilla chips. (Horn Book, 1999)
Mora, P. (1999). Confetti: Poems for children. Illustrated by E. O. Sanchez. New York: Lee and
Low Books. (1-5)
From the dawn of a beautiful morning to the cool dusk of the desert night, the sights and sounds
of the Southwest are joyfully conveyed through the perspective of a young Mexican-American girl
who lives there. (amazon.com)
Mora, P. (1994). Listen to the desert. Illustrated by F. X. Mora. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)
The many different voices of the desert at nightfall, including the owl, snake, and even rain, are
described in a simple poetic text, in both English and Spanish. (amazon.com)
Mora, P., editor. (2001). Love to Mama: A tribute to mothers. Illustrated by P. S. Barragan. New
York: Lee and Low. (K-3)
Thirteen Latino poets celebrate their bonds with their mothers and grandmothers. (amazon.com)
Mora, P. (2007). Yum!; Mmmm!; Que rico! America‘s sproutings. Illustrated by R. Lopez. Lee
& Low. (K-3)
This concept book serves as a delicious introduction to 14 types of food, all of which have their
origins in the Americas. Snippets of information and a haiku poem accompany each one, ranging
from blueberry and chili pepper through papaya, prickly pear, and vanilla. Using English and a
smattering of Spanish words, Mora crafts a playful introduction to each one, as in "Pumpkin‖:
"Under round luna,/scattered tumblings down the rows,/autumn‘s orange face.‖ The sense of
whimsy is further underscored in López‘s colorful acrylic on wood-panel illustrations. Artful
compositions and brilliant complementary colors bear out the book‘s multicultural themes. The
art conveys an infectious sense of fun, as smiling suns and moons beam down upon happy
children and animals, along with a trumpet-wielding peanut-butter sandwich and a dancing
pineapple. Teachers will find this a welcome addition to their social-studies units, but it should
also win a broad general audience for its inventive, fun-filled approach to an ever-popular topic:
food. (School Library Journal)
Orozco, J. (2002). Diez deditos: 10 little fingers and other play rhymes and action songs from
Latin America. Illustrated by E. Kleven. New York: Puffin. (K-2)
In this, his second bilingual collection of musical material from the Spanish-speaking countries,
Jose-Luis Orozco brings together over 30 finger rhymes, play rhymes, and action songs and
games for children of various ages to enjoy in Spanish and English. (amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1995). Canto familiar. Illustrated by A. Nelson. New York: Harcourt Brace. (4-6)
A collection of sympathetic poems offers insight into the dreams and problems shared by children
of Mexican-American heritage and follows such themes as enjoying a watermelon or visiting the
supermarket. (amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1992). Neighborhood odes. Illustrated by D. Diaz. New York: Harcourt Brace. (4-6)
Twenty-one poems, all odes, celebrate life in a Hispanic neighborhood. With humor, sensitivity,
and insight, Soto explores the lives of children. Diaz‘s contemporary black-and-white
illustrations, which often resemble cut paper, effortlessly capture the varied moods of this
remarkable collection. With a glossary of thirty Spanish words and phrases. (Horn Book, 1992)
BACK
Fantasy
Dorros, A. (1997). Abuela. Illustrated by E. Kleven. New York: Puffin Books. (K-3)
While riding on 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. (card catalog)
Dorros, A. (1995). Isla. Illustrated by E. Kleven. New York: Dutton Books. (K-3)
When Rosalba and Abuela get together, adventure is in the air. Together they fly to la isla, the
island where Abuela grew up, on the magic of Abuela‘s storytelling. The story celebrates the
importance of family and of family place as naturally and unobtrusively as it incorporates the
Spanish words and phrases of Abuela. (amazon.com)
Mohr, N. (1995). The magic shell. Illustrated by R. Gutierrez. New York: Scholastic. (2-4)
Struggling to live in the middle of two cultures, a young Dominican immigrant is torn between the
values he finds in his new home in New York City and those he remembers from his family
birthplace in Santo Domingo. (amazon.com)
Montes, M. (2006). Los Gatos black on Halloween. Illustrated by Y. Morales. Holt. (1-3)
A cat‘s green eyes stare out from the book‘s cover. Inside, there are more of los gatos--as well as
las brujas (witches), los fantasmas (ghosts), and los esqueletos (skeletons looking like they have
come from a Dia de los Muertos celebration. The pithy, rhyming text tells a frightening, if familiar,
story. The ghosts and ghoulies are off to a Monsters‘ Ball at Haunted Hall, and though there‘s
plenty of scary stuff around, the guests are most frightened by the children who come knocking at
the door for trick-or-treat. Montes‘ evocative poem deserves exceptional artwork, and Morales
obliges. Her soft-edged paintings glow with the luminosity of jewels, and her witches, werewolves,
and corpses are frighteningly executed. Therein lies what may be a problem for preschoolers.
These fiends aren‘t particularly kid-friendly; they are dead-eyed, Day of the Dead folk who scare.
For slightly older children, however, this spookiness is what Halloween is all about. The Spanish is
neatly integrated into the text, but for those who need clarification, a glossary is appended.
(Booklist)
Ryan, P. M. (2001). Mice and beans. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Rosa Maria loves to cook big meals for her big family, and she‟s determined to make her youngest
grandchild‟s birthday party a special occasion. But when important items start to disappear from
her kitchen, she doesn‟t know what to think. You will delight in uncovering the clues that lead to a
very funny surprise. Vibrant paintings with brilliant comic touches, a winsome main character,
jaunty rhythms, and playful refrains make Mice and beans a feast for the eyes and ears.
(amazon.com)
Soto, G. (2000). Chato and the party animals. Illustrated by S. Guevara. New York: Putnam. (K-3)
Chato, the coolest cat in el barrio, loves to party - but not his best buddy, Novio Boy. Birthday
parties always make him blue. "I'm from the pound," he tells Chato. "I don't know when I was born.
I never knew my mami. I never even had a birthday party, or nothing." So Chato plans the coolest
surprise party for Novio Boy, inviting all of el barrio, and cooking up a storm. But he forgets the
most important thing - inviting Novio Boy! Luckily, just as everyone starts remembering all the
things they used to love about their long-lost friend, the birthday boy arrives with his own surprise
- himself! (amazon.com)
Soto, G. (2005). Chato goes cruisin‘. Illustrated by S. Guevara. Putnam Juvenile. (1-4)
Chihuahua! What are two low-riding cats to do when they sign up for a cruise and end up on a ship
full of dogs? Chato and Novio Boy try to have fun, but they‘re miserable watching endless games of
Bark at the Moon. Plus, the dogs get sick from all their running around and excessive consumption
of milk bones.
When the two cool cats go for help, they see the cruise they were meant to be on—a catamaran full
of cats—and they have to decide whether to join the fun or be cats of their word. With extra
storytelling in comic strips on each page, this ocean adventure is sure to garner the laughs and
acclaim of Chato‘s Kitchen and Chato and the Party Animals (both ALA Notable Books).
(amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1997) Chato‘s kitchen. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York. Paper Star. (K-3)
Chato, the coolest cat in East L.A., and his buddy, Novio Boy, prepare to serve up a special
housewarming party for their new neighbors, a family of mice, in which their guests are also the
main course, but the mice bring along their own guest, Chorizo, the toughest dog in the barrio.
(amazon.com)
Soto, G. (1997). The cat‘s meow. Illustrated by J. Cepeda & C. Soto. New York: Little Apple. (24)
Unconventional in more ways than one, this chapter book gives primary-grade readers their first
taste of magic realism when Graciela‘s cat, Pip, begins speaking in Spanish. Pip plays a cagey
game for a while, alternating Spanish words with "meow," until Graciela becomes thoroughly
frustrated, by the cat and by the uncomprehending humans in whom she confides. (Booklist)
Wisniewski, D. (1995). Rain player. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)
To bring rain to his thirsty village, Pik challenges the rain god to a game of pok-a-tok. (card
catalog)
Jewish Americans
Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus' Name Amen by James Howe. Illustrated by Catherine Stock. Atheneum, 2004
(0-68980185-8) $16.95
If you can get past the mind-boggling title, this tender story shows a real understanding of a young child's
perspective on ritual. Five year old Emily, whose father was born into a Christian family but converted to
Judaism, describes how it feels to go to a Christian funeral for her grandfather, and then to share in a Jewish
ceremony of mourning as well. Meanwhile, she forms her own way of remembering her grandfather, by
keeping his glasses case under her pillow and putting together the parts of ritual that spoke to her heart. "It
wasn't the Christian way and it wasn't the Jewish way. It was just my way, My Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus'
name amen." Watercolor illustrations depict both sadness and celebration in the families as they confront their
loss. (4-7)
Light the Lights written and illustrated by Margaret Moorman. Scholastic, 1994 (0-590-47003-5) $12.95
One of very few pictures books about interfaith holiday celebrations, Light the Lights is the story of a little girl
named Emma whose family happily celebrates both Hannukah and Christmas. Hannukah is visiting relatives,
playing dreidel and eating latkes, and watching the glowing lights in the menorah, set by the living room
window where "all the neighbors up and down the street could catch a glimpse of it." Christmas is singing "Joy
to the World" with friends, cookies and hot chocolate, and the beautiful glow of the Christmas tree lights, turned
on by Santa Claus as he left the presents. Although neither the text nor the bland, almost textbook-style
watercolor illustrations are particularly inspired, in these warm family and neighborhood scenes Moorman has
captured some of the essence of what interfaith winter celebrations can mean—not so much the teachings of
specific religions as a celebration of comfort, friendship and most of all, light in the darkness, the common
thread of all solstice holidays. (3-7)
My Two Grandmothers by Effin Older. Illustrated by Nancy Hayashi. Harcourt, 2000 (0-15-200785-7) OP
Lily loves celebrating Silver family traditions with her Bubbe and Lane family traditions with her Grammy. But
one thing seems sad to her: "Grammy Lane never gets to light Hanukkah candles or sip a Donald Duck drink...
Bubbe Silver never gets to sing Christmas carols or look for animal tracks in the snow." And so she creates a
brand new tradition: the Traditional Grandmothers Party, to share with both of her grandmothers. Although the
illustrations are a bit stodget and conventional, all kinds of families can enjoy this warm story, which is light on
the message and filled with little details that are fun to read about, like three-color Donald Duck drinks and red
flannel hash. (3-8)
Day of Delight by Maxine Rose Schur. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Dial, 1994 (0-8037-1413-0) $15.99
For Menelik and his family, life in their Ethiopian village is a rigorous struggle for survival. Nonetheless, once
a week the family stops its work for a day--to celebrate the Sabbath. Menelik and his family belong to a small,
almost vanished group: the Beta Israel, Ethiopian Jews. Like many Jews before them, they continue to celebrate
their religion in spite of their isolation from other Jews--and the people around them. Muted yet vibrant
scratchboard pictures illustrate this fascinating look at Jewish life in a very different context, a vivid reminder
that the harder life is, the more important the Sabbath can be. (5-9)
Make a Wish, Molly by Barbara Cohen. Illustrated by Jan Naimo Jones. Doubleday, 1994; Dell Yearling, 1995
(0-440-41058-4)
The follow-up to Molly's Pilgrim is a similar yet somewhat richer and more sophisticated story, intended for
slightly older readers. Several months have passed for Molly and she's much happier, because she's found a
friend named Emma. But when Emma has a birthday party, Molly can't eat any of her wonderful birthday cake:
it's Passover, and regular flour is forbidden. For Elizabeth, Molly's old enemy, it's the perfect chance to make
trouble between Molly and Emma by spreading nasty rumors about Jewish customs. Molly's too shy and
embarrassed to explain--but how can she keep her friend? This longer narrative gives Molly more depth than
the previous book, making her and even more sympathetic and understandable character. (6-10)
While the Candles Burn by Barbara Diamond Goldin. Illustrated by Elaine Greenstein. Viking, 1996 (0-67085875-7) $15.99
Taking an unusual and interesting approach to Hanukkah stories, this collection features eight tales which aren't
specifically about Hanukkah, but which express some of the traditional themes and meanings of the holiday. As
introductions to the stories point out, Hanukkah is celebrated in different ways by Jews around the world: one of
most interesting stories, an original, modern-day tale, is set at a bilingual Israeli/Arab school to express a theme
of reconciliation and peace—a part of Hanukkah celebrations in Greece. (This school, Oasis of Peace, actually
exists in Israel!) Goldin's smoothly crafted retelling of six traditional tales, plus two original stories, skillfully
combine lively details with an atmosphere of reverence. * (5 & up)
The Hopscotch Tree by Leda Siskind. Bantam, 1992; Dell Yearling, 1995 (0-440-40959-4) $3.50 pb
Every day, Edith dreads the sight of the Purple Sweater, aka Zandra Kott. Being Jewish, Edith is a prime target
for Zandra and her bullying gang, and even talking to her favorite tree can't seem to help her figure out what to
do about it. But when Edith discovers a secret about Zandra, she has to grapple with an even more important
problem: whether she can stop Zandra's cruelty without becoming cruel herself. Set in the 1960's, this is a
strong portrait of what it's like to be an outsider among people who are hostile at worst, ignorant at best: the
complete obliviousness of Edith's teachers that cutting out angels and singing religious carols might make her
uncomfortable is a pertinent comment on what anyone outside of the standard mold has to deal with. There's no
miraculous happy ending, but a believably positive one that shows the value of standing up for yourself and
keeping your integrity. (8-12)
A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt. Random House, 2006 (0-385-90940-3)
Simone's ordinary life of high school, family, friends, and trying to find a boyfriend grows increasingly
complex after she meets her birthmother for the first time and becomes aware of her Jewish heritage. A wellbalanced mix of joy and sadness, this book also offers particularly appealing family and friend relationships, a
feeling for the beauty of Jewish ritual and identity, and a strong sense of emotional truth. (12 & up)
Jewish Americans
Realistic Fiction:
Adler, D. A. (1999). One yellow daffodil: A Hanukkah story. Illustrated by L. Bloom. New York:
Voyager Books. (K-3)
A Holocaust survivor shares Hanukkah with a loving family that gives him the courage to
remember. (amazon.com)
Blue, R. (1997). Good Yontif. A picture book of the Jewish year. Illustrated by L. Feldman.
Brookfield, CT: Millbrook. (K-3))
Follow a Jewish family through the changing seasons in this richly illustrated book on Jewish
holidays. (amazon.com)
Blume, J. (1991). Are you there, God? It‘s me, Margaret. New York: Laurel Leaf. (4-6)
Margaret, almost twelve, experiences the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion in Judy
Blume‘s popular novel. (Horn Book, 1991)
Carmi, D. (2002). Samir and Yonatan. Blue Sky Press. (4-8)
Riding his bicycle down the market steps, a young Palestinian falls and smashes his knee so badly
that he needs surgery. For the first time in his life, Samir leaves his home in the Occupied
Territories to go to a Jewish hospital where an American doctor will operate on him. While waiting
for the procedure, Samir gets to know the other children on his ward, all Jews. Beautiful Ludmilla is
pining away for her home in Russia and refusing to eat. Razia hides under her bed in fear of her
father. Hyperactive Tzahi can't urinate properly and, most importantly, Yonatan with the crippled
arm introduces Samir to the stars, computer games, and the way imagination can take one away
from a place of pain. As Samir thinks about the home he misses, details of his family life are
revealed. Readers learn that his younger brother was killed, shot while playing in the street by a
man wearing the same uniform that Tzahi’s brother wears when he visits. His older brother has
gone to Kuwait to earn money and his mother works two jobs. His father has stopped talking. As
the hospitalized children spend time together, they come to support one another, forming a team
that crosses cultural boundaries. Samir and Yonatan take an illegal night outing to commandeer
an office computer to play a game. Life in the hospital is described as clearly as life in the Occupied
Territories and readers will sympathize with Samir’s fear and loneliness and welcome his new
friendships. Written in Hebrew but published first in Germany, the book is smoothly translated and
will have wide appeal. (School Library Journal)
Cohen, D. B. (2008). Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah ride. Illustrated by S. Kober. BenKar. (K-2)
A sweet and creative Rosh Hashanah story based on the first historic train ride from Jaffa to
Jerusalem in 1892, shortening the journey between the two cities from 3 days to 3 hours. Engineer
Ari‘s train is coming to Jerusalem collecting goodies along the way to celebrate the Jewish new
year, and he learns an important lesson along the way. (amazon.com)
Conway, D. C. (1994). Northern lights: A Hanukkah story. Illustrated by S. O. Hass. Rockville,
MD: Kar-Ben Copies. (K-3)
When a storm grounds their plane, Sara and her dad celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with a
Yupik Eskimo family. By the light of an oil lamp, they share stories, eat fried bread, and witness the
colorful glow of the Northern Lights...a Hanukkah celebration after all. Warm, wonderful
watercolors illuminate this eloquent story. (amazon.com)
da Costa, D. (2001). Snow in Jerusalem. Illustrated by C. Van Wright & Y. Hu. Albert Whitman. (14)
Although they live in different quarters of Jerusalem, a Jewish boy and a Muslim boy are surprised
to discover they have been caring for the same stray cat. (card catalog)
Edwards, M. (2004). Papa‘s latkes. Illustrated by S. Schuett. Candlewick. (K-2)
This is the first Chanukah since Mama‘s death, and as Selma and her younger sister ready
themselves for the holiday, they can‘t help but remember the fun the family had preparing in years
gone by. Then Papa arrives home with latke ingredients: potatoes, oil, and onions enough "to keep
you crying till Passover.‖ But can they make latkes without Mama? Schuett‘s thickly painted,
double-page illustrations hark back decades to a simpler time. Each blends beautifully with quiet,
unsentimental words that express grief, unspoken sadness, and fear of the future as well as the love
the characters share. This is a stirring, tender portrait of beloved children and a single father
doing his best to help his daughters celebrate their mother‘s memory by building new traditions
atop fondly remembered old ones: "Happy Chanukah, Mama.‖ (Booklist)
Fishman, C. G. (2001). On Hanukkah. Illustrated by M. W. Hall. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
(K-3)
Learn about the Jewish celebration of light as a family participates in several activities for
Hanukkah. (amazon.com)
Fishman, C. G. (2000). On Passover. Illustrated by M. W. Hall. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
(K-3)
As her family prepares for Passover, a little girl learns about the many traditions which are part of
the celebration of this holiday. (card catalog)
Fishman, C. G. (2000). On Purim. Illustrated by M. W. Hall. New York: Atheneum.
(K-3)
As her family sits down to make masks, a young girl knows it‘s time for Purim, the holiday that
celebrates how Queen Esther saved the Jewish people. It‘s time for making hamantashen, pastries
filled with poppy seeds and honey. Time to place these pastries in homemade paper gift baskets
with candy and fruit. Time for the Purim carnival, for playing games and watching the Purim
parade. And, of course, time to put on their new costumes and masks. (amazon.com)
Fishman, C. G. (2000). On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Illustrated by M. W. Hall. New York:
Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
When the season shifts from summer to fall, the young narrator of this book knows it‘s time to
celebrate the High Holy Days. New Year‘s cards are exchanged, the family gathers for a special
holiday meal during Rosh Hashanah and they go to synagogue. Ten days later, Yom Kippur is
observed and the family reflects on the past year and looks forward to the future. (amazon.com)
Fishman, C. G. (2001). On Shabbat. Illustrated by M. C. Hall. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)
Every Friday afternoon, as her father comes home with a bouquet of flowers and two loaves of
fresh-baked challah bread, a young girl knows it‘s time for Shabbat, the most important Jewish
holiday. Shabbat celebrates the day God rested after creating the heavens, the Earth, and
everything on it. On Shabbat, her family lights the Shabbat candles and invites the Shabbat Queen
to come into her house. They sing songs, receive blessings from each other, and have a special
meal. The next morning, they worship at the synagogue, and in the afternoon, they study the Torah
and play games. When they see three stars in the sky, it is time for the Havdalah ceremony, which
ends Shabbat, and a new week begins. (amazon.com)
Glaser, L. (2004). Mrs. Greenberg‘s messy Hanukkah. Illustrated by N. Cote. Whitman. (K-2)
What‘s the first night of Hanukkah without latkes? But Rachel‘s parents are too busy to think about
cooking, so Rachel pays a visit to elderly Mrs. Greenberg, whose sparkling kitchen begs to be
invaded by an energetic little girl with potato pancakes on her mind. Pretty soon potatoes, flour,
and eggs coat the floor, and an exhausted Mrs. Greenberg has collapsed in a chair. When Rachel‘s
parents arrive, they focus on the mess, and a tearful Rachel apologizes. Then Mrs. Greenberg
comes to the rescue, declaring firmly, "My house hasn‘t felt this lived in in years.‖ Pattern and
bright color abound in Cote‘s lighthearted, cartoonlike pictures, which channel the glow of the
menorah on the table right onto the happy faces of the characters as they sit down to eat Rachel‘s
latkes. A recipe, at the front of the book, completes this lively package, suggested for children who
are already familiar with the holiday. (Booklist)
Goldin,, B. D. (2007). The best Hanukkah ever. Illustrated by A. Katz. Cavendish. (1-3)
A family gives each other humorous gifts when it misunderstands the rabbi‘s advice. (amazon.com)
Goldin, B. D. (2002). Night lights: A Sukkot story. Illustrated by L. August. New York: Union of
American Hebrew Congregations. (K-3)
In a tender story about the Jewish harvest holiday, Sukkot, young Daniel overcomes his fear of the
dark with the help of his sister, who teaches him about the stars in the night sky and the Jewish
ancestors they represent. (amazon.com)
Goldin, B. D. (1999). While the candles burn: Eight stories for Hanukkah. Illustrated by E.
Greenfield. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
.
Timeless and contemporary stories for Hanukkah. (amazon.com)
Goldin, B., D. (1995). The world’s birthday: A Rosh Hashanah story. Illustrated by J. Winter. New
York: Voyager Books. (K-3)
Daniel is determined to have a birthday party for the world to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. (card
catalog)
Hurwitz, J. (2000). Baseball fever. Illustrated by R. Cruz. New York: Camelot. (4-6)
Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father
cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden
sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a
surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra's dad
that cheering for the national pastime isn't completely off base? (amazon.com)
Kimmelman, L. (1994). Hanukkah lights, Hanukkah nights. Illustrated by J. Kimmelman. New
York: HarperTrophy. (K-2)
A young reader‘s introduction to the symbols and traditions of Hannukah is also a counting book
that follows a family‘s joyful observance through the eight days. (amazon.com)
Kimmelman, L. (1997). Hooray! It’s Passover. Illustrated by J. Kimmelman. New York:
HarperTrophy. (K-2)
A loving family comes together to celebrate Passover, during which they sing songs, recite prayers,
eat special foods, and play a Passover game. (amazon.com)
Kimmelman, L. (1998). Sound the shofar! A story for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Illustrated
by J. Himmelman. Harpercollins Juvenile Books. (K-3)
An extended family celebrates the Days of Awe. Information about the ceremonies and traditions of
both home and synagogue are featured as is the family‘s pride in Uncle Jake, who will blow the
shofar at synagogue to signal the beginning and end of the holiday. (amazon.com)
Koss, A. G. (2000). How I saved Hanukkah. Illustrated by D. DeGroat. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
A Hanukkah to remember finally! Marla Feinstein, the only Jewish kid in her fourth-grade class,
knows what this holiday season will be like. While everyone else is decorating trees and hanging
stockings, she’ll be forgetting to light the candles and staring at a big plastic dreidel. But when
Marla decides to learn what the Hanukkah traditions are really about, things change fast. Soon
she’s got her family turning latkes into Hanukkah Performance Art and doing a wild hora.
(amazon.com)
Lamstein, S. M. (1997). Annie‘s Shabbat. Illustrated by C. Lang. Morton Grove, IL: Albert
Whitman. (K-3)
An idealized family celebration of the weekly Sabbath holiday beginning with preparation for
Friday‘s dinner at sundown and ending with the Havdalah service after sunset on Saturday. (Horn
Book, 1998)
Manushkin, F. (1992). Latkes and applesauce: A Hanukkah story. Illustrated by R. Spowart. New
York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
When a blizzard leaves a family housebound on Hanukkah, they share what little food they have
with some starving animals who later return the favor. (card catalog)
Manushkin, F. (2001). The matzah that Papa brought home. Illustrated by N. Bittinger. New York:
Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Bringing cherished Passover traditions to life, a new book by the author of Latkes and Applesauce:
A Hanukkah Story includes a short history of the Passover story, lively illustrations, cumulative
verse, and an explanation of holiday symbols. (amazon.com)
Meltzer, A. (2007). A mezuzah on the door. Illustrated by J. Fried. Kar-Ben. (1-3)
Meltzer and Fried demonstrate the practice of dedicating a new Jewish home in this sweet and
gentle story of a boy and his family leaving a city apartment for a house in the suburbs. Like most
children in a move situation, Noah is anxious and worries about missing all the familiar sounds of
his building: Mr. Gollis’s allergic sneezes, Maya’s violin practice, the clanking of Mrs. Feldman’s
dishwashing. It’s very quiet in the new house, but Noah and his parents get busy shopping for a
mezuzah (the traditional doorpost case holding a small parchment prayer scroll) for Noah’s
bedroom and invite all their old neighbors to a "Hanukkat Habayit,” the dedication open house.
After mezuzahs are hung for each room, the noise of guests mingling, eating and listening to
Maya’s violin helps Noah appreciate the quiet when all the guests leave. Yet he is grateful for their
presence on this special day, because it solved his loneliness. Simply drawn and intricately
designed illustrations in soft colors done in a multimedia style with watercolors, pencils, collage,
pen/ink and a scratching technique round out this informative story that effectively brings closure
to one little boy’s concerns. Concise explanation of the custom and prayer appended. (Kirkus
Reviews)
Moss, M. (1996). The ugly menorah. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. (K-3)
On the first Hanukkah since her grandpa had died, Rachel keeps her grandmother company, and as
grandma tells the story of her ugly menorah, grandpa’s spirit seems to fill the house again, and
when Grandma lights the candles, the menorah is transformed. (amazon.com)
Newman, L. (1998). Matzo Ball Moon. Illustrated by E. Greenstein. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)
Matzo Ball Moon is a cheerful family story of Passover preparations, a warm grandmothergranddaughter friendship, the mysterious disappearance of Bubbe’s famous matzo balls, and the
wonderful things that can happen under a matzo ball moon. (amazon.com)
Penn, M. (1999). The miracle of potato latkes: A Hanukkah story. Illustrated by G. Carmi. New
York: Holiday House. (K-3)
This charming Hanukkah picture book tells the tale of Tante Golda, who makes the most delicious
potato latkes in all of Russia. She loves to share them with neighbors, but because of the drought
this year, she has only one tiny potato. She doesn‘t know how she can make latkes for her
Hanukkah guests, but she has faith that God will provide. Soon He does! (amazon.com)
Polacco, P. (1998). The bee tree. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
On the day that Mary Ellen announces she is tired of reading, Grampa carefully traps and then
releases a series of bees so that he and his granddaughter can follow the insects back to their tree.
The fast-paced adventure story, which contains a moral about the value of books and reading,
features a generous amount of white space and large, brilliantly colored pictures. (Horn Book,
1993)
Polacco, P. (1994). Mrs. Katz and Tush. New York: Picture Yearling. (2-4)
A long-lasting friendship develops between Larnel, a young African-American, and Mrs. Katz, a
lonely, Jewish widow, when Larnel presents Mrs. Katz with a scrawny kitten without a tail. (card
catalog)
Polacco, P. (2001). The keeping quilt. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (1-4)
A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of a Jewish family, remaining a symbol
of their enduring love and faith. (card catalog)
Portnoy, M. & Kahn, K. J. (1994). Matzah ball: A Passover story. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies. (46)
Aaron must bring a bag of lunch to the baseball game, but while his friends are off at the
concession stand, something wonderful happens. (amazon.com)
Rosen, M. J. (2000). Our eight nights of Hanukkah. Illustrated by D. DiSalvo-Ryan. New York:
Holiday House. (1-4)
A child narrator describes how his family celebrates Hanukkah, including lighting the holiday
menorah, playing traditional games, and eating foods like latkes and chocolate coins. The portrait
emphasizes charity, family ties, a limited focus on gifts, and sharing experiences with neighbors of
different ethnic backgrounds. The cheerful color artwork helps develop the holiday mood. (Horn
Book, 2001)
Rosen, M. J. (2000). The blessing of the animals. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (3-6)
When Jared‘s friend encourages him to bring his dog to the St. Francis Blessing of the Animals,
Jared is excited, but his mother objects because they are Jewish. She says, however, that if he gets
four opinions about whether or not to go, he can make up his own mind. Although in places the
explanations feel didactic, Jared‘s search raises some thought-provoking ideas about Judaism.
(Horn Book, 2001)
Rothenberg. J. (1997). Inside-out grandma. New York: Disney Press. (K-3)
Grandma may look silly, but she's got a good reason for her inside-out wardrobe. Hanukkah is
approaching and Grandma's strange dress habit is a reminder to buy enough oil to fry potato
latkes. Why this would remind someone of cooking oil is a puzzle to Rosie. So Grandma goes
through a list of connected remembrances to reveal the humorous answer. (amazon.com)
Schotter, R. (1998). Passover magic. Illustrated by M. Hafner. Toronto: Little, Brown and
Company. (K-3)
Molly and her family celebrate the spring holiday of Passover in all the joy, magic, and warmth of
its traditions and activities, from preparing the seder plate to welcoming the prophet, Elijah.
(amazon.com)
Schotter, R. (1998). Purim play. Illustrated by M. Hafner. Toronto: Little, Brown and Company.
(K-3)
Every year, when people are winter-weary and longing for spring, Purim comes and it‘s time for
play, time for the annual Purim play, that is! Frannie‘s two cousins always come to Frannie‘s
house to celebrate Purim and reenact the story of how brave Queen Esther saved the Jewish
people. But this year, the cousins are sick with the flu, and Frannie‘s mom, without asking Frannie,
has invited old Mrs. Teplitzky from down the street to play the role of the evil Haman. Can this
topsy-turvy play go on? (amazon.com)
Schwartz, B. (1999). Where‘s my dreidel?: A Hanukkah Lift-the-Flap story. Illustrated by V.
Livney. New York: Little Simon. (K).
Where can Max‘s dreidel be? As he searches his home, Max joins his family as they prepare for
Hanukkah. By story‘s end, everyone, including Max , has what he needs to enjoy Hanukkah dinner.
(amazon.com)
Singer, I. B. (1990). The power of light: Eight stories for Hanukkah. Illustrated by I. Lieblich. New
York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (K-3)
Eight tales by Nobellaureate Isaac Bashevis Singer, one for each night of the Hanukkah
celebration, tell of a world in which miracles abound, love triumphs, and faith prevails.
(amazon.com)
Sussman, S. (1988). Hanukkah: eight lights around the world. Illustrated by J. Friedman. Morton
Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (2-4)
Short stories depict eight contemporary Jewish families in different countries celebrating the
holiday. (card catalog)
Sussman, S. (1993). There‘s no such thing as a Chanukah bush, Sandy Goldstein. Illustrated by C.
Robinson. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (4-6)
A wise, understanding grandfather helps Robin, a Jewish child, cope with Christmas; not an easy
task when even Sandy, who is also Jewish, is allowed to have a Christmas tree and Robin can't
have one. (card catalog)
Yolen, J. (1993). Briar rose. New York: Tor Books. (5-6)
Haunted by the tales of the Holocaust, a young American woman begins a search for her
grandmother‘s World War II past. (amazon.com)
Zalben, J. B. (1991). Goldie‘s Purim. New York: Henry Holt and Company. (K-3)
Although Goldie is scared at first, she overcomes her stage fright to play Queen Esther in the
synagogue‘s celebration of Purim. (card catalog)
Ziefert, H. (1994). What is Hanukkah? Illustrated by R. Brown. New York: Harpercollins. (K-1)
Josh learns about the miracles that happened a long time ago and how the traditions of Hanukkah
are continued today. The lift-the-flap format makes this introduction to a special holiday accessible
to the youngest child. (amazon.com)
BACK
Non-fiction:
Abrams, J. Z. (1991). Shabbat: A family service. Illustrated by K. J. Kahn. Rockville MD: Kar-Ben
Copies. (K-3)
A family service for the Jewish Sabbath. (card catalog)
Adler, D. A. (1996). The kids‘ catalog of Jewish holidays. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publications
Society. (4-6)
A cornucopia of riches celebrating the Jewish holidays, this easy-to-use introduction to each of the
Jewish holidays gathers together a rare blend of stories, poems, recipes, songs, crafts, puzzles,
cartoons, and more! (amazon.com)
Alder, D. A. (1994). A picture book of Passover. Illustrated by L. Heller. Old Greenwich, CT:
Listening Library. (2-4)
Describes the events which led to the liberation of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, and
explains some of the Passover traditions and customs. (card catalog)
Backman, A. (1990). One night, one Hanukkah night. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society.
(K-3)
Each night for eight nights a candle is added to the great silver menorah. Illustrations depict the
celebration in homes past and present. (card catalog)
Behrens, J. (1987). Passover: Festivals and holidays. Illustrated by T. Behrens. Chicago, IL:
Children‘s Press. (K-3)
Follows the members of the Adler family as they prepare for and celebrate Passover. (card catalog)
Ben-Zvi, R. T. (2005). Four sides, eight nights: A new spin on Hanukkah. Illustrated by S. Natti.
Brodie/Roaring Brook. (2-4)
Four sides of a toy, eight nights of celebration, forty-four candles burning in honor of an ancient
miracle, two-thousand-one-hundred-seventy-some years of Hanukkah -- everything you ever wanted
to know about the Hanukkah holiday, centered on the children‘s game of dreidel (a spinning top).
Jokes, history, customs, trivia, science facts (just how fast does a dreidel spin?) come to life with
wacky and informative illustrations throughout.
Berger, G. (2002). Celebrate! Stories of the Jewish holidays. Illustrated by P. Catalanotto. New
York: Scholastic Trade. (All ages)
This sparkling collection of stories, recipes, crafts, and commentary introduces readers to the eight
major Jewish holidays. (amazon.com)
Brinn, R. E. (1993). Jewish holiday crafts for little hands. Illustrated by K. Kahn. Rockville, MD:
Kar-Ben Copies. (4-6)
Provides simple directions for making over 100 craft items from easily available materials for
Shabbath and various Jewish holidays. Includes a glossary and summary of the holidays. (card
catalog)
Brinn, R. E. (1995). Jewish holiday games for little hands. Illustrated by S. Springer. Rockville, MD:
Kar-Ben Copies. (4-6)
Dozens of games for Shabbat and the Jewish holidays. With game boards and playing cards
designed for reproduction. Simple directions, holiday explanations, and glossary. Ideal for home
and classroom, large groups or solitary play. (amazon.com)
Burns, M. (1994). The Hanukkah book. Illustrated by M. Weston. New York: Avon.
(4-6)
Discusses why and how Hanukkah is celebrated and includes recipes, songs, and instructions for
playing with a dreidel. (amazon.com)
Chaikin, M. (1990). Menorahs, Mezuzahs, and other Jewish symbols. Illustrated by E. Weihs. New
York: Clarion. (4-6)
Explains the history and significance of many Jewish symbols, such as the Shield of David, the
menorah, and the mezuza, and discusses holiday symbols and rituals. (card catalog)
Drucker, M. (1999). The family treasury of Jewish holidays. Illustrated by N. Patz. Toronto: Little,
Brown and Company. (4-6)
Recounts the history and rituals of ten Jewish holidays, including appropriate games, recipes, and
songs. (card catalog)
Ehrlich, A. (1994). The story of Hanukkah. Illustrated by O. Sherman. New York: Puffin Books. (K3)
A young reader's retelling of the first Hanukkah describes the Jewish people's struggles for religious
freedom under the rule of an evil king and the miracle that enabled them to restore their temple and
keep the flame of faith burning. (amazon.com)
Fishman, C. G. (2003). Hanukkah. Illustrated by M. O. Young. Carolrhoda. (2-3)
Introduces the Jewish Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, relating the story behind the holiday and
how it is celebrated. (card catalog)
Goldin, B. D. (1997). The Passover journey: A seder companion. Illustrated by N. Waldman. New
York: Puffin. (4-6)
Retells the story of the Israelites‘ fight for liberation from slavery in Egypt and explains the
traditions of the Passover seder. (card catalog)
Groner, J. S. & Wikler, M. (2000). All about Passover. Illustrated by K. Kreiswirth. Rockville, MD:
Kar-Ben Copies. (2-4)
The history and customs of Passover in language young children can understand. Includes the story
of the Exodus, all about chametz and matzah, the tradition of tzedakah at Passover, and an
introduction to the seder. With favorite recipes. (amazon.com)
Groner, J. S. & Wikler, M. (1992). Hanukkah fun for little hands. Illustrated by K. J. Kahn.
Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies. (K-3)
Simple Hanukkah crafts and activities for little ones. Make dreidel decorations, read the picture-
story of Hanukkah, and have fun with the full-color playing cards. (amazon.com)
Groner, J. S. & Wikler, M. (1993). Thank you God! A Jewish child’s book of prayers. Illustrated by S.
O Haas. Rockville, MD: Kar Ben Copies. (K-2)
Presents common Jewish prayers and blessings in English and Hebrew with simple transliterations.
(card catalog)
Gross, J. (1992). Celebrate: A book of Jewish holidays. New York: Price Stern Sloane. (K-3)
Introduces Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simhat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu Bishvat,
Purim, Passover, and Shavuot. (card catalog)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1998). Celebrating Hanukkah. Photographs by L. Migdale. New York: Holiday
House. (3-5)
Presents the history, traditions, and significance of Hanukkah as it is celebrated by a Jewish family
in San Francisco. (card catalog)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (2000). Celebrating Passover. Photographs by L. Migdale. New York: Holiday
House. (3-5)
Hoyt-Goldsmith and Migdale expand their series on American celebrations with this offering that
details a Reform Jewish celebration of Passover. Hoyt-Goldsmith focuses on nine-year-old Micah
Kamrass, explaining how he and his extended family prepare for and celebrate the week-long
holiday. She recounts the festival‟s origins nearly 3,000 years ago, describes some of the special
foods that are served, and explains the components and proscribed order of a seder, the ceremonial
meal held during the first two nights of the festival. Illustrated sidebars depict the ancient story, and
Lawrence Migdale‟s crisp, color photographs show the members of the Kamrass family and their
activities, with captions clarifying such customs as the search for the afikomen (hidden matzoh).
Festivities in Orthodox and Conservative Jewish households may vary. An attractive and useful
choice for the holiday shelf; recipes, songs, and a glossary are a bonus. (Booklist)
Kimmelman, L. (2000). Dance, sing, remember: A celebration of Jewish holidays. Illustrated by O.
Eitan. New York: Harpercollins. (K-3)
A page or two of text briefly explains the significance of each holiday and its traditions; the entries
are often embellished by a story, song, activity, or recipe. The book is invaluable for its inclusion of
several holidays rarely (if ever) mentioned in secular children’s literature; the warm, playful
illustrations and attractive presentation make it a sure bet for holiday gift-giving. (Horn Book, 2001)
Kolatch, A. J. (1997). A child’s first book of Jewish holidays. Illustrated by H. Araten. New York:
Jonathan David. (K-2)
This thoroughly engaging introduction to the major Jewish holidays by the creators of The Jewish
Child’s First Book of Why will delight children ages three to six. Bright and colorful illustrations add
fun and excitement to each holiday presentation. (amazon.com)
Kolatch, A. J. (1992). The Jewish child’s first book of why. Illustrated by H. Araten. New York:
Jonathan David. (K-3)
Presents thirty-two questions and answers relating to Jewish holidays and customs. (card catalog)
Kolatch, A. J. (1997). Let‘s celebrate our Jewish holidays. Illustrated by A. Bloch. New York:
Jonathan David. (1-5)
Designed for youngsters ages six and up, the author of The Jewish Child‘s First Book of Why
captures the essence of each special day of celebration. In easy-to-read, intelligent prose, he
explains to young readers how each holiday in the Jewish calendar originated, how each is
celebrated, and the message that each offers us today. (amazon.com)
Kripke, D. K. (1999). Let‘s talk about the Sabbath. Illustrated by J. N. Weider. Los Angeles, CA:
Alef Design Group. (4-6)
A renowned children‘s writer takes young readers on an enchanted journey through the Jewish
Sabbath. (amazon.com)
Michelson, R. (2008). A is for Abraham: A Jewish family alphabet. Illustrated by R. Mazellan.
Sleeping Bear. (K-2)
From Abraham to Zaydee, and from ancient times to modern day, A is for Abraham: A Jewish
Family Alphabet encompasses the history of Jewish traditions and customs and how they are
practiced today. (amazon.com)
Musleah, R. (2000). Why on this night? A Passover Haggadah for family celebration. Illustrated by
L. August. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (3-5)
The rich traditions of Passover come alive in this contemporary family haggadah. As children and
adults gather at the seder dinner to remember the Israelites‘ journey from slavery to freedom, this
creative yet authentic haggadah will guide and engage them. It takes children beyond the Four
Questions and the search for the afikoman, encouraging them to enjoy every step of the seder.
Through stories, songs, poems, activities, and explanations, children can step back in time to
experience the exodus as if they themselves were leaving Egypt - and at the same time understand
the significance of Passover traditions today. (amazon.com)
Nerlove, M. (2000). Shabbat. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (K-2)
A simple and lovely story about Shabbat - the Jewish Sabbath - that young children are sure to enjoy
again and again. (amazon.com)
Russo, M. (2005). Always remember me: How one family survived World War II.
Schwartz/Atheneum. (3-5)
In a moving picture book, Russo tells her Jewish family‘s story of Holocaust survival. She
remembers herself as a small child visiting her grandmother, Oma, who tells Russo the family
history with photos stretching back to Oma‘s youth and marriage before World War I. Children will
need help to understand the multigenerational time frame and to keep track of who‘s who; in fact,
the book may appeal more to adults than to young readers. But Russo personalizes the history with
photo-album entries printed on the endpapers, and her gouache illustrations, framed like photos,
show the individuality and strength of family members as they faced the Nazis who sought to destroy
all Jews. Miraculously, Oma and her three daughters, two of whom were in the camps, survived to
be reunited in the U.S. An afterword fills in some Holocaust history. (Booklist)
Silverman, M. (1999). Festival of lights: The story of Hanukkah. Illustrated by C. S. Ewing. New
York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
Here is a moving retelling of a timeless story. Young readers will also find the legend of the
menorah, instructions for making a dreidel, and the music for a traditional holiday song.
(amazon.com)
Simon, N. (1998). The story of Hanukkah. Illustrated by L. Gore. New York: HarperTrophy. (2-4)
A lavish tribute to the legends and history surrounding Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, this book
also explores the origins of today‘s Hanukkah customs. Also included is the author‘s own recipe for
latkes. (amazon.com)
Simon, N. (1998). The story of Passover. Photographs by E. Weihs. New York: HarperTrophy. (2-4)
A brightly illustrated history of Passover relates the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt,
discusses the seder and its symbolism, and presents fun, hands-on activities that illuminate the
traditions, meaning, and celebration of the holiday. (amazon.com)
Techner, D. & Hirt-Manheimer, J. (1993). A candle for Grandpa: A Guide to the Jewish funeral for
children and parents. Illustrated by J. Iskowitz. New York: Union of American Hebrew
Congregations. (K-3)
No synopsis available.
Weitzman, E. & Stuart, L. (1998). I am Jewish American (Our American Family). New York:
Powerkids Press. (4-6)
A Jewish American girl discusses her faith, traditions, heritage, food, history, and pride in her
identity. (Borders.com)
Yolen, J. (1996). Milk and honey: A year of Jewish holidays. Illustrated by L. August. New York:
Putnam. (4-6)
Designed to help readers experience each holiday during the Jewish calendar year, the collection
includes information regarding customs, stories, poems, songs with piano and guitar
accompaniment, and a play for Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Pesach, Savuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom
Kippur, and the Sabbath. (amazon.com)
BACK
Traditional:
Alder, D. A. (1997). Chanukah in Chelm. Illustrated by K. O‖Mally. New York: HarperCollins. (K4))
The people of Chelm have good hearts, great dreams, and very little sense. So when Mendel needs a
table to hold the Chanukah menorah, his simple trip to the storage closet turns into a hilariously
bungled quest. (amazon.com)
Fowles, S. (2007). The bachelor and the bean: A Jewish Moroccan folktale. Frances Lincoln’s
Children Books. (K-3)
When a grumpy old bachelor accidentally drops a bean down a well, he rouses an imp. In exchange
for the lost bean, the imp offers a magic pot that — much to the bachelor’s delight— produces food
on command. A jealous old lady steals the pot, and when the bachelor confronts her he finds that
she’s just as nasty and unpleasant as he is. She’s stolen his pot . . . will she also steal his heart?
Vibrant illustrations, strongly influenced by Moroccan art and architecture, depict this most unlikely
love story comprised of simple, amusing text that’s easy for young readers to follow. (amazon.com)
Gilman, P. (2000). Something from nothing. New York: Scholastic. (K-3)
A modern adaptation of this favorite Jewish folktale describes how the blanket grandfather had
made for young Joseph is transformed over the years into a jacket, a button, and, ultimately, a story.
(amazon.com)
Goldin, B. D. (1993). Cakes and miracles: A Purim Tale. Illustrated by E. Weihs. New York: Puffin.
(K-3)
Young, blind Hershel finds that he has special gifts he can use to help his mother during the Jewish
holiday of Purim. Features a recipe for hamantashen. (card catalog)
Goldin, B. D. (1999). Journeys with Elijah: Eight tales of the Prophet. Illustrated by J. Pinkney.
New York: Gulliver Books. (4-6)
Eight stories celebrate the legends of Elijah in different parts of the world, spanning 17 centuries.
(amazon.com)
Goldin, B. D. (1990). Just enough is plenty: A Hanukkah tale. Illustrated by S. Chwast. New York:
Puffin. (K-3)
An old peddler joins Malka‘s family for the first night of the Hanukkah celebrations, one in which
there is "just enough" food for the family, but they gladly share with him. The next morning, they
find the peddler has gone, leaving a a sackful of gifts, and Malka is convinced that he was Elijah.
(amazon.com)
Goldin, B. D. (1995). The magician‘s visit: A Passover tale. Illustrated by R. A. Parker. New York:
Puffin. (K-4)
A retelling of a classic folktale details the Passover eve arrival of a mysterious magician at the home
of a poor and pious couple and how he magically brings about all the things necessary to celebrate
the Seder. (amazon.com)
Groner, J. and Wikler, M. (1997). All about Rosh Hashanah. Illustrated by B. Gordon-Lucas.
Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies. (1-4)
An explanation of the holiday traditions at home and in the synagogue, alternating with classic folk
tales based on themes of repentance, renewal, and forgiveness. With words and music to songs and
blessings around the holiday table. (amazon.com)
Howland, N. (1999). Latkes, latkes good to eat: A Chanukah story. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)
Sadie receives a frying pan from an old woman that cooks potato latkes continuously until stopped
by Hanukkah‘s magic words: ―A great miracle happened here.‖ The girl‘s brothers get hold of the
pan, chaos ensues, and the village is practically buried in latkes before Sadie puts a stop to the
shenanigans. (Horn Book, 1999)
Jaffe, N. (1995). In the month of Kislev: A story for Hanukkah. Illustrated by L. August. New York:
Puffin. (K-3)
In a charming story from the oral tradition, a rich man begrudges three hungry
children the good smells emanating from his kitchen window, and insists that
they should pay for them. The kindly town rabbi comes up with a solution that
is completely fair but that also teaches the miserly merchant a valuable lesson.
The strong black lines of the woodcuts, combined with the colors of oil paint,
give the illustrations the quality of stained glass. (Horn Book, 1993)
Jaffe, N. (1995). The uninvited guest and other Jewish holiday tales. Illustrated by E. Savadier. New
York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
Includes background information and retellings of traditional tales from Jewish folklore and legend
related to major holidays, such as Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Purim. (card catalog)
Jaffe, N. (1998). The way meat loves salt: A Cinderella tale from the Jewish tradition. Illustrated by
L. August. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)
Many years ago in Poland, there lived a rabbi who had a wife and three daughters. One day, the
rabbi asks his children a powerful question: "How much do you love me?” His older daughters
profess their love in gold and diamonds, but his youngest daughter, Mireleh, declares she loves her
father the way meat loves salt. For this remark, she is banished from her father‟s home. In this
flavorful Jewish Cinderella tale, Mireleh‘s courageous journey is peppered with a perfect blend of
magic and romance, leading to a reconciliation with her beloved father. Lavishly illustrated in
Louise August‘s bold linocuts, The Way Meat Loves Salt will make a wonderful gift for the Jewish
holidays. (amazon.com)
Kimmel, E. A. (2000). A jar of fools: Eight Hanukkah stories from Chelm. Illustrated by M.
Gerstein. New York: Holiday House. (3-5)
Although nonsense abounds in these stories about the foolish realm of Chelm, Kimmel‘s sure sense
of the potential of wisdom even among the most foolish brings sweetness and lightness to these tales.
Kimmel alerts us in an author‘s note to the mixture of his collection; a dollop of retellings of
traditional Yiddish tales, a soupçon of reworkings from other cultures, blended with three original
stories. (Horn Book, 2001).
Kimmel, E. A. (1993). Asher and the capmakers: A Hanukkah story. Illustrated by W. Hillenbrand.
New York: Holiday House. (K-3)
Combining elements from several folk traditions, Kimmel tells the tale of a
boy’s adventures with a magic cap that whisks him off to Jerusalem on a
special, wintry Hanukkah eve. Colorful illustrations complement the lively text.
(Horn Book, 1994)
Kimmel, E. A. (1993). Days of awe: Stories for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Illustrated by E.
Weihs. New York: Puffin Books. (4-6)
Three tales present the ideals of repentance, prayer, and charity that are the basis of Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. (card catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (2000). Gershon‘s monster: A story for the Jewish New Year. Illustrated by J. J.
Muth. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
With characteristic confidence, Kimmel retells the story of Gershon, ―not always the best person he
could be.‖ A ―wonder rabbi‖ intercedes to grant the childless Gershon and his good wife twins--but
with a future caution; their fate will be caught up with their father‘s pride and selfishness. Muth‘s
washes of color create a range of moods in this quietly moralistic Hasidic tale. (Horn Book, 2001)
Kimmel, E. A. (1994). Herschel and the Hanukkah goblins. Illustrated by T. S. Hyman. New York:
Holiday House. (K-3)
Relates how Herschel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village
people from celebrating Hanukkah. (card catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (1992). The Chanukah guest. Illustrated by G. Carmi. New York: Holiday House. (K3)
On the first night of Chanukah, Old Bear wanders into Bubba Brayna‘s house and receives a
delicious helping of potato latkes when she mistakes him for the rabbi. (card catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (1988). The Chanukkah tree. Illustrated by G. Carmi. New York: Holiday House. (K3)
The foolish people of Chelm are tricked by a peddler into buying and decorating a ―Chanukkah
tree‖ on Christmas Eve, but after becoming disillusioned they rediscover its worth and beauty. (card
catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (1997). The magic dreidels: A Hanukkah Story. Illustrated by K. Krenina. New
York: Holiday House. (K-3)
When an old lady swindles him out of his magic dreidels, Jacob tries to get them back in time for the
family‘s Hanukkah celebration. (amazon.com)
Kimmel, E. A. (2008). The mysterious guests: A Sukkot story. Illustrated by K. Krenina. Holiday
House. (3-5)
Master storyteller Eric A. Kimmel spins a tale of Sukkot just in time for the Jewish harvest festival. It
was the season of Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival. Two brothers each built a sukkah, or shelter,
to celebrate and share in the gifts of the earth. One brother was very rich; the other brother was
very poor. He built a sukkah of found materials and leftover goods, yet he invited all to share the
holiday with him. When three mysterious guests visit each brother on Sukkot, they leave behind a
special blessing that recognizes the generosity of the heart. (amazon.com)
Kimmel, E. A. (1992). The spotted pony: A collection of Hanukkah stories. Illustrated by E. Fisher.
New York: Holiday House. (4-6)
Eight traditional shammes stories--about King Solomon and his magic ring, a mysterious spotted
pony, Benayahu ben Yehoyada, and other heroes, demons, and fools--help celebrate the Festival of
Lights. (amazon.com)
Schwartz, H. & Rush, B. (1996). The Sabbath lion: A Jewish folktale from Algeria. Photographs by
S. Fieser. New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)
When young Yosef travels to Egypt to claim an inheritance for his poor family, a greedy caravan
leader leaves him stranded in the desert. His faithful observance of the Sabbath, the day of rest for
Jews everywhere, results in a miraculous rescue by a magnificent lion. (Horn Book, 1993)
Schwartz, H (1994). Elijah‘s violin and other Jewish fairy tales. Illustrated by L. Heller. New York:
Oxford University Press. (4-6)
In Elijah‘s Violin, Howard Schwartz presents a sumptuous collection of 36 Jewish fairy tales from
virtually every corner of the world. These stories will captivate children and adults alike as they
illuminate the Jewish world view, where faith in God can defeat the evil impulse. (amazon.com)
Sherman, J. (1993). Rachel the clever and other Jewish folktales. Little Rock, AR: August House.
(4-6)
A collection of highly entertaining and thought-provoking Jewish folktales gathered from around the
world and related in simple, unadorned prose. The selections include ghost and magic tales, as well
as stories about good deeds and lever folks. (Horn Book, 1993)
Shulman, L. (2005). The matzo ball boy. Illustrated by R. Litzinger. Dutton. (K-2)
On the morning of the Passover seder, a lonely bubbe decides to make a matzo ball boy to keep
herself company. Soon delicious smells waft from the bubbling pot, and when she lifts the lid to see
if the matzo ball boy is done, out he jumps. "Oy!‖ she cries. "And where do you think you're going?‖
"I'm off to see the world, bubbe,‖ replies the matzo ball boy. "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can‘t
catch me. I‘m the matzo ball man!‖ Before long a yenta and her children, a rabbi, and a fox are all
on a mad chase to catch the matzo ball boy, ending with his hilarious comeuppance. The familiar
tale of the gingerbread man is updated with a twist as savory as a brimming bowl of the bubbe‘s
chicken soup. (amazon.com)
Silverman, E. (2003). When the chickens went on strike: A Rosh Hashanah tale. Illustrated by M.
Trueman. Dutton. (K-3)
In this Jewish New Year story, based on a Sholom Aleichem tale, a young boy sneaks away from
religious services to spy on a meeting of local chickens. The birds are upset about the tradition of
Kapores, a custom involving twirling chickens overhead to symbolically rid a person of bad deeds.
Declaring freedom for fowl, the birds go on strike, and not even negotiators can convince them to
return. Without the ceremony, the boy despairs that he will ever be good enough to please his father;
then, one of the hens gently explains to him that humans can control their own behavior. Trueman‘s
stylistically inventive mixed-media illustrations, rich in earth tones, are visually striking. They
juxtapose well with Silverman‘s understated yet humorous text; both include many nineteenthcentury Russian setting details. A perfect choice for holiday read-alouds, this will make a welcome
addition to religious collections, especially in libraries where there is a Jewish audience. (Booklist)
Singer, I. B. (1996). The Golem. Illustrated by U. Shulevitz. Escondido, CA: Sunburst. (K-3)
A clay giant miraculously brought to life by a saintly rabbi saves a Jewish banker who has been
falsely accused in the Prague of Emperor Rudolf II. (amazon.com)
Singer, I. B. (1995). Mazel and Shlimazel: Or the milk of a lioness. Illustrated by M. Zemach.
Escondido, CA: Sunburst. (K-3)
A retelling of a classic tale pits Mazel, the debonair spirit of good luck, against Shlimazel, the
wicked spirit of bad luck, in a confrontation that enables a poor but honest lad to win and marry a
king‘s daughter. (amazon.com)
Singer, I. B. (1986). When Shlemiel went to Warsaw and other stories. Illustrated by M. Zemach.
New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (4-6)
This is a collection of eight different Jewish stories, carefully and brilliantly crafted.
Taback, S. (1999). Joseph had a little overcoat. New York: Viking Children‘s Books (K-3)
When Joseph‘s favorite overcoat gets old and worn, he makes a jacket out of it. When the jacket is
more patches than jacket, Joseph turns it into a vest. When the vest‘s number is up, Joseph makes a
scarf. This thrifty industry continues until there‘s nothing left of the original garment. But clever
Joseph manages to make something out of nothing! (amazon.com)
Taback, S. (2005). Kibitzers and fools: Tales my Zayda told me. Viking Juvenile. (2-5)
A saying: It pays to have a little chutzpah (nerve). With Old World charm, universal humor, and just
a bit of chutzpah, Simms Taback offers this lively spin on thirteen playful tales—as only he could.
Paired with his trademark vibrant and hilarious artwork, these stories illustrate ultimate universal
truths and important life lessons, from the difference between a shlemiel and a shlimazel to the idea
that just because you can talk doesn‘t mean you make sense. Taback delivers the perfect
combination of wisdom and humor—just the way your zayda (grandpa) would. (amazon.com)
Wisniewski, D. (1996). Golem. New York: Clarion Books. (4-6)
Golem is the Hebrew word for shapeless man. According to Jewish legend, the renowned scholar
and teacher Rabbi Loew used his powers to create a Golem from clay in order to protect his people
from persecution in the ghettos of 16th-century Prague. (amazon.com)
Zemach, M. (1990). It could always be worse: A Yiddish folk tale. New York: Farrar, Straus &
Giroux. (3-6)
Unable to stand his overcrowded and noisy home any longer, a poor man goes to the Rabbi for
advice. (card catalog)
BACK
Biography:
Adler, D. A. (1994) A picture book of Anne Frank. Illustrated by K. Ritz. New York: Holiday
House. (K-3)
Traces the life of the young Jewish girl whose diary chronicles the years she and her family hid from
the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic. (card catalog)
Berkow, I. (2001). Hank Greenberg: Hall-of-Fame slugger. Illustrated by M. Ellison. Philadelphia,
PA: Jewish Publication Society. (4-6)
A biography of the powerful home run hitter who became the first Jewish player elected to the
Baseball Hall of Fame. (card catalog)
Brooks, P. (1998). Extraordinary Jewish Americans. Danbury, CT: Children‘s Press.
(5-6)
Presents short biographies of more than sixty Jewish Americans who have flourished in careers
including law, finance, entertainment, writing, politics, and science. (amazon.com)
Drucker, M. (2008). Portraits of Jewish American heroes. Illustrated by E. Rosen. Dutton. (4-6)
An absorbing, inspiring tour of the 350-year Jewish American adventure.
“From its beginnings, America, founded on religious freedom, has been a land of opportunity for
Jews, socially, economically, and spiritually,” writes Rabbi Malka Drucker in introducing twenty
compelling individuals who have enriched our country by their achievements. In areas including
science, sports, filmmaking, and civil rights, we meet male and female heroes who set an example,
made a positive difference, and took a risk to do it. This beautifully produced volume spans three
centuries of history, beginning with Haym Solomon and ending with Daniel Pearl. Each individual’s
likeness, spirit, and contribution are captured in a distinctive and striking color portrait created with
a variety of different media. (amazon.com)
Ferber, E. (1996). Steven Spielberg: A biography. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House. (4-6)
With films like Jaws, Close Encounters and E.T., Steven Spielberg redefined the limits of special
effects and captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, while the stark historical
interpretation in Schindler‘s List revealed the full scope of his genius. This biography explores
Spielberg‘s remarkable life and work, from his earliest television directing stints to his numerous
box office hits. (amazon.com)
Hoffman, J. (1996). Jews in sports. Illustrated by J. Zwebner. New York: Pitspopany Press. (4-6)
Jews in Sports, with cartoon-like illustrations by Janet Zwebner, is a comprehensive history of
Jewish participation in baseball, soccer, tennis, football, Olympic sports, lacrosse, and the
Maccabiah games. The double-page spreads offer Waldo-like "find-its‖ that young kids will enjoy.
(Borders.com)
Hurwitz, J. (1999). Anne Frank: Life in hiding. Illustrated by V. Rosenberry. New York: Camelot.
(4-6)
From July 1942 until August 1944, a young girl named Anne Frank kept a diary. Keeping a diary
isn‘t unusual. Lots of girls do. But Anne‘s diary was unique. It chronicled the two years she and her
family spent hiding from the Germans who were determined to annihilate all the Jews in Europe.
(amazon.com)
Lalicki, T. (2000). Spellbinder: The life of Harry Houdini. New York: Holiday House. (4-6)
This book traces the life of Ehrich Weiss, (a.k.a. Harry Houdini) from a rabbi‘s son to the master of
magic and gives the young reader an understanding of how he became a household name. Houdini
was a masterful magician, accomplished athlete, cinema star, and pilot. His real loves were
entertaining, danger, and debunking friends. A must for any aspiring young magicians.
(Borders.com)
Loumayet, J. & Boiry, V. (1994). Chagall: My sad and joyous village. Broomall, PA: Chelsea
House. (4-6)
The magical, marvelous world of Marc Chagall as seen through the eyes of a school child.
(forWORDSbooks: Catalog of Jewish Books 2001, p. 2)
Markel, M. (2005). Dreamer from the village: The story of Marc Chagall. Illustrated by E. Lisker.
Henry Holt and Company. (1-4)
Opening with the artist‘s dramatic birth during a fire in a small Russian village, Markel describes
Chagall‘s childhood and early career. The village, his extended family, and deep Jewish roots are
all emphasized, elements that are central to understanding his art. The author explains how Chagall
saw the world, and himself, in a different way. He painted the way he felt, not how things actually
were, which makes his work unique. The language is often poetic: The town was like a richness that
filled him and later: silver stars trembled on a velvet spring sky. Markel makes Chagall and his
work accessible to children. Indeed, children are closer to the world of dreams and imagination
than most adults, and many will find his work very appealing. The vivid illustrations are inspired by
Chagall, but Lisker doesn‘t attempt to copy his style directly. Only one actual reproduction is
included at the end, along with a brief author‘s note, a traditional biography, and a short glossary
of Jewish terms used in the text. This is not a biography for reports, but rather an excellent portrait
of an artist that will open and expand children‘s minds. (School Library Journal)
McDonough, Y. Z. (1997). Anne Frank. Illustrated by M. Zeldis. New York: Henry Holt. (4-6)
A biography that introduces young children to the story of the Holocaust follows Anne Frank who,
by studying, writing in her diary, and putting up pictures of film stars, bravely tries to retain a sense
of normalcy in the face of turmoil. (amazon.com)
Pariser, M. (1994). Elie Wiesel: Bearing witness. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press. (4-6)
Recounting the life of an Auschwitz survivor and Nobel Prize-winning writer, a young reader‘s
introduction to the Holocaust and one of its notable figures tells of his courage, dedication to
justice, and literary achievements. (amazon.com)
Poole, J. (2005). Anne Frank. Illustrated by A. Barrett. Knopf Books for Young Readers. (3-6)
The life of Anne Frank, from birth until being taken from the hidden attic by the Nazis, is presented
in this haunting, meticulously researched picture book. It is a compelling yet easy-to-understand
"first‖ introduction to the Holocaust as witnessed by Anne and her family. The stunningly evocative
illustrations by Angela Barrett are worth a thousand words in capturing for young Americans what
it must have felt like to be Anne Frank, a spirited child caught in the maelstrom of World War II
atrocities. A detailed timeline of important events in Europe and in the Frank family is included.
(amazon.com)
Silverman, E. (2005). Sholom‘s treasure: How Sholom Aleichem became a writer. Illustrated by M.
Gerstein. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (1-4)
Sholom Aleichem‘s favorite childhood memory may have been listening as his father read stories
aloud on Saturday nights and a roomful of adults burst out laughing. Sholom wanted to make people
laugh, too. At school he became the class clown. At home he imitated even his pious grandmother.
But Sholom was also thoughtful. In Russia in the 1800s, life was especially difficult for Jews, and
Sholom longed to help his father by finding a legendary hidden treasure. It turned out that Sholom
Aleichem‘s destiny was to give his father a different kind of treasure - one of words and tales that to
this day bring laughter to readers around the world.
This taut, focused biography of the young Sholom Aleichem is animated with the artist‘s quick,
brilliant line and richly toned watercolors. (amazon.com)
Venezia, M. (2000). Marc Chagall (Getting to know the world‘s greatest artists). Danbury, CT:
Children‘s Press. (4-6)
With engaging and clever illustrations and reproductions of actual paintings, this book traces the
life and work of this famous Jewish painter. (forWORDSbooks: Catalog of Jewish Books 2001, p. 2)
Wiedt, M. N. (1990). Mr. Blue Jeans: A story about Levi Strauss. Illustrated by L. M. Anderson.
Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. (4-6)
Traces the life of the immigrant Jewish peddler who went on to found Levi Strauss & Co., the
world‘s first and largest manufacturer of denim jeans. (card catalog)
Weitzman, E. & Stuart, L. (1998). I am Jewish American (Our American Family Series). New York:
Powerkids Press. (1-4)
A Jewish American girl discusses her faith, traditions, heritage, food, history, and pride in her
identity. (Borders.com)
BACK
Historical Fiction:
Ackerman, K. (1995). The night crossing. Illustrated by E. Sayles. New York: Random House. (4-6)
When the Nazi occupation of Austria spells danger for Clara and her Jewish family, the entire
family packs up whatever they can carry and embark on a perilous journey to find safety in
Switzerland. (amazon.com)
Adler, D. A. (1995). Child of the Warsaw Ghetto. Illustrated by K. Ritz. New York: Holiday House.
(3-6)
A picture book for somewhat older readers relates the experiences of a Jewish boy growing up in
Poland during World War II. Froim Baum smuggles food from outside the walls of the Warsaw
ghetto and eventually survives a succession of concentration camps, although most of his family
does not. The dark, solemn illustrations and understated text add a quiet dignity to the account.
(Horn Book, 1995)
Adler, D. A. (2001). Hiding from the Nazis. Illustrated by K. Ritz. New York: Holiday House. (3-6)
In a straightforward, if somewhat dry, narrative, Adler recounts the story of Lore Baer, who, as a
four-year-old Jewish child, was separated from her parents and sent to live with a Christian farming
family in the Netherlands to escape capture by the Nazis. Ritz‘s watercolors, with their
predominance of browns, grays, and blues, evoke an appropriately somber feeling. (Horn Book,
1998)
Adler, D. A. (1994). Hilde and Eli: Children of the Holocaust. Illustrated by K. Ritz. New York:
Holiday House. (4-6)
Although the facts are told in a staightforward, unemotional style, the impact of the true story of two
children who did not survive the Holocaust is devastating. Their short lives were controlled by
relatives, who could not act in time, and by other adults, who planned murder on a large scale. The
picture-book format with muted color illustrations underscores the tragedy. (Horn Book, 1995)
Altman, L. J. (2000). The legend of Freedom Hill. Illustrated by C. Van Wright & Y. Hu. New
York: Lee & Low Books. (2-4)
In California in the 1850s, an African-American girl teams up with a Jewish girl in a search for gold
to save the black girl‘s mother from a slave catcher. Through perseverance, the two friends find
enough gold to buy the freedom of all the captured slaves. Using accurate details and lively
language, this tale of love, bravery, and friendship evokes a colorful era. (amazon.com)
Blos, J. W. (2000). Brooklyn doesn‘t rhyme. Illustrated by P. Birling. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (4-6)
A charming series of vignettes captures the life of sixth-grader Rosey‘s immigrant family and
friends, who live in Brooklyn at the turn of the century. As a class assignment, Rosey keeps a
journal, in which she recounts stories about her extended family and herself; the child‘s voice rings
as true as a bell. (Horn Book, 1994)
Brodmann, A. (1998). The gift. Illustrated by A. Carnabuci. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
In post-World War II Germany, a young girl visits various shops before deciding how to spend the
money her father has given her for Hanukkah. (card catalog)
Bush, L. (1998). Rooftop secrets and other stories of anti-semitism. Illustrated by M. Lemelman.
New York: Union of American Hebrew Congregations. (4-6)
A collection of eight short stories, with background information and commentary, each dealing with
a young Jew‘s confrontation with anti-Semitism in different periods of Jewish history. (card catalog)
Cohen, B. (1998). Here come the Purim players! Illustrated by S. Mekibel. New York: Union of
American Hebrew Congregations. (K-3)
The Jews living in the Prague ghetto gather to watch a troupe of local players reenact the story of
Queen Esther. (amazon.com)
Cohen, B. (1998). Molly‘s pilgrim. Illustrated by D. M. Duffy. New York: Beech Tree Books. (K-3)
Told to make a doll like a pilgrim for the Thanksgiving display at school, Molly‘s Jewish mother
dresses the doll as she herself dressed before leaving Russia to seek religious freedom, much to
Molly‘s embarrassment. (card catalog)
Cohen, M. (1999). Mimmy and Sophie. Illustrated by T. F. Yezerski. New York: Frances Foster
Books. (K-3)
Mimmy and Sophie are two sisters who live in Brooklyn, New York, during the Great Depression.
Like most sisters, they have a lot in common, but they‘re also different. These four irresistible stories
unfold in 58 picture frames, capturing the essence of time and place and sisterhood. (amazon.com)
Cohn, J. (2000). The Christmas Menorahs: How a town fought hate. Illustrated by B. Farnsworth.
Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (3-6).
Cohn‘s powerful narrative tells how two children, two families - one Jewish, one Christian - and a
community resolve to stand together against the shameful actions that have been happening in their
home town. Her story is based on real events that happened in Billings, Montana, in 1993.
Farnsworth‘s beautiful paintings illuminate the message of the power of goodness. (amazon.com)
Drucker, M. (1994). Jacob‘s rescue: A Holocaust story. Illustrated by M. Halperin. New York:
Yearling Books. (4-6)
In answer to his daughter‘s questions, a man recalls the terrifying years of his childhood when a
brave Polish couple, Alex and Mela Roslan, hid him and other Jewish children from the Nazis.
Based on a true story. (card catalog)
Ducharme, D. F. (1997). The treasure in the tiny blue tin. Fort Worth, TX: Texas Christian
University Press. (4-6)
In the early 1900s in Texas, a twelve-year-old Jewish immigrant runs away to search for his father
who he fears is sick, and he is joined on his dangerous journey by a prejudiced country boy.
(Borders.com)
Ginsburg, M. (1983). The tattooed Torah. Illustrated by J. Gershman & M. Lemelman. New York:
Union of American Hebrew Congregations. (4-6)
A small Torah stolen and desecrated by Nazi soldiers in Czechoslovakia is eventually rescued and
restored to people who appreciate it. (card catalog)
Heller, L. (1990). The castle on Hester Street. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society. (K-3)
Julie‘s grandmother deflates many of her husband‘s tall tales about their journey from Russia to
America and their life on Hester Street. (amazon.com)
Hesse, K. (1997). A time of angels. New York: Disney Press. (5-6)
When an influenza epidemic breaks out in the midst of World War I, Hannah must leave her home in
Boston, as she travels to Vermont guided by a girl with violet eyes, and tries to regain her health.
(amazon.com)
Hesse, K. (1993). Letters from Rifka. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
In letters to her cousin, a young girl chronicles her family‘s flight from Russia in 1919 and her own
experiences when she must be left in Belgium for a while when the others emigrate to America. (card
catalog)
Hurwitz, J. (2000). Faraway summer. Illustrated by M. Azarian. New York: Avon. (4-6)
In the summer of 1910, Dossi is surprised and terrified to discover that her sister is sending her to a
Vermont farm on a charity-sponsored vacation. The landscape and the people of Vermont are very
different from her urban Jewish tenement, but Dossi is enchanted by the big blue sky and the
peaceful countryside. She longs to make Emma Meade, the brooding daughter of her Christian host
family, her friend, and she fills a journal with her thoughts, fears, and impressions of a universe very
different from her own. And soon Dossi begins to realize that, sometimes, worlds apart are not so
far away from each other after all. (amazon.com)
Kurtz, J. (1998). The storyteller’s beads. Illustrated by M. Bryant. New York: Gulliver Books. (5-6)
During the political strife and famine of the 1980‘s, two Ethiopian girls, one Christian and the other
Jewish and blind, struggle to overcome many difficulties, including their prejudices about each
other, as they make the dangerous journey out of Ethiopia. (amazon.com)
Kuskin, K. (1995). A great miracle happened there: A Chanukah Story. Illustrated by R. A. Baker.
New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)
On the first night of Chanukah, a mother tells her family and a guest about the history behind the
Festival of Lights, in a meditative holiday tale complemented by evocative watercolors of biblical
and modern times. (amazon.com)
Lasky, K. (1998). Dreams in the golden country: The diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish immigrant
girl. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
Twelve-year old Zippy, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, keeps a diary account of the first eighteen
months of her family‘s life on the Lower East Side of New York City in 1903-1904. (card catalog)
Lasky, K. (2002). Marven of the Great North Woods. Illustrated by K. Hawkes. New York: Voyager
Books. (1-4)
With a daughter‘s fitting reverence, Lasky tells the story of her father, Marven, who was sent away
from his family at the age of ten to work in a logging camp. Duluth, Minnesota, is plagued with
influenza in the winter of 1918, so Marven‘s parents send off their only son to the great north woods
for the winter. As the train pulls away, Marven is in the middle of nowhere; he must ski five miles to
meet his new employer. The young boy is given the job of bookkeeping and the daunting task of
waking the lumberjacks who linger in bed in the morning. Marven grows close to Jean-Louis, the
giant sleepyhead of the bunch. (Kirkus Reviews, 1997)
Leder, J.M. (1996). A Russian Jewish family. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications. (4-6)
Describes one Jewish family‘s fourteen year struggle to emigrate from Leningrad in the Soviet
Union to Chicago, Illinois, and the adjustments they had to make. (card catalog)
Lehrman, R. (1992). The store that mama built. New York: MacMillan. (4-6)
Birdie, a young Jewish girl, and her immigrant mother both shoulder the responsibility of
maintaining the family store when Birdie‘s father dies suddenly after moving the whole family from
New York City to a small town in Pennsylvania. (amazon.com)
Levine, A. (1997). All the lights in the night. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York: Mulberry Books.
(1-4)
Moses and his little brother Benjamin find a way to celebrate Hanukkah during their dangerous
emigration to Palestine. (card catalog)
Levitin, S. (1996). Annie‘s promise. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
The Platt family, driven from their home in Germany by WWII, struggles to adapt to their new life as
Americans. For 12-year-old Annie, there‘s the additional challenge of establishing her
independence from her old-fashioned parents. When Annie is invited to attend a summer camp in the
California mountains, it‘s a chance for her to find her own identity--and to discover some surprising
strengths and flaws in herself and in her family. (amazon.com)
Levitin, S. (1987). Journey to America. Illustrated by C. Robinson. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
(4-6)
A Jewish family fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938 endures innumerable separations before they are
once again united. (card catalog)
Levitin, S. (1992). Silver days. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
In this sequel to Journey to America, the reunited Platt family works hard at settling in to America,
but the specter of the war in Europe continues to affect their lives. (card catalog)
Lowry, L. (1998). Number the stars. New York: Laureleaf. (4-6)
In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year old Ann Marie learns how to be brave
and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis. (card catalog)
Machlin, M. (1999). My name is not Gussie. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (3-5)
A series of brief anecdotes told in the highly original and captivating voice of the author‘s
grandmother describes in merry and precise detail the experience of leaving eastern Europe at the
turn of the century and making a new home on New York‘s Lower East Side. Colorful, expressive
paintings, infused with both the New World‘s energy and the folkloric warmth of the old, provide a
perfect visual complement. (Horn Book, 1999)
McDonough, Y. Z. (2005). The doll with the yellow star. Illustrated by K. B. Root. Holt. (3-5)
Eight-year-old Claudine, who lives with her parents in Nazi-occupied France, is upset by the yellow
stars that she and the other members of her family are required to wear. She sews a star on the
velvet cape of her treasured doll, Violette, but she affixes it to the inside of the garment so she can
decide whether to let it show. When Claudine is sent to live with relatives in America, she loses both
her doll and her family. Writing a Holocaust novel for young children is a tricky business, but
McDonough succeeds in conveying the realities of war without terrorizing her audience. Violette is
a symbol of innocence lost, but like Claudine‘s father, the doll is miraculously found and restored by
the end of the story. The use of the present tense brings a sense of immediacy to the telling, while
Root‘s full-color artwork lends a feeling of reassurance. Give this to fans of Amy Hest's Love You,
Soldier (1993), also set in New York City, but with an American Jewish protagonist. (Booklist)
Michelson, R. (2008). As Good as Anybody: Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel's
Amazing March Toward Freedom. Illustrated by R. Colon. Knopf. (2-4)
Michelson (Tuttle's Red Barn) deftly draws comparisons between Martin Luther King Jr. and the
German-born rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel as he describes what led them to walk together in the
famous 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. His brisk narrative, divided in two
parts, chronicles their parallel experiences: both have parents who instill self-respect, both
encounter discrimination and hatred, and both follow their fathers into religious careers. The first
half, which Colón renders in earthy hues, covers King, while the blue palette of the second half
focuses on Heschel. (Blue reminded the illustrator of "old movies about Europe in the World War II
era.‖) Similar language in both sections, e.g., the titular "You are just as good as anybody,‖ as well
as scenes that echo each other, drive home the connections. Subtle variations in wording and layout
keep the parallels from feeling contrived. Colón‘s (My Mama Had a Dancing Heart) trademark
mixed-media illustrations incorporate wavy, etched lines full of movement, suggesting the dynamism
of a pastor and rabbi who insisted on bringing about change. (Publisher‘s Weekly)
Oberman, S. (1997). The always prayer shawl. Illustrated by T. Lewin. New York: Puffin. (1-4)
An ancient prayer shawl teaches Adam the importance of tradition and change in a story that spans
six generations, from Czarist Russia to the present day. (amazon.com)
Oppenheim, S. L. (1995). The Lily cupboard: A story of the Holocaust. Illustrated by R. Himler.
New York: HarperTrophy. (1-4)
Miriam, a young Jewish girl, is forced to leave her parents and hide with strangers in the country
during the German occupation of Holland. (amazon.com)
Roseman, K. (1998). Melting pot: An adventure in New York (The Do-It-Yourself Jewish
Adventure Series). New York: Union of American Hebrew Congregations. (4-6)
As a young Jewish immigrant to New York from Russia at the turn of the century, the reader must
make decisions that could mean success or failure as he tries to establish himself in his new country.
(amazon.com)
Roseman, K. (1993). The other side of the Hudson: A Jewish immigrant adventure (The Do-ItYourself Jewish Adventure Series). New York: Union of American Hebrew Congregations. (4-6)
As a young Jewish immigrant from Bavaria in the mid-nineteenth century, the reader makes
decisions that mirror the choices made by new Jewish Americans as they settled in the United States.
(Borders.com)
Taylor, S. (2001). All-of-a-kind family uptown. Illustrated by M. Stevens. New York: Taylor
Productions. (4-6)
There‘s something to be said for a book that makes you wish you‘d been part of a poor immigrant
family living in New York‘s upper east side on the eve of World War I. Sydney Taylor‘s timehonored classic does just that. Life is rich for the five mischievous girls in the family. They find
adventure in visiting the library, going to market with Mama, even dusting the front room. Young
readers who have never shared a bedroom with four siblings, with no television in sight, will
vicariously experience the simple, old-fashioned pleasures of talk, make-believe, and pilfered penny
candy. The family‘s Jewish faith strengthens their ties to each other, while providing still more
excitement and opportunity for mischief. Readers unfamiliar with Judaism will learn with the girls
during each beautifully depicted holiday. (amazon.com)
Wild, M. (1996). Let the celebrations begin. Illustrated by J. Vivas. New York: Orchard Books. (K3)
A child, who remembers life at home before life in a concentration camp, makes toys with the women
to give to the other children at the very special party they are going to have when the soldiers arrive
to liberate the camp. (card catalog)
BACK
Poetry:
Gershman, S. (2007). The bedtime Sh‘ma: A good night book. Illustrated by K. Swarner. EKS
Publishing. (K-1)
The beautiful artwork and simple language of this unique book for very young Jewish children
provides families with a satisfying bedtime ritual with which to end the day. Sarah Gershman has
adapted the collection of psalms, poems and prayers of The Kriat Sh'ma al HaMitah, into childfriendly verses that focus on themes of protection and preparing for sleep. The accompanying
serene and lovely artwork by Kristina Swarner, in hues of deep purples and blues, along with the
flowing typeface design, make this a truly beautiful adaptation of the Bedtime Sh'ma. (Jewish Book
World)
Hopkins, L. B., selector. (2005). Hanukkah lights: Holiday poetry. Illustrated by M. Hall.
HarperTrophy. (K-3)
Share in the joy of Hanukkah . . . light by light, poem by poem. (amazon.com)
Livingston, M. C. (1986). Poems for Jewish holidays. Illustrated by L. Bloom. New York: Holiday
House. (K-3)
A collection of sixteen poems, by twelve contemporary authors, celebrating Jewish Holidays such
as Yom Kippur and Purim. (card catalog)
Rosenfeld, D. (1992). Why the moon only glows. Illustrated by Y. Holtzman. New York: Haichai
Publishing. (K-3)
This story is just for you, if you would like to know, why the sun can shine so brightly, but the moon
only glow! Looking for the perfect bed time story? This age-old story from the Midrash, retold in
rhyme for the very young child and illustrated with dreamy watercolor paintings, creates just the
right mood for sleep. (amazon.com)
Rouss, S. A. (1992). Fun with Jewish holiday rhymes. Illustrated by L. Steinberg. New York:
Union of American Hebrew Congregations. (K-3)
Illustrated rhymes accompanied by movement activities introduce the holidays of the Jewish
calendar. (card catalog)
Silverman, M. (1994). My first book of Jewish holidays. Illustrated by B. Garrison. New York: Dial
Books. (K-4)
With simple language framed in short stanzas, the major Jewish holidays are explained from a
traditional point of view. Colorful, stylized collagraphs illustrate the text with the symbols and
celebrations of each holiday. A glossary with a pronunciation guide enhances the book. (Horn
Book, 1995)
Ziefert, H. (2008). Hanukkah haiku. Illustrated by K. Gudeon. Apple. (K-2)
Here‘s a cultural crossover that pays off: a traditionally Japanese poetic form used to celebrate the
eight nights of Hanukkah. There‘s one haiku for each night and stepped pages add one candle to
the menorah every time the page is turned. The simple poetry is set off perfectly by Karla Gudeon‘s
vibrant freewheeling artwork. A perfect gift or good to reread each year Hanukkah Haiku is a
jubilant unforgettable journey through the eight nights of Hanukkah. (amazon.com)
BACK
Fantasy:
Benderly, B. L. (2000). Jason’s miracle: A Hanukkah story. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (46)
On the first night of Hanukkah Jason is upset. Christmas is everywhere, and his family won’t
celebrate it even a little. His dad is firm in his beliefs about the miracle of Hanukkah. But Jason
gains a new perspective when he is transported back in time and welcomed as a friend of the
Maccabees. With Jason’s help, the Maccabees defeat the Syrians, regain Jerusalem, and witness
the miracle of the lights. (Borders.com)
Bunting, E. (1996). Terrible things: An allegory of the Holocaust. Illustrated by S. Gammell. Dulles,
VA: Jewish Publication Society. (K-3)
In this allegory, the author’s reaction to the Holocaust, the animals of the forest are carried away,
one type after another, by the Terrible Things, not realizing that if perhaps they would all stick
together and not look the other way, such terrible things might not happen. (card catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (1998). When Mindy saved Hanukkah. Illustrated by B. McClintock. New York:
Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Once upon a time, a little family named Klein lived behind a crack in the wall in the Eldridge
Street synagogue. This is the warm, lively story of the year that brave little Mindy brought home
the Hanukkah candle. (card catalog)
Kimmelman, L. (2000). The runaway latkes. Illustrated by P. Yalowitz. Morton Gove, IL: Albert
Whitman. (K-3)
As Rebecca prepares for a Hanukkah party at the synagogue, three latkes jump right out from her
frying pan and head straight for the door in this Hanukkah-themed variation of “The Gingerbread
Man”. (Borders.com)
Melmed, L. K. (2000). Moishe’s miracle: A Hanukkah story. Illustrated by D. Slonim. New York:
HarperCollins. (K-3)
On the night before Hanukkah, in the poor village of Wishniak, milkman
Moishe’s sharp-tongued wife, Baila, scolds him for being too generous with
their hungry neighbors. Now they have no money to buy eggs and flour to
make the traditional Hanukkah latkes. Moishe escapes to the cowshed to
sleep in peace. When he awakens, he finds that his cows can speak to him:
"MOO-oishe! MOO-oishe!” They inform him that he has been given a magical
gift, a pan that, when set upon the fire totally empty, will produce as many
latkes as he wishes. The gift comes with a warning, though. Only Moishe must
use it. But what harm could it really do if Baila uses it just one time?
(amazon.com)
Olswanger, A. (2005). Shlemiel crooks. Illustrated by P. G. Koz. NewSouth Books. (2-4)
Shtetl humor and magic realism come to St. Louis in 1919 in this wry Pesach story based on the
experience of the author’s great-grandfather, who sold kosher wines. While Reb Elias is at
synagogue leading a Talmud discussion (OK, an argument) about the first Passover (when the
Israelites were booted out of Egypt), Pharaoh’s ghost arrives in St. Louis, still sneaking around and
trying to put one over on the Jews. He persuades a couple of crooks ("onions should grow in their
navels”) to steal Reb Elias’ special Passover wine, but with help from the prophet Elijah and a
talking horse, the bumbling thieves are chased away by noisy neighbors. The boldly colored
woodcuts give life to the city neighborhood, the foolish villains, and the lively arguments as well
as to the daring Israelites, escaping across the desert 3000 years ago. The best thing here,
however, is Olswanger’s Yiddish storyteller’s voice, particularly the hilarious curses she weaves
into the story: "His teeth should fall out, except one, then he could have a toothache.” Great for
reading aloud. (Booklist)
Polacco, P. (1995). Babushka’s doll. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
While visiting her grandmother, Natasha demands that she drop her work whenever Natasha
wants anything. When Babushka goes out, Natasha plays with a doll that springs to life. After
running around to keep up with the doll’s demands, an exhausted Natasha has learned her lesson.
The folk-art quality and colorful patterns are perfectly suited to the lively story. (Horn Book, 1991)
Rouss, S. A. (1993). Sammy Spider’s first Hanukkah. Illustrated by K. J. Kahn. Rockville, MD: KarBen Copies. (K-2)
After having watched the Shapiro family celebrate the different nights of Hanukkah, Sammy
Spider finds that in the end he gets to share the holiday with them. (card catalog)
Rouss, S. A. (1995). Sammy Spider’s first Passover. Illustrated by K. J. Kahn. Rockville, MD: KarBen Copies. (K-2)
Sammy wants to help Josh find the afikomen but his mother reminds him, "Spiders don't celebrate
Passover. Spiders spin webs”. His first attempt yields some surprising results. (amazon.com)
Rouss, S. A. (2000). Sammy Spider’s first Purim. Illustrated by K. J. Kahn. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben
Copies. (K-2)
The Shapiro family is getting ready for Purim. Josh is making a grogger to take to the synagogue
Megillah reading. Sammy Spider wants to participate, but as Sammy’s mother reminds him,
"Spiders don't celebrate holidays; spiders spin webs”. This time Sammy’s curiosity gets him stuck
inside a grogger, spinning noisily among the beans. How will he escape? (amazon.com)
Rouss, S. A. (1996). Sammy Spider’s first Rosh Hashanah. Illustrated by K. J. Kahn. Rockville, MD:
Kar-Ben Copies. (K-2)
Sammy’s newest adventure finds him knee-deep in honey, and eager to celebrate the New Year.
The third in the popular Sammy series. (amazon.com)
Rouss, S. A. (1998). Sammy Spider’s first Shabbat. Illustrated by K. J. Kahn. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben
Copies. (K-2)
Sammy’s back, watching as the Shapiro family prepares for Shabbat. As they gather to light the
candles, something unexpected happens. The fourth in the Sammy series.
Segal, E. (1999). Uncle Eli’s special for kids most fun ever under the table Passover Haggadah.
Illustrated by B. Gordon-Lucas. San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press. (all ages)
In this one-of-a-kind children’s Haggadah, the mysterious and mischievous Uncle Eli retells the
story of the Passover. The book’s enchanting rhymes and vivid illustrations breathe new life into
the events, personalities, and rituals of the traditional Haggadah. You'll meet a cast of hilarious
sages and unforgettable creatures including the Two-Headed Dray, Jacky the Juggler, Abie the
Afikoman-thief, a six-legged moose named Harold, and Uncle Eli himself. (amazon.com)
Yolen, J. (1990). The devil‘s arithmetic. New York: Puffin. (5-6)
Hannah resents stories of her Jewish heritage and of the past until, when opening the door during
a Passover Seder, she finds herself in Poland during World War II where she experiences the
horrors of a concentration camp, and learns why she and we need to remember the past. (card
catalog)
Zalben, J. B. (1998). Beni‘s family treasury: Stories for the Jewish holidays. New York: Henry
Holt. (PreK-2)
A collection of episodes in the lives of Beni and his family shows them observing their Jewish
traditions as they celebrate the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, and
Passover. (amazon.com)
Zalben, J. B. (1993). Happy New Year, Beni. New York: Henry Holt. (PreK-2)
After constantly fighting with his cousin Max during the celebration for Rosh Hashanah, Beni
discovers that the New Year is an opportunity to put his mistakes behind him and start over. (card
catalog)
Zalben, J. B. (1996). Papa‘s latkes. New York: Henry Holt & Company. (PreK-2)
This Chanukah, Beni and his cousins are having a latke-making contest. Rosie‘s turn out lumpy,
Goldie‘s are too raw, and Sam‘s are too small. Then Papa steps in to show the little bears how to
really make latkes as Jane Breskin Zalben celebrates the holiday season with tenderness and
tradition. (amazon.com)
African American Themes
African-American Voices in Children's Fiction
http://als.lib.wi.us/AACList.html
Compiled by Arrowhead Library System
PICTURE BOOKS
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman. Grace proves she can be the best Peter Pan in spite of classmates telling her
she can't because she's female and black. Dial. 1991.
Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. Susan and Sarah visit their greatgreat Aunt Flossie to try on her wonderful hats, eat crab cakes for dinner and hear stories of her life. Clarion.
1991.
Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold. A fantasy about a girl who meets Harriet
Tubman and a mysterious train in the sky. Crown, 1992.
Baby Says by John Steptoe. An ingenious story uses only baby words to describe the playful relationship
between an endearing toddler and his long suffering older brother. Lothrop. 1988.
Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco. Winston, Stewart, and their "sister friend" want to buy a special gift for Miss
Eula for Easter, but are falsely accused of throwing eggs at the local shopkeeper. A story of intergenerational,
interracial friendship and creativity. Philomel, 1992.
Do Like Kyla by Angela Johnson. A young girl spends a winter day imitating her older sister; the book ends with a
happy reversal, reflecting the girls' strong relationship. Orchard. 1990.
Everett Anderson's Friend by Lucille Clifton. At first, Everett is disappointed his new neighbor isn't a boy, but he
later decides that a girl who can run and win at ball is nice to know after all. Holt.1976.
First Pink Light by Eloise Greenfield. Poignant story celebrates the riches of family life and a child's
determination to greet the return of his father at dawn's first light. Black Butterfly. 1991.
The Magic Moonberry Jump Ropes by Dakari Hru. Uncle Zambezi arrives from East Africa with a pair of magic
jump ropes for his nieces. Dial. 1995.
A Million Fish...More or Less by Patricia C. McKissack. An original folktale of the Louisiana bayou and a delightful
yarn of exaggeration about "the one that got away." Knopf. 1992.
Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia McKissack. Mirandy must live up to her boastful promise that the wind
will be her partner at the upcoming cakewalk. Knopf. 1988.
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe. Mufaro's two beautiful daughters go before the
king who is choosing a wife. Morrow, 1987.
The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci. Blanche gains riches while her greedy sister makes fun of an old witch
and is duly rewarded. Dial, 1990.
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. Gr. K-2. Summer evenings spent atop her Harlem rooftop inspire eight-year-old
Cassie Lightfoot to imagine herself flying high above the city, righting all wrongs. Crown. 1991.
What Kind of Babysitter Is This? by Dolores Johnson. An amusing tale of intergenerational friendship between
Kevin and his new babysitter, a diehard baseball fan. Macmillan, 1991.
When I Am Old With You by Angela Johnson. A small child imagines a future when he will be old with his
Grandaddy and they will do all their favorite things together. Orchard. 1990.
MIDDLE READERS
Charlie Pippin by Candy Dawson Boyd. Gr. 5-7. For her class project Charlie studies the Vietnam War, and
uncovers ghosts from her father's past that eventually bring them closer together. Macmillan. 1987.
Cousins by Virginia Hamilton. Gr. 4-6. Rebellious Cammy resents her perfect cousin, Patty Ann, until a tragedy
puts things into perspective. Philomel. 1990.
Drylongso by Virginia Hamilton. Gr. 2 and up. A mythical story about a mysterious young boy named Drylongso,
who appears at Lindy's midwestern farm just before a big dust storm hits. HBJ. 1992.
Just Like Martin by Ossie Davis. Gr. 4 and up. In 1963 Alabama, Stone has met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and
wants to be a preacher, but his father sees nonviolence as cowardly and refuses to embrace it. Simon &
Schuster. 1992.
Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter. Gr. 3-5. 10-year-old Justin jumps at the chance
to visit his cowboy grandfather, where he traces his black cowboy ancestors and learns that cooking is not just
"women's work." Lothrop, 1986.
Mariah Keeps Cool by Mildred Pitts Walter. Gr. 4-7. A challenging summer is ahead for a young girl as she faces
sibling problems and the
upcoming all-city swim meet.
Mop, Moondance, and the Nagasaki Knights. Gr. 2p;6. T.J., Moondance and Mop are back with their champion
baseball team, trying to win a trip to Japan by coming out on top of a special tournament with visiting
international teams. Delacorte, 1992.
Shortcut by Donald Crews. Gr. 2-4. On their way home, seven children find that the shortcut down the train
tracks nearly leads to disaster. Greenwillow. 1992.
Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron. Six stories by a master storyteller and all-around fibber. Random House,
1981.
The Watsons Go To Birmingham -- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. A hilarious, touching and tragic novel about
civil rights and the impact of violence on one black family. Delacorte,1995.
OLDER READERS
The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Patricia C. McKissack. Gr. 7 and up. Ghost stories and
horror stories incorporating African American history and culture, including tales from the days of slavery and
from the 20th century civil rights movement.
Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairytales, and True Tales by Virginia Hamilton. Blue
Sky/Scholastic,1995.
Maizon at Blue Hill by Jacqueline Woodson. Gr. 5-7. One of five African-American students at a private girls'
school, Maizon feels misplaced and lonely as she tries to fit in. She struggles to cope with snobbery and is
distressed by both black elitism and white curiosity. Rather than admitting defeat, Maizon is
determined to “find a place where smart black girls from Brooklyn could feel like they belonged.”
Delacorte. 1992.
Mama, I Want to Sing by Vy Higginsen (with Tonya Bolden). Gr. 5 and up. Based on the off-Broadway musical,
this novel tells the story of a girl who grows up singing in the church choir, but dreams of singing the music
popular at the Apollo Theatre. Scholastic. 1992.
The Mouse Rap by Walter Dean Myers. Gr. 5 and up. Fourteen-year-old Mouse and his friends fall in and out of
love and search for a hidden treasure from the days of Al Capone. Harper. 1990.
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton. Gr. 6-8. An excellent anthology of 24 African-American folktales
selected and retold especially for children. Knopf, 1985.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. Gr. 6-8. The first in a series of stories about an AfricanAmerican family living in rural Mississippi during the Depression, told from the point of view of their eldest
daughter, Cassie. Dial, 1976.
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton. Gr. 6-8. When 14-year-old Tree encounters the ghost of her
dead uncle, she goes back in time to relive her own past. Philomel, 1982.
Arrowhead Library System
Janesville, Wisconsin 53545
African American Themes
Complete List found on http://www.multiculturalchildrenslit.com/africanamericans.html
African Americans
Realistic Fiction:
Ackerman, K. (1999). By the dawn’s early light. Illustrated by C. Stock. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
A young girl and her brother stay with their grandmother while their mother works at night. (card
catalog)
Adoff, A. (1992). Black is brown is tan. Illustrated by E. A. McCully. New York: Harpercollins
Juvenile Books. (K-3)
Momma is black and Daddy is white but the family is many colors. The members of their loving
circle make the world sweet for the young children growing up tall and strong.
(amazon.com)
Allen, D. (2003). Dancing in the wings. Illustrated by K. Nelson. Puffin. (K-2)
This charming picture book focuses on the world of ballet classes, and children’s cruelty toward
those who are different. Sassy loves to dance but she is tall, gangly, and has really big feet. Her
desire to perform is her strongest asset. When she soars through the air in a giant leap, she feels
like she can do anything. Sassy does indeed live up to her name. This African-American child is
fresh, she is innovative-she wears a bright yellow leotard to stand out in the crowd-and she is
determined. The story is sure to build self-esteem in those readers who can empathize with Sassy
and they’ll cheer when she takes center stage in a dance festival in the nation’s capital. Nelson’s
artwork conveys Sassy’s spirit and captures well the expressions of her smug, mocking classmates.
A great read-aloud. (School Library Journal)
Barbara, B. E. (1996). Allie’s basketball dream. Illustrated by D. Ligasan. New York: Lee & Low. (K3)
Allie cannot wait to get to the local courts with her new ball after going to a pro basketball game
with her father, but her enthusiasm ebbs as her shots fall short of the basket, until, shrugging off
comments about basketball being a “boy‟s sport,” Allie scores, becoming the inspiration of the
playground. (amazon.com)
Barbara, B. E. (1996). Saturday at The New You. Illustrated by A. Rich. Lee & Low. (K-2)
An expressively written and beautifully illustrated story of a young African American girl’s special
Saturdays spent with her mother at The New You Beauty Parlor. The shop is set up for business,
and the day unfolds to the wonderful smells of sweet peach shampoo, strawberry conditioner, and
fresh coffee. Customers share laughter, chocolate-chip cookies, jelly donuts, and sweet-potato
pies. Some enjoy napping while sitting under the dryer. As the day ends, Shauna sits down with her
dolls and her comb and works on her "customers.” The first-person narration mirrors the myriad
activities of the shop and the child’s enthusiasm about spending her day there. The double-spread
illustrations feature the activities of the day, rendered predominately in vivid shades of peach and
pink. (School Library Journal)
Buckley, H. (2000). Grandmother and I. Illustrated by J. Ormerod. New York: Harpercollins Juvenile
Books. (K-3)
A little girl finds her grandmother‘s lap the perfect place to be when she‘s not feeling well, when
lightning flashes, or when the cat has been gone for two days. Grandfather and grandson enjoy
nice, slow nature walks together, while the rest of the family and the world around them rushes by.
(The Horn Book, 1994)
Bunting, E. (1999). Smoky night. Illustrated by D. Diaz. New York: Harcourt Brace. (1-4)
When the smell of smoke wakens Daniel and his mother during the night, they flee from the rioting
outside their apartment to a shelter. Inspired by an innocent comment from Daniel, his mother
introduces herself to a neighbor; the African-American woman’s attempt to reach out to the
Korean-American woman is a clear result of surviving the riots together. (The Horn Book, 1994)
Burrowes, A. J. (2000). Grandma’s purple flowers. New York: Lee and Low Books. (K-3)
The narrator’s favorite Grandma lives through the park and down the hill. On the way to visit her,
the little girl picks purple flowers – Grandma’s favorite. One day, when the girl knocks on
Grandma’s door, Grandma moves slowly and is too tired to play. That night, she passes away.
Throughout winter, the little girl misses her terribly. But when spring arrives, the sight of purple
flowers she and her grandmother planted in the garden makes her smile again. (amazon.com)
Cameron, A. (2000). Gloria’s way. Illustrated by L. Toft. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (1-3)
In this collection of six stories, Gloria has some fun adventures as she makes her way through each
day. (Borders.com)
Cameron, A. (1999). Julian’s glorious summer. Illustrated by D. Leder. New York: Econo-Clad
Books. (1-3)
When his best friend, Gloria, receives a new bike, seven-year-old Julian spends the summer
avoiding her because of his fear of bikes. (Borders.com)
Chocolate, D. M. N. (1996). A very special Kwanzaa. New York: Scholastic. K-3
Remembering how the kids made fun of his dashiki, beads, and sandals the previous year, Charlie
is reluctant to participate in the present year's Kwanzaa Festival at school, until he remembers the
deeper meaning of Kwanzaa. (amazon.com)
Chocolate, D. M. N. (1999). My first Kwanzaa book. Illustrated by C. Massey. New York: Scholastic.
(K-2)
During the last week of December, Kwanzaa is a time to dress up in African clothes and gather
together with relatives from all over the country. Grandma brings special things to eat, Grandpa
lights the candles, and everyone in the family celebrates their heritage. (amazon.com)
Clements, A. (2002). The jacket. Illustrated by M. Henderson. New York: Simon & Schuster. (4-6)
After wrongly accusing a boy--an African American boy—of stealing his brother‟s jacket, Phil--a
white boy--has some hard thinking to do. And a tough question for his mom: “How come you never
told me I was prejudiced?” This seemingly small school incident turns into a painful, but ultimately
satisfying, learning opportunity for the sixth grader, as he explores the myriad influences in his life
and the way his thought patterns have formed... and finds a new friend in the process. The
intellectual evolution Phil goes through may be somewhat facile for a child his age, but Andrew
Clements‟ message will undoubtedly hit home for many readers. This is exactly the kind of situation
that arises every day in schools (and offices and buses) all over the world. (amazon.com)
Collier, B. (2000). Uptown. New York: Henry Holt & Company. (K-3)
Discover the vibrant world of Harlem, New York, as seen through the eyes of one little boy who
lives there. (amazon.com)
Copage, E. (1995). A Kwanzaa fable. New York: William Morrow. (5-6)
Resenting the difficult responsibilities that are thrust upon him after his father's death, thirteenyear-old Jordan reluctantly helps his younger siblings and learns how the seven principles of
Kwanzaa can be applied to everyday life. (amazon.com)
Crews, D. (1998). Bigmama‘s. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)
Visiting Bigmama‘s house in the country, young Donald Crews finds his relatives full of news and
the old place and its surroundings just the same as the year before. (card catalog)
Crews, N. (1995). One hot summer day. New York: Greenwillow Books. (K-3)
It is summer and it is hot, but the running, dancing narrator enjoys every moment of her day-drawing, teasing her shadow, eating popsicles, and even the big, cool drops of rain when they
begin to fall. (amazon.com)
Cunnane, K. (2006). For you are a Kenyan boy. Illustrated by A. Juan. Atheneum/Anne Schwartz
Books. (K-3)
Imagine you live in a small Kenyan village, where the sun rises over tall trees filled with doves. You
wake to the sound of a rooster’s crow, instead of an alarm clock and the school bus. Your
afternoon snack is a tasty bug plucked from the sky, instead of an apple. And rather than kicking a
soccer ball across a field, you kick a homemade ball of rags down a dusty road. But despite this,
things aren’t that different for a Kenyan child than they would be for an American kid, are they?
With so much going on around you, it’s just as easy to forget what your mama asked you to do!
(amazon.com)
Daly, N. (2005). Ruby sings the blues. Bloomsbury. (K-2)
Ruby’s voice is so loud that her neighbors call her "Boom-box,” and "Loud-mouth,” and the kids at
school won’t play with her. Feeling silenced and criticized, Ruby falls into a funk until her cool, jazz
musician neighbors teach her to harness her amazing vocal chords. Soon Ruby is singing the blues
and taking her school auditorium by storm. Daly tells a simple story of a child learning to focus and
develop her talents. The nicely paced, rhythmic text will read well to a crowd, and the lyrical
descriptions of what Ruby learns to do ("sing sharp, zooming notes like the sounds of the city . .
and gentle breathy notes like a cool evening breeze”) will introduce children to the musicianship
and emotion singers bring to their work. Daly’s mixed-media illustrations showcase a cast of urban
hipsters wearing patterned outfits that extend the rhythms in the story, and present raucous
scenes of folks in Ruby’s multicultural neighborhood grooving to tunes that celebrate music’s
power to bring people together. (Booklist)
Diakite, P. (2005). I lost my tooth in Africa. Illustrated by B. W. Diakite. New York: Scholastic. (K –
4)
More than anything, Amina wants to lose her loose tooth while visiting her family in Mali, West
Africa. Only then can she put it under a gourd for the African tooth fairy, who will exchange it for
two chickens! Happily this happens, and even better, the chickens lay eggs. But will the eggs hatch
before it’s time to return home to America? In this fresh, spontaneous story that is infused with
close family warmth, Penda June Diakite joins forces with her award-winning author/artist father
to give a charming peek at everyday life in Mali. (amazon.com)
England, L. (1998). The old cotton blues. Illustrated by T. Flavin. New York: M. K. McElderry. (K-3)
Dexter is a boy who loves three things: his mother, pork chops, and the ―sound of Johnny Cotton's
clarinet‖. That last one makes Dexter feel ―the blue-down blues, and the deep-down- shaking,
slow-laughing feel-goods‖. This city-dwelling boy, who has just one parent, has the strong desire to
play, too; his dream of having a clarinet is not possible, but the kindly Johnny shares his time and
encourages the boy with a story and a gift - his own father‘s harmonica. (Kirkus Reviews, 1998)
English, K. (2004). Hot day on Abbott Avenue. Illustrated by J. Steptoe. Clarion Books. (K-2)
After having a fight, two friends spend the day ignoring each other, until the lure of a game of
jump rope helps them to forget about being mad. (card catalog)
English, K. (1996). Neeny coming, Neeny going. Illustrated by S. Saint James. Mahwah, NJ:
Bridgewater Books. (K-4)
Essie is excited to see her cousin Neeny, who recently moved to the South Carolina mainland from
Daufuskie Island. Neeny is now a fancy young lady, no longer interested in the island way of life.
But does anyone ever really forget their roots? Essie knows the answer and gives her cousin a
special gift that will always keep the island close to her. (amazon.com)
English, K. (2007). Nikki and Deja. Illustrated by L. Freeman. Clarion Books. (2-4)
Can Nikki and Deja’s friendship survive the drill team club and the new girl? Meet Nikki and Deja,
who live next door to each other and are best friends. They do everything together-watch Saturday
morning cartoons, play jacks, jump double Dutch at recess, and help each other with their
homework for Ms. Shelby’s third-grade class. But when an arrogant new girl arrives and Nikki and
Deja form a club that would exclude her, the results are not what they expect. This warm, easy-toread chapter book from an award-winning author captures all the joys and complexities of
elementary school life-particularly friendships and cliques-with finesse and humor. (amazon.com)
Flourney, V. (1985). The patchwork quilt. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: E. P. Dutton. (1-4)
Using scraps cut from the family‘s old clothing, Tanya helps her grandmother make a beautiful
quilt that tells the story of her family‘s life. (card catalog)
Flourney, V. (1995). Tanya’s reunion. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books. (1-4)
Tanya visits a farm in Virginia where she helps her grandmother prepare for the family reunion and
opens her eyes to special adventures. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (1992). Africa dream. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: HarperCollins Juvenile
Books. (K-3)
An African-American child dreams of Africa, where she sees animals, shops in a marketplace, reads
from a strange old book, and returns to the village where her granddaddy welcomed her so long
ago. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (1999). Grandmama’s joy. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (K-3)
When Rhondy‘s grandmother is sad after learning that they must find another place to live, Rhondy
reminds her that they will still have what is most important - each other. (card catalog)
Greenfield, E. (1988). Grandpa’s face. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Philomel Books. (K-3)
Seeing her beloved grandfather making a mean face while he rehearses for one of his plays,
Tamika becomes afraid that someday she will lose his love and he will make that mean face at her.
Greenfield, E. (1993). She come bringing me that little baby girl. Illustrated by J. Steptoe. New
York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)
After telling his mother to bring back a little baby brother from the hospital, Kevin is disappointed
when she arrives home with a baby girl. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (1993). William and the good old days. Illustrated by J. S. Gilchrist. New York:
HarperCollins Children’s Books. (K-3)
A little boy remembers his grandmother before she became ill, and during her long recovery he
tries to imagine how things will be when she comes home from the hospital. (card catalog)
Gilchrist, J. S. (1997). Madelia. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
Madelia can't wait to try out her six new jars of watercolors. But what will she paint? That Sunday,
fidgeting as her daddy preaches, she has a burst of inspiration and knows exactly what she will
paint. (amazon.com)
Hamilton, V. (1997). The bells of Christmas. Illustrated by L. Davis. New York: Harcourt Brace. (4-6)
Award-winning author Virginia Hamilton provides a heartwarming story perfect for the Christmas
gift-giving season. (amazon.com)
Hamilton,V. (1993). Zeely. Illustrated by S. Shimin. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
Greeder‘s summer at her uncle‘s farm is made special because of her friendship with a very tall,
composed woman who raises hogs and who closely resembles the magazine photograph of a
Watutsi queen. (card catalog)
Havill, J. (1990). Jamaica tag-along. Illustrated by A. S. O’Brien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
When her older brother refuses to let her tag along with him, Jamaica goes off by herself and
allows a younger child to play with her. (card catalog)
Havill, J. (1999). Jamaica and the substitute teacher. Illustrated by A. S. O’Brien. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin. (K-3)
Jamaica likes the substitute teacher right away. Mrs. Duval is very nice, and she thinks of
interesting things for the class to do. When the kids have to hunt for a hidden object, it's Jamaica
who solves the clues. She figures out all the answers to the math puzzles, and Mrs. Duval praises
her reading, too. But when it's time for the spelling test, Jamaica realizes that she is not prepared.
Wanting so badly to please Mrs. Duval, she makes a poor decision. What will Mrs. Duval think of
her now? (amazon.com)
Helldorfer, M. (1999). Silver Rain Brown. Illustrated by T. Flavin. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
As a city neighborhood looks for ways to survive a long, hot, summer drought, a single mother and
her young son await the birth of a new baby. The heat wave has tempers rising like mercury in a
thermometer. Can’t cool down! Finally, it rains - a soft, silver rain that brings everyone outside.
That night the baby arrives, like the rain, a blessing. Welcome to the world, Silver Rain Brown!
(amazon.com)
Hesse, K. (1999). Come on, rain! Illustrated by J. J. Muth. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
“Come on, rain!” Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless
heat. Then the clouds roll in and the rain pours. And Tess, her friends, and their mothers join in
together in a rain dance to celebrate the shower that renews both body and spirit. (amazon.com)
Hoffman, M. (1991). Amazing Grace. Illustrated by C. Binch. New York: Dial Books for Young
Readers. (K-3)
Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black,
Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do. (card catalog)
Hoffman, M. (2000). Boundless Grace. Illustrated by C. Binch. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
In this sequel to Amazing Grace, Grace longs for the kind of family she reads about in books, but
she barely remembers her own father who left home when she was small. Then he invites her to
visit him and his new family in Africa, and Grace soon realizes that even in divided families, love
can prove boundless. (Borders.com)
Hoffman, M. (2000). Starring Grace. Illustrated by C. Binch. New York: Penguin Putnam. (K-3))
Grace again takes center stage in her very own chapter book. School’s out for summer, and each
day brings a new adventure for Grace and her friends. (borders.com)
Holman, S. L. (1998). Grandpa, is everything black bad? Illustrated by L. Kometiani. Davis, CA: The
Culture CO-OP. (K-3)
An illustrated story of an African American boy who comes to appreciate his dark skin by learning
about his African heritage from his grandfather. (card catalog)
Hort, L. (1997). How many stars in the sky? Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Mulberry
Books. (K-3)
A boy receives help from his father in his quest to count the stars. Ransome‘s striking oil paintings
feature well-composed landscapes and graceful figures. A warm story of a father and son‘s special
night out. (Horn Book, 1991)
Howard, E. F. (1995). Aunt Flossie’s hats and crab cakes later. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York:
Clarion Books. (K-3)
Sunday afternoons are Sarah and Susan's favorite time of the week. That's when they visit Greatgreat-aunt Flossie--and hear her stories about days of long ago, when she was young.
(amazon.com)
Howard, E.F. (1996). Whats’ in Aunt Mary’s room? Illustrated by C. Lucas. New York: Clarion
Books. (K-3)
Susan and Sarah have always wondered what’s in the locked room, the one that used to be Aunt
Mary’s, at Great-great-aunt Flossie’s house. Now, after helping Aunt Flossie locate the missing key,
they find out at last! (amazon.com)
Hudson, C. W. & Ford, B. G. (1990). Bright eyes, brown skin. Illustrated by G. C. Ford. East Orange,
NJ: Just Us Books. (K-3)
Four children who feel good about who they are and how they look enjoy the activities of a typical
day at school, happy and brimming with confidence and self-esteem. (amazon.com)
Jackson, I. (1996). Somebody‘s new pajamas. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Dial Books for
Young Readers. (K-3)
Robert and Jerome have great fun on a weekend sleepover. When bedtime comes Jerome is
uncomfortable because Robert has a pair of blue pajamas. How does Jerome tell Robert that he‘s
never owned pajamas, and he sleeps in his underwear? (amazon.com)
Johnson, A. (1992). Tell me a story, Mama. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Orchard Books.
(K-3)
A young girl and her mother remember together all the girl‘s favorite stories about her mother‘s
childhood. (card catalog)
Johnson, A. (1999). The wedding. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
An African-American girl is thinking about her big sister's upcoming wedding, and all the joy and
sadness it will bring. (Horn Book, 1999)
Johnson, A. (1993). When I am old with you. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Orchard Books.
(K-3)
A child looks forward to when he is old and doing all the same things with his beloved grandfather
that they share now. A warm, affectionate portrait of a special relationship with impressive
watercolors that are full of life. (Horn Book, 1991)
Johnston, T. (2006). Angel City. Illustrated by C. Byard. Philomel. (2-4)
In the broken streets of Los Angeles, elderly Joseph finds a baby in a dumpster and brings him
home to raise--his "gift from God.” In moving lines that read like free-verse poetry, Johnston
describes how man and boy become a family. The survival struggle is clear and heartbreaking: "Will
I get to grow up?” nine-year-old Juan asks after his best friend is killed by a stray bullet. The
luxuriant field of corn that Juan and Joseph grow in a vacant lot is a symbol of hope, but children
will be most reassured by the obvious, unwavering love between man and child. Johnston’s
language frequently invokes God and also includes one curse: "The old man has promised to raise
that baby. / Damned if he won't.” Byard’s feathery acrylics extend the sense of fierce love and even
religious symbolism in scenes of Joseph cradling the swaddled infant and, later, the growing boy.
For more powerful views of growing up in urban violence, suggest Eve Bunting’s Smoky Night
(1994) and Barbara Joosse’s Stars in the Darkness (2002). (Booklist)
Joosse, B. M. (2005). Papa, do you love me? Illustrated by B. Lavallee. San Francisco, CA:
Chronicle Books. (PreK – 2)
This follow-up to the best-selling Mama, Do You Love Me? (over one million copies sold in 15
languages!) captures the universal love between a father and child. Set in Africa and featuring the
Maasai culture, the beautiful watercolor illustrations, lyrical text, and enduring message are sure
to make this another instant classic. (amazon.com)
Joosse, B. M. (2002). Stars in the darkness. Illustrated by R. G. Christie. San Francisco, CA;
Chronicle Books. (!-5)
In the imagination of a young inner-city boy, police sirens sound like howling wolves, streetlights
look like stars, and shots fired by neighborhood gangs sound like those stars cracking the darkness.
But when his older brother joins a gang, he can no longer pretend. With the help of his mother, he
comes up with a plan to save his brother and unite his neighbors in a stand for peace. The realistic
yet uplifting words of best-selling author Barbara M. Joosse combine with powerful illustrations by
award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie in this hope-filled story. One young boy‟s courage can
make a difference. (amazon.com)
Keats, E. J. (1998). Goggles. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
When Peter and his friend Archie find motorcycle goggles, some bigger boys try to take them away.
(amazon.com)
Keats, E. J. (1987). Pet show. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
When he can‘t find his cat to enter in a neighborhood pet show, Archie must do some fast thinking
to win a prize. (card catalog)
Keats, E. J. (1998). Peter‘s chair. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
Peter learns to accept the new baby sister in the family in this endearing story of sibling rivalry.
(amazon.com)
Keats, E. J. (1981). The snowy day. New York: Viking Press. (K-3)
The Snowy Day, a 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover
that snow has fallen during the night. Keats‘s illustrations, using cut-outs, watercolors, and
collage, are strikingly beautiful in their understated color and composition. The tranquil story
mirrors the calm presence of the paintings, and both exude the silence of a freshly snow-covered
landscape. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of humble adventures-experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save
a snowball for the next day. Awakening to a winter wonderland is an ageless, ever-magical
experience, and one made nearly visceral by Keats‘s gentle tribute. (amazon.com)
Keats, E. J. (1998). Whistle for Willie. New York: Viking Penguin. (K-3)
First published in 1964, this book, now available in a durable board book edition, tells of a young
boy who longs to whistle for his dog. (amazon.com)
Kroll, V. (1995). Wood-hoopoe Willie. Illustrated by K. Roundtree. Watertown, MA:
Charlesbridge. (K-3)
Willie longs to express his musical talent with instruments created by his African ancestors such as
guedras, ecasas, atumpan, and dundun drums, and he gets his opportunity at the Kwanzaa festival.
(amazon.com)
Kurtz, J. (2000). Faraway home. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Harcourt Brace. (K-3)
From a Coretta Scott King Honor-winning artist, a powerful portrait of a contemporary American
immigrant family. As her father prepares for a trip back to his childhood home in Ethiopia, Desta
begins to worry. Where does her father truly belong-in the village of his youth or here in America
with her? What was growing up in Ethiopia like? And will her father‘s love for his family be
enough to bridge these two worlds and bring him back to her? (amazon.com)
Lorbiecki, M. (1998). Sister Anne’s hands. Illustrated by W. Popp. NewYork: Dial Books for Young
Readers. (K-3)
Based on the author's own childhood experiences, this poignant story tells of a black nun in the
early 1960s and the lessons she imparts about the virtue of tolerance. (amazon. com)
McKissack, P. C. (2007). The all-I’ll-ever-want Christmas doll. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. Schwartz
& Wade.
IT'S CHRISTMAS, AND NELLA is beside herself with excitement! She and her sisters have been given
a real gift - a beautiful Baby Betty doll. But it’s hard to share something you’ve waited your whole
seven-year-old life for, and Nella grabs the doll for herself. It isn’t long before she discovers that a
doll can’t do the fun things she and her sisters do together. So, as Christmas day fades, Nella
shares it with her sisters. Set in the Depression era South, here’s a heartwarming story that
captures the essence of the holiday. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (2008). Stichin’ and pullin’: A Gee’s Bend quilt. Illustrated by C. A. Cabrera.
Random. (1-3)
Mother and daughter, grandmother and granddaughter, aunt and niece, friend and friend. For a
hundred years, generations of women from Gee’s Bend have quilted together, sharing stories,
trading recipes, singing hymns—all the while stitchin’ and pullin’ thread through cloth. Every day
Baby Girl listens, watches, and waits, until she’s called to sit at the quilting frame. Piece by piece,
she puzzles her quilt together—telling not just her story, but the story of her family, the story of
Gee’s Bend, and the story of her ancestors’ struggle for freedom. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (2003). Tippy Lemmey. Illustrated by S. Keeler. New York: Aladdin. (K-3)
Tippy Lemmey is no ordinary dog. Not only is he the only dog Leandra, Paul, and Jeannie have
ever met with a first and a last name, he‟s a living, breathing monster! When they ride their bikes,
he chases them, snapping at their heels. When they run, he runs. If they cross the street, he follows.
There‟s no getting away from him -- over him or under him. He‟s their number one enemy.
Leandra, Paul, and Jeannie try to come up with a plan to stop Tippy Lemmey, but nothing works.
But then Tippy does something totally unexpected, and the kids realize that maybe he‘s not their
enemy after all. (amazon.com)
Miles, C. (1996). Calvin’s Christmas wish. Illustrated by D. Johnson. New York: Puffin Books. (K-3)
Calvin dreams of getting a bike for Christmas, but when his friend, W.C., tells him there is no Santa
Claus, he begins to doubt his dreams will come true. (amazon.com)
Mollel, T. M. (1999). My rows and piles of coins. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Clarion
Books. (K-3)
A Tanzanian boy saves coins to buy a bicycle so he can help his parents carry goods to market.
Then he discovers in spite of all he has saved, he does not have enough money. Glowing watercolor
images capture the warmth and strength of a young boy’s giving heart. (Borders.com)
Monk, I. (1999). Hope. Illustrated by J. L. Porter. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. (K-3)
After someone asks whether she’s ''mixed”, second-grader Hope, a biracial child, wonders what
that means. Her great aunt assures her that as the child of a white father and an African-American
mother, she represents ''generations of faith 'mixed' with lots of love”. While the story is
somewhat contrived, it’s well told, and the illustrations, with their fluid, rounded shapes, are a
dynamic accompaniment. (Horn Book, 1999)
Nikola-Lisa, W. (1995). Bein’ with you this way. Illustrated by M. Bryant. New York: Lee and Low.
(K-3)
An African American girl visits the park and rounds up a group of her friends for an afternoon of
fun and playground games. The children discover that despite their physical differences, they are
all really the same. (amazon.com)
Nolen, J. (2007). Pitching in for Eubie. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Amistad. (1-3)
Lily knows that nothing is more important than family. She’s so proud when her sister, Eubie, wins
a college scholarship. And when her family pulls together to earn the rest of the money Eubie
needs, Lily wants to help out too. But she’s too young to do most jobs. What can she do to pitch in
for Eubie? Through her lyrical prose, Jerdine Nolen shares a heartfelt story about people working
together to make dreams come true. And as Caldecott Honor artist E. B. Lewis reminds us in his
luminous, tender paintings, nothing is more important than those family ties that bind us.
(amazon.com)
Oppenheim, S. L. (1996). Fireflies for Nathan. Illustrated by J. Ward. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
With the help of his grandparents, six-year-old Nathan catches fireflies and keeps them in a jar by
his bed, just as his father did when he was six. (amazon.com)
Patrick, D. L. (1998). Red dancing shoes. Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Mulberry Books.
(K-3)
Delighted with her shiny new red shoes, a little girl dances through town to show them off to
everyone she knows. (card catalog)
Pinkney, G. J. (1999). Back home. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
Eight-year-old Ernestine returns to visit relatives on the North Carolina farm where she was born.
(card catalog)
Pinkney, G. J. (1994). The Sunday outing. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young
Readers. (K-3)
Ernestine, the young heroine of Back Home, and her great-aunt Odessa often ride the trolley to the
railroad station to watch the trains from North Carolina come in. When Ernestine finally travels on
a train to the place of her birth, everyone in her family sacrifices something to make her trip
possible. Gloria Jean and Jerry Pinkney together depict family warmth as bright as sunshine.
(amazon.com)
Pinkney, J. B. (1997). Max found two sticks. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
One day when Max doesn’t feel too much like talking to anybody, he finds two sticks that make a
perfect pair of drumsticks. Soon he is beating out a rhythm on anything he can find, from his thigh
to a bucket to a large garbage can. Suddenly a marching band comes around Max's corner and the
most wonderful thing happens. (amazon.com)
Polacco, P. (1998). Chicken Sunday. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
To thank Miss Eula for her wonderful Sunday chicken dinners, three children sell decorated eggs to
buy her a beautiful Easter hat. (card catalog)
Ringgold, F. (1996). Dinner at Aunt Connie‘s house. New York: Hyperion Books. (K-3)
At Aunt Connie‘s house this year, Melody gets to go swimming, eat great food, meet her new
cousin, and investigate twelve paintings of famous African-American women, including Rosa
Parks, Zora Neale Houston, and Mary McLeod Bethune. (amazon.com)
Rochelle, B. (1996). When Jo Louis won the title. Illustrated by L. Johnson. New York: Houghton
Mifflin. (K-3)
Jo's grandfather helps her feel better about herself when he tells her the story of why she is named
after the heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis. (Borders.com)
Roberts, B. C. (2004). Jazzy Miz Mozetta. Illustrated by F. Morrison. Farrar. (K-2)
This story proves that the love of dance has no age limits. High-stepping, whirling images
complement the rhythmic dialect of jazz clubs and bring Miz Mozetta...to life “faster than a rat can
scat.” This upbeat, multigenerational tale will have broad appeal. (School Library Journal)
Rodman, M. A. (2005). My best friend. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Viking. (1-3)
In this elemental friendship story, Lily, six, wants to be best friends with Tamika, seven, and tries
everything to get the older girl’s attention. But one year makes a big difference, and Tamika and
her best friend are mean to Lily. They call her "baby,” but mostly they just ignore her. Even when
Daddy teaches Lily to dive, they don’t seem to care. In the end, Lily gives up, and she reluctantly
accepts Keesha, also six, as a best friend. This is more situation than story, but the setting makes
things special. The action takes place during the weekly playgroup at the neighborhood pool, and
Lewis’ beautiful, realistic double-page watercolors convey everything--the longing, the meanness,
and the fun--through the body language and the splashing action of little African American girls in
sunlit water and at the poolside. (Booklist)
Smalls, I. (2006). My Pop Pop and me. Illustrated by C. A. Johnson. Little Brown. (K-1).
This tasty love story is told by an African-American boy who shares his love for his grandfather and
lemon cake. It captures a sweet memory of a child baking with his elderly relative and the wonder
and love that go into the recipe. The rhyming text seems forced at times and is somewhat uneven,
e.g., Sniff sniff the lemon whiff/Peel peel I love the lemon feel/Pish pish the lemon till it’s squished.
However, the mood is cheery, the temperature is toasty, and the illustrations keep the story
moving along until the cake is done. Johnson’s art swirls from page to page, using humor and
changing perspective to add spark and sparkle to the story. This book would be a good choice for
teaching young children about onomatopoeia and for discussing extended families and gender
roles. (School Library Journal)
Suen, A. (2001). Hamster chase (Peter’s neighborhood). Illustrated by A. Eitzen. New York: Viking
Children’s Books. (K-3)
Ezra Jack Keats’s classic picture books about Peter and his friends have delighted children for more
than thirty years. Now Viking is pleased to introduce Peter’s Neighborhood, original stories
designed specifically for beginning readers featuring Peter, Archie, Amy, and other favorite
characters. It’s Peter’s turn to take care of the class hamster in Hamster Chase. But when the
hamster accidentally gets loose, Peter, Archie, and Amy must do some quick thinking to find him.
(amazon.com)
Suen, A. (2001). Willie’s birthday. Illustrated by A. Eitzen. New York: Viking Children’s Books. (K-3)
Ezra Jack Keats‘s classic picture books about Peter and his friends have delighted children for
more than thirty years. Now Viking is pleased to introduce Peter‘s Neighborhood, original stories
designed specifically for beginning readers featuring Peter, Archie, Amy, and other favorite
characters. In Willie‘s Birthday, a ―Bring Your Pet‖ birthday party gets out of hand when the pets
show more interest in chasing each other than in celebrating! (Borders.com)
Stuve-Bodeen, S. (1998) Elizabeti’s doll. Illustrated by C. Hale. New York: Lee & Low Books. (K-3)
A young girl named Elizabeti has a new baby brother. She imitates her mother by caring for a rock
named Eva. (card catalog)
Stuve-Bodeen, S. (2002). Elizabeti’s school. Illustrated by C. Hale. New York: Lee & Low. (K-3).
In this third book in the Elizabeti series, the young Tanzanian girl discovers the joy of learning at
school and finds a pleasant surprise at home. It‟s the first day of school, and Elizabeti is so excited
she can hardly sit still long enough for Mama to braid her hair. When she arrives at school, she
feels shy and wishes she had stayed home instead. While the teacher talks, Elizabeti wonders if her
family misses her. She‟s happy when she leaves for the day, but in the evening she plays a game she
learned at school and discovers she can use her new math skills to count her new kittens!
(amazon.com)
Stuve-Bodeen, S. (2000). Mama Elizabeti. Illustrated by C. Hale. New York: Lee & Low Books. (K-3)
Elizabeti has a new baby sister. With her mother busy with the baby, Elizabeti now has to help take
care of her younger brother, Obedi. She thinks she knows what to do, after tending to her own
“baby”, a rock doll named Eva. But in this tender sequel to Elizabeth’s Doll, she finds that looking
after a real child isn’t so easy. (amazon.com)
Tarpley, N. A. (2002). Bippity bop barbershop. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Little Brown
Children’s Books. (K-2)
In this companion book to the bestselling I Love My Hair, a young boy, Miles, makes his first trip
to the barbershop with his father. Like most little boys, he is afraid of the sharp scissors, the
buzzing razor, and the prospect of picking a new hairstyle. But with the support of his dad, the
barber, and the other men in the barbershop, Miles bravely sits through his first haircut. Written in
a reassuring tone with a jazzy beat and illustrated with graceful, realistic watercolors, this book
captures an important rite of passage for boys and celebrates African-American identity.
(amazon.com)
Tarpley, N. A. (1998). I love my hair. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Little Brown Children’s
Books. (K-2)
Tarpley‟s first book for children joins a growing list of titles about African-American hair--linking
it to issues of self- esteem and acceptance. Keyana tells how her mother sits her down each night to
comb her hair and to rub coconut oil into her scalp; Mama‟s touch and her words are always
heartening. Keyana is lucky to have her head of hair because “it‟s beautiful and you can wear it in
any style you choose.'” It can be woven into a puffy bun, braided into corn rows, grown into an
Afro style that is partly a political statement, or pulled into two ponytails that “stick out on either
side of my head and slap in the air like a pair of wings,” making her feel free enough to fly. Lewis‟s
imaginative and warm interpretations of these exchanges as well as the inclusion of bits of AfricanAmerican cultural history expand the personal content. (Kirkus Reviews, 1997)
Walter, M. P. (1990). Two and too much. Illustrated by P. Cummings. New York: Bradbury Press.
(K-2)
A seven-year-old learns more about taking care of his typically disaster-prone two-year-old sister
than he really wants to know. (Horn Book, 1990)
Wiles, D. (2001). Freedom summer. Illustrated by J. Lagarrigue. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)
"John Henry Waddell is my best friend,” begins the narrator of this story, set during a summer of
desegregation in the South. John Henry is black and the narrator is white, so the boys swim
together at the creek, rather than at the whites-only town pool, and the narrator buys the icecream at the segregated store. When new laws mandate that the pool, and everything else, must
desegregate, the boys rejoice, until the town fills the pool with tar in protest and the narrator tries
to see this town, "through John Henry's eyes.” The boy’s voice, presented in punchy, almost poetic
sentences, feels overly romanticized, even contrived in places. It’s the illustrations that stun. In
vibrantly colored, broad strokes, Lagarrigue, who illustrated Nikki Grimes’ My Man Blue (1999),
paints riveting portraits of the boys, particularly of John Henry, that greatly increase the story’s
emotional power. Beautiful work by an illustrator to watch. (Booklist)
Williams, K. L. (1994). When Africa was home. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Orchard Books.
(K-3)
After returning to the United States, Peter’s whole family misses the warmth and friendliness of
their life in Africa; so Peter’s father looks for another job there. (card catalog)
Williams, S. A. (1997). Working cotton. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: Voyager Picture Books.
(K-3)
This child’s view of a long day’s work in the cotton fields, simply expressed in a poet’s resonant
language, is a fresh and stirring look at migrant family life. (amazon.com)
Williams, V. B. (1999). A chair for my mother. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (2-4)
A child, her waitress mother, and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after
all their furniture is lost in a fire. (card catalog)
Williams, V. B. (1986). Cherries and cherry pits. New York: Greenwillow Books. (K-4)
Bidemmi draws pictures and tells stories about cherries. (card catalog)
Winthrop, E. (2005). Squashed in the middle. Illustrated by P. Cummings. Holt. (K-3)
Beginning with the up-close, downcast face on the jacket, this direct picture book personalizes the
frustration of a middle child wanting to be heard. Daisy‘s parents and her older sister and younger
brother talk to and about Daisy, and they talk over her head. But when Daisy speaks, nobody
listens. When Daisy‘s friend invites her to sleep over, everyone has a comment: "Daisy has never
slept over at someone‘s house before‖; "She won't go anywhere without her stuffed duck.‖ Nobody
pays attention when Daisy declares that she‘s going anyway, and then leaves. Her courage
surprises her family into finally understanding how she feels. Cummings‘ recognizable robust style
and intense palette are evident in the engaging design here, a bright amalgamation of bold fullpage close-ups that clearly reflect Daisy‘s feelings; small, square insets; and vigorous, varied
double-page spreads--particularly the sweeping picture from which the cover illustration was
drawn. All include homey and whimsical details that give Daisy and her African American family a
thoroughly modern, familiar look: big sis is glued to her headphones; Dad chops carrots for
dinner. Many kids, no matter their family pecking order, will respond to Daisy‘s predicament;
everyone likes to be heard! (Booklist)
Woods, B. (2003). The red rose box. Puffin. (4-6)
Leah Hopper and her younger sister, Ruth, live in segregated rural Louisiana in the early 1950s.
For her 10th birthday, the older girl receives a traveling case-a "red rose box"-from her mother‘s
wealthy sister. Among other treasures, it contains train tickets for a family visit in Los Angeles. A
long-lasting rift between Aunt Olivia and the children‘s mother is finally mended during the
reunion. In L.A. there is no sign of the racial prejudice that the Hoppers are so accustomed to as a
black family in the South, and the girls reluctantly return home. Later, during a trip to New York
City with Aunt Olivia and Uncle Bill, they feel the same way, and then a hurricane strikes their
hometown, killing their parents. With this devastating loss, the sisters realize that riches and
comforts cannot substitute for the kind of family life they had. This is a bittersweet story with good
descriptions of settings; a skillful use of figurative language; and well-realized, believable
characters. Ruth is the embodiment of a sassy eight-year-old and the adults are genuine, loving,
and supportive. The one false note is the portrayal of race relations as near perfect outside the
South. This story of grief and loss ends on a hopeful note and will appeal to readers. (School
Library Journal)
Woodson, J. (2004). Coming on home soon. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Putnam. (K-3)
A beautifully written and illustrated story from the creators of The Other Side (Putnam, 2001), set
during World War II. Ada Ruth waits for the return of her mother, who left home in search of a job.
"They‘re hiring colored women in Chicago since all the men are off fighting in the war.‖ Perfectly
matched words and illustrations masterfully bring to life all the emotions that the girl is
experiencing as she, her grandmother, and a stray kitten that has come to stay all try to comfort
and console one another. As snow continues to fall, the large watercolor pages are filled with
scenes of wistful longing–looking out the window, bringing in firewood, giving the kitten some milk,
knitting, listening to news on the radio, and capturing the disappointment when the postman passes
without stopping. Finally, a letter arrives and, with it, some much-needed money. The first line of
the letter reads, "Tell Ada Ruth I‘ll be coming on home soon.‖ Now, images convey a warm sense
of anticipation. The final painting shows a woman with her back to readers approaching a house…
home. A tender, heartfelt story that will touch readers. (School Library Journal)
Woodson, J. (2000). Miracle‘s boys. New York: Putnam. (4-6)
For Lafayette and his brothers, the challenges of growing up in New York City are compounded by
the facts that they‘ve lost their parents and it‘s up to eldest brother Ty‘ree to support the boys, and
middle brother Charlie has just returned home from a correctional facility. Lafayette loves his
brothers and would do anything if they could face the world as a team. But even though Ty‘ree
cares, he‘s just so busy with work and responsibility. And Charlie‘s changed so much that his
former affection for his little brother has turned to open hostility. Now, as Lafayette approaches 13,
he needs the guidance and answers only his brothers can give him. The events of one dramatic
weekend force the boys to make the choice to be there for each other--to really see each other--or
to give in to the pain and problems of every day. (amazon.com)
Woodson, J. (2009). Peace, Locomotion. Putnam. (4-7)
In a moving companion to the National Book Award Finalist Locomotion (2003), Lonnie, now in
sixth grade, speaks in letters to his beloved little sister, Lili. The siblings are still heartbroken about
their separation, which followed the death of their parents in a fire. Both kids are now safe in
loving foster families in their Brooklyn neighborhood, with friends and supportive teachers at
school. After Lonnie‘s foster brother returns home injured from war, the contrast between the
peaceful home and the tragedy of war feels savage. While this does not have Locomotion‘s poetic
form, the spare, beautiful prose—both the dialogue and the fast first-person narrative—is as lyrical
as the first book. The simple words are packed with longing and are eloquent about the ―little
things people don‘t think real hard about,‖ little things that reveal the big issues of family,
community, displacement, war, and peace. (Booklist)
Woodson, J. (2005). Show way. Illustrated by H. Talbott. New York: Putnam. (1-4).
Soonie‘s great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her
ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright
patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts
called Show Ways—maps for slaves to follow to freedom. When she grew up and had a little girl,
she passed on this knowledge. And generations later, Soonie—who was born free—taught her own
daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read.
From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches and the fight for literacy, the
tradition they called Show Way has been passed down by the women in Jacqueline Woodson‘s
family as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future. Beautifully
rendered in Hudson Talbott‘s luminous art, this moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women
whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters‘ lives. (amazon.com)
Woodson, J. (2000). Sweet, sweet memory. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Jump at the Sun.
(K-2)
A child misses her deceased grandfather but remembers his hopeful words about the cycle of life;
everything and everyone goes on. She watches, like he told her to, and begins to see the changes
from day to night, and from season to season – all displaying the continuous cycle of life and
memory. Cooper‘s illustrations have a dreamy quality that matches the contemplative mood of the
story. (Book Links, December 2001/January 2002, p. 54)
Woodson, J. (2001). The other side. Illustrated by E. B. White. New York: Putnam. (K-3)
Beautifully rendered in Earl B. Lewis‘s striking, lifelike watercolor illustrations, Jacqueline
Woodson gives us a moving, lyrical narrative told in the hopeful voice of a child confused about the
fence someone else has built in her yard and the racial tension that divides her world.
(amazon.com)
Woodson, J. (2002). Visiting day. Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Scholastic. (1-3)
Only on visiting day is there chicken frying in the kitchen at 6am and Grandma in her Sunday
dress, humming soft and low. As a little girl and her grandmother get ready for visiting day, her
father, who adores her, is getting ready, too. The community of families who take the long bus ride
upstate to visit loved ones share hope and give comfort to each other. Love knows no boundaries,
and here is a story of strong families who understand the meaning of unconditional love.
(amazon.com)
Woodson, J. (1998). We had a picnic this Sunday past. Illustrated by D. Greenseid. New York:
Hyperion Books for Children. (K-3)
A young girl describes her various relatives and the foods they bring to the annual family picnic.
(amazon.com)
Yolen, J. (2000). Miz Berlin walks. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
At first Mary Louise is afraid of old Miz Berlin who walks around the block of her Virginia home,
talking to herself. But once she gets close enough to listen she is spellbound by Miz Berlin‟s stories
about the past. Oil-wash paintings complement the nostalgic tone of this rhythmic celebration of
storytelling, and the intergenerational, interracial friendship it builds. (Horn Book, 1998)
Zolotow, C. (2000). Do you know what I‘ll do? Illustrated by J. Steptoe. New York: HarperCollins.
(K-3)
One day a little girl said to her brother, “ Do you know what I’ll do at the seashore? I’ll bring you a
shell to hold the sound of the sea.” In a little girl’s magical question-and-answer game, Charlotte
Zolotow captures, with unerring childlike simplicity, a sister’s special love for her little brother.
Javaka Steptoe’s bold artwork offers a stunning new interpretation of the reassuring, lyrical text
and brings to yet another generation of children this well-loved story. (amazon.com)
BACK
Non-fiction:
Bausum, A. (2006). Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the front lones of the Civil
Rights Movement. National Geographic. (5-9)
Freedom Riders compares and contrasts the childhoods of John Lewis and James Zwerg in a way
that helps young readers understand the segregated experience of our nation’s past. It shows
how a common interest in justice created the convergent path that enabled these young men to
meet as Freedom Riders on a bus journey south.
No other book on the Freedom Riders has used such a personal perspective. These two young
men, empowered by their successes in the Nashville student movement, were among those who
volunteered to continue the Freedom Rides after violence in Anniston, Alabama, left the original
bus in flames with the riders injured and in retreat. Lewis and Zwerg joined the cause knowing
their own fate could be equally harsh, if not worse. The journey they shared as freedom riders
through the Deep South changed not only their own lives but our nation's history. (amazon.com)
Bial, R. (1997). The strength of these arms: Life in the slave quarters. New York: Houghton
Mifflin. (3-6)
Bial gives a realistic view of what it was like to be a slave on a plantation. Photographs of slave
artifacts add clarity to the story. (Book Links, June/July 2002, p. 32)
Bial, R. (1999). The Underground Railroad. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (4-6)
An illustrated portrait of the activities of the Underground Railroad in the years prior to the Civil
War documents the routes, lives, hardships, and accomplishments of the “conductors” and their
“passengers”, escaped slaves. (amazon.com)
Bolden, T. (2005). Maritcha: A nineteenth century American girl. Harry N. Abrams. (4-7)
Readers met Maritcha Rémond Lyons in Bolden’s Tell All the Children Our Story (Abrams, 2002),
in a one-page entry that included an excerpt from her unpublished memoir. The author has now
expanded her use of Lyons’s memoir, family archival materials, and other primary sources to tell
the story of this free black child before, during, and after the Civil War. Maritcha’s achievements
were extraordinary for her time, gender, and race. During her youth in lower Manhattan, she
was exposed to many strong, well-educated adults. Her parents, their friends (some well known),
and her own determination carried her through difficult times, including the Draft Riots of 1863,
the destruction of the family home and business, and a fight for public education. Strength of
family and education were the driving forces in this girl’s life. Bolden emphasizes these themes as
she skillfully presents interesting facts and a personal view of an often-overlooked segment of
history. While the book focuses on Maritcha’s childhood, a concluding note discusses her
adulthood. (Lyons spent close to 50 years as an educator, including a term as assistant principal
of Brooklyn's Public School No. 83.) A number of family documents and photographs are
included; period sketches and paintings complete the picture of 19th-century life in New York
City. The high quality of writing and the excellent documentation make this a first choice for all
collections. (School Library Journal)
Bolden, T. (2003). Portraits of African American heroes. Illustrated by A. Pitcairn. Dutton
Juvenile. (4-8)
While there is a wealth of information currently available to children about African-American
historical figures, there is still a great deal of room for more biographies of contemporary
African-American achievers. Bolden profiles 20 people, ranging from Matthew Henson, Thurgood
Marshall, and Martin Luther King, Jr., to Paul Robeson, Ruth Simmons, Judith Jamison, and
Charlayne Hunter-Gault. The sketches, as the author states in the introduction, are intended to
capture something of the essence of these people. She succeeds by using lively language,
anecdotal information, and quotations from the subjects themselves. The book is arranged
chronologically, beginning with Frederick Douglass, born around 1818, and ending with Ben
Carson, born in 1951. Each entry is accompanied by a striking, if somewhat glamorized, full-page
portrait done in deep, rich shades of brown. A smaller painting of the subject appears on the final
page of the profile. A lengthy list of suggested reading is appended. A fine addition to any library.
(Booklist)
Bolden, T. (2002). Tell all the children our story: Memories and mementoes of being young and
Black in America. Harry N. Abrams. (4-8)
This compilation of the African American experience, from colonial times through the twentieth
century, reads and looks like a family scrapbook. Divided into three sections ("Out of Africa,”
"Longing for the Jubilee,” and "Lift Every Voice and Sing”), the chronicle is an introspective
celebration of the lifestyles, struggles, triumphs, and aspirations of both recognized and
unknown African American children. Readers begin their journey with the first recorded birth of a
black child in America and follow along through the plight of the Little Rock Nine to the moving
speech given by 14-year-old Ayinde Jean-Baptiste at the 1995 Million Man March in Washington,
D.C. Photographs, excerpts from diaries and memoirs, and reproductions of artwork by black
artists such as Charles Altson beautifully bring the story of each generation to life. Bolden
vibrantly delivers her historical message through a contemporary perspective. (Booklist)
Brady, A. (1995). Kwanzaa Karamu: Cooking and crafts for a Kwanzaa feast. Illustrated by B.
Knutson. Photographs by R. Wolf. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books. (4-6)
A thorough introduction to the history and practices of Kwanzaa, as well as kitchen-safety hints,
precede recipes for such dishes as Pick-a-Pepper Soup, Hopping John, and Baked Plantain on the
Shell. Directions for making a kinara tapestry, a mkeka mat, and several other Kwanzaa-related
crafts round out the volume, which is illustrated with attractive color photographs and artwork.
(Horn Book, 1995)
Branch, M. M. (1998). Juneteenth: Freedom Day. Photographs by W. Branch. New York:
Cobblehill. (4-6)
Juneteenth is the grandfather of all holidays for Black Texans.
From its spontaneous beginning on June 19, 1865, as slaves in Galveston, Texas, reacted to the
delayed news of the Emancipation Proclamation, the holiday has spread nationwide among
Black Americans. It is small gatherings on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, to immense crowds
in Buffalo, New York. This ethnic holiday includes the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation,
retelling of legends about how it got its name, parades, parties, and family reunions. Join the
author and photographer as they traveled to experience this celebration of freedom in various
spots around the United States. (amazon.com)
Bryan, A. (2007). Let it shine: Three favorite spirituals. Atheneum. (K-4)
The inspiring words of three well-known spirituals, "This Little Light of Mine,” "Oh, When the
Saints Go Marching In,” and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands,” are matched with
powerful construction-paper collage illustrations. Each double-page spread of this oversize
picture book is an explosion of shapes and bright colors. Stocky figures, silhouetted against
swirling colors are created from geometric shapes woven together. Rather than conceive a story
to accompany the lyrics, Bryan presents series of scenes to reflect each set of lyrics. Children
dance around with candles and march with saints; God holds a world of colored objects in his
hands. The musical notation and lyrics for each song appear at the end of the book, as does a
brief note from Bryan about the history of the spiritual and the changes he made in some of the
lyrics. This will be hard to read without breaking into song. (Booklist)
Chocolate, D. M. N. (1997). Kente colors. Illustrated by J. Ward. New York: Walker. (K-3)
A fascinating depiction of the fabric that is gradually becoming a symbol of the African-American
identity. (Horn Book, 1996)
Chocolate, D. M. N. (1990). Kwanzaa. Illustrated by M. Rosales. Chicago: Children‘s Press. (K3)
Discusses the holiday in which African Americans celebrate their roots and cultural heritage
from Africa. (card catalog)
Clinton, C. (2005). Hold the flag high. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. HarperCollins. (4-6)
This picture book celebrates the courage of William Carney----the first African American to be
awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor--and his Union Army regiment, the Massachusetts
Fifty-fourth. Readers familiar with the movie Glory will recognize the story of how the regiments
stormed Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Here, the story begins the night before the attack, when
Sergeant Carney encourages a young drummer boy, Ned. During the assault, Carney felt "a
burning sensation as a bullet tore through his flesh,” yet he manages to lift up the flag when the
soldier bearing it falls. Although the focus shifts between Ned and Carney, the story captures the
fear and horror of battle as well as the bravery of the soldiers. Back matter includes an epilogue,
a time line, and a few recommended books and Internet sites. Most effective when seen from a
little distance, Evans’ paintings convey the emotions of the characters as well as their actions.
The realistic depiction of battle, the vocabulary, and the story’s structure all point to an audience
older than the usual picture-book crowd. (Booklist)
Colbert, J. & Harms, A. M., editors. (2000). Dear Dr. King: Letters from today’s children to Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Photographs by E. C. Withers & R. Cajero. New York: Hyperion. (4-6)
Published to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Dr. King‟s assassination, "Dear Dr. King”
features a collection of letters culled from a project masterminded by a Memphis schoolteacher
and one Memphis parent of two school-age children. These letters represent the most thoughtprovoking, poignant, and sometimes humorous questions that children would liked to have asked
Dr. King and provide a fascinating snapshot of race issues in America today. (amazon.com)
Dillon, L. & Dillon, D. (2007). Jazz on a Saturday night. Scholastic/Blue Sky. (K-4)
If you have ever been lucky enough to hear great jazz, then you will understand the pure magic
of this book. Leo and Diane Dillon use bright colors and musical patterns that make music skip
off the page in this toe-tapping homage to many jazz greats. From Miles Davis and Charlie
Parker to Ella Fitzgerald, here is a dream team sure to knock your socks off. Learn about this
popular music form and read a biography of each player pictured-and then hear each instrument
play on a specially produced CD. What's the featured song? "Jazz on a Saturday Night," written
and recorded to accompany this book. (amazon.com)
Farris, C. K. (2008). March on! The day my brother Martin changed the world. Illustrated by L.
Ladd. Scholastic. (4-7)
From Dr. Martin Luther King’s sister, the definitive tribute to the man, the march, and the speech
that changed a nation. On a hot August day in 1963, hundreds of thousands of people made
history when they marched into Washington, D.C., in search of equality. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
the younger brother of Christine King Farris, was one of them. Martin was scheduled to speak to
the crowds of people on that day. But before he could stand up and inspire a nation, he had to
get down to business. He first had to figure out what to say and how to say it. So he spent all
night working on his "I Have a Dream” speech, one that would underscore a landmark moment
in civil rights history--the Great March on Washington. This would be one of the first events
televised all over the globe. The world would be listening, as one of the greatest orators of our
time shared his vision for a new day.
From the sister of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., comes this moving account of what that day was
like for her, and for the man who inspired a crowd--and convinced a nation to let freedom ring.
London Ladd’s beautiful full-color illustrations bring to life the thousands of people from all over
the country who came to the nation’s capital. They sing, they join hands, they march, and they
listen as speaker after speaker inspires social change, culminating in Dr. King's "I Have a Dream”
speech. (amazon.com)
Feelings, T. & Henrik, J. (1995). The middle passage. New York: Dial Books. (all ages))
Alex Haley's Roots awakened many Americans to the cruelty of slavery. The Middle Passage
focuses attention on the torturous journey which brought slaves from Africa to the Americas,
allowing readers to bear witness to the sufferings of an entire people. (amazon.com)
Feelings, M. L. (1992). Moja means one: Swahili counting book. Illustrated by T. Feelings. New
York: Dial Books. (K-3)
Primarily a Swahili counting book. Moja Means One is also meant to be a gift of heritage, a
glimpse of what is unique about East Africa. (School Library Journal)
Freedman, R. (2006). Freedom walkers: The story of the Montgomery bus boycott. Holiday. (59)
Freedman begins this outstanding history by reminding his audience that the injustices of racial
segregation did not happen that long ago in the United States. Throughout the book, he gives
accounts of how much coordination and sacrifice went into conducting the Montgomery Bus
Boycott–far more than students are likely to imagine from the usual popular and oversimplified
versions offered in textbooks and on television. There is a refreshing emphasis on depictions of
regular people and forgotten local crusaders working together to make the boycott possible and
triumphant, from inspiring descriptions of drivers getting up at dawn to take others to work to
accounts of well-known civil-rights lawyers working to find the right plaintiff to challenge unjust
laws. Freedman‘s prose style pulls readers into the narrative, integrating the actual recorded
words and deeds of the people to tell the story. The high-quality, black-and-white photographs
range from everyday scenes of African-American boycotters meeting, waiting for carpools, and
protesting to representations of more famous figures, such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King,
Jr., etc. Extensive chapter notes, an annotated selected bibliography, and a thorough index round
out the exemplary presentation. Pair this volume with Ann Bausum's Freedom Riders (National
Geographic) and Nikki Giovanni's Rosa (Holt, both 2005) for a powerful introduction to the Civil
Rights Movemen. (School Library Journal)
Haskins, J. and Benson, K. (1998). African beginnings. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York:
Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. (4-6)
The first book in a seven-book series that explores and celebrates the powerful impact AfricanAmericans have made on the history of our nation, “African Beginnings” introduces readers to a
series of glorious civilizations that have had a lasting impact on the world’s history, and on
American culture. (amazon.com)
Haskins, J. and Benson, K. (1999). Bound for America: The forced migration of Africans to the
New World. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. (4-6)
Between about 1500 and 1850, millions of Africans were captured and transported across the
Atlantic in one of the most tragic ordeals in human history. In this objective and profoundly
moving book, Haskins and Benson open with discussions of slavery throughout history and of
Europe and Africa at the time the African slave trade began, then closely examine every aspect of
the Middle Passage. Included are sections on capturing the slaves, the march to the coast, the
selection of slaves for purchase, conditions on slave ships, and slave revolts aboard ship.
(amazon.com)
Haskins, J. and Benson, K. (2002). Building a new land: African Americans in colonial America.
Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York: HarperCollins/Amistad. (4-6)
This title focuses on the lives of slaves in colonial America, their contributions to the foundation
of this nation, and their attempts to preserve their African traditions and culture. (Book Links,
June/July 2002, p. 33)
Haskins, J. (1999). The day Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot: A photo history of the civil rights
movement. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (4-6)
No synopsis available.
Hoobler, D. & T. (1998). The African American family album. New York: Oxford University
Press Children‘s Books. (4-6)
A history of African Americans in the United States chronicles the experiences of many
generations, from slavery, through eras of struggle, journeys from the Southern plantations to the
West and industrial North, and contributions to American culture. (amazon.com)
Hopkinson, D. (2006). Up before daybreak: Cotton and people in America. Scholastic. (4-8)
In UP BEFORE DAYBREAK, acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson captures the voices of the
forgotten men, women, and children who worked in the cotton industry in America over the
centuries. The voices of the slaves who toiled in the fields in the South, the poor sharecroppers
who barely got by, and the girls who gave their lives to the New England mills spring to life
through oral histories, archival photos, and Hopkinson‘s engaging narrative prose style. These
stories are amazing and often heartbreaking, and they are imbedded deep in our nation‘s history.
(amazon.com)
Igus, T. (1998). i see the rhythm. Illustrated by M. Wood. San Francisco, CA: Children‘s Book
Press. (2 -up).
A visual and poetic introduction to the history of African American music, this striking picture
book is also an excellent guide that music teachers might introduce in history units in the
classroom. (Book Links, Aug./Sept.2000)
Jordan, A. D. & Schomp, V. (2006). Slavery and resistance. Benchmark. (5-8)
There are many books about slavery, but this volume in the Drama of African-American History
series is a standout, with the elements both well done and well balanced. Foremost is the text,
which is as engaging as it is solidly written. An introduction sets the stage, discussing the first
colony at Jamestown and how both whites and blacks--some servants, some slaves--worked the
land. The information flows organically, detailing how African Americans came to this new
country (following one of the earliest families who bought their way out of indentured servitude)
and explaining how slavery spread and took hold, more strongly in some places than in others.
The Revolutionary War and the role of blacks are thoroughly covered, as is what life was like for
slaves in both the North and the South. Series books often have a problem with design, but that‘s
not the case here. The pages are clean, and there are plenty of design elements to enliven them:
the typeface is sharp, and sidebars are handled in a way that is complementary rather than
intrusive. The handsome art, which includes paintings and photos (some reproduced on full
pages), is compelling. A glossary and lists of further resources are appended. (Booklist)
Kallen, S. (1990). The twentieth century and the Harlem Renaissance: A History of Black people
in America, 1880-1930. Vaughn, ON: ABDO & daughters. (4-6)
Discusses Black history during the early decades of the twentieth century, profiling such notables
as W.E.B. DuBois, George Washington Carver, Langston Hughes, and Louis Armstrong. (card
catalog)
King, W. (2000). Children of the Emancipation. First Avenue. (3-5)
Explains how the nearly four million slaves and nearly half a million free blacks gained freedom
and basic rights as citizens, following Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. (card catalog)
Levine, E. (2000). Freedom‘s children: Young civil rights activists tell their own stories. New
York: Puffin. (4-6)
In this inspiring collection of true stories, thirty African-Americans who were children or
teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s talk about what it was like for them to fight segregation in the
South-to sit in an all-white restaurant and demand to be served, to refuse to give up a seat at the
front of the bus, to be among the first to integrate the public schools, and to face violence, arrest,
and even death for the cause of freedom. (amazon.com)
Levine, E. (1994). If you lived at the time of Martin Luther King. Illustrated by A. Rich. New
York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
This book focuses on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Full-color art and an
engaging question-and-answer format help children learn what it was like to participate in the
Montgomery Bus Boycott, stage a sit-in at a lunch counter, join the famous March on
Washington, and more. (amazon.com)
Levine, E. (1993). If you traveled on the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by L. Johnson. New
York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
In a question-and-answer format, the reader is introduced to what the underground railroad was
and how it was used between 1830 and 1860 to help slaves in America escape to the North.
(amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (1999). Black hands, white sails: The story of AfricanAmerican whalers. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
Despite the dangers and challenges of whaling, many African-Americans took on the job between
1730 and 1880. A rare look at an important slice of American history describes their
contributions to the whaling industry and their role in the abolitionist movement. (Borders.com)
McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (2003). Days of Jubilee: The end of slavery in the United
States. Illustrated by D. & L. Dillon. Scholastic. (5-8)
As this book clearly shows, there was no single day when slavery ended in the U.S. but a series of
dates when groups and individual slaves celebrated their own "days of Jubilee.‖ The discussion
begins after the Revolutionary War, when many of the African Americans who had fought were
freed, but it quickly moves on to the Civil War era. Each chapter begins with a quotation from a
historical document, followed by a boxed story that tells, for example, of a slave family escaping
to the Union army or a Boston church congregation receiving word that Lincoln had signed the
Emancipation Proclamation. The quotations are sourced (though often identified only as "slave
Narrative‖), but no source notes are given for the boxed narratives, which occasionally seem
lightly fictionalized. The McKissacks do a remarkable job of explaining Civil War history as it
relates to the end of slavery, and their lively account presents the war and its consequences in
very human terms. For instance, it relates that in New York when, for the first time in history,
photographs of the dead and dying soldiers on a battlefield went on display, "people cried out in
horror.‖ The balanced perspective, vivid telling, and well-chosen details give this book an
immediacy that many history books lack. Illustrations include reproductions of many period
photographs as well as paintings, prints, and documents, and a time line and a bibliography are
appended. (Booklist)
McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (2002). Christmas in the big house, Christmas in the
quarters. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
Describes the customs, recipes, poems, and songs used to celebrate Christmas in the big
plantation houses and in the slave quarters just before the Civil War. (card catalog)
McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (1996). Rebels against slavery: American slave revolts.
New York: Scholastic. (5-6)
Collects the true stories of brave African-American rebels who fought against slavery, from
Cinque, who pleaded his case before the Supreme Court, to Nat Turner, who led one of the
greatest revolts in history. (amazon.com)
McWhorter, D. (2004). A dream of freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968.
Scholastic. (5-9)
Motivated by her naive, youthful acceptance of racial injustice as a white, privileged child in
Birmingham, AL, McWhorter directs her compelling retrospective at readers who likewise may
not realize that history swirls around them. After a prologue that describes the emergence and
impact of segregation in the United States, chapters follow chronologically, highlighting pivotal
events, people, successes, and failures of "The Movement.‖ Against the backdrop of the
constitutional and moral struggle between the White House and Southern politicians, the author
recounts the flamboyant resilience of Birmingham‘s Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, the battered
determination of student leader John Lewis, the nonviolent leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., and the sacrificial commitment of the Freedom Riders. She also explores J. Edgar Hoover‘s
covert manipulation of the FBI, the power struggle between the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the shift from
nonviolence to Black Power and urban race riots, and the national political focus on the Vietnam
War. Protests, marches, boycotts, and infamous tragedies are sequenced and analyzed as
catalysts that fueled the movement. Collections that already own Ellen Levine‘s Freedom's
Children (Putnam, 1993) and James Haskins's Freedom Rides (Hyperion, 1995) will be greatly
enhanced by this title. Numerous archival photos add a powerful visual dimension to the text.
This engaging, stirring narrative offers a balanced presentation of the heroism and idealism as
well as the political turmoil surrounding and within the civil rights movement. (School Library
Journal)
Medearis, A. S. & Medearis, M. R. (1997). Music (African American Arts). New York: Twenty
First Century Books. (4-6)
Discusses the evolution of African American music from its roots in the rhythms and instruments
from Africa through the development of the blues, gospel, and soul to modern rock and rap. (card
catalog)
Musgrove, M. (1992). Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions. Illustrated by D. & L. Dillon. New York:
Dial Books for Young Readers. (4-6)
Explains some traditions and customs of twenty-six African American tribes beginning with the
letters from A to Z. (card catalog)
Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. Hyperion. (4-6)
The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined
owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won
and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the
social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century.
But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes
who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one
thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball. Using an
“Everyman” player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League
baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson
crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you
are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has
known the great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences. But what
makes this book so outstanding are the dozens of full-page and double-page oil
paintings--breathtaking in their perspectives, rich in emotion, and created with
understanding and affection for these lost heroes of our national game.
(amazon.com)
Pinkney, A. D. (1998). Seven candles for Kwanzaa. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York: Puffin. (K3)
In this spirited introduction to Kwanzaa, Pinkney explains the meaning of the week-long AfricanAmerican winter holiday and the special way each day is celebrated. (amazon.com)
Pinkney, S. L. (2000). Shades of black: A celebration of our children. Illustrated by M. C.
Pinkney. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Indeed, there are many shades of black, and they are beautifully exemplified in this photo album
that depicts the varied palette that makes up black skin. These gorgeous children are “gingery
brown like a cookie,” “brassy yellow like popcorn,” and “midnight blue like a licorice stick.”
And yes, “black” can be creamy white like vanilla ice cream. But the author and illustrator don‟t
stop there. They also look at eyes and hair, showing the beauty and uniqueness of eyes with hints
of tiger-eye yellow and sturdy, coiling, woollike hair. All of it is black. All of it is beautiful. This
may be just the kind of book that black children don't see enough of, but it can certainly be
appreciated by children of any color. (Booklist)
Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin‘s big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Illustrated by
B. Collier. New York: Hyperion. (K-4)
In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., author Doreen Rappaport combines
her spare, lyrical text with King‟s own words for an effective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of
the world‟s greatest civil rights leaders. From King‟s youth, when he looked up to his preacher
father and vowed one day to “get big words, too,” to his death at a garbage workers‟ strike (“On
his second day there, he was shot. He died.”), Rappaport imbues the story with reverence.
Acclaimed artist Bryan Collier depicts his subject with stunning watercolor and collage
illustrations, balancing glorious recreations of stained glass windows with some of the more
somber images of peace marchers and the famous bus that pitched Rosa Parks into the civil
rights movement. A brief chronology and bibliography provide additional resources for readers.
Here is an exquisite tribute to a world hero. (amazon.com)
Rappaport, D. (2003). Free at last! Stories and songs of Emancipation. Illustrated by S. W. Evans.
Candlewick. (4-8)
Drawing on first-person accounts by leaders and ordinary people in song, poetry, memoir,
letters, and court testimony, this history brings close the experience of black Americans in the
U.S. from the time of emancipation to the 1954 Supreme Court decision that declared "separate
but equal‖ illegal. The stories are riveting. Jane Kemper steals back her four children, who were
forcibly "apprenticed‖ by her former slave master. Harriet Postle, seven months pregnant,
confronts the night riders who crash into her home. And there‘s no sentimentality. A letter tells of
a slave family reunion that is painful and disappointing. A poem shows that convict labor was
slavery under a new name. As in the author‘s history of slavery, No More! (2002), Rappaport
talks about her sources and how she has adapted them, and the readable, informal notes bring
authenticity to the personal accounts. Like the narrative, Evans‘ dramatic oil paintings, many of
them full page, show the cruelty, even of a lynching, without exploiting the horror, and his
portraits of individuals, from the famous to the unknown, celebrate the courage of people who
helped break the color line. The clear, spacious design will encourage browsing, and a detailed
chronology, a lengthy bibliography, and source notes will help readers to find out more.
(Booklist)
Rappaport, D. (2006). Nobody gonna turn me ‗round: Songs and stories of the Civil Rights
Movement. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. Candlewick. (4-7)
The last of the trilogy that includes No More! (2005) and Free at Last! (2006), this stirring
picture book draws on first-person accounts from famous leaders of the civil rights movement as
well as testimonies of unsung heroes. The brutality is evident--in horrific memories of segregation
and the violence of hate groups. But there are also triumphant stories, some in Rappaport‘s
present-tense narrative, about Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and many more. Martin Luther
King Jr.‘s leadership role and his famous "I have a dream‖ speech are celebrated, but Malcolm
X gets little attention. Whereas most histories of this period are illustrated with famous
documentary photos, this one features dramatic oil paintings, which show close up the courage of
young people confronting hatred at sit-ins, on freedom rides, and behind bars. A detailed
chronology, source notes, and a bibliography will connect readers with the many other fine
biographies and histories of this period, such as Ellen Levine‘s Freedom's Children (1992) and
Diane McWhorter‘s A Dream of Freedom (2004). (Booklist)
Rappaport, D. (2002). No more! Stories and songs of slave resistance. Illustrated by S. W. Evans.
Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. (3-6)
As Virginia Hamilton did in Many Thousand Gone (1993), Rappaport has collected slave
narratives, biographies, and songs that tell the history of resistance from the Middle Passage to
the plantation and then the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. There are episodes about
the famous (Frederick Douglass‟ triumphant fight with the “nigger-breaker,” for example) and
about the secret rebellion of ordinary field workers. She also includes trickster tales and words
and music for several songs--among them, "
“Go Down Moses.” Rappaport retells the stories in short, present-tense episodes and uses some
composite characters, so this doesn‟t have the authenticity of Hamilton‟s direct excerpts from
Equiano‟s autobiography and other first-person narratives. But the research is documented, and
younger readers can start with the experiences of ordinary people and then go on to the fuller
histories listed in the bibliography. Evans‟ large, dramatic oil paintings show both the suffering
and the protest, as in one unforgettable close-up of a captured runaway in irons, his eyes closed,
his head unbowed. (Booklist)
Rappaport, D. (2005). The school is not white!: A true story of the Civil Rights Movement.
Illustrated by C. James. Jump at the Sun/Hyperion. (2-5)
This book tells the story of an African-American family in Mississippi in 1965. The author calls
them not-yet-celebrated Americans and recounts their pursuit of an equal education at the
beginning of desegregation. When the Carters make the unpopular and risky decision to send
their seven children to an all-white school with better resources for students, they face many
obstacles both inside and outside the building. Rappaport emphasizes the family‘s determination
and perseverance, especially the mother, Mae Bertha Carter, who tells her children that the
school is not white and that they have every right to an education. The chalk-and-pastel
illustrations are somber and realistic with moments of brightness that seem symbolic of hope. The
Carters are injured, but they are not broken. Students will need some background information in
order to fully appreciate this text. Teachers will find the book to be a useful resource for helping
children to see how history does, in fact, include ordinary people. The author has included notes
about how this book took shape through her own questions about the past. In addition, she
provides an epilogue about the Carter children as successful adults. (School Library Journal)
Raven, M. T. (2004). Circle unbroken. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. (2-5)
A grandmother tells the tale of Gullahs and their beautiful sweetgrass baskets that keep their
African heritage alive. (card catalog)
Rediger, P. (1995). Great African Americans in civil rights. Niagara-on-the-lake, ON: Crabtree.
(4-6)
Profiles notable African Americans in the field of civil rights including Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Malcolm X, Marian Wright Edelman, Thurgood Marshall, and Roas Parks. (amazon.com)
Rediger, P. (1995). Great African Americans in literature. Niagara-on-the-lake, ON: Crabtree. (46)
Profiles notable African American writers, novelists and poets such as Maya Angelou, James
Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Alice Walker, Alex Haley and others. (amazon.com)
Rosinsky, N. M. (2005). Juneteenth. Compass Point. (1-3)
Double-page spreads, illustrated with archival and contemporary photographs, relate
information on slavery, the first Juneteenth, early traditions, symbols, and how the holiday is
observed today. This Let‘s See – Holidays title concludes with additional Juneteenth facts, a
glossary, bibliography, and list of furth resources. Denise M. Jordan offers similar information
to the same age group in Juneteenth, Heinemann, 2003. (Book Links, Angela Leeper, January
2008).
Shore, D. Z. & Alexander, J. (2005). This is the dream. Illustrated by J. Ransome.
Amistad/HarperCollins. (all ages)
Ransome (Satchel Paige) creates a striking juxtaposition of closely focused paintings and collage
borders incorporating powerful historical photographs. These images will make a strong
impression on readers of this expository chronicle of events preceding, during and following the
civil rights movement, as Ransome‘s artwork makes large ideas comprehensible through visual
details. The singsong rhythm and "House-that-Jack-Built‖ meter creates a chilling contrast to
what‘s going on between the lines: "These are the buses—a dime buys a ride,/ but the people are
sorted by color inside.‖ Ransome shows the demarcation of the bus‘s white and black sections,
and in a border across the top creates a collage of stirring portraits. Text and artwork similarly
depict segrgated lunch counters, libraries and schools. One of the most powerful spreads
portrays three black children stepping into a newly integrated school ("These are the students
who step through the doors/ where people of color have not walked before‖), Confederate flags
flying, while a photocollage on the top edge shows the fractured images of angry white
bystanders, effectively emulating a mob mentality. Concluding spreads demonstrate the contrast
today, with images of a multiracial array of people waiting to use the same drinking fountain and
reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in one voice at school. This will provide a solid springboard for
adult-child discussions, especially since younger readers might need help deciphering some of the
poetic narrative‘s references. (Publishers Weekly)
Supples, K. (2006). Speaking out: The Civil Rights Movement 1950-1964 (Crossroads
America). National Geographic. (4-8)
"I have a dream.‖ Everyone is familiar with these words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but not
everyone knows the struggle that surrounded them. In the 1950s, America was not a place of
fulfilled dreams for the nation‘s black population. Widespread prejudice and segregation had left
African Americans with fewer civil rights than other Americans. Bravely, the people did not
remain quiet—a vibrant movement for civil rights began in the United States—one that would last
for decades and would face innumerable challenges. Speaking Out is the story of America‘s
extraordinary Civil Rights Movement. (amazon.com)
Weatherford, C. B. (2000). The sound that jazz makes. Illustrated by E. Velasquez. New York:
Walker. (3-6)
A symphony of sound and color, The Sound That Jazz Makes is an eloquently rendered
celebration of a remarkable heritage. Author Carole Boston Weatherford‘s lyrical stanzas
combine with the power of luminous oil paintings by Coretta Scott King New Talent winner, Eric
Velasquez (The Piano Man) to trace the development of jazz. From African forests to wooden
slave ships to Harlem nightclubs, the tragic and joyous legacy of the African-American
experience gives jazz its passion and spirit. (amazon.com)
Westridge Young Writers Workshop. (1996). Kids explore America‘s African-American heritage.
Santa Fe, TX: John Muir. (4-6)
Examines the contributions of African Americans to American culture in such areas as music,
food, literature, and other fields, discussing the early history of Africa, the contributions of civil
rights leaders, ethnic crafts, and more. (amazon.com)
Yarbrough, C. (1999). Cornrows. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (2-5)
Explains how the hairstyle of cornrows, a symbol of Africa since ancient times, can today in this
country symbolize the courage of outstanding Afro-Americans. (card catalog)
BACK
Traditional:
Aardema, V. (1997). Anansi does the impossible!: An Ashanti tale. Illustrated by L. Desimini. New
York: Atheneum. (K-3)
With the help of his clever wife, Anansi performs three impossible tasks in order to buy the Sky
God‘s stories. Brilliant collage illustrations bring out the humor of this tale in which the roundbellied trickster spiders catch a python, a fairy, and forty-seven stinging hornets for the wrathful Sky
God. (Horn Book, 1998)
Aardema, V. (1992). Anansi finds a fool: An Ashanti tale. Illustrated by B. Waldman. New York:
Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
"When you dig a hole for someone else, you will fall into it yourself.‖ Acclaimed folklorist Verna
Aardema once again weaves a funny and magical African tale about lazy Anansi, who wants a
fishing partner who will do all the work with Anansi getting the fish. But when his clever friend
Bonsu becomes his partner, Anansi's plan backfires. (amazon.com)
Aardema, V. (1992).Bimwilli and the Zimwi. Illustrated by S. Meddaugh. New York: Dial Books
for Young Readers. (K-3)
A Swahili girl is abducted by a Zimwi and told to be the voice inside his singing drum. (card catalog)
Aardema, V. (1992). Bringing the rain to Kapiti Plain: A Nandi tale. Illustrated by B. Vidal. New
York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
A cumulative rhyme relating how Ki-pat brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain. (card
catalog)
Aardema, V. (1994). Misoso: Once upon a time tales from Africa. Illustrated by R. Ruffins. New
York: Knopf. (1-5)
From Angola to Zanzibar, here's a timeless treasury as varied and bountiful as Africa itself. Master
storyteller Verna Aardema has gathered 12 misoso tales--fables that enthrall--and retold them with
inimitable style alongside full-color illustrations that vibrantly reflect the spirit of these read-along
delights. (amazon.com)
Aardema, V. (1993). Oh! Kojo! How could you!: An Ashanti tale. Illustrated by M. T. Brown. New
York: E. P. Dutton. (K-3)
Retelling of a humorous Ashanti folktale relating how a young man named Kojo finally gets the
better of the tricky Anansi. (amazon.com)
Aardema, V. (1992). Who‘s in rabbit‘s house?: A Masai tale. Illustrated by D. Dillon. New York:
Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
A Masai tale, presented in the form of a play, in which the frog gets the job of getting a monster out
of the rabbit‘s house after the leopard, elephant, and rhino bungle the job. (amazon.com)
Aardema, V. (1992). Why mosquitoes buzz in people‘s ears: A West African tale. Illustrated by D.
& L. Dillon. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
Reveals the meaning of the mosquito's buzz. (card catalog)
Anderson, D.A. (1991). The origin of life on Earth: An African creation myth. Illustrated by K. A.
Wilson. Mount Airy, MD: Sights Productions. (4-6)
Winner of the 1993 Coretta Scott King Award and the African Studies Association Outstanding Book
Award, here is a lavish retelling of an age-old African creation myth. Based on the legends of the
Yoruba, an ancient West African culture, this full-color, cultural experience provides today‘s young
readers with a unique bridge to the past.
Tells the story of an ancient African creation myth of how the Earth and its inhabitants came to be.
(amazon.com)
Arkhurst, J. C. (1992). The adventures of Spider: West African folktales. Illustrated by J. Pinkney.
New York: Little Brown and Company. (K-3)
Presents six tales about Spider, including those which explain how he got a thin waist and a bald
head and why he lives in ceilings and dark corners. (card catalog)
Badoe, A. (2001). The pot of wisdom: Ananse stories. Illustrated by B. W. Diakite. Toronto, CA:
Groundwood. (4-6)
One of the major figures in African folklore is the round-bellied trickster-spider Ananse, who
outwits enemies large and small. With The Pot of Wisdom, a wider audience can enjoy these
delightful tales. Adwoa Badoe‘s witty retellings and Baba Wague Diakite‘s colorful images bring
Ananse and his amusing -- and instructive -- adventures to life. (amazon.com)
Borgenicht, D. (1995). Brer Rabbit: From the collected stories of Joel Chandler Harris. Illustrated by
D. Daily. Philadelphia, PA: Running Press Book Publishers. (4-6)
Seven playful folktales follow the adventures of the crafty Brer Rabbit, the wily Brer Fox, and the
dumbfounded Brer Bear, introducing young readers to the original humor and wisdom of traditional
African lore. (amazon.com)
Bryan, A. (2003). Beautiful blackbird. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)
In this simple adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia, the message is clear:
"Black is beautiful.” Once upon a time, Blackbird was the only bird of Africa who wasn‟t brightly
colored. When Ringdove asks who is the most beautiful bird, the other birds name Blackbird. At
Ringdove‟s request, Blackbird brings blackening from his medicine gourd to decorate Ringdove‟s
colored neck; the other birds also want trimming, so Blackbird paints dots and brushes lines and
arcs until his gourd is empty. Using a more vivid palette than usual, Bryan employs boldly colored,
cut-paper artwork to dramatize the action. The overlapping collage images fill the pages with
energy as the songlike responses of the birds tap out a rhythm punctuated with "uh-huhs.” In an
author‟s note, Bryan explains that the scissors pictured on the endpapers, which Bryan used to
create the collages, were once also used by his mother. Ready-made for participative storytelling.
(Booklist)
Bryan, A. (1996). Lion and the ostrich chicks and other African folk tales. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
In the splendid format of his two previous collections, Ashley Brian presents four stories
representing various cultures of Africa, while his dynamic, somewhat stylized . . . illustrations add
not only decorative designs but a handsome choreography of animated creatures. (Horn Book,
1996)
Bynum, E. & Jackson, R. (2004). Jamari‘s drum. Illustrated by B. W. Diakite. Groundwood. (K-4)
Little Jamari loves the sound of the great village drum and often sits at drummer Baba‘s feet. "Why
do you play every day?‖ he asks. "The drum is the keeper of peace in the village,‖ Baba replies.
Time passes and many of the village elders pass on. One day Jamari agrees to take over the beating
of the drum, to keep the peace. But little by little, he forgets his promise until disaster looms. What
will Jamari do to bring back peace? Featuring acclaimed artist Baba Diakité‘s gorgeous
illustrations, Jamari‘s Drum offers a simple, compelling lesson about duty and the greater good.
(amazon.com)
Climo, S. (1992). The Egyptian Cinderella. Illustrated by R. Heller. New York: HarperCollins. (K-3)
A retelling of an ancient Egyptian version of Cinderella features Rhodopis, who is devastated when
a falcon swoops down and steals one of her precious red slippers until the Pharaoh uses it as a clue
to find his bride. (amazon.com)
Cummings, P. (2002). Ananse and the lizard: A West African tale. New York: Henry Holt and
Company. (K-3)
In this delightful new tale about the old West African trickster, children learn why lizards stretch
their necks. Ananse arrives in a busy Ghanaian village to join the many young men who hope to win
the hand of the Chief‟s daughter by guessing her name. The crowd thins out when the penalty for
error is announced, but Ananse is confident. In fact, he overhears the servants talking and
immediately fancies himself a Chief. Lizard now steps forward and asks to be the messenger of
Ananse‟s news to the palace. In fact, of course, Lizard becomes the bridegroom and the spider
storms away threatening to tear him to pieces. That is why, to this day, Lizard looks every which
way. Cummings‟s retelling of this "Rumpelstiltskin” variant is humorous and folksy while her
gouache-and-watercolor paintings capture the brightly colored array of Ashanti patterns and the
bustling activities of the village streets. The insects, especially Grasshopper, move their many
appendages humorously. (School Library Journal, 2002)
Day, N. R. (1995). The lion‘s whiskers: An Ethiopian folktale. Illustrated by A. Grifalconi. New
York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
An Ethiopian folktale follows a stepmother's dangerous quest in which she must pluck three
whiskers from a fierce lion's chin in order to gain her stepson‘s trust, and is accompanied by bold
collage illustrations by a Caldecott Honor-winning artist(amazon.com)
Gerson, M. (1992). Why the sky is far away: A Nigerian folktale. Illustrated by C. Golembe.
Boston: Little Brown. (K-3)
A cautionary African tale explains how people's greed and disrespect for the earth and sky has made
harvesting food more difficult than it used to be. (amazon.com)
Gregorowski, C. (2000). Fly, eagle, fly: An African fable. Illustrated by N. Daly. New York: Simon
& Schuster. (K-3)
A farmer finds an eagle and raises it to behave like a chicken, until a friend helps the eagle learn its
rightful place in the sky. (card catalog)
Grifalconi, A. (1986). The village of round and square houses. Boston: Little, Brown & Company.
(K-3)
A grandmother explains to her listeners why in their village on the side of the volcano the men live
in square houses and the women live in round ones. (card catalog)
Grifalconi, A. (2002). The village that vanished. Illustrated by K. Nelson. New York: Dial Books for
Young Readers. (K-3)
Young Abekenile and all the villagers of Yao feel safe sheltered deep within the jungle. But word has
now come that slavers are on their way! Abekenile looks to the women of her tribe: her mother, who
comes up with a clever plan to fool the slavers, and a tribal elder, who stays behind to face the
slavers, steadfast in her trust that the ancestor-spirits will watch over her. But as the villagers
retreat within the forest, it is Abekenile who finds that she too has the bravery and daring to help her
people stay safe and free. Kadir Nelson‟s lush and striking artwork beautifully expresses this
inspiring tale. (amazon.com)
Haley, G.E. (1988). A story a story: An African tale. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
Recounts how most African folk tales came to be called ―Spider Stories.‖ (card catalog)
Hamilton, V. (1995). Her stories: African American folktales, fairy tales, and true tales. Illustrated
by L. & D. Dillon. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
A collection of twenty-five African-American folktales focuses on strong female characters and
includes "Little Girl and Bruh Rabby‖, ―Catskinella‖, and ―Annie Christmas‖. (amazon.com)
Hamilton, V. (2000). The girl who spun gold. Illustrated by D. & L. Dillon. New York: Scholastic.
(K-3)
In this African-American retelling of "Rumpelstiltskin‖, Lit'mahn spins thread into gold cloth for the
king‘s new bride. This book is produced with a gold foil jacket and spot varnish making it an ideal
gift book. (Borders.com)
Hamilton, V. (2000). The people could fly: American Black folktales. Illustrated by L. & D. Dillon.
New York: Random House. (4-6)
Retold Afro-American folktales of animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and desire for freedom, born
of the sorrow of the slaves, but passed on in hope. (card catalog)
Hamilton, V. (2004). The people could fly: The picture book. Illustrated by L. & D. Dillon. Knopf
Books for Young Readers. (all ages)
―THE PEOPLE COULD FLY,‖ the title story in Virginia Hamilton‘s prize-winning American Black
folktale collection, is a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that
enabled them to literally fly away to freedom. And it is a moving tale of those who did not have the
opportunity to ―fly‖ away, who remained slaves with only their imaginations to set them free as they
told and retold this tale.
Leo and Diane Dillon have created powerful new illustrations in full color for every page of this
picture book presentation of Virginia Hamilton‘s most beloved tale. The author‘s original historical
note as well as her previously unpublished notes are included. (amazon.com)
Hull, R. (2000). Stories from West Africa. Illustrated by T. Clarey. Austin, TX: Raintree/SteckVaughn. (K-3)
A variety of tales that originated in West Africa. (card catalog)
Hurston, Z. N., collector. (2005). Lies and other tall tales. Adapted and illustrated by C. Myers.
HarperCollins. (all ages)
"A lie so good you didn't even want to know the truth.‖ Myers has adapted and illustrated some of
the wild, very short, wicked stories collected by the Harlem Renaissance folklorist, anthropologist,
and writer Zora Neale Hurston. He cites her sources as she quoted them, ordinary folk, such as
"Floyd Thomas, age 23, phosphate miner, born in Florida.‖ True to the spirit of the tall-tale oral
tradition, Myers‘ quiltlike pictures in paper and fabric collage are minimalist and exaggerated,
magical and mundane. Everyone will have a favorite story or image; perhaps it will be the one in
which the narrator "seen wind so hard / till it blowed a man‘s nose off his face and / onto the back of
his neck, . . . every time he sneeze / he blow his hat off.‖ True to the irreverence of Hurston herself,
Myers says he found the stories in a government office, "which is where they are keeping all the lies
nowadays.‖ Perfect for sharing with many age groups, this picture book will be a winner at family
and cultural celebrations. (Booklist)
Isadora, R. (2008). The fisherman and his wife. Putnam. (K-3)
Caldecott Honor–winning artist Rachel Isadora brings another fabulous fairy tale to brilliant life
with her stunning collages. The Brothers Grimm story of the kind fisherman who catches an
enchanted fish, and his greedy wife who always wants more, is perfect for these “give-me” times.
Rachel Isadora’s captivating collage-style artwork, featuring the African landscape and the
increasingly turbulent ocean, provides a wonderful new backdrop for this classic story.
(amazon.com)
Kimmel, E. A. (1990). Anansi and the moss-covered rock. Illustrated by J. Stevens. New York:
Holiday House. (K-3)
Anansi the Spider uses a strange moss-covered rock in the forest to trick all the other animals, until
Little Bush Deer decides he needs to learn a lesson. (card catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (1995). Anansi and the talking melon. Illustrated by J. Stevens. New York: Holiday
House. (K-3)
A clever spider tricks Elephant and some other animals into thinking the melon in which he is hiding
can talk. (card catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (1993). Anansi goes fishing. Illustrated by J. Stevens. New York: Holiday House. (K3)
Anansi the spider plans to trick Turtle into catching a fish for his dinner, but Turtle proves to be
smarter and ends up with a free meal. Explains the origin of spider webs. (card catalog)
Knutson, B. (1993). Sungura and leopard: A Swahili trickster tale. Canada: Little Brown &
Company. (K-3)
A small but clever hare and fierce leopard agree to share a house, but as the hare‘s family grows, he
realizes that he must find a way to get rid of his bad-tempered neighbor. (card catalog)
Kurtz, J. (1994). Fire on the mountain. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Simon and Schuster.
(1-4)
Alemayu, a shepherd boy living in the mountains of Ethiopia, wagers his future in a bet with his
bad-tempered, boastful, and deceitful master. (amazon.com)
Lester, J. (1990). Further tales of Uncle Remus: The misadventures of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer
Wolf, the Doodang and other creatures. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young
Readers. (4-6)
The wily Brer Rabbit is back, along with all his friends and enemies. With all the distinctive humor
that marked their first two Uncle Remus books, Newbery Honor author Julius Lester and Caldecott
Honor artist Jerry Pinkney bring new life to thirty-three more delightful folktales. (amazon.com)
Lester, J. (1988). More tales of Uncle Remus: The further adventures of Brer Rabbit, his friends,
enemies and others. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (4-6)
Brer Rabbit may not be as big as Brer Bear or as strong as Mr. Man, but no creature has ever had
sharper wits. Young and old alike will laugh out loud at his outrageous antics as he once again
outmaneuvers his old foes. (amazon.com)
Lester, J. (1994). The last tales of Uncle Remus. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books
for Young Readers. (4-6)
Retells the final adventures and misadventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends and enemies. (card
catalog)
Lester, J. (1999). The tales of Uncle Remus: The adventures of Brer Rabbit. Illustrated by J.
Pinkney. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
Jerry Pinkney‘s lively and humorous illustrations are a perfect match for Julius Lester‘s
contemporary approach, which expertly introduces a modern sense of humor to these 48 tales while
paying homage to their roots as traditional American folklore. (amazon.com)
Lyons, M. E. (2005). Roy makes a car. Illustrated by T. Widener. Atheneum. (1-3)
Lyons expands a two-paragraph tall tale, collected by Zora Neale Hurston for the Federal Writers‘
Project in the 1930s, into a wildly funny story about a gifted car mechanic. Roy is so exceptional
that he can "grease an axle faster than you can say 'carburetor,‘ and he can clean spark plugs just
by looking at them hard.‖ No one believes him, however, when he says that he can build an
accident-proof car, "a stabilated, lubricated, banjo-axled, wing-fendered, low-compression,
noncollision car.‖ Perfect for reading aloud, the funny rhythmic words are well matched to
Widener‘s exaggerated acrylic illustrations, which show sly Roy and his huge, flying 1930s-style
car. Young car enthusiasts will enjoy the silly mechanical details, and Lyon‘s lively afterword about
"storycatcher‖ Hurston is a delight. (Booklist)
McDermott, G. (1999). Anansi the spider: A tale from the Ashanti. New York: Econo-Clad Books.
(K-3)
In this traditional tale from West Africa, Anansi, the Spider, sets out on a long journey. Threatened
by Fish and Falcon, he is saved from terrible fates by his sons. But which of his six sons should he
reward? The color, splendid design montage, and the authentic African language rhythms forge a
new direction in picture books for children. (amazon.com)
McDermott, G. (1996). Zomo the rabbit: A trickster from West Africa. New York: Voyager Picture
Books. (K-3)
Zomo the Rabbit, an African trickster, sets out to gain wisdom. (amazon.com)
McGill, A. (2008). Way up and over everything. Illustrated by J. Daly. Houghton. (2-4)
My great-grandmama‘s mama told her and she told me this story about a long time ago . . . So
begins this account of the author‘s great-great-grandmother Jane, and how she meets a slave new to
the plantation, a slave who would prove to have magical powers . . . created by the wish for
freedom. Alice McGill remembers this story, passed down in her family through the generations,
from her childhood and how her greatgrandmother told it to her ―as if unveiling a great, wonderful
secret. My siblings and I believed that certain Africans shared this gift of taking to the air—‗way up
and over everything.‘‖ (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. (1998). The dark-thirty: Southern tales of the supernatural. Illustrated by B. Pinkney.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf. (4-6)
A collection of original stories rooted in African-American history and the tradition of oral
storytelling spans the period from slavery to the civil-rights era. Pinkney's scratchboard artwork
adds the right amount of tension and apprehension to this collection that is great for reading aloud.
(Horn Book, 1993)
McKissack, P. (1986). Flossie and the fox. Illustrated by R. Isadora. New York: E. P. Dutton. (K-3)
A wily fox, notorious for stealing eggs, meets his match when he encounters a bold little girl in the
woods who insists upon proof that he is a fox before she will be frightened. (card catalog)
McKissack, P. (1997). Mirandy and brother wind. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dragonfly.
(K-3)
Spirited young Mirandy sets out to capture Brother Wind to make him her partner for her first
cakewalk, in a colorful tale that evokes the spirit of the rural South. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. (1994). Nettie Jo‘s friends. Illustrated by S. Cook. New York: Knopf. (K-3))
Nettie Jo desperately needs a needle to sew a new dress for her beloved doll, but the three animals
she helps during her search do not seem inclined to give her their assistance in return. (card
catalog)
Medearis, A. S. (2000). Seven spools of thread: A Kwanzaa story. Illustrated by D. Minter. Morton
Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (1-4)
In an African village live seven brothers who make family life miserable with their constant fighting.
When their father dies, he leaves an unusual will: by sundown, the brothers must make gold out of
seven spools of thread. If they fail, they will be turned out as beggars. (amazon.com)
Medearis, A. S. (1995). The singing man: Adapted from a West African folktale. Illustrated by T.
Shaffer. New York: Holiday House. (K-3)
A couple‘s youngest son is forced to leave his West African village because he chooses music over
the more practical occupations of his brothers, but years later he returns to show the wisdom of his
choice. (card catalog)
Mollel, T. M. (2002). Ananse‘s feast: An Ashanti tale. Illustrated by A. Glass. New York: Clarion.
(K-3)
When clever spider Ananse invites Akye the turtle to dine with him, Akye is tricked out of getting a
single bite of his meal, but he gets his revenge when he in turn prepares a splendid meal for Ananse
and then sends him home hungry. (amazon.com)
Mollel, T. M. (1998). Shadow dance. Illustrated by D. Perrone. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
Salome rescues a stranded crocodile, who then threatens to eat her. However, with a pigeon‘s help,
she tricks her way out of his clutches. In a note describing his ―crosscultural theme,‖ Mollel places
his tale in contemporary Tanzania and includes words and music for Salome‘s song. (Horn Book,
1999)
Mollel, T. M. (2000). Subira Subira. Illustrated by L. Saport. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
When Tatu finds she can do nothing to improve her little brother‘s hateful behavior and make him
happy again, she goes to an old spirit woman for help. The spirit woman tells Tatu that to cure
Maulidi, she must pluck three whiskers from a lion! Armed only with a song, Tatu steals out into the
moonlit night to undertake her impossible task. (amazon.com)
Mollel, T. M. (1994). The flying tortoise: An Igbo tale. Illustrated by B. Spurll. New York: Clarion.
(3-5)
Mbeku, the greedy tortoise, gets himself invited to the banquet in Skyland, but is trapped with no
way to get back to Earth in this Igbo tale of why the tortoise has a checkered shell. (card catalog)
Mollel, T. M. (1993). The king and the tortoise. Illustrated by K. Blankley. New York: Clarion. (K3)
In a traditional folktale from Cameroon, the patient and wise tortoise wins over the clever fox, the
speedy hare, and the strong elephant when the king asks his subjects for a robe of smoke.
(amazon.com)
Mollel, T. M. (1995). The orphan boy: A Maasai story. Illustrated by P. Morin. New York: Clarion.
(K-3)
Seaching the sky for a familiar star, an old man encounters a mysterious boy, Kileken. As he comes
to love the boy as a son, he agrees to let him keep the one thing he owns: a secret. (amazon.com)
Musgrove, M. (2001). The spider weaver: A legend of kente cloth. Illustrated by J. Cairns. New
York: Blue Sky Press. (K-3)
Two weavers discover a magical-looking, beautiful spider web in the jungle. Inspired by the web‟s
brilliant design and the weaver who created it, the men return to their village and create complex
patterns of their own, which they come to call kente, a cloth that is now known throughout the world.
(amazon.com)
Olaleye, I. O. (2000). In the rainfield: Who is the greatest? Illustrated by A. Grifalconi. New York:
New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Angry Wind, boastful Fire, and mild Rain hold a contest to determine who is the greatest. In a
satisfying ending, real power is found not in anger or violence, but in calm and gentle behavior.
(amazon.com)
Pinkney, A. D. (2006). Peggony-Po: A whale of a tale. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. Jump at the
Sun/Hyperion. (K-2)
In this original tall tale, Galleon, an African American sailor with a peg leg, takes a piece of
driftwood and carves the figure of a boy, which comes to life. Galleon calls him Peggony-Po and
takes him as a son. After learning that Cetus the whale ate Galleon‘s leg, Peggony-Po leaps into the
sea to pursue the enormous creature. Their battle of strength, wits, and determination goes on for
days before Peggony-Po finally defeats the whale. The boy is a feisty, likable hero, and apart from
the hard-to-sing sea chantey (no tune is provided), his fast-paced story makes a good read-aloud.
Full of action and almost musical, thanks to swirling lines and repeated forms, the artwork conveys
a sense of both the whale‘s menacing size and the boy‘s indomitable spirit. The final page offers a
short introduction to black whalers in American history, a brief glossary, and one further-reading
recommendation, which is more suitable for older readers. (Booklist)
Ringgold, F. (2001). The invisible princess. New York: Dragonfly. (3-5)
This literary fairy tale set in the days of slavery offers a vision of utopia and demonstrates the
possibility of redemption and the power of love. The Great Lady of Peace tells Mama Love, a slave,
that she and Papa Love will have a baby girl, ―a princess who would bring peace, freedom, and
love‖, to the plantation‘s slaves. The book‘s strength is the artwork; the colors are strong, and the
images are memorable. (Horn Book, 1999)
San Souci, R. D. (2000). Callie Ann and Mistah Bear. Illustrated by D. Daily. New York: Dial
Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
Oh, that Mistah Bear! When he learns Callie Ann‘s widowed mamma is looking for a new husband,
he gets dressed up in disguise and passes himself off as gentlefolk. Soon she‘s feeding him all her
sweets, but savvy Callie Ann quickly uncovers the truth. Now Mistah Bear is fighting mad and
enlists his sisters‘ help to get revenge on Callie Ann. (amazon.com)
San Souci, R. D. (1996). Sukey and the mermaid. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
Unhappy with her life at home, Sukey receives kindness and wealth from Mama Jo the mermaid.
(card catalog)
San Souci, R. D. (2000). The secret of the stones: A folktale. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York:
Phyllis Fogelman Books. (K-3)
Based on a tale found in both the Bantu and African-American cultures, the heartwarming story
concerns a childless couple who must break an enchantment and release two orphaned children who
have been transformed into stones. Set in "the olden times‖ of nineteenth-century rural America, the
clearly told tale (which includes dialect in the dialogue) is accompanied by expressive, deep-toned
illustrations. (Horn Book, 1999)
San Souci, R. D. (1994). The talking eggs: A folktale from the American South. Illustrated by J.
Pinkney. New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (3-5)
A Southern folktale in which kind Blanche, following the instructions of an old witch, gains riches,
while her greedy sister makes fun of the old woman and is duly rewarded. (card catalog)
Shepard, A. (2000). Master Man: A tall tale of Nigeria. Illustrated by D. Wisniewski. New York:
HarperCollins. (K-3)
Shadusa was STRONG. When he gathered firewood, he hauled twice as much as anyone else. When
he hunted, he carried home two antelopes at once. One day he said to his wife, Shettu, ―Just look at
these muscles. I must be the STRONGEST man in the world. From now on, just call me Master
Man…‖ ―Quit your foolish boasting,‖ Shettu replied. ―No matter how strong you are, there will
always be someone stronger. And someday you may meet him!‖ In this traditional Hausa tale of
superheroes, Shadusa must learn a lesson harder than his own muscles. Is he the ultimate Master
Man? (amazon.com)
Siegelson, K. L. (1999). In the time of the drums. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York: Jump at the
Sun/Hyperion. (2-5)
A Caldecott Honor medalist pairs with a master storyteller to present a mesmerizing tale of slavery.
(amazon.com)
Sierra, J. (1996). Wiley and the hairy man: Adapted from an American folk tale. Illustrated by J.
Pinkney. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
Vibrant scratchboard oil paintings bring to life a retelling of a popular Alabama folktale in which
young Wiley must outwit a mean, trickster ogre in order to make it go away for good. (amazon.com)
Steptoe, J. (1993). Mufaro‘s beautiful daughters: An African tale. New York: Mulberry Books. (K3)
Mufaro‘s two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king who is
choosing a wife. (card catalog)
Young, R. and J. D. (1997). African-American folktales for young readers: Including favorite stories
from African and African-American storytellers. Little Rock, AK: August House Publishers. (5-6)
A collection of folktales from the African-American oral tradition, presented as they have been told
by professional black storytellers from Rhode Island to Oklahoma. (card catalog)
BACK
Biography:
Adler, D. A. (1995). A picture book of Frederick Douglass. Illustrated by S. Byrd. New York:
Holiday House. (K-3)
A biography of the man who, after escaping slavery, became an orator, writer, and leader in the
abolitionist movement in the nineteenth century. (card catalog)
Alder, D. A. (1993). A picture book of Harriet Tubman. Illustrated by S. Byrd. New York: Holiday
House. (K-3)
Biography of the black woman who escaped from slavery to become famous as a conductor on the
Underground Railroad. (card catalog)
Adler, D. A. (1997). A picture book of Jackie Robinson. Illustrated by R. Casilla. New York:
Holiday House. (K-3)
When Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, there were no other African Americans
playing in the major leagues. The thoughtful, brief portrait illuminates the courage and character of
an American hero. (Horn Book, 1995)
Adler, D. A. (1993). A picture book of Jesse Owens. Illustrated by R. Casilla. New York: Holiday
House. (K-3)
Jesse Owens started life as a poor sharecropper‘s son and through hard work, skill, and
determination, grew up to become an award-winning sprinter and champion of the long jump.
During the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, he won four gold medals, then returned to racial prejudice in
the U.S. (amazon.com)
Adler, D. A. (1991). A picture book of Martin Luther King, Jr. Illustrated by R. Casilla. New York:
Holiday House. (K-3)
A brief, illustrated biography of the Baptist minister and civil rights leader whose philosophy and
practice of nonviolent civil disobedience helped American blacks win many battles for equal rights.
(card catalog)
Adler, D. A. (1995). A picture book of Rosa Parks. Illustrated by R. Casilla. New York: Holiday
House. (K-3)
More than a brief biography of Rosa Parks, the portrait provides a glimpse into the era of Jim Crow
laws and segregation, in which Parks was born. With simple details, Adler recites the facts of
Parks‘s life and emphasizes her strong, pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott -- an action
dominated by the leadership of the young Martin Luther King, Jr. Casilla‘s colorful drawings
complement the text. (Horn Book, 1994)
Adler, D. A. (1996). A picture book of Sojourner Truth. Illustrated by G. Griffith. New York:
Holiday House. (K-3)
An introduction to the life of the woman born into slavery who became a well-known abolitionist
and crusader for the rights of African Americans in the United States. (card catalog)
Adler, D. A. (1990). Jackie Robinson-he was the first. Illustrated by R. Casilla. New York: Holiday
House. (1-4)
Traces the life of the talented and determined athlete who broke the color barrier in major league
baseball in 1947 by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. (card catalog)
Adler, D. A. (2005). Joe Louis: America‘s fighter. Illustrated by T. Widener. Gulliver/Harcourt.
(2-5)
Joe Louis was a fighter, a world champion boxer, a "punching machine.‖ But more important, Joe
Louis was a hero. At the beginning of his fighting career, he was a hero and a symbol of hope to
African Americans. Later, Joe Louis became a hero to all Americans, uniting blacks and white
boxing fans in their hatred of the Nazis and their desire for him to beat the German fighter Max
Schmeling.
With powerful text and luminous illustrations, the award-winning, picture-book team of David A.
Adler and Terry Widener has brought to life the true story of one determined individual who
overcame racism and poverty . . . and inspired a nation. (amazon.com)
Anderson, J. (2000). Rookie: Tamika Whitmore‘s first year in the WNBA. Photographs by M. V.
Agins. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
Tamika Whitmore is the 22-year-old top rookie for the New York Liberty. As the new kid on the
block, she‘s striving to prove herself against more seasoned athletes and to make her mark in the
WNBA. Readers can follow Tamika from her small-town Mississippi upbringing, through her stellar
college basketball career, to her experiences during her first season with the Liberty. (amazon.com)
Belton, S. (2003). Pictures for Miss Josie. Illustrated by B. Andrews. New York:
Amistad/Greenwillow. (1-4)
This remarkable picture book tells the story of Josephine Carroll Smith (Miss Josie) and a young
artist who, like many in real life, became one of her almost-sons. It‟s a story that starts with a train
trip to a faraway city; it‟s a story about taking chances, and making friends, and believing in
oneself. Throughout her life Miss Josie was like a giant standing in front of the sun. Her
achievements on the national stage were notable -- she was responsible for outlining the boundaries
for the integration of the Washington, D.C., public schools. But it is her spirit and influence on a
personal scale that this book celebrates. Miss Josie reminded the generations of young black men
who walked through her door and stayed in her home to believe in themselves and all they could
become. They did. Illustrated with compelling collage paintings by fine artist Benny Andrews,
Sandra Belton's intimate and inspirational story pays tribute to the much-loved Miss Josie.
(amazon.com)
Black, S. W. (2000). Mae Jemison. Illustrated with NASA photographs. New York: Mondo. (4-6)
As the first African American woman chosen by NASA to be an astronaut, Mae Jemison‘s life story
is one of dedication, focus, and caring for others. Her story is presented in this very accessible soft
cover book for young readers. (Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001, p. 3)
Bolden, T. (2004). The Champ: The story of Muhammad Ali. Illustrated by R. G. Christie. Knopf.
(1-5)
This picture-book biography touches on some of the most complex and fascinating aspects of the
boxing champion‘s life, such as his conversion to Islam, his refusal to fight in Vietnam, and his
penchant for boastful rhymes. Bolden‘s engaging text has a free-verse structure punctuated with
enthusiastic exclamations that is enjoyable to read aloud. The book is ideal for browsing or to
highlight in a booktalk, but it may not appeal to patrons seeking a straightforward source for
assignments or young sports fans who want to see realistic art. The illustrations are striking from a
graphic-design standpoint: Christie‘s use of bold pinks and yellows, sketchy pencil lines, and dark
strokes of paint illuminate the playful text and emphasize Ali‘s exciting life and flamboyant
personality. This is a fine addition for collections with several titles about the champ and for
libraries where this artist‘s work is popular. (School Library Journal)
Bolden, T. (2008). George Washington Carver. Abrams. (3-6)
In the latest standout biography by Coretta Scott King Honor author Bolden, the writer‘s expressive
powers marry to a truly fascinating subject, the slave-born black scientist whose affectionate
nicknames included ―the Wizard of the Goober and the Yam.‖ Bolden provides the requisite
biographical details, including Carver‘s early, tragic separation from his mother, but also traces
themes of his career, drawing connections between his kind masters‘ waste-not values and his future
devotion to finding new uses for farm by-products. Offering sourced quotations throughout, Bolden
covers subtleties that simpler treatments tend to bypass, such as Carver‘s trepidation about
leaving the mostly white Midwest to join Alabama‘s Tuskegee Institute. Directly and indirectly,
Bolden also addresses criticisms of Carver for his lack of political activism: the mild-mannered
researcher, Bolden writes, ―was his own unique self with much to offer from his insights . . . into
nature‘s ways and gifts.‖ Photos and reproductions, many of Carver‘s own paintings, are
exceptional, and their arrangement in the style of an old-fashioned album lends the book a suitable
gravitas. A selected bibliography closes this absorbing look at a man whose celebration in a
traveling exhibition, launching this month at Chicago‘s Field Museum (a partner in this book‘s
publication), will draw extra attention to both the Peanut Man and this fine portrait. (Booklist)
Borden, L. & Kroeger, M. K. (2001). Fly high! The story of Bessie Coleman. Illustrated by T.
Flavin. New York: Margaret McElderry. (2-5)
This short, highly illustrated biography introduces aviatrix Bessie Coleman, who in 1921 became
the first African American with a pilot‘s license. Coleman, who picked cotton as a child in Texas,
moved to Chicago as a young woman and was seized with the desire to fly an airplane. When that
opportunity was denied to her in America, she saved her money, learned French, and moved to
France, where she earned an international pilot‘s license. Throughout the text, the authors
emphasize Coleman‘s determination to "be somebody‖, a resounding inspirational message for
youngsters. The writing is clear and informative. Even the potentially difficult section on Coleman‘s
death in a plane crash is handled with plainspoken dignity. Flavin contributes a series of soft-edged
gouache paintings that express beauty and harmony in every aspect of Coleman‘s life. (Booklist)
Bradby, M. (1995). More than anything else. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Orchard
Books. (K-3)
Wanting to learn how to read above all other ambitions, nine-year-old Booker T. Washington fears
that his long days in the saltworks will prevent him from trying, until a final burst of determination
makes his hopes possible. (amazon.com)
Bridges, R. (1999). Through my eyes. New York: Scholastic. (1-5)
Ruby Bridges recounts the pivotal story of her involvement, as a six-year-old, in the 1960
integration of her school in New Orleans. Photos. (Borders.com)
Bryan, A. (2009). Ashley Bryan: Words to my life‘s song. Photographs by B. McGuinness.
Atheneum. (3-6)
Well-loved illustrator Bryan‘s pictures and recollections tell of his lifelong devotion to making and
sharing art. His Antiguan-born parents sang, kept birds and sheltered orphans; they showed him
how to resist convention and survive defeat. Drawing every day, as a soldier during WWII he kept
his art supplies in his gas mask ("There would have been a tumble of materials if I were ever in need
of that mask!‖ he says). Bryan honed his skills, overcame racism and discouragement, and thrived
throughout 20th-century tumult. While the text forms a single narrative thread, the busy pages are
laid out scrapbook-style on bright, overlapping rectangles of color, old family photos next to
artwork next to call-outs of Bryan‘s words in large type. Bryan brought elements of African art to
award-winning collages and woodcuts; on his own time, he made (and continues to make) other
treasures. McGuinness‘s photos show the artist in many settings on the Maine island he now calls
home. A book for parents and children to enjoy together, Bryan‘s triumphant story will inspire
artists of every age. (Publishers Weekly)
Carter, A. & Saller, C. (2000). George Washington Carver (On My Own Biography). Illustrated by
L. Paladino. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda. (1-4)
An accessible narrative introduces this important historical figure to independent readers. The
text, which describes Carver’s life as a slave in the mid-1860s, his education, and his
pioneering work as an agricultural scientist, ends a bit abruptly. The paintings that accompany
the text are somewhat stiff but warm. A brief afterword and a time line are included. (Horn
Book, 2001)
Cline-Ransome, L. (2000). Satchel Paige. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York: Simon & Schuster.
(4-6)
A talented husband-and-wife team captures the life of the legendary baseball player, Satchel Paige,
who was the first African-American to pitch in a Major League World Series. (Borders. Com)
Clinton, C. (2007). When Harriet met Sojourner. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. Amistad. (3-5)
Two women with similar backgrounds. Both slaves; both fiercely independent. Both great, in
different ways. Harriet Tubman: brave pioneer who led her fellow slaves to freedom, larger than life
. . . yearning to be free. Sojourner Truth: strong woman who spoke up for African American rights,
tall as a tree . . . yearning to be free. One day in 1864, the lives of these two women came together.
When Harriet Met Sojourner is a portrait of these two remarkable women, from their inauspicious
beginnings to their pivotal roles in the battle for America’s future. (amazon.com)
Coles, R. (2000). The story of Ruby Bridges. Illustrated by G. Ford. New York: Scholastic Trade.
(K-3)
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator bring to life the
true story of an extraordinary six-year-old who helped shape American history when she became the
first African American sent to first grade in an all white school. This moving picture book captures
the courage of a little girl standing alone in the face of racism. (amazon.com)
Cooper, F. (1998). Coming home: From the life of Langston Hughes. New York: Paper Star. (3-6)
Writer Langston Hughes is an inspiration for youth everywhere. Now children can discover the
young Langston and the events and circumstances that shaped his extraordinary life. Floyd‟s
stunning illustrations and colorful text capture the special moments in Langston‟s life and invite
young readers to learn about the power of hope. (amazon.com)
Cooper, F. (2004). Jump! From the life of Michael Jordan. Philomel. (1-5)
This lovingly rendered picture book details the events in Jordan‘s childhood and adolescence that
contributed to his basketball stardom. Cooper‘s signature artwork, done in umber washes of oil,
feature soft outlines and harmonious tones of brown, orange, and blue. From a scene of children
running wildly through a full house to one of Michael staring longingly at the bigger, older players
competing on the blacktop court, the freedom of movement and the joys of athletic prowess and
competition are expressed in every depiction of the characters. An author‘s note details the
superstar‘s accomplishments in professional sports. At times, Cooper‘s descriptions of the
characters‘ feelings seem convoluted and unnecessarily long, but the text is easy to read, and events
are related in a friendly, conversational style. While Jump! is not an essential purchase, it is a
visually exciting one that will surely circulate among Jordan‘s many fans. (School Library Journal)
Cox, C. (1999). African American healers. New York: John Wiley and Sons. (4-6)
This lively collection of profiles tells the inspiring stories of twenty-five African-American healer,
both the famous and the forgotten heroes whose contributions were invaluable to the advancement
of medical science. Young readers will be encouraged by the achievements of physicians whose
humanitarian and courageous efforts paved the road for other healers. (amazon.com)
Dillon, D. & Dillon, L. (2002). Rap a tap tap: Here‘s Bojangles – Think of that!. New York:
Scholastic. (K-3)
This simple book for young children tells the life story of a ground-breaking African-American tap
dancer. Bill "Bojangles” Robinson was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1920s-30s.
People said he "talked with his feet,” and in the Dillons‟ graceful paintings of old New York, he
dances from page to page to the tune of a toe-tapping rhyme. (amazon.com)
Dray, P. (2008). Yours for justice, Ida B. Wells: The daring life of a crusading journalist. Illustrated
by S. Alcorn. Peachtree. (4-6)
In 1863, when Ida B. Wells was not yet two years old, the Emancipation Proclamation freed her
from the bond of slavery. For her family and others like them, it was a time of renewed faith in
America‘s promise of freedom and justice for all. Blessed with a strong will, an eager mind, and a
deep belief in this promise, young Ida never turned away from the challenges she faced.
She insisted on holding her family together after the death of her parents. She defied convention and
went to court when a railroad company infringed on her rights. And she used her position as a
journalist to speak out about injustice.
But Ida‘s greatest challenge arose after one of her friends was lynched. How could one headstrong
young woman help free America from the shadow of lawlessness that loomed over the country?
Author Philip Dray tells the inspirational story of Ida B. Wells, from her birth into a slave family in
Mississippi and her early encounters with racism to her lifelong commitment to end injustice.
Award-winning illustrator Stephen Alcorn‘s remarkable illustrations recreate the tensions that
threatened to upend a nation a century ago while paying tribute to a courageous American hero.
(amazon.com)
Farris, C. K. (2005). My brother Martin: A sister remembers growing up with the Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Illustrated by C. Soentpiet. Simon. (2-4)
In the straightforward style of a master storyteller, Farris recalls the birth of her two younger
brothers and relates anecdotes that demonstrate both the mischievous exploits of the siblings and
the love and understanding that permeated the close-knit multigenerational family in which they
grew up. Using plain language, she describes conditions in the South during her childhood that
separated blacks and whites- "Because they just don‘t understand that everyone is the same, but
someday, it will be better.‖ From their father‘s church sermons and his actions when confronting
the hatred and bigotry, the children learned the importance of standing up for justice and equality.
The warmth of the text is exquisitely echoed in Soentpiet‘s realistic, light-filled watercolor portraits
set in the King home, in their Atlanta neighborhood, and at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The simple
directness of this short biography will help young children understand the concept of segregation
and the importance of Dr. King‘s message. An appended poem by Mildred D. Johnson reflects
Farris‘s own message: "-it is important for young people to realize the potential that lies within
each of them-.‖ This outstanding book belongs in every collection. (School Library Journal)
Freedman, R. (2004). The voice that challenged a nation: Marian Anderson and the struggle for
equal rights. Clarion. (4-6)
"A voice like yours,‖ celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini told contralto Marian Anderson, "is
heard once in a hundred years.‖ This insightful account of the great African American vocalist
considers her life and musical career in the context of the history of civil rights in this country.
Drawing on Anderson‘s own writings and other contemporary accounts, Russell Freedman shows
readers a singer pursuing her art despite the social constraints that limited the careers of black
performers in the 1920s and 1930s. Though not a crusader or a spokesperson by nature, Marian
Anderson came to stand for all black artists-and for all Americans of color-when, with the help of
such prominent figures as Eleanor Roosevelt, she gave her landmark 1939 performance on the steps
of the Lincoln Memorial, which signaled the end of segregation in the arts. Carefully researched,
expertly told, and profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs, here is a moving account of
the life of a talented and determined artist who left her mark on musical and social history. Through
her story, one of today‘s leading authors of nonfiction for young readers illuminates the social and
political climate of the day and an important chapter in American history. Notes, bibliography,
discography, index. (amazon.com)
Fuchs, C. (1993). Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Track-and-field star. Illustrated by T. Rider. Vero Beach,
FL: The Rourke Book Company. (2-5)
A biography of the track and field champion who has won Olympic gold medals in both the long
jump and the heptathlon. (card catalog)
Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. Illustrated by B. Collier. New York: Henry Holt Books for Young
Readers. (3 – 6)
Fifty years after her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus, Mrs. Rosa
Parks is still one of the most important figures in the American civil rights movement. This picturebook tribute to Mrs. Parks is a celebration of her courageous action and the events that followed
Award-winning poet, writer, and activist Nikki Giovanni‘s evocative text combines with Bryan
Collier‘s striking cut-paper images to retell the story of this historic event from a wholly unique and
original perspective. (amazon.com)
Glover, S. & Weber, B. (2000). Savion!: My life in tap. New York: Morrow/Avon. (4-6)
This biography tells the story of Savion Glover, a tap-dancer who brought his own brand of funk,
soul, and passion to dancing. (Borders.com)
Golenbock, P. (2001). Hank Aaron: Brave in every way. Illustrated by P. Lee. New York: Harcourt.
(1-3)
On April 8, 1974, America watched as Hank Aaron stepped up to the plate. The pitch was low and
down the middle. Hank swung-and hit career home run number 715! With that hit, he surpassed
Babe Ruth‘s legendary record and realized a lifelong dream. Before blacks were allowed to play in
the major leagues, Hank was determined that that was where he was going to play. When his
success in the field triggered a deluge of hate mail, he refused to back down. This is the moving
story of Hank Aaron‘s strength and perseverance-of how he became a great ballplayer and an
inspiration to us all. (amazon.com)
Green, M. Y. (2004). A strong right arm: The story of Mamie ―Peanut‖ Johnson. Illustrated by K.
Nelson. Puffin. (4-7)
Motivated by her love for the game and inspired by the legendary Jackie Robinson, Mamie Johnson
is determined to be a professional baseball pitcher. But in a sport that‘s dominated by white men,
there is no place for a black woman. Mamie doesn‘t give up— from the time she insists on trying out
for the all-male, all-white Police Athletic League team until she realizes her dream and becomes one
of only three women to play in the Negro Leagues. Mamie Johnson‘s life shows that with courage
and perseverance one can overcome even the greatest challenges. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (2003). How they got over: African Americans and the call of the sea. Illustrated by J.
S. Gilchrist. New York: Amistad/HarperCollins. (4-6)
African Americans have been drawn to the sea for hundreds of years. In this collection of
biographies, Eloise Greenfield examines how that connection to the sea has influenced generations
of African Americans -- from a shipbuilder-businessman during the American Revolution to the first
woman and African American to hold the highest-ranking position in the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps. The lives of the extraordinary men and women
included here create a stirring image of the powerful tie between African Americans and the water
that has both bound them and set them free. Jan Spivey Gilchrist‟s artwork is as evocative as the
profiles of the people it illustrates. (amazon.com)
Grimes, N. (2008). Barack Obama: Son of promise, child of hope. Illustrated by B. Collier. Simon
& Schuster. (2-4)
Ever since Barack Obama was young, hope has lived inside him. From the beaches of Hawaii to the
streets of Chicago, from the jungles of Indonesia to the plains of Kenya, he has held on to hope.
Even as a boy, Barack knew he wasn’t quite like anybody else, but through his journeys he found the
ability to listen to hope and become what he was meant to be: a bridge to bring people together.
This is the moving story of an exceptional man, as told by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan
Collier, both winners of the Coretta Scott King Award. Barack Obama has motivated Americans to
believe with him, to believe that every one of us has the power to change ourselves and change our
world. (amazon.com)
Grimes, N. (2002). Talkin‘ about Bessie: The story of aviator Elizabeth Coleman. Illustrated by E.
B. Lewis. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman was always being told what she could and couldn‟t do. In an era when
Jim Crow laws and segregation were a way of life, it was not easy to survive, but Bessie didn‟t let
that stop her. Although she was only eleven when the Wright brothers took their first historic flight,
she vowed to become the first African-American female pilot. Her sturdy faith and determination
helped her overcome obstacles of poverty, racism, and gender discrimination. (amazon.com)
Hancock, S. (1983). Famous firsts of Black Americans. Illustrated by J. Haynes & S. Miles. Gretna,
LA: Pelican Publishing Co. (4-6)
Biographies of twenty black men and women who made notable contributions in the fields of
science, politics, sports, and the arts from the 1500's to the present. (card catalog)
Hansen, J. (1997). I thought my soul would rise and fly: The dairy of Patsy, a freed girl. New York:
Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
In this latest addition to the Dear America series, Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Joyce
Hansen presents the inspiring story of Patsy, a freed girl who becomes a great teacher.
(amazon.com)
Harris, L. L., ed. (2007). Biography for beginners: African-American Leaders, Volume 1. Favorable
Impressions. (5-8)
The latest title in the Biography for Beginners series introduces the young researcher to 37
prominent African Americans, men and women who succeeded in breaking barriers in civil rights,
athletics, political and social reform, and science and invention. In addition to biographies of
commonly-studied African Americans as W.E.B. Du Bois, Jackie Robinson, Sojourner Truth, and
Malcolm X, entries include patriot Crispus Attucks, statesman Ralph Bunche, neurosurgeon Ben
Carson, astronaut Mae Jemison, inventor Elijah McCoy, golfer Tiger Wood, and Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice. Biographies, arranged in alphabetical order, follow the same user-friendly format
as found in the preceding volumes in the series. Quick facts consisting of name, year of birth and
death (when applicable) and major achievement are followed by profiles containing a blend of
personal and professional facts relating to the person’s early childhood, educational background,
career and achievement, and later life. Articles range in length from 5-12 pages and conclude with
lists of Web sites, of which a random sampling found most to be available for further research.
Numerous archival black-and-white photographs, maps, and illustrations flesh out the text. A
glossary, short profiles of other African Americans, and a subject index complete this valuable
foundation resource. It is hard to find reference sources particularly earmarked for younger learners
in elementary grades, and those older students who may be struggling readers. Information is
accessible and delivered in a conversational tone. Content is well chosen, with a conscientious effort
to support curriculum. Volume 2 will focus on authors, actors, artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs.
Highly recommended for school and public libraries. (Booklist)
Harris, L. L., ed. (2008). Biography for beginners: African-American Leaders, Volume 2. Favorable
Impressions. (-8)
This volume covers 41 distinguished African-American actors, artists, authors, dancers, musicians,
and entrepreneurs. (Volume 1 [2007] profiled individuals prominent in the areas of civil rights,
politics, and social leadership; and scientists, inventors, and athletes). Each entry opens with an
average-quality black-and-white photograph of the subject, and is followed by birth and (where
applicable) death dates and information on early life, education, career, challenges, family, and
legacy. Articles conclude with a listing of three to four relevant Web sites. The men and women
cover a wide temporal range--from Phillis Wheatley, born around 1753, to Savion Glover, born in
1973. A good deal of information is presented over the course of five to nine pages, yet the profiles
are easy to read and comprehend, due to simple, lively language, large font size, and generous line
spacing and white space. An added bonus is the inclusion of 12 "Brief Biographies"--short entries
on important people in African-American history who do not receive a full article. A subject index
includes names, occupations, and other keywords. While most of the individuals in this volume are
also profiled in African American Biographies (Grolier, 2006), this would make a good general
purchase for libraries needing information on the topic. (School Library Journal)
Haskins, J. & Benson, K. (2000). Carter G. Woodson: The man who put ―Black‖ in American
history. Illustrated by M. Reim. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook. (4-6)
This is the story of Carter G. Woodson, known as the father of ―African Amerian History.‖ Each of
the six art montages used to illustrate the story portrays a significant aspect of his life. (Notable
Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001, p. 3)
Haskins, J. (2002). Champion: The story of Muhammad Ali. Illustrated by E. Velasquez. New York:
Walker and Company. (1-4)
The oversized pages of this book are a good match for its larger-than-life subject. Plainspoken,
economical prose traces the life of Muhammad Ali from his Kentucky childhood (as Cassius
Marcellus Clay, Jr.) and early career as an amateur boxer-culminating in a gold medal at the 1960
Summer Olympics-through the years he spent as heavyweight champion of the world, successfully
defending or regaining his title in such still-famous bouts as “The Rumble in the Jungle” and “The
Thrilla in Manila.” The volume also follows Ali‟s personal journey as he converted to Islam, refused
to fight in Vietnam, and continues to be “the world‟s goodwill ambassador” despite enduring the
impairments of Parkinson‟s Syndrome. With some quotes from Ali, printed in a larger typeface,
Haskins‟s text ably captures the personality of this champ, while Velasquez‟s page-dominating oil
paintings offer pleasing stylistic variations, from montages and action-panel sequences to a
powerful double-page spread showing Ali praying in a corner of the boxing ring. A chronology and
bibliography (which focuses on books for young readers) are included. (Horn Book, 2002)
Haskins, J. (2005). Delivering justice: W. W. Law and the fight for civil rights. Illustrated by B.
Andrews. Candlewick. (2-4)
With handsome, full-page illustrations in oil and collage, this picture-book biography tells the
stirring story of a quiet hero, Westley (W. W.) Law, a mail carrier who played a leading role in the
cvil rights movement. It begins with scenes of Law‘s growing up poor in segregated Savannah, sad
to be separated from his mother, who must work in someone else‘s home, and angry that his people
are insulted in the local department store. In 1942, Law joins the Youth Council of the NAACP and
helps people register to vote. After college and the army, he is denied work as a teacher, so he
becomes a mail carrier--a job he loves. A combination of realism and folk art, the dramatic
illustrations show the beloved mailman leading students in nonviolent protests in Savannah in the
1960s and in his neighborhood. Haskins doesn‘t provide sources--not even for Law‘s thoughts and
feelings--but the telling is strong, and a final full-page biography fills in the history. Pair this with
Nikki Giovanni's Rosa (2005). (Booklist)
Haskins, J. & Benson, K. (2006). John Lewis in the lead: A story of the Cicil Rights Movement.
Illustrated by B. Andrews. (3-5)
A picture-book biography of the U.S. congressman from Georgia who played a prominent role in the
Civil Rights Movement. The text is engaging as the authors detail Lewis‘s childhood in the
segregated South and his growing activism and participation in nonviolent resistance. Lewis‘s
organization of, and involvement in, events such as lunch-counter sit-ins, freedom rides, marches,
and voter-registration drives are chronicled, while Andrews‘s full-page, folk-art oil-and-fabric
collage illustrations convey the sense of time and place, and the drama of the unfolding events. Ann
Bausum's Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights
Movement (National Geographic, 2005), written for an older audience, provides more in-depth,
grittier coverage of Lewis‘s participation in this movement. Christine Hill‘s John Lewis: From
Freedom Rider to Congressman (Enslow, 2002) is a straightforward biography. Haskins and Benson
have written a lively, readable introduction to this important figure. (School Library Journal)
Issa, K. J. (2008). Howard Thurman‘s great hope. Illustrated by A. L. Dawson. Lee & Low. (3-5)
Born in segregated Daytona, Florida, in 1899, Howard Thurman grew up dreaming of a better life,
a life where his mother and grandmother would not have to cook and clean for other people; a life
where he could become a college man, honoring his late father‘s wishes and his own dreams.
Through hard work, perseverance, and the support of friends and family, young Howard
transcended the limits on Negro education in Daytona and earned a scholarship to an out-of-town
high school. His dream did not come easily and was nearly lost, until a kind act by a stranger at a
railroad station aided Howard in a time of need. A moving testament to the bonds of community and
the power of faith, Howard Thurman‘s Great Hope illuminates the early life of the man who became
a seminal civil rights leader and an inspiration to the nation. (amazon.com)
January, B. (2000). Martin Luther King: Minister and civil rights leader. Chicago, IL: Ferguson. (46)
This compact biography emphasizes King‘s career as a Baptist minister as well as a civil-rights
activist. Even the first chapter, which summarizes his early years, stresses those aspects of the
subject‘s life that helped him become a reverend. The clearly written, chronologically organized text
provides an accurate account of Dr. King‘s life and work. Small, darkly reproduced black-and-white
photographs are interspersed throughout. A straightforward and informative section on "How to
Become a Minister‖ is appended, along with Web sites on ministerial careers and one on materials
and places to visit related to Dr. King. (School Library Journal, 2001)
Katcher, R. (1999). My heroes, my people: African Americans and Native Americans in the West.
Illustrated by M. Monceaux. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. (4-6)
Black cowboys, black marshals, and Native American leaders have long been omitted from
historical reference books. Here, they are celebrated in glorious color. The thirty-six portraits of
men and women are done in bold, folk-art style, and the accompanying text is lively and peppered
with quotations. (Parents‘ Choice, 1999)
Krull, K. (2000). Wilma unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph became the world‘s fastest woman.
Illustrated by D. Diaz. New York: Voyager. (2-5)
A young reader's introduction to champion athlete Wilma Rudolph follows her development of polio
at age four, an illness that doctors said would prevent her from ever walking, her achievements in
school, and her gold-medal successes at the 1960 Olympic Games. (amazon.com)
Kulling, M. (2000). Escape north! The story of Harriet Tubman. Illustrated by T. Flavin. New York:
Random. (1-3)
An easy-to-read, page-turning account of Harriet Tubman‟s life--from her childhood in slavery to
her years as a conductor on the Underground Railroad to her later work as a suffragette and as a
spy in the Civil War. This remarkable true story brings to life one of America‟s greatest female role
models. (amazon.com)
Lasky, K. (2000). Vision of beauty: The story of Sarah Breedlove Walker. Illustrated by N. Bennett.
Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. (4-6)
From a bleak world of poverty and discrimination to unprecedented success as an influential
businesswoman and philanthropist, Walker‘s story exemplifies the courage to dream and
determination of a woman who wanted a better life for herself and her race. (Borders.com)
Lindbergh, R. (1996). Nobody owns the sky: The story of ―Brave Bessie‖ Coleman. Illustrated by P.
Paparone. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. (K-3)
As a young woman in the 1920s, Bessie Coleman‟s chances of becoming a pilot were slim. But she
never let her dream die and became the first licensed African-American aviator. In “Nobody Owns
the Sky”, Reeve Lindbergh honors Coleman‟s memory with a poem that sings of her
accomplishment. (amazon.com)
Lowery, L. (1988). Martin Luther King Day. Illustrated by H. Mitchell. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner
Publishing Group. (K-3)
Briefly recounts the life of the black minister who devoted his life to civil rights and discusses the
national holiday in his name: Martin Luther King Day celebrated on the third Monday of every
January. (card catalog)
Lyons, M. E., editor. (1998). Talking with Tebe: Clementine Hunter, memory artist. New York:
Houghton Mifflin. (4-6)
Born in northwest Louisiana in 1886. Called Teb by her family, Hunter lived and worked on
Melrose Plantation for more than 75 years. In colors as bright as the Louisiana sky, she shows the
backbreaking work required to pick cotton, gather figs, cut sugar cane, and harvest pecans. Teb‘s
art portrays the good times, too. Scenes of baptisms, weddings, and church socials celebrate a rich
community life that helped the workers survive. (amazon.com)
Marzollo, J. (1995). Happy birthday, Martin Luther King. Illustrated by J. B. Pinkney. New York:
Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
In commemoration of his peaceful fight for freedom and change, Martin Luther King, Jr.‘s birthday
is celebrated across the nation. Marzollo‘s simple writing style combines with Pinkney‘s engaging
illustrations in this moving introduction to an American hero, created just for younger readers.
(amazon.com)
Mays, O. & Govenar, A. (2000). Osceola: Memories of a sharecropper‘s daughter. Illustrated by S.
W. Evans. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion. (4-6)
A sharecropper‘s daughter describes her childhood in Texas in the early years of the twentieth
century. (Borders.com)
McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (1991). Ida B. Wells-Barnett: A voice against violence.
Illustrated by N. Ostendorf. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. (4-6)
A biography of the black woman journalist who campaigned for the civil rights of women and other
minorities and was a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in
1909. (Borders.com)
McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (2002). Langston Hughes: Great American poet.
Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. (1-4)
Part of the Great African Americans series, this book is an enthusiastic, informative introduction to
the poet for younger readers. (Book Links, December 2001/January 2002, p. 38)
McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (1994). Sojourner Truth: Ain‘t I a woman? New York:
Scholastic Paperbacks. (4-6)
Published to coincide with African-American History Month, here is the stirring, award-winning
biography of Sojourner Truth--preacher, abolitionist, and activist for the rights of AfricanAmericans and women. (amazon.com)
Miller, W. (1994). Zora Hurston and the chinaberry tree. Illustrated by C. Van Wright & Ying-Hwa
Hu. New York: Lee and Low Books. (1-4)
This lyrical, beautifully illustrated book illuminates a little-known episode in the childhood of
renowned African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most important voices of the
Harlem Renaissance. William Miller presents an uplifting account of how Zora was inspired by her
dying mother to pursue her dreams. (amazon.com)
Moore, E. (1995). The story of George Washington Carver. New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (4-6)
Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became one of the most prestigious scientists of his
time. This biography follows Dr. Carver‘s life from childhood to his days as a teacher and
discoverer. (amazon.com)
Myers, W. D. (2008). Ida B. Wells: Let the truth be told. Illustrated by B. Christensen.
Amistad/Collins/HarperCollins. (3-5)
Ida B. Wells was an extraordinary woman. Long before boycotts, sit-ins, and freedom rides, Ida B.
Wells was hard at work to better the lives of African Americans. An activist, educator, writer,
journalist, suffragette, and pioneering voice against the horror of lynching, she used fierce
determination and the power of the pen to educate the world about the unequal treatment of
blacks in the United States. Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers tells the story of this
legendary figure, which blends harmoniously with the historically detailed watercolor paintings of
illustrator Bonnie Christensen. (amazon.com)
Myers, W. D. (2000). Malcolm X: A fire burning brightly. Illustrated by L. Jenkins. New York:
HarperCollins. (2-5)
This compelling narrative for picture-book readers explores Malcolm‘s journey from his tragic
childhood to his life as a street hustler, a Black Muslim, a prison inmate, and a fearless leader in the
struggle for blacks to achieve equality. (Borders.com)
Myers, W. D. (1999). The journal of Joshua Loper: A Black cowboy (My Name is America). New
York: Scholastic Trade. (5-6)
Two-time Newberry Honor-winning author Walter Dean Myers writes about an African-American
boy‘s struggles with his first cattle drive and the racial prejudices of the time. (amazon.com)
O‘Connor, B. (2000). Katherine Dunham: Pioneer of Black Dance. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda
Books. (4-6)
Katherine Dunham was one of the first choreographers to explore her African American roots and
express them through dance. She grew up in Illinois, studied anthropology at the University of
Chicago, made field studies of black cultures of the Caribbean, toured in her own dance company,
and choreographed pieces for stage, screen, and college productions. Dunham and her husband
traveled extensively and lived for a time in Haiti, but they eventually settled in East St. Louis, where
she incorporated the community's young people into her vision of arts training and expression.
O'Connor opens a door for readers to see not only Dunham as a person but also presents the
challenges facing her as a black woman of energy and vision making her own way in mid-twentieth
century America. (Booklist)
Parker, R. A. (2008). Piano starts here: The young Art Tatum. Schwartz & Wade. (K-3)
Regardless of whether they‘ve heard of jazz or Art Tatum, young readers will appreciate how
Parker uses simple, lyrical storytelling and colorful and energetic ink-and-wash illustrations to
show the world as young Art Tatum might have seen it. Tatum came from modest beginnings and
was nearly blind, but his passion for the piano and his acute memory for any sound that he heard
drove him to become a virtuoso who was revered by both classical and jazz pianists alike. Included
in the back matter is a biography and bibliography. (amazon.com)
Pinkney, A. D. (1995). Alvin Ailey. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York: Hyperion Press. (1-4)
Describes the life, dancing and choreography of Alvin Ailey, who created his own modern dance
company to explore the African-American experience. (card catalog)
Pinkney, A. D. (1998). Duke Ellington: The piano prince and his orchestra. Illustrated by B.
Pinkney. New York: Disney Press. (K-3)
The award-winning author/illustrator team of Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney, creators of
the popular picture book "Alvin Ailey", now present a swinging, vibrant picture book about the jazz
composer Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as ―Duke‖. (amazon.com)
Pinkney, A. D. (2002). Ella Fitzgerald: The tale of a vocal virtuosa. Illustrated by B. Pinkney.
Hyperion. (1-4)
Scat Cat Monroe, a feline who earned his name by knowing the "Queen of Scat,‖ tells her story from
"small-town girl to the First Lady of Song.‖ The text, divided into four tracks (chapters), highlights
Fitzgerald‘s early days in Harlem, singing with the Chick Webb Orchestra at the Savoy, and
performing bebop with Dizzy Gillespie at Carnegie Hall. In a playful, conversational tone, this work
nearly sings the rhythms of scat. Lively words and phrases like "Her voice was quick-fried rhythm‖
and "her scat swung to cloud nine and back‖ are scattered throughout. Brian Pinkney‘s distinctive
scratchboard-and-acrylic paintings evoke the rhythm of the text and invite readers along on the ride.
They will enjoy finding Scat Cat himself on most of the spreads. Bright colors, jazzy words, and
energetic artwork bring the music of scat and Fitzgerald to life. A page of biographical information
is included. This beautifully rendered tribute to the "Vocal Virtuosa" will be a welcome addition in
all libraries. (School Library Journal)
Pinkney, A. D. (2000). Let it shine: The stories of ten Black women freedom fighters. New York:
Gulliver Books. (4-6)
Ten freedom fighters let their lights shine on the darkness of discrimination. (amazon.com)
Rappaport, D. (2001). A freedom river. Illustrated by B. Collier. New York: Hyperion/Jump at the
Sun. (3-5)
Rappaport tells a story from the life of John Parker, a resourceful ex-slave who risked his life as a
conductor on the Underground Railroad. Repetition of phrases adds a cadence of urgency to the
text, and Collier‘s unique blend of collage and watercolors are as dramatic as the story. A historical
note provides sources and points out the minor fictionalized details added to the narrative. (Horn
Book, 2001)
Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin‘s big words: The life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Illustrated by B.
Collier. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun. (K-4)
In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., author Doreen Rappaport combines her
spare, lyrical text with King’s own words for an effective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the
world’s greatest civil rights leaders. From King’s youth, when he looked up to his preacher father
and vowed one day to "get big words, too,” to his death at a garbage workers’ strike ("On his
second day there, he was shot. He died.”), Rappaport imbues the story with reverence. Acclaimed
artist Bryan Collier depicts his subject with stunning watercolor and collage illustrations, balancing
glorious recreations of stained glass windows with some of the more somber images of peace
marchers and the famous bus that pitched Rosa Parks into the civil rights movement. A brief
chronology and bibliography provide additional resources for readers. Here is an exquisite tribute to
a world hero. (amazon.com)
Raschka, C. (1997). Charlie Parker played be bop. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
―In a daring attempt to capture the raw energy of Parker‘s music . . . Raschka (pens) a text that‘s as
lean as a poem and as mean as a blues refrain‖. (Publishers Weekly)
Rhodes, L.R. (1998). Coretta Scott King. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House. (4-6)
A crusader, humanitarian, and spokesperson, Coretta Scott King has carried on her husband‘s
mission and made a significant contribution in her own right. This vivid biography tells the story of
the widow of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. (amazon.com)
Ringgold, F. (2003). If a bus could talk: the story of Rosa Parks. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
(K-3)
Ringgold‘s biography of Rosa Parks packs substantial material into a few pages, but with a light
touch, and with the ring of authenticity that gives her act of weary resistance all the respect it
deserves. Narrating the book is the bus that Parks took that morning 45 years ago; it recounts the
signal events in Parks‘s life to a young girl who boarded it to go to school. (Kirkus Reviews, 1999)
Robinson, S. (2004). Promises to keep: How Jackie Robinson changed America. Scholastic. (4-6)
Sharon Robinson shares memories of her famous father in this warm loving biography of the man
who broke the color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson was an outstanding athlete, a devoted
family man and a dedicated civil rights activist. The author explores the fascinating circumstances
surrounding Jackie Robinson‘s breakthrough. She also tells the off-the-field story of Robinson‘s
hard-won victories and the inspiring effect he had on his family, his community. . . his country!
Includes never-before-published letters by Jackie Robinson, as well as photos from the Robinson
family archives. (amazon.com)
Rockwell, A. (2000). Only passing through: The story of Sojourner Truth. Illustrated by R. G.
Christie. New York: Random Knopf. (3-6)
A powerful picture book biography of one of the abolitionist movement‘s most compelling voices.
(amazon.com)
Rudeen, K. (1996). Jackie Robinson. Illustrated by M. Hays. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
As the first black player in the white major leagues, Jackie Robinson faced insults, injury, and
threats to his life. In this newly illustrated chapter book edition, Kenneth Rudeen describes
Robinson‘s courageous struggle to play ball––and to open baseball‘s doors to all black men.
(amazon.com)
Ryan, P. M. (2002). When Marian sang. Illustrated by B. Selznick. New York: Scholastic. (1-4)
Marian Anderson is best known for her historic concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, which
drew an integrated crowd of over 75,000 people in pre-Civil Rights America. While this momentous
event showcased the uniqueness of her character, and the struggles of the times in which she lived, it
is only part of her story. Like the opera arias Marian would come to sing, Ryan‟s text is as moving
as a libretto, and Selznick‟s pictures are as exquisitely detailed and elaborately designed as a stage
set. What emerges most profoundly from their shared vision is a role model of courage.
(amazon.com)
Schloredt, V. (1997). Martin Luther King, Jr: America‘s great nonviolent leader in the struggle for
human rights. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing. (4-6)
Examines the life of the Baptist minister and civil rights leader who helped American blacks win
many battles for equal rights. (card catalog)
Schroeder, A. (2000). Minty: A story of young Harriet Tubman. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New
York: Puffin. (K-4)
This beautifully written book, illustrated by four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Jerry Pinkney,
makes the story of Harriet Tubman‘s childhood accessible to very young readers. As a young slave,
nicknamed "Minty‖, Harriet Tubman was a feisty and stubborn girl with a dream of escape, and
whose rebellious spirit often got her into trouble. Pinkney‘s expressive illustrations bring every
emotion to brilliant life-from troubled sorrow to spirited hope for freedom. (amazon.com)
Schroeder, A. (1999). Ragtime Tumpie. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (4-6)
Tumpie, a young black girl who will later become famous as the dancer Josephine Baker, longs to
find the opportunity to dance amid the poverty and vivacious street life of St. Louis in the early
1900s. (card catalog)
Schroeder, A. (1999). Satchmo‘s blues. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (4-6)
The illustrated story of Louis Armstrong‘s childhood highlights young Satchmo‘s dynamism and his
determination to become the leader of a jazz band and the best trumpet player in his native New
Orleans. (amazon.com)
Shange, N. (2009). Coretta Scott. Illustrated by K. Nelson. Amistad/Katherine Tegen. (K-3)
Unflinching verse and elegant imagery combine in a powerful, evocative, picture-book portrait of
Coretta Scott King. As stated on the cover, Shange uses poetry to recount Coretta Scott‘s life, from
her childhood to her marriage with Martin Luther King, Jr. On the final page, the author offers a
linear, prose biography, adding context to her more abstract references in the poetry. Omitting
punctuation and capitalization, Shange assembles her simple words into a whole that reflects both
the facts of Scott‘s story and her humanity. Nelson‘s accompanying paintings are luminous and
reverent, and as much as they recall his distinct style in books such as Carole Boston
Weatherford‘s Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (2006), there is something
of Norman Rockwell here, too, in the straightforward compositions and profound dignity of the
American spirit on display. Concise back matter notwithstanding, this is not a biography of fact and
reporting. Instead, poet and painter have joined forces to offer an indelible, emotional expression of
the strength, beauty, and joy of one woman‘s character. (Booklist)
Shange, N. (2004). Ellington is not a street. Illustrated by K. Nelson. Simon & Schuster. (3-5)
The text of this picture book for older children is a paean to Shange‘s family home and the exciting
men who gathered there, everyone from W. E. B. DuBois and Paul Robeson to Dizzy Gillispie and
Duke Ellington. Taken from Shange‘s 1983 poem "Mood Indigo,‖ the words here recall, from a
child‘s perspective, what it was like to listen "in the company of men / politics as necessary as
collards / music even in our dreams.‖ The evocative words are more than matched by Nelson‘s
thrilling, oversize oil paintings, a cross between family photo album and stage set, featuring this
group of extraordinary men interacting--playing cards, singing, discussing. The girl who is always
watching them is, unfortunately, portrayed as very young, perhaps three or four, although she
appears somewhat older on the beguiling jacket art. Preschoolers are not the audience for this, and
despite the helpful notes that introduce the men mentioned in the poem, even older children will
need further explanations (e.g., where are the famous women?). Depicting the narrator as a child
closer in age to the target audience would have helped bridge the gap between a poem written for
adults and a book for children. Still, with words and pictures that are so enticing, this will be
embraced by many. (Booklist)
Siegel, B. (1992). The year they walked: Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott. New York:
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. (4-6)
Siegel‘s book is more a historical overview of the boycott than a biography of Rosa Parks. The
readable text, rather than glamorizing the people involved, portrays them as ordinary, though
courageous, human beings. An accessible book that offers a clear picture of a landmark event in
American history. (Horn Book, 1992)
Stauffacher, S. (2007). Nothing but trouble: The story of Althea Gibson. Illustrated by G. Couch.
Knopf Books for Young Readers. (2-5)
―Althea Gibson was the tallest, wildest tomboy in the history of Harlem. Everybody said so.‖ How
this girl, considered ―nothing but trouble,‖ became the first African American to win the Wimbledon
Tennis Championship in 1957 is both stylishly and compellingly told in this picture-book biography.
From an early age, Gibson's love of sports distracted her from everything else. Buddy Walker, a
neighborhood play leader, recognized her ability at street tennis, played with a wooden paddle, and
handed Althea her first stringed racket. After considerable practice, he had her play at the Harlem
River Tennis Courts, where she attracted the eye of Juan Serrell, a member of the upscale
Cosmopolitan Tennis Club. There, assisted by pro Fred Johnson and Rhoda Smith, Gibson's game
and deportment improved—though she bristled at the strict rules of behavior. Her eventual victory
at Wimbledon is described in both the swinging auctorial voice and the tournament announcers'
excited commentary, ending with Gibson's graceful acceptance speech. Couch's kinetic illustrations
done in acrylic with digital imaging wonderfully enhance the text. Althea stands out in a blur of
color against somber sepia, blue, and olive-drab backgrounds. The prose is rhythmic and has the
cadence of the street, and it's a treat to read aloud. Like Katherine Krull's Wilma Unlimited
(Harcourt, 1996), this is an affecting tribute to a great athlete, and a story to both enjoy and inspire.
(School Library Journal)
Sturm, J. (2007). Satchel Paige: Striking out Jim Crow. Illustrated by R. Tommaso. Hyperion. (46)
Baseball Hall of Famer Leroy "Satchel” Paige (1905? - 1982) changed the face of the game in a
career that spanned five decades. Much has been written about this larger-than-life pitcher, but
when it comes to Paige, fact does not easily separate from fiction. He made a point of writing his
own history...and then re-writing it. A tall, lanky fireballer, he was arguably the Negro League’s
hardest thrower, most entertaining storyteller and greatest gate attraction. Now the Center for
Cartoon Studies turns a graphic novelist’s eye to Paige’s story. Told from the point of view of a
sharecropper, this compelling narrative follows Paige from game to game as he travels throughout
the segregated South. In stark prose and powerful graphics, author and artist share the story of a
sports hero, role model, consummate showman, and era-defining American. (amazon.com)
Tillage, L. W. (1997). Leon‘s story. Illustrated by S. L. Roth. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux.
(4-6)
The son of a North Carolina sharecropper recalls the hard times faced by his family and other
African Americans in the first half of the twentieth century and the changes that the civil rights
movement helped bring about. (card catalog)
Towle, W. (1995). The real McCoy: The life of an African-American inventor. Illustrated by W.
Clay. New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (K-4)
Introducing readers to a pioneering African-American inventor from the mid-1800s, the story of his
life recounts his successes with such everyday objects as rubber heels, lawn sprinklers, and
locomotive oil cups. (amazon.com)
Troupe, Q. (2005). Little Stevie Wonder. Illustrated by L. Cohen. Houghton Mifflin; Book and CD
edition. (2-4)
Eleven-year-old Stevland Judkins Morris Hardaway hit the big time when he signed a Motown
recording contract. At the age of thirteen, Little Stevie Wonder had millions of fans dancing to the
number-one song in the nation. Little Stevie Wonder is the true story of a boy who lost his sight
shortly after birth, grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and became one of the twentieth century‘s most
creative and influential musicians and instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, musical innovator, and
cultural activist. Here in Quincy Troupe‘s joyful poem and Lisa Cohen‘s vibrant art is an uplifting
celebration of life, peace, and music. (amazon.com)
Turk, R. (1997). I am African American (Our American Family Series). New York: Rosen
Publishing Group. (1-4)
Turk speaks through the voice of Jesse, an African-American child from a middle-class family living
in Queens, NY. The boy introduces his family and discusses their African roots and their admiration
for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Kwanzaa, soul food, traditional African clothing, as well as
African-American contributions to music. The child‘s voice exudes a feeling of pride in his cultural
heritage. (Borders.com)
Walker, A. (2001). Langston Hughes: American poet. Illustrated by C. Deeter. New York:
Harpercollins Juvenile Books. (3-6)
Walker‟s picture-book-size biography Langston Hughes: American Poet, first published in 1974,
returns to print with lively new artwork. It is an excellent introduction to Hughes, focusing mainly
on his adolescence and early adulthood. The text is romanticized in places, but the engaging,
anecdotal style is perfect for read-alouds, and the brief sentences and simple vocabulary make the
book a good choice for beginning and struggling readers. Deeter‟s realistic paintings capture the
text's pivotal moments. (Booklist)
Weatherford, C. B. (2008). Before John was a jazz giant: A song of John Coltrane. Illustrated by
S. Qualls. Holt. (1-3)
Young John Coltrane was all ears. And there was a lot to hear growing up in the South in the 1930s:
preachers praying, music on the radio, the bustling of the household. These vivid noises shaped
John’s own sound as a musician. Carole Boston Weatherford and Sean Qualls have composed an
amazingly rich hymn to the childhood of jazz legend John Coltrane. (amazon.com)
Weatherford, C. B. (2007). I, Matthew Henson: Polar explorer. Illustrated by E. Velasquez.
Walker. (2-4)
Written in Henson‘s first-person voice, each plain, eight-line poem begins with resistance to the
prejudice and false perceptions the narrator experienced (―I did not sail to the tropics just to
launder / shirts and cook meals‖; ―I meant / to prove myself as an explorer‖), as step by step he
earns Peary‘s trust and sails with him to Greenland. After several trips, during which he
learned Inuit and befriended the indigenous people, ―Peary picked me to go all the way to the
Arctic, vowing / he could not make it without me.‖ Including portraits and dynamic action
scenes, the beautifully textured pastels show the icy landscape, the tough explorers, and the grim
situation at home, as when Henson stands next to a ―Whites Only!‖ sign, meeting hate while
―exploring my own land.‖ In the final climactic scene Peary, Henson, and four Eskimos (unnamed,
unfortunately) are on the ice at the North Pole. The twist from negative to triumphant in each poem
and the suspense that builds to the final journey make this a great combination of adventure in the
wild landscape and personal struggle. Includes a detailed final note. (Booklist)
Winter, J. (2008). Barack. Illustrated by A. Ford. Collins. (1-3)
This is a journey that began in many places. It began in Kansas, home of Barack’s mother. It began
in Africa, home of Barack’s father. It began in Hawaii one moonlit night, the night that Barack was
born. Sometimes it was a lonely journey. Sometimes it was an enchanted journey. But throughout
this most unusual ride, this boy often wondered: Who am I? Where do I belong? Jonah Winter and
AG Ford re-create the extraordinary story behind the rise of the inspirational icon Barack Obama in
this stunning picture book. (amazon.com)
Winter, J. (2008). Muhammad Ali: Champion of the world. Illustrated by F. Roca. Schwartz &
Wade. (K-3)
In the history of legendary boxers, there was Joe Louis and Sonny Liston . . . and then, ―the heavens
opened up, and there appeared a great man descending on a cloud, jump-roping into the Kingdom
of Boxing. And he was called Cassius Clay.‖ Clay let everyone know that he was the greatest boxer
in the world. He converted to the Nation of Islam, refused to be drafted into a war in which he didn‘t
believe, and boxed his way back to the top after being stripped of his title. The man that came to be
known as Muhammad Ali was heard in a voice no one will ever forget. (amazon.com)
Wisniewski, D. (1999). Sundiata: Lion King of Mali. New York: Clarion Books.
The story of Sundiata, who overcame physical handicaps, social disgrace, and strong opposition to
rule Mali in the thirteenth century. (card catalog)
BACK
Historical Fiction:
Altman, L. J. (2000). The legend of Freedom Hill. Illustrated by C. Van Wright & Y. Hu. New
York: Lee & Low. (2-5)
In California in the 1850s, an African-American girl teams up with a Jewish girl in a search for gold
to save the black girl‘s mother from a slave catcher. Through perseverance, the two friends find
enough gold to buy the freedom of all the captured slaves. Using accurate details and lively
language, this tale of love, bravery, and friendship evokes a colorful era. (amazon.com)
Anderson, L. H. (2008). Chains. Simon. (5-6)
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom.
Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate
become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for
the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with
ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for
invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her
loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom. From acclaimed author Laurie
Halse Anderson comes this compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can
go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual. (amazon.com)
Aston, D. H. (2008). The moon over Star. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. Dial. (K-3)
The narrator of this picture book recalls the first walk on the moon, which she witnessed as a child
on her grandparents‘ farm. She and her cousins build their own spaceship from scrap wood and
metal, but they run inside for the broadcast of Apollo 11‘s lunar landing. Later, the family gathers
around the television again to watch astronauts step onto the moon. As she tells her grandfather, ―If
they could go to the moon, / Maybe one day I could too!‖ Near the story‘s end, Grandpa calls the
girl ―Mae,‖ a name recalling African American astronaut Mae Jemison. Spaced vertically in
phrases like free verse alongside the large illustrations, the text combines dignity and immediacy in
a clean, spare telling of events. Pinkney‘s evocative artwork, created using graphite, ink, and
watercolor, depicts a black family captivated, and perhaps subtly changed, by the moon landing in
1969. A quiet, satisfying tribute to this milestone in human history and its power to inspire others.
(Booklist)
Ayres, K. (2000). North by night: A story of the Underground Railroad. New York: Yearling
Books. (4-6)
Presents the journal of a sixteen-year-old girl whose family operates a stop on the Underground
Railroad. (amazon.com)
Belton, S. (1998). From Miss Ida‘s porch. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Scott Foresman. (14)
Miss Ida‟s porch is a telling place, where adults recall their past and the narrator and her best
friend love to listen in. On one perfect night, tales are told about two great African-American
performers--Duke Ellington and Marian Anderson. (amazon.com)
Berleth, R. (1990). Samuel‘s choice. Illustrated by J. Watling. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman &
Company. (4-6)
Samuel, a fourteen-year-old slave in Brooklyn in 1776, faces a difficult choice when the fighting
between the British and the colonists reaches his doorstep and only he can help the rebels. (card
catalog)
Birtha, B. (2005). Grandmama‘s pride. Illustrated by C. Bootman. Albert Whitman. (K-3)
A 1956 summer visit to their grandmother‘s home exposes two African-American girls to
segregation and prejudice unlike anything they have experienced in the North. As they travel south
by bus, their mother explains that the best seats are at the back. At a rest stop, most travelers head
for the lunch counter, but Mama reminds her daughters that she has packed them a delicious lunch.
When they arrive at their destination, six-year-old Sarah Marie notices the two separate waiting
rooms and wonders why her grandmother is waiting in the one without seats. The gentle tone of
Birtha‘s writing reflects the quiet dignity with which the adults in Sarah Marie‘s family meet the
indignities of Jim Crow laws. When they return the following summer, the Supreme Court has
desegregated the schools, buses, and public places. The strong, sensitive writing is enhanced by
beautiful watercolor paintings filled with chips of light. This story will generate discussions on a
range of topics including racial segregation, bullying, and self-respect. (School Library Journal)
Bradby, M. (2000). Momma, where are you from? Illustrated by C. K. Soenpiet. New York: Orchard
Books. (K-3)
A young African-American girl learns about what her mother’s life was like growing up in the rural
south. (Borders.com)
Brill, M. (1993). Allen Jay and the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by J. Lee Porter. Minneapolis,
MN: Lerner. (K-4))
Recounts how Allen Jay, a young Quaker boy living in Ohio during the 1840s, helped a fleeing slave
escape his master and make it to freedom through the Underground Railroad. (card catalog)
Carbone, E. (2008). Night running: How James escaped with the help of his faithful dog.
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Knopf. (2-4)
It‘s 1838, and James has made a secret plan to escape Master Graham‘s farm–and slavery. James
tells his dog Zeus he has to stay behind: he‘s simply too noisy to bring along on a dangerous
nighttime journey. But when two white men capture James soon after he runs, he‘s grateful his
faithful hunting dog didn‘t obey. Zeus has followed behind, and the scrappy hound rescues James
from his captors. An author‘s note describes the real life inspiration behind the book: James Smith,
a slave who escaped with the help of his dog and went on to become a farmer and Baptist minister.
(amazon.com)
Carbone, E. (2001). Stealing freedom. Yearling. (5-6)
Ann Maria Weems was a slave who lived in Maryland in the mid-1800s, and in the engaging,
suspenseful novel Stealing Freedom, Elisa Carbone tells her story. As she wrote, Carbone
painstakingly pieced Ann’s experiences together with old newspaper articles; letters found in boxes
in Philadelphia and Ohio; and material culled from rare books, census and land records, wills, and
graveyards. She read thousands of pages of slave narratives, and recorded the emotion she heard in
these men and women’s voices in her own work. The resulting novel--powerful, vivid, and a tale well
told--is, according to the author, a combination of what really happened and what could have
happened. Every character in her book is based on someone who lived during the 19th century. The
story begins in 1853 at the Price farm in Unity, Maryland, where the Weems family lives and works.
Though 10-year-old Ann works from sunup to sundown in often harsh conditions, her life is not an
unhappy one, as she is surrounded by a loving family. But the reality of slavery is ever present.
When the Prices begin to sell Ann’s family off, person by person, her father (a free slave) vows that
if the family can’t be together in slavery, they will be together in freedom. Finally, only 12-year-old
Ann is left on the farm, and young readers will be moved by her courageous journey--from her
dramatic escape with a white abolitionist, to her travels on the Underground Railroad, to her heartwrenching reunion with her family in Canada. (amazon.com)
Carbone, E. (2002). Storm warriors. Yearling. (4-8)
In 1895, after his mother‘s death, twelve-year-old Nathan moves with his father and grandfather to
Pea Island off the coast of North Carolina, where he hopes to join the all-black crew at the nearby
lifesaving station, despite his father‘s objections. (card catalog)
Chocolate, D. (2000). The piano man. New York: Walker and Company. (K-3)
Her silver-haired grandfather no longer plays piano on stage, but his passion for the instrument still
lives in his heart and on his fingertips. This moving and powerful story of a girl's bond with her
grandfather is told through their shared love of music. (amazon.com)
Coleman, E. (1999). White socks only. Illustrated by T. Geter. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman.
(1-4)
On a hot Mississippi day, a young girl innocently drinks from the ‗whites only‖ fountain, thinking it
meant only that she had to do so while standing in her white socks, only to come face to face with
the harsh realities of racism. (amazon.com)
Collier, J. L. & Collier, C. (1987). Jump ship to freedom. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)
The second book in the Arabus family saga finds young Daniel trying to retrieve the notes that
ensure his and his mother‟s freedom, until he is forced aboard a boat and headed for certain slavery
in the West Indies. (amazon.com)
Collier, J. L. & Collier, C. (1987). War comes to Willy Freeman. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)
A free thirteen-year-old black girl in Connecticut is caught up in the horror of the Revolutionary
War and the danger of being returned to slavery when her patriot father is killed by the British and
her mother disappears. (amazon.com)
Collier, K. (2002). Jericho walls. New York: Henry Holt. (4-6)
A beautifully written story about the power of friendship in the face of racism. Jo Clawson isn‘t the
boy her father wanted, and she‘s not the ―young lady‖ her neighbors expect of the preacher‘s
daughter, either. But even though Jo doesn‘t always meet the expectations of the people around her,
she still longs to fit in. When she and her family leave their northern home for the small southern
town of Jericho, Alabama, Jo might finally stop picking fights and settle in right. But when Jo
befriends a young black boy, she discovers that ―fitting in‖ is about a lot more than proper manners
or a smart outfit. Suddenly she‘s faced with a new set of questions that call up her own values.
Maybe some fights are worth picking, after all. Set in 1957, this unforgettable novel tells the
inspiring story of a young girl growing up amid racism. (amazon.com)
Curtis, C. P. (2002). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Yearling. (4-6)
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes
a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father – the renowned
bandleader, H. E. Calloway of Grand Rapids. (card catalog)
Curtis, C. P. (2007). Elijah of Buxton. Scholastic Press (4-6)
Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of
runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He‘s best known in his hometown as the boy who
made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass. But things change when a former slave steals
money from Elijah‘s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South.
Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief, and he discovers firsthand
the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled—a life from which he‘ll always be free, if he
can find the courage to get back home. (amazon.com)
Curtis, C. P. (1997). The Watsons go to Birmingham – 1963. New York: Bantam Books. (4-6).
Ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Watsons of Flint, Michigan, are heading for Birmingham,
Alabama, and one of the darkest moments in American history. (amazon.com)
Curtis, G. (2001). The bat boy and his violin. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
There's nothing Reginald loves more than the music from his violin. But his father, manager of one
of the worst baseball teams in the Negro Leagues, needs a bat boy, not a "fiddler‖. Needing a place
to practice, Reginald fills the dugout with music in his spare moments--and inspires a rally by the
team that culminates in a showdown with the best team in the league. (amazon.com)
DeGross, M. (1999). Granddaddy‘s street songs. Illustrated by F. Cooper. Los Angeles, CA:
Hyperion Press. (K-3)
Roddy loves to bring out the old family photo album and listen to Granddaddy tell stories about his
long-ago days as an ―arabber‖, a fruit and vegetable vendor. With his horse-drawn wagon laden
with the freshest produce, Granddaddy would ride down the cobblestone streets and narrow brick
alleys of Baltimore, singing out his special calls to customers. Singing along with Granddaddy
makes Roddy almost feel like he‘s an arabber, too, as if those long-ago days have come alive.
(amazon.com)
Edwards, P. D. (1999). Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by H. Cole. New
York: HarperTrophy. (1-4)
Innovative perspective and use of light as well as a spare text result in an unforgettable portrayal of
one slave‘s journey to freedom. (amazon.com)
English, K. (2002). Francie. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. (4-6)
Francie lives with her mother and younger brother, Prez, in rural Alabama, where all three work
and wait. Francie‘s father is trying to get settled in Chicago so he can move his family up North.
Unfortunately, he‘s made promises he hasn‘t kept, and Francie painfully learns that her dreams of
starting junior high school in an integrated urban classroom will go unfulfilled. Amid the day-to-day
grind of working odd jobs for wealthy white folks on the other side of town, Francie becomes
involved in helping a framed young black man to escape arrest - a brave gesture, but one that puts
the entire black community in danger. (amazon.com)
Erickson, P. (2000). Daily lie on a southern plantation: 1853. New York: Puffin. (2-6)
Erickson depicts the lives of a slave and a white family on a plantation in Louisiana. Combining
historic pictures and facts with fictional characters, this book provides a striking juxtaposition of
their lifestyles. (Book Links, June/July 2002, p. 33)
Fox, P. (1996). The slave dancer. New York: Laurel Leaf. (4-6)
Kidnapped by the crew of an Africa-bound ship, a thirteen-year-old boy discovers to his horror that
he is on a slaver and his job is to play music for the exercise periods of the human cargo. (card
catalog)
Fuqua, J. S. (2002). Darby. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick. (4-6)
In a small town in Marlboro County, SC, in 1926, nine-year-old Darby Carmichael, the daughter of
a white farmer and storekeeper, loves to play out in the woods with her friend Evette Robinson, the
daughter of a black sharecropper. When Evette declares her ambition to write newspaper articles,
she inspires Darby to follow suit. At first, the girl‟s efforts merely amuse the readers of the
Bennettsville Times, but after lots of editorial help from Evette, Darby writes observant, thoughtprovoking columns. However, when the girl responds to a racially motivated murder by writing an
article urging whites to treat blacks as equals, her family becomes the target of hatred and violence.
The author‟s research, drawn from oral interviews, provides a balanced portrayal of an early-20thcentury Southern community. Darby‟s first-person narration conveys self-awareness uncanny for a
nine-year-old, and evokes the mood of a memoir. Darby‟s friends are not as fully developed as some
of the adults, such as the newspaper editor and her parents, who, despite their apprehensions,
ultimately make courageous choices. Darby herself is an admirable heroine who radiates confidence
while maintaining humility. (School Library Journal, 2002)
Golenbock, P. (1992). Teammates. Illustrated by P. Bacon. New York: Voyager. (2-5)
Describes the racial prejudice experienced by Jackie Robinson when he joined the Brooklyn
Dodgers and became the first black player in Major League baseball and depicts the acceptance
and support he received from his white teammate Pee Wee Reese. (amazon.com)
Gray, L. B. (2000). Dear Willie Rudd. Illustrated by P. M. Fiore. New York: Aladdin. (2-4)
Detailed oil paintings complement the bittersweet story of an older woman recognizing the love that
she had as a young girl for her African-American housekeeper. In a letter, the adult narrator brings
the reader full circle as she reminisces about her childhood and re-evaluates the accepted racial
climate of the day, wishing she could relive that time differently. (Horn Book, 1994))
Greenfield, E. & Little, L. J. (1993). Childtimes: A three-generation memoir. Illustrated by J.
Pinkney. New York: Harpercollins. (4-6)
Three generations of black women remember their ―childtimes‖ in this lyrical memoir spanning a
century of American history. (amazon.com)
Greenwood, B. (1998). The last safe house: A story of the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by H.
Collins. New York: Kids Can Press. (4-6)
In a unique mix of fact and fiction, this is the dramatic story of the Underground Railroad as seen
through the eyes of two young girls--Eliza, a runaway slave, and Johanna, whose family gives her
refuge. Kids will learn about life on a cotton plantation and about abolitionists who fought to have
slavery made illegal. Activities include making a tin can lantern and locating the North Star, which
guided many slaves to freedom. Beautifully detailed drawings accompany each story to make this a
comprehensive, all-in-one resource. (amazon.com)
Hansen, J. (2003). I thought my soul would rise and fly: The diary of Patsy, a freed girl. Scholastic.
(5-8)
Twelve-year-old Patsy keeps a diary of the ripe but confusing time following the end of the Civil
War and the granting of freedom to former slaves. (card catalog)
Hart, A. (2007). Gabriel‘s horses (Racing to Freedom Trilogy). Peachtree. (4-6)
In the first book of this engrossing middle-grade trilogy set during the Civil War, a young Kentucky
slave dares to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey.The year is 1864 and twelve-year-old Gabriel
hopes to one day become a famous jockey. Although he is a the son of a free black father and a
slave mother - making him a slave as well - he loves to help his father, one of the best horse trainers
in Kentucky, care for the thoroughbred racehorses on Master Giles”s farm. But the violence of war
disrupts the familiar routine of daily life on the farm. One-Arm Dan Parmer and his band of
Confederate raiders are threatening area farms and stealing horses. When Gabriel’s father enlists
in a Colored Battalion to help the Union Army and earn enough money to purchase freedom for his
wife and son, Gabriel is both proud and worried. But the absence of his father brings the arrival of
Mr. Newcastle, a white horse trainer with harsh, cruel methods for handling horses...and people.
Now it is up to Gabriel to protect the horses he loves from Mr. Newcastle and keep them safely out
of the clutches of One-Arm Dan and his men. Author Alison Hart mines the complex relationships
between white and black, slave and master, Unionist and Confederate, and old and young in this
gripping work of historical fiction. Young readers will experience the danger and drama of a time
when war split the country and human beings were segregated into the owners and the owned
based on the color of their skin. Background historical material and photos are included.
(amazon.com)
Hart, A. (April, 2008). Gabriel‘s journey (Racing to Freedom Trilogy). Peachtree. (4-6)
In the final book of the RACING TO FREEDOM trilogy, ex-slave Gabriel leaves behind a successful
horse racing career to join his parents at Camp Nelson, where his father is a Sergeant in the Fifth
U.S. Colored Calvary of the Union Army.
Twelve-year-old Gabriel is too young to join the regiment as a soldier, but finds a job as personal
groom to Champion, the unruly horse that belongs to Col. Waite, the white commander. When the
Calvary receives orders to join white regiments in an attack on the Virginia salt works, Gabriel
surreptitiously gets a hold of a horse and a uniform and joins the troops. But being a soldier is a lot
harder than he imagined. Bad, weather, rough riding, dwindling supplies, and blatant racism wear
heavily on his spirit. When his father and Col. Waite are not among the weary and wounded who
return from battle, Gabriel mounts Champion and rides to the battlefield in search of them.
In the final book of this highly engrossing historical fiction trilogy set during the Civil War, author
Alison Hart continues to explore the complex relationships between black and white, slave and
master, and North and South. The result is a gripping story that vividly brings to life the danger and
drama of a time when war and issues of race and freedom divided the country.
Background historical material, photos, and suggestions for further reading are included.
(amazon.com)
Hart, A. (2007). Gabriel‘s triumph (Racing to Freedom Trilogy). Peachtree. (4-6)
The year is 1864 and twelve-year-old Gabriel, a recently freed slave, is making a name for himself
throughout the state of Kentucky. Blessed with a competitive spirit and a natural talent for racing
horses, Gabriel is burning up the horse track and stacking up wins for horse owner Mister Giles.
When Mister Giles asks him to ride Aristo, a powerful but unpredictable horse in the Saratoga
Chase, Gabriel jumps at the chance to compete against some of the greatest jockeys in the North.
But horse racing can be a nasty business when the stakes are so high. And Gabriel learns soon
enough that being freed is not the same as being free. Not when your skin is black.
Now Gabriel has more on his mind than winning the race. He has to keep his horse safe and fend off
trouble. More than ever Gabriel misses his father, who has gone off to fight with the Union Army.
Who else can he trust?
In the second book in her historical fiction trilogy set during the Civil War, author Alison Hart
continues to explore the complex relationships between black and white, slave and master, and
North and South. The result is a gripping story that brings to life the danger and drama of a time
when war split the country and human beings were divided into the owner and the owned based on
the color of their skin.
Background historical material and photos included. (amazon.com)
Holiday, B. & Herzog Jr., A. (2003). God bless the child. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. Amistad. (2-5)
The song "God Bless the Child‖ was first performed by legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday in
1939 and remains one of her enduring masterpieces. In this picture book interpretation, renowned
illustrator Jerry Pinkney has created images of a family moving from the rural South to the urban
North during the Great Migration that reached its peak in the 1930s. The song‘s message of selfreliance still speaks to us today but resonates even stronger in its historical context. This
extraordinary book stands as a tribute to all those who dared so much to get their own. A free CD of
Billie Holiday‘s timeless recording of "God Bless the Child‖ is included to enjoy along with the
book. (amazon.com)
Hooks, W.H. (1996). Freedom‘s fruit. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. (2-4)
Hooks‘ evocative retelling of a story he first heard as a child is an ideal addition to both folk-tale
and African-American history collections. Mama Marina is a conjure woman who will do anything
to free her daughter and her daughter‘s lover from slavery. Her surprising plan to make them both
useless to their owner has amazing results. (amazon.com)
Hopkinson, D. (2002). A band of angels: A story inspired by the Jubilee Singers. Illustrated by R.
Colon. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (2-4)
The story of the Jubilee Singers after the Civil War - how they saved Fisk School (now Fisk
University), and preserved such treasures as ―Go Down Moses‖ and ―Many Thousand Gone‖.
(amazon.com)
Hopkinson, D. (1995). Sweet Clara and the freedom quilt. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York:
Random House. (3-5)
After learning about the Underground Railroad, Clara, a 12-year-old slave, stitches a quilt charting
the path to freedom. Eventually, she and Jack, another slave, decide to follow it to find Clara‘s
mother. 9Book Links, June/July 2002, p. 33).
Hopkinson, D. (2005). Under the quilt of night. Illustrated by J. Ransome. Aladdin. (K-3)
Dramatic oil paintings and compelling verse-like prose combine to portray the harsh yet hopeful
experience of travel along the Underground Railroad. Hopkinson and Ransome revisit the theme of
their first collaboration, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. This time readers journey the
precarious trail to freedom with a young runaway as she escapes to Canada via clandestine routes
and dangerous nighttime treks. The intense opening spread features three panels showing her
nameless family running for their lives by the light of the full moon, some shoeless or with only rags
on their feet. (Subsequent pages show snarling dogs and overseers in hot pursuit.) The story comes
to a formidable climax when they‘re almost discovered hiding in the back of a wagon. Hopkinson
names each segment of the journey ("Running,‖ "Waiting,‖ "Hiding‖) and her narrative conveys the
emotional and physical hardships of the trip ("Fear is so real, it lies here beside me‖). The author
connects the metaphorical protective quilt of night with folkloric elements (legend has it that quilts
with blue center squares indicated safe houses on the Underground Railroad). Ransome fills in the
characterizations with portraits that convey a strong familial connection and the kindness of the
conductors along the way. This suspenseful story successfully introduces and sheds light on a
pivotal chapter in America‘s history for youngest readers. (Publishers Weekly)
Howard, E. F. (2000). Virgie goes to school with us boys. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York:
Simon & Schuster. (1-4)
All Virgie wants is to go to school with her brothers George, Will, Nelson, Val, and C. C. But they
keep saying she‘s too little for the long, seven-mile walk, and that girls don't need school. Well,
Virgie doesn‘t agree, and she‘s not going to let anything stand in her way. (amazon.com)
Johnson, A. (2005). A sweet smell of roses. Illustrated by E. Velasquez. Simon. (K-3)
History and politics get personal for young readers in this dramatic, large-size picture book about
an African American child and her younger sister who steal out of the house to join the Civil Rights
marchers and listen to Dr. King speak. The child‘s clear, first-person narrative draws on the
language of the struggle ("we look farther down the road‖), and Velasquez‘ realistic charcoal
pictures, in black and white with an occasional touch of red, evoke the news footage of the time. The
protestors confront the glowering police, and there are children among the racists who yell, "You
are not right. Equality can‘t be yours.‖ But this book is not only about segregation; it‘s also about
the crowds of people "walking our way toward freedom,‖ the thrilling portrait of Dr. King, and the
two brave kids who cross the line. (Booklist)
Johnston, T. (1999). The wagon. Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Mulberry. (2-4)
One Carolina morning, a child is born into slavery. He grows, and soon is working for the Master
from dawn to dark. And as he grows, he dreams that the wagon he‘s helped build for Master is a
glorious chariot of freedom. With the rhythmic cadences of an old-time spiritual, this unforgettable
book powerfully evokes the voices of slavery and liberation. (amazon.com)
Lester, J. (1999). From slave ship to freedom road. Illustrated by R. Brown. New York: Puffin. (5-6)
With a profoundly moving text and 24 magnificent paintings, Julius Lester and Rod Brown depict
the course of slavery, beginning with the ships sailing from Africa and continuing through the Civil
War. Invoking the memories of ancestors whose names they do not know, Lester and Brown reveal
the inner life of the slaves expressed in their secret worship meetings, their heroic escapes, and their
joy about freedom. (amazon.com)
Lester, J. (2005). The old African. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young
Readers. (4-6)
No one on the plantation had ever heard the Old African’s voice, yet he had spoken to all of them in
their minds. For the Old African had the power to see the color of a person’s soul and read his
thoughts as if they were words on a page. Now it was time to act—time to lead his fellow slaves to
the Water-That-Stretched-Forever, and from there back to Africa. Back to their home. Based on
legend and infused with magical realism, this haunting tale is beautiful in both its language and its
images. Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney have found a new, extraordinary way to express the horrors
of slavery and the hope and strength that managed to overcome its grip. (amazon.com)
Levine, E. (2007). Henry‘s freedom box. Illustrated by K. Nelson. Scholastic Press. (2-5)
Levine (Freedom‘s Children) recounts the true story of Henry Brown, a slave who mailed himself to
freedom. Thanks to Nelson‘s (Ellington Was Not a Street) penetrating portraits, readers will feel as
if they can experience Henry‘s thoughts and feelings as he matures through unthinkable adversity.
As a boy, separated from his mother, he goes to work in his new master‘s tobacco factory and
eventually meets and marries another slave, with whom he has three children. In a heartwrenching
scene depicted in a dramatically shaded pencil, watercolor and oil illustration, Henry watches as
his family—suddenly sold in the slave market—disappears down the road. Henry then enlists the
help of an abolitionist doctor and mails himself in a wooden crate "to a place where there are no
slaves!‖ He travels by horse-drawn cart, steamboat and train before his box is delivered to the
Philadelphia address of the doctor‘s friends on March 30, 1849. Alongside Henry‘s anguished
thoughts en route, Nelson‘s clever cutaway images reveal the man in his cramped quarters (at times
upside-down). A concluding note provides answers to questions that readers may wish had been
integrated into the story line, such as where did Henry begin his journey? (Richmond, Va.); how
long did it take? (27 hours). Readers never learn about Henry‘s life as a free man—or, perhaps
unavoidably, whether he was ever reunited with his family. Still, these powerful illustrations will
make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story.
(Publishers Weekly)
Levine, K. (2009). The best bad luck I ever had. Putnam. (5-8)
While most of the residents in the tiny, World War I–era Moundville, Alabama, are shocked that
their new postmaster is African American, Dit is simply surprised that said postmaster‘s child turns
out to be a girl, not the boy his own age he was expecting. Bookish, timid Emma can hardly fill the
role of fellow adventurer and baseball player that easygoing Dit, with more than a trace of a Huck
Finn–like charm, had his heart set on. In unexpected ways, though, the unlikely twosome cross each
other‘s paths and slowly build a partnership of complementary strengths. When Jim Crow rears its
ugly head in the person of the menacing and blatantly racist sheriff, Emma and Dit embark on a
risky adventure to save the life of a man sentenced to hang on trumped-up charges. Levine‘s story
treats racism frankly and with no mincing of words. The highlight of this coming-of-age journey
comes from watching the two kids learn about the world and come to care about each other in the
way of 13-year-olds. (Booklist)
Littlesugar, A. (2001). Freedom school, yes! Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Philomel. (1-4)
Jolie has a lot to be scared about since the new Freedom School teacher, Annie, came to town.
Bricks thrown through windows in the dead of night, notes filled with hate, and now a fire has burnt
down the church where Annie was supposed to start teaching tomorrow! Without the church, how
can she possibly teach Jolie and the other townspeople about black poets and artists, historians and
inventors? Unless the people themselves fight back. (amazon.com)
Littlesugar, A. (2001). Tree of Hope. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
Florrie‘s daddy used to be a stage actor in Harlem before the Depression forced the Lafayette
Theater to close, but he gets a chance to act again when Orson Welles reopens the theater to stage
an all-black version of "Macbeth.‖ Illustrated with color oilwash paintings, this story is about a real
event in the Harlem Renaissance. Borders.com)
McKissack, P. C. (2007). A friendship for today. Scholastic. (4-7)
The year is 1954, the place is Missouri, and twelve-year-old Rosemary Patterson is about to make
history. She is one of the first African American students to enter the white school in her town.
Headstrong, smart Rosemary welcomes the challenge, but starting this new school gets more
daunting when her best friend is hospitalized for polio. Suddenly, Rosemary must face all the stares
and whispers alone. But when the girl who has shown her the most cruelty becomes an unlikely
confidante, Rosemary learns important truths about the power of friendship to overcome prejudice.
(amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (2005). Abby takes a stand: Scraps of time 1960. Illustrated by G. C. James.
Viking. (2-4)
Why has their grandmother bothered keeping a menu from a restaurant that closed years ago, a
restaurant that never served very good food in the first place? Three cousins listen to Gee‘s own
story, set in the early days of lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville, a time when a black child could sit
up front in a city bus but still could not get a milkshake at a downtown restaurant. Through the eyes
of ten-year-old Abby, young readers see what it was like to live through those days and they‘ll come
to understand that, like a menu, freedom is about having choices. Each book in the series tells the
story behind a different ‗scrap of time;‘ together they form a patchwork quilt of one black family‘s
past that stretches back for generations. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (2008). A song for Harlem (Scraps of Time). Illustrated by G. C. James. Puffin.
(3-5)
For Lilly Belle, ―the capital of Black America‖ is about as far from her hometown of Smyrna,
Tennessee, as a twelve-year-old can get—maybe not in miles but certainly in mindset. Then a
summer program for gifted young writers opens a whole new world for Lilly Belle. Jazz music in the
street lulls her to sleep, her classroom is in a mansion, and the author Zora Neale Hurston is her
teacher, helping her understand the power of words, especially her own. Once again, awardwinning author Patricia C. McKissack builds an involving story around real events and famous
figures. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (2006). Away west: Scraps of Time 1879. Illustrated by G. James. (4-6)
The second in the series, this book begins as the Webster children investigate their grandmother‘s
attic. A memento there leads to the story of their ancestor, Everett Turner. Following the Civil War,
he was the first of his family to be born into freedom, and the first to be educated. As his story
begins, Everett has stowed away on a riverboat headed to St. Louis. He‘s seen a pamphlet about free
land in the West that has him dreaming of his own place. Fortunately, Everett falls in with good
people in St. Louis. He learns to work with horses and joins a group of former slaves headed for
Nicodemus, KS. The story ends as the group begins the trip to Kansas City. The cover art with a boy
on a bucking horse will draw many readers. They‘ll find a rewarding tale that highlights a lesserknown aspect of America‘s pioneer story. McKissack deftly weaves in details of the time, including
Buffalo soldiers, the role of the church, and the rise of the Klan. This book is just right for beginning
chapter book readers who enjoyed Barbara Brenner's Wagon Wheels (HarperCollins, 1978) and
are ready for more. (School Library Journal)
McKissack, P. C. (2001). Goin‘ someplace special. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Atheneum.
(K-3)
There‘s a place in this 1950s southern town where all are welcome, no matter what their skin
color...and 'Tricia Ann knows exactly how to get there. To her, it‘s someplace special and she‘s
bursting to go by herself. When her grandmother sees that she‘s ready to take such a big step,
'Tricia Ann hurries to catch the bus heading downtown. But unlike the white passengers, she must sit
in the back behind the Jim Crow sign and wonder why life‘s so unfair. Still, for each hurtful sign
seen and painful comment heard, there‘s a friend around the corner reminding 'Tricia Ann that
she‘s not alone. And even her grandmother‘s words – ―You are somedbody, a human being -- no
better, no worse than anybody else in this world‖ -- echo in her head, lifting her spirits and pushing
her forward. Patricia C. McKissack‘s poignant story of growing up in the segregated South and
Jerry Pinkney‘s rich, detailed watercolors lead readers to the doorway of freedom. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (2000). Ma Dear‘s aprons. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
A Newbery Honor Book author and Coretta Scott King Honor Book illustrator join forces for this
heartfelt collaboration. The pair movingly capture what life was like for a poor single mother and
son in a time before washing machines, cars, and TV sets. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (1997). Run away home. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
A young African-American girl befriends an Apache boy who has escaped from the train
transporting Geronimo and his companions-in-exile from Florida to Alabama. Sarah comes to
appreciate Sky's strength of character, the pivotal role he plays in the family's economic survival,
and the emotional support he offers to all. (Horn Book, 1998)
McKissack, P. C. (2008). The home-run king. Illustrated by G. C. James. Viking. (3-5)
In this, the fourth installment in McKissack‘s Scraps of Time series, Gee tells her grandchildren the
story of a signed Josh Gibson baseball they find in her attic. It‘s 1937 Nashville in Gee‘s story. The
lives of her basesball-obsessed young cousins Tank and Jimbo get really interesting when the boys‘
parents rent a room to Josh Gibson, the home-run slugger on the Negro Leagues‘ Homestead Grays,
while the team is playing in Nashville. Though the boys get caught when they try to sneak into a
game without paying and have to work on the ―chain gang‖ (cleaning up the stadium after the
game), they also get to meet and practice with their hero. Sprinkled into the story are interesting
subplots about life in Nashville during the Jim Crow period. The characterization of Apollo, a
mentally handicapped boy, adds depth to the story. The timeline and author‘s note (mostly) clear up
what is fictional and what is historically accurate. Readers with a love of baseball will have their
appetites whetted by this engaging story and will certainly want to take a look at Kadir Nelson‘s We
are the ship and the websites for the Negro League Baseball Museum and the National Baseball
Hall of Fame for further stories and records of this fascinating time. (Horn Book)
Miller, W. (1999). Richard Wright and the library card. Illustrated by G. Christie. New York: Lee
and Low Books. (1-4)
Richard Wright, African American author of Black Boy and Native Son, grew up in the segregated
South of the 1920s. His formal education ended after he completed the ninth grade, but gaining
access to the public library with the help of a white coworker opened up a new world of books for
him, eventually inspiring him to become a writer. Richard Wright and the Library Card is a
fictionalized account of this powerful story, deftly adapted by William Miller from a scene in Black
Boy. (amazon.com)
Miller, W. (2001). The bus ride. Illustrated by J. Ward. New York: Lee and Low Books, Inc. (1-5)
Miller reimagines the story of Rosa Parks‘s historic refusal to give up her bus seat as it might have
happened to Sara, a young girl with an intuitive grasp of right and wrong. Kirkus Reviews)
Miller, W. (2000). The piano. Illustrated by S. Keeter. New York: Lee & Low. (K-4)
Set in the deep South of the early 1900s, this is the story of an African-American girl who learns to
play the piano from her white employer. In return, she shows the elderly woman the power of
friendship and caring. Luminous oil paintings skillfully evoke the mood and the time. (amazon.com)
Mitchell, M. K. (1998). Granddaddy‘s gift. Illustrated by L. Johnson. New York: Troll Associates.
(1-3)
A sensitive effort from Mitchell (Uncle Jed‟s Barbershop, 1993), about a courageous man in the
segregated South who steadfastly pursued a goal (in this case, the right to vote), creating a legacy of
pride and hope for the young girl who tells his story. Although the language is simple and
straightforward, readers will require some background to understand how Jim Crow laws effectively
disenfranchised Southern blacks for nearly a century after the passage of the 15th Amendment. With
robust paintings by Johnson, the book will be instructive for those--of every age--without a clear
understanding of how dearly won are rights they may take for granted. (Kirkus Reviews, 1997)
Mitchell, M. K. (1998). Uncle Jed‘s barbershop. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
Despite serious obstacles and setbacks Sarah Jean‘s Uncle Jed, the only black barber in the county,
pursues his dream of saving enough money to open his own barbershop. (card catalog)
Monjo, F.N. (1993). The drinking gourd: A story of the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by F.
Brenner. New York: HarperTrophy. (2-4)
The stars of the Big Dipper have led a runaway slave family to Deacon Fuller‘s house, a stop on the
underground railroad. Will Tommy Fuller be able to hide the runaways from a search party or will
the secret passengers be discovered and their hope for freedom destroyed? (amazon.com)
Morrison, T. (2004). Remember: The journey to school integration. Houghton Mifflin. (4-12)
Toni Morrison has collected a treasure chest of archival photographs that depict the historical
events surrounding school desegregation. These unforgettable images serve as the inspiration for
Ms. Morrison‘s text and fictional account of the dialogue and emotions of the children who lived
during the era of "separate but equal" schooling. Remember is a unique pictorial and narrative
journey that introduces children to a watershed period in American history and its relevance to us
today. Remember will be published on the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking Brown v. Board
of Education Supreme Court decision ending legal school segregation, handed down on May 17,
1954. (amazon.com)
Myers, A. (2004). Tulsa burning. Walker and Company. (5-6)
In 1921, fifteen-year-old Noble Chase hates the sheriff of Wekiwa, Oklahoma, and is more than
willing to cross him to help his best friend, a black man, who is injured during race riots in nearby
Tulsa. (card catalog)
Myers, W. D. (2001). The journal of Biddy Owens: The Negro Leagues. New York: Scholastic
Trade. (5-6)
Biddy Owens is the batboy for the Birmingham Black Barons, one of the best teams in the Negro
Leagues. With a supporting cast of characters that includes some of the greatest players ever,
Biddy‘s story covers the games, the grueling road trips, racial segregation, and day-to-day life in
Birmingham during this pivotal time in American history. (amazon.com)
Nelson, V. M. (1999). Beyond Mayfield. New York: Putnam. (3-6)
Meg‟s having problems at school, not just with a classmate who torments her but also with a fourthgrade substitute teacher who treats her differently because she‟s the only Negro in class and even
suspects her of stealing a silver pencil. It‟s a relief for Meg to get home to her family and friends in
Mayfield Crossing where no one thinks much about skin color. But these are the Sixties, and down
South civil rights workers are encountering hatred and even violence. When Lucky, the brother of
Meg‟s friend Dillon, comes home from the Navy and decides to go South to fight racism, the world
beyond Mayfield becomes tragically real to Meg and her friends. (amazon.com)
Nelson, V. M. (2002). Mayfield Crossing. Illustrated by L. Jenkins. New York: Puffin. (3-6)
It‟s 1950, and Meg is starting at a new school. From the first day, there are problems. Almost
everyone is white, and the kids call her names and won‟t let her play baseball, her favorite game,
because she is black. What can she do when people judge her because of the color of her skin?
(amazon.com)
Nobisso, J. (2000). John Blair and the great Hinckley fire. Illustrated by T. Rose. New York:
Houghton Mifflin. (2-5)
A firestorm raged through an area of Minnesota in 1894, and Nobisso tells the horrific story of a
train caught in this inferno. The text focuses on John Blair, an African-American porter, who saved
people running from the fire by pulling them to safety on the train. Rose‘s watercolor illustrations,
especially his detailed Train No. 4, complement this little-known piece of American history. (Horn
Book, 2001)
O‘Dell, S. (1990). My name is not Angelica. New York: Yearling. (4-6)
Kidnapped from her African home, 16-year-old Raisha begins her new life on the island of St. John
as a plantation slave and is soon swept into the great slave rebellion of 1733. (Borders.com)
Parker, T. T. (2005). Sienna‘s scrapbook: Our African American heritage trip. Illustrated by J.
Genovese. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (3 – 6)
Here it is, summer vacation, and Sienna’s parents have already ruined it. They have this crazy idea
that the family should stop off and visit black historical sites on their way to their North Carolina
family reunion. As far as Sienna is concerned, summer is supposed to be about fun, not about
learning! But Sienna is in for a wonderful surprise. Somehow along the way from the Amistad in
New Haven, Connecticut, to the Apollo Theater in New York City, to the Great Blacks in Wax
Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, to the Frederick Douglass House in Washington, D.C., Sienna
discovers that learning can be an adventure. Sienna's Scrapbook invites readers along on her
family's vacation—a trip filled with great places, great food, and great fun!
Pinkney, A. D. (2008). Boycott blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a nation. Illustrated by B.
Pinkney. Amistad. (1-3)
Rosa Parks took a stand by keeping her seat on the bus. When she was arrested for it, her
supporters protested by refusing to ride. Soon a community of thousands was coming together to
help one another get where they needed to go. Some started taxis, some rode bikes, but they all
walked and walked. With dogged feet. With dog-tired feet. With boycott feet. With boycott blues.
And, after 382 days of walking, they walked Jim Crow right out of town. . . . Andrea Davis Pinkney
and Brian Pinkney present a poignant, blues-infused tribute to the men and women of the
Montgomery bus boycott, who refused to give up until they got justice. (amazon.com)
Pinkney, A. D. (2001). Dear Mr. President: Abraham Lincoln: Letters from a slave girl. Toronto,
ON. Winslow. (4-6)
The Dear Mr. President series brings history alive through fictitious correspondence between a
president and a young person. Although the letters are all imagined, they are based upon meticulous
historical research. Elegantly designed in two colors, the books include photographs, maps, primary
source material, a presidential biography, U.S. postal history, an index, and timelines. In this latest
addition to the series, the United States descends into Civil War. A 12-year-old slave on a South
Carolina plantation begins corresponding with the newly inaugurated President Lincoln. Full
emancipation, the president writes to her, cannot come easily in so deeply divided a nation. But her
continuing appeals prod the conscience of this burdened man, and he drafts the Emancipation
Proclamation that sets Lettie on the road to freedom. (amazon.com)
Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and Say. New York: Philomel Books. (3-5)
In a true story, Pinkus Aylee, a black Union soldier, finds Sheldon Curtis left for dead and carries
him home to be tended by his mother, but when the two boys attempt to rejoin the Union troops, they
are captured and sent to Andersonville Prison. (amazon.com)
Raven, M. T. (2006). Night boat to freedom. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Farrar. (2-6)
Christmas John, 12, lives in a pine-board cabin with Granny Judith, who was enslaved when
strangers lured her to their ship with a piece of red flannel. Now on a plantation in Kentucky,
Granny Judith and Christmas John help others escape across the river to the free state of Ohio by
taking advantage of John‘s youth–he‘s young enough to avoid notice, and old enough to row a boat
across and back. Granny Judith stitches a quilt, incorporating the colors the escapees wear. What
color is freedom tonight? As the quilt approaches completion and the risks grow, the time comes for
their own escape. Based on several different narratives from the Federal Writers‘ Project Slave
Narrative Collection, Raven‘s moving story is full of particulars that lend it authenticity. Lewis‘s
realistic watercolors use texture and shadow to an impressionistic effect, communicating the utter
darkness in which Christmas John works, and the emotion contained in a single color. An author‘s
note shows how Raven pieced together her story like Granny Judith‘s quilt, lending a context that
makes this a rich story for adults and children to share. (School Library Journal)
Ringgold, F. (1998). My dream of Martin Luther King. New York: Dragonfly. (3-5)
In this moving, celebratory account of a great man, the acclaimed author/illustrator of the Caldecott
Honor Book Tar Beach describes a dream she had about the great civil rights leader which includes
scenes of King‘s childhood and the major events of his life. (Borders.com)
Robinet, H. G. (2001). Children of the fire. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
A young black girl named Hallelujah lives through the great Chicago fire with courage and
resourcefulness. (card catalog)
Robinet, H. G. (2000). Forty acres and maybe a mule. New York: Aladdin. (4-6)
Born with a withered leg and hand, Pascal, who is about twelve years old, joins other former slaves
in a search for a farm and the freedom which it promises. (amazon.com)
Robinet, H. G. (2002). Walking to the bus-rider blues. Illustrated by R. Colon. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (4-6)
Twelve-year-old Alfa Merryfield, his older sister, and their grandmother struggle for rent money,
food, and their dignity as they participate in the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott in the summer
of 1956. (Borders.com)
Rodman, M. (2004). Yankee girl. Farrar. (4-7)
The year is 1964, and Alice Ann Moxley‘s FBI-agent father has been reassigned from Chicago to
Jackson, Mississippi, to protect black people who are registering to vote. Alice finds herself thrust
into the midst of the racial turmoil that dominates current events, especially when a Negro girl
named Valerie Taylor joins her sixth-grade class -- the first of two black students at her new school
because of a mandatory integration law. When Alice finds it difficult to penetrate the clique of girls
at school she calls the Cheerleaders (they call her Yankee Girl), she figures Valerie, being the other
outsider, will be easier to make friends with. But Valerie isn't looking for friends. Rather, Valerie
silently endures harassment from the Cheerleaders, much worse than what Alice is put through.
Soon Alice realizes the only way to befriend the girls is to seem like a co-conspirator in their plans
to make Valerie miserable. It takes a horrible tragedy for her to realize the complete ramifications
of following the crowd instead of her heart.
An unflinching story about racism and culture clash in the 1960s. (amazon.com)
Schotter, R. (2000). F is for freedom. Illustrated by C. B. Mordan. New York: Dorling Kindersley.
(4-6)
Headstrong and imaginative, ten-year-old Manda determines to help when she discovers her
parents’ plan to hide a slave family escaping via the Underground Railroad. Manda eagerly
befriends young Hannah, and in doing so discovers a wise and lonely girl who yearns for
freedom and literacy. Readers will be engaged by the story’s courageous characters and
suspenseful plot, despite a few overly sentimental moments. (Horn Book, 2001)
Schroeder, A. (1995). Carolina shout! Illustrated by B. Fuchs. New York: Dial Books for Young
Readers. (K-3)
Through the eyes of young Delia, who hears music wherever she goes, readers are transported to a
bygone time in Charleston, South Carolina, when the shouts of vendors filled the city streets from
morning till night. The Waffle Man, the Pepper-Sauce Man, the vegetable vendors, and others each
had their own song, and this book is a reminder that their voices shouldn‘t be forgotten. Full-color
illustrations. (amazon.com)
Shange, N. (2004). Ellington was not a street. Illustrated by K. A. Nelson. Simon and Schuster
Books for Young Readers. (3-5)
In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls
her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of
vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color
of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they
could sit on a bus or in a movie theater. Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these
dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in
America, but also helped issue in a movement that "changed the world.” Their lives and their works
inspire us to this day, and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow.
(amazon.com)
Siegelson, K. L. (2004). Escape south. Illustrated by S. Jackson. Random. (2-4)
Ben and Lizzie, Mama and Papa are slaves on Mister Tom‘s farm. They dream of a better life, of a
life working for themselves and keeping what they earn. One night, Papa shares a plan to escape
from Mister Tom, to escape south to Florida, to Indian Territory, where they‘ll find freedom.
(amazon.com)
Siegelson, K. L. (1999). In the time of the drums. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York: Hyperion
Books. (K-3)
A grandmother teaches her beloved grandson, Mentu, the art of African drumming. (Borders.com)
Stroud, B. (1996). Down home at Miss Dessa‘s. Illustrated by F. Marshall. New York: Lee and Low.
(K-3)
In the South of 50 years ago, lazy summer days were spent savoring good company and simple
pleasures. Down Home at Miss Dessa‘s beautifully evokes such times in a story of two young girls
who care for an elderly neighbor. This is a story about the special gift of friendship between young
and old. (amazon.com)
Stroud, B. (2007). The patchwork quilt: A quilt map to freedom. Illustrated by E. S. Bennett.
Candlewick. (K-3)
A child tells of escaping to Canada on the Underground Railroad, accompanied by her father, and
of following secret signs sewn into quilt patterns. The exciting escape story makes the history
immediate, and the fascinating quilt-code messages will have children revisiting the page that shows
each symbol and its secret directions. Bennett‘s bright oil paintings make dramatic use of collage to
show the quilt code and the brave fugitives. Helped by Quakers and other rescuers, Hannah and
Papa make it to the border, but the sadness of her sister still in slavery and her Mama‘s death is
with them as they cross. A fascinating afterword reveals how much of the story was based on
history. (Booklist)
Taylor, M. D. (1998). The friendship. Illustrated by M. Ginsburg. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
Four children witness a confrontation between an elderly black man and a white storekeeper in
rural Mississippi in the 1930s. (card catalog)
Taylor, M. D. (1998). The gold cadillac. Illustrated by M. Hays. New York: Puffin. (3-6)
Two black girls living in the North are proud of their family’s beautiful new Cadillac until they take it
on a visit to the South and encounter racial prejudice for the first time. (card catalog)
Taylor, M. D. (2000). Mississippi bridge. Illustrated by M. Ginsburg. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
Set in rural Mississippi in the era before Civil Rights, this is perhaps the most powerful story written
by Newbery Medal winner Mildred Taylor. A group of late-arriving white passengers show up to get
on a fully-loaded bus during a heavy rainstorm. The black passengers are forced off, but in a cruel
twist of fate, the bus plunges over the side of the bridge near town. (amazon.com)
Taylor, M. D. (1997). Roll of thunder, hear my cry. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
A black family living in the South during the 1930‘s are faced with prejudice and discrimination
which their children don't understand. (card catalog)
Taylor, M. D. (1996). The song of the trees. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Skylark. (4-6)
During the Depression, a rural black family deeply attached to the forest on their land tries to save
it from being cut down by an unscrupulous white man. (card catalog)
Taylor, M. D. (1998). The well: David‘s story. New York: Penguin USA. (4-6)
From Newbery Medal-winner Mildred Taylor comes an unforgettable story about the Logan family,
set a generation earlier than Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. David and Hammer are young boys in
the early 1900s when all the wells go dry except theirs. During that long, dry summer the Logan
boys learn that being men has more to do with using their brains than their fists. (amazon.com)
Thomas, J. C. (2000). I have heard of a land. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: HarperTrophy. (3-
6)
A National Book Award-winning author draws on family history for this lyrical account of
America‘s little-known past. In the late 1880s, thousands of pioneers, many former slaves, raced to
the Oklahoma Territory to stake their claim. "I Have Heard of a Land‖, a hymn to liberty and unity,
commemorates the strength of the African-American pioneers. (amazon.com)
Turner, A. (1995). Nettie‘s trip south. Illustrated by R. Himler. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (46)
A ten-year-old northern girl encounters the ugly realities of slavery when she visits Richmond,
Virginia, and sees a slave auction. (card catalog)
Uhlberg, U. (2005). Dad, Jackie, and me. Illustrated by C. Bootman. Peachtree. (2-4)
IT IS THE SUMMER OF 1947 and a highly charged baseball season is underway in New York.
Jackie Robinson is the new first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers--and the first black player in
Major League Baseball. A young boy shares the excitement of Robinson‘s rookie season with his
deaf father. Each day he listens eagerly to the Brooklyn Dodgers games on the radio. When his
father arrives home from work, the boy uses sign language to tell him about the Dodgers. His father
begins to keep a scrapbook, clipping photos and articles about Jackie. Finally one day the father
delivers some big news: they are going to Ebbets Field to watch Jackie play in person! Author
Myron Uhlberg offers a nostalgic look back at 1947, and pays tribute to Jackie Robinson, the
legendary athlete and hero who brought a father and son--and an entire New York community-together for one magical summer. Illustrator Colin Bootman‘s realistic, full-color illustrations
capture the details of the period and the excitement of an entire city as Robinson helps the Dodgers
win the long-awaited pennant. (amazon.com)
Vander Zee, R. (2005). Mississippi morning. Illustrated by F. Cooper. Eerdmans. (4-6)
James, 12, lives in Mississippi in 1933. His father is influential in the community and owns a store in
town. One day, a friend tells James that he overheard their dads discussing how a "colored
preacher… got what was coming to him.‖ James is also friends with LeRoy, an African-American
boy, even though Pa feels that whites spending time with "colored folk‖ is not "natural.‖ When
James suggests that they fish near a particular tree, LeRoy objects, explaining, "That‘s where the
Klan left a black man hangin‘ for a whole day because he did something they didn‘t like.‖ Then one
morning, James‘s faith and pride in his father are finally and painfully shattered when he sees him
running home, carrying a rifle and wearing the white robes of the Klan. Cooper‘s large, warm oil
paintings create the perfect sense of time, place, and atmosphere. Special attention is paid to the
facial expressions of the father and son whenever they appear together. The final illustration shows
a tree with a frayed rope wound around its lower branches. A sad and poignant story about a period
in American history, and on a more personal level, a son‘s disillusionment. (School Library Journal)
Vaughn, M. K. (2001). The secret to freedom. Illustrated by L. Johnson. New York: Lee and Low.
(2-4)
In the days before the Civil War, a young enslaved girl and her older brother help slaves escape to
freedom using the Underground Railroad quilt code. (amazon.com)
Walter, M. (2000). Justin and the best biscuits in the world. New York: Knopf. (4-6)
Sure, he can catch a greased pig at a local rodeo, but can he bake biscuits? Ten-year-old Justin
struggles to "feel like a guy‖ in a family dominated by females. When he goes to spend a week at his
grandfather‘s ranch, he discovers there‘s more to being a man than riding horses and tending to
livestock. There‘s also cleaning up messes, making beds and, from time to time, baking biscuits-good biscuits. Along with its lighthearted treatment of gender conflict, this story, which won the
1987 Coretta Scott King Award, provides a look at the little-known history of the black cowboys who
helped settle the West and create rodeos. (amazon.com)
Weatherford, C. B. (2005). Freedom on the menu: The Greensboro sit-ins. Illustrated by J.
Lagarrigue. Dial. (1-4)
Connie likes to shop downtown with her mother. When they feel tired and hot, they stop in at
Woolworth‘s for a cool drink, but stand as they sip their sodas since African Americans aren‘t
allowed to sit at the lunch counter. Weatherford tells the story from the girl‘s point of view and
clearly captures a child‘s perspective. Connie wants to sit down and have a banana split, but she
can‘t, and she grumbles that, "All over town, signs told Mama and me where we could and couldn‘t
go.‖ When her father says that Dr. King is coming to town, she asks, "Who's sick?‖ She watches as
her brother and sister join the NAACP and participate in the Greensboro, NC, lunch counter sit-ins.
Eventually, Connie and her siblings get to sit down at the counter and have that banana split.
Lagarrigue‘s impressionistic paintings convey a sense of history as they depict the pervasive signs
of a Jim Crow society. An author‘s note about the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins concludes the book,
pointing out the role young African Americans played in the struggle for civil rights. This book will
pair well with Angela Johnson‘s A Sweet Smell of Roses (S & S, 2005). (School Library Journal)
Wiles, D. ((2005). Freedom summer. Illustrated by J. Lagarrigue. Aladdin. (K-3)
"John Henry Waddell is my best friend,‖ begins the narrator of this story, set during a summer of
desegregation in the South. John Henry is black and the narrator is white, so the boys swim together
at the creek, rather than at the whites-only town pool, and the narrator buys the ice-cream at the
segregated store. When new laws mandate that the pool, and everything else, must desegregate, the
boys rejoice, until the town fills the pool with tar in protest and the narrator tries to see this town,
"through John Henry's eyes.‖ The boy‘s voice, presented in punchy, almost poetic sentences, feels
overly romanticized, even contrived in places. It‘s the illustrations that stun. In vibrantly colored,
broad strokes, Lagarrigue, who illustrated Nikki Grimes My Man Blue (1999), paints riveting
portraits of the boys, particularly of John Henry, that greatly increase the story‘s emotional power.
Beautiful work by an illustrator to watch. (Booklist)
Winter, J. (1992). Follow the drinking gourd. New York: Knopf. (K-3)
By following the directions in a song, "The Drinking Gourd," taught them by an old sailor named
Peg Leg Joe, runaway slaves journey north along the Underground Railroad to freedom in Canada.
(card catalog)
Woodson, J. (2007). Feathers. Putnam Juvenile. (4-6)
―Stepped through that door white and softly as the snow,‖ notes sixth-grader Frannie, on the arrival
of a pale, long-haired boy to her predominantly black middle school on a winter day in 1971. He is
dubbed the Jesus Boy by the class rowdy, and the name seems to suit the newcomer's appearance
and calm demeanor. Frannie is confused, not only by declarations that he's NOT white, but that her
friend Samantha, daughter of a conservative Baptist minister, also seems to believe that he is Jesus.
In light of this and other surprises in her life, Frannie questions her own faith and, most of all, the
meaning of the Emily Dickinson poem that she is studying in class, "Hope is a thing with
feathers/that perches in the soul/….‖ How does she maintain hope when her newly pregnant mother
has lost three babies already? She also worries about her deaf older brother, Sean, who longs to be
accepted in the hearing world. She sees the anger in the bully intensify as he targets Jesus Boy. With
her usual talent for creating characters who confront, reflect, and grow into their own persons,
Woodson creates in Frannie a strong protagonist who thinks for herself and recognizes the value
and meaning of family. The story ends with hope and thoughtfulness while speaking to those
adolescents who struggle with race, faith, and prejudice. They will appreciate its wisdom and
positive connections. (School Library Journal)
Wright, C. C. (1997). Journey to freedom: A story of the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by G.
Griffith. New York: Holiday House. (3-5)
A suspenseful, historically rooted survival tale follows a family for twenty tense and fearful days as
they travel from Kentucky to Canada with Harriet Tubman as their conductor on the Underground
Railroad. The clear and compelling narrative features full-page color paintings that re-create the
journey in careful detail. (Horn Book, 1995)
Wyeth, S. D. (2002). Freedom’s wings: Corey’s Underground Railroad diary (My America). New
York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (2-4)
Corey Birdsong is a lively young boy in search of freedom in the same country that made an
economy of slavery. He and is family are owned by the Hart family of Kentucky. When Corey¹s
father flees to the North, Corey and his mother follow. Corey records his daily life on the farm with
incredible insight, and later describes his difficult journey along the Underground Railroad to the
North to be reunited with his father. With the help of many kind strangers, Corey, his mother, and
his new baby sister arrive safely in Canada. (amazon.com)
Wyeth, S. D. (2002). Flying free: Corey’s Underground Railroad dairy, Book Two (My America).
New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (2-4)
Corey and his family have escaped from slavery and the South and are now living in Canada. They
own their own land, and Corey gets to go to school. But danger still remains across the river in
Ohio, where slavecatchers lurk, waiting to capture escaped slaves and bring them back to their
former masters. Corey, however, outsmarts them, and brings his friend Mingo to safety in Canada.
(amazon.com)
BACK
Poetry:
Adedjouma, D. (editor). (1998). The palm of my heart: Poetry by African American children.
Illustrated by G. Christiel. New York: Lee and Low Books. (1-5)
This dazzling collection of poetry celebrates the beauty of African-American culture. Written by 20
inner-city children, these moving and powerful poems represent little-heard and often overlooked
voices. (amazon.com)
Adoff, A. (editor). (1995). My Black me: A beginning book of Black poetry. New York: Puffin. (46)
A twentieth-anniversary revised edition of a classic anthology of African-American poetry for
young readers offers a joyful celebration of the power of inner strength. (amazon.com)
Aliki. (1988). A weed is a flower: The life of George Washington Carver. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (K-3)
Brief text and pictures present the life of the man, born a slave, who became a scientist and devoted
his entire life to helping the South improve its agriculture. (card catalog)
Angelou, M. (1998). Life doesn‘t frighten me. Illustrated by J. M. Basquiat. New York: Stewart,
Tabori & Chang. (all ages)
Presents Maya Angelou's poem illustrated by paintings and drawings of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Features biographies of both the author and artist. (card catalog)
Barnwell, Y.M. (1998). No mirrors in my Nana‘s house. Illustrated by S. Saint James. New York:
Harcourt Brace. (K-3)
A girl discovers the beauty in herself by looking into her Nana's eyes. (amazon.com)
Belton, S. (2003). Pictures for Miss Josie. Illustrated by B. Andrews. Amistad/Greenwillow. (K-3)
Written to celebrate the life of Josephine Carroll Smith, a respected African-American educator,
this fictionalized picture book tells the story of one of the many young black men to whom she
opened her home and heart. The third-person narrative describes the experiences of a boy who
travels to Washington, DC, for his first meeting with the woman who had welcomed his father into
her home when he was a student. The child isn‘t sure that he wants to stay for the planned
overnight visit; to him, she seems like a giant, tall, stern, and foreboding, but Miss Josie
encourages his love of drawing, and the time passes quickly. As he grows up, attends college,
marries, starts a family, and embarks on an artistic career, she is always there to play a supportive
and nurturing role in his life. When it is time for his own son to meet Miss Josie, she is not so tall,
but "in the ways that mattered, still the same.‖ The large, brightly colored folk paintings, done in
oil and collage, are in harmony with the quiet, lyrical narrative. A short biography of Smith is
appended. This story of a remarkable woman makes a good addition to Black History Month
curriculum studies. (School Library Journal)
Bolden, T. (2001). Rock of Ages: A tribute to the Black Church. Illustrated by R. G. Christie. New
York: Knopf. (1-4)
In her moving homage to the Black Church, Tonya Bolden has written a poem spanning centuries
of oppression, freedom, prejudice, and joy. From times when slaves worshipped secretly in fields at
night to the grand city churches of today, the Church has been there to help its community, inspire
its congregants, and teach us what is possible when people join together. In so doing, the Black
Church has made an enormous mark on the American cultural landscape and become part of our
national history. (amazon.com)
Boling, K. (2002). New year be coming!: A Gullah year. Illustrated by D. Minter. Chicago, IL:
Albert Whitman. (2-5)
As these delightful poems about the months of the year show, the Gullah language remains alive in
parts of the American South, even three hundred years after the Gullah people were brought as
slaves from Africa. To read these poems in Gullah is to see the seasons in a new way.
(amazon.com)
Bryan, A., editor. (2001). Ashley Bryan‘s ABC of African American poetry. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (all ages))
Exuberant, vibrant paintings illustrate this imaginative alphabet book designed to introduce
readers to twenty-six African-American poets, both early (Paul Laurence Dunbar, Countee Cullen)
and contemporary (Rita Dove, Lucille Clifton). Each page contains a meaningful fragment or short
selection from a poem. Moods range from humorous to dramatic to philosophical to contemplative.
(Horn Book, 1998)
Cendrars, B. (1995). Shadow. Illustrated by M. Brown. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
"Shadow lives in the forest . . ./It goes forth at night to prowl around the fires. /It even likes to
mingle with the dancer‖. But in the African experience, Shadow is much more, an eerie image that
shifts between the beliefs of the present and the spirits of the past. Brown‘s stunning collages,
inspired by her travels in Africa, evoke the atmosphere and drama of a life now haunted, now
enchanted - by Shadow. (Borders.com)
Clinton, C., editor. (1998). I, too, sing America: Three centuries of African American poetry.
Illustrated by S. Alcorn. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (4-6)
From the first known African American poet, Lucy Terry, to recent poet laureate Rita Dove, I, Too,
Sing America captures the enormous talent and passion of black writers. This powerful and diverse
unique collection spans three centuries of poetry in America as poets bare their souls, speak their
minds, trace their roots, and proclaim their dreams in the thirty-six poems compiled here.
(amazon.com)
Dawes, K. (2004). I see your face. Illustrated by T. Feelings. Dial. (3-5)
Acclaimed illustrator Feelings died in 2003, but he left this celebration of the black diaspora,
which he completed in collaboration with poet-author Dawes. Dawes‘ introductory note explains
that the idea for the book arose as he and Feelings discussed the many places where people of
African descent live. Feelings commented that there is "a history told through the multiplication of
faces.‖ Deriving inspiration from drawings that Feelings had made all over the world, Dawes
imagined stories around the faces Feelings sketched. The result is a striking, contemplative book,
focused on the faces--some roughly drawn, others more detailed, but most with a haunting
similarity. Dawes captures the pictures in his words: "I saw you deep in thought / While waves
crashed ashore in Suriname. / Were you thinking those same thoughts / When you gazed at me in
Birmingham?‖ It will take older children to pose the right questions about the book; an appended
color map suggests some of the answers. A stirring tribute to Feelings by Jerry Pinkney ends the
book. (Booklist)
English, K. (2004). Speak to me (And I will listen between the lines). Illustrated by A. J. Bates.
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. (2-4)
"Soft morning / sun shining / brand-new day / and the playground mine."‖Written in the voices of
mostly African American children in a third-grade classroom, the poems in this picture book
imagine students‘ private thoughts and observations throughout the day. There are quick moments
of joy: the pride of being first in line, admiration for the boy who can read "as good as the
teacher.‖ And there are deep hurts and longings: "You were best friends with me yesterday,‖ says
a bewildered girl when she is no longer the favorite; "My real daddy‘s coming / To love me more
than anyone or anything,‖ says another. Despite a few mannered, overreaching phrases, the
poems are written in a colloquial voice that will speak directly to many kids, and Bates‘ warm,
realistic watercolors, filled with spot-on expressions and body language, create strong character
portraits to match the poems‘ voices. Teachers will want to share this with students to show how
everyday language and familiar experiences can become poetry. (Booklist)
Feelings, T. (editor). (1999). Soul looks back in wonder. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
After completing the stunning art for Soul Looks Back In Wonder, Tom Feelings approached stellar
authors Maya Angelou, Margaret Walker, Walter Dean Myers, Lucille Clifton, among others. They
wrote these inspired poems to pass on the heritage of strength, beauty, and creativity to today‘s
African Americans, especially young people. (amazon.com)
Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. Illustrated by B. Collier. Henry Holt. (3-5)
Rosa Parks‘s personal story moves quickly into a summary of the Civil Rights movement in this
striking picture book. Parks is introduced in idealized terms. She cares for her ill mother and is
married to one of the best barbers in the county. Sewing in an alterations department, Rosa Parks
was the best seamstress. Her needle and thread flew through her hands like the gold spinning from
Rumpelstiltskin‘s loom. Soon the story moves to her famous refusal to give up her seat on the bus,
but readers lose sight of her as she waits to be arrested. Giovanni turns to explaining the response
of the Women‘s Political Caucus, which led to the bus boycott in Montgomery. A few events of the
movement are interjected–the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the
aftermath and reactions to the murder of Emmett Till, the role of Martin Luther King, Jr., as
spokesperson. Collier‘s watercolor and collage scenes are deeply hued and luminous,
incorporating abstract and surreal elements along with the realistic figures. Set on colored pages,
these illustrations include an effective double foldout page with the crowd of successful walkers
facing a courthouse representing the 1956 Supreme Court verdict against segregation on the buses.
Many readers will wonder how it all went for Parks after her arrest, and there are no added notes.
Purposeful in its telling, this is a handsome and thought-provoking introduction to these watershed
acts of civil disobedience. (School Library Journal)
Greenfield, E. (1993). Daydreamers. Illustrated by T. Feelings. New York: E. P. Dutton. (K-3)
Poetry and portraits of young black children reveal all the beauty in children‟s wishes, yearnings,
and memories. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (1999). For the love of the game: Michael Jordan and me. Illustrated by J. SpiveyGilchrist. New York: Harpercollins Juvenile Books. (K-3)
This inspiring poem encourages children to view life with the same determination and passion that
Michael Jordan displays in how he plays basketball. By listening to their inner voices and looking
to those who love and support them, children can find their own way to fly. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (2006). The friendly four. Illustrated by J. S. Gilchrist. Amistad/HarperCollins. (K-2)
Meet Drum, Dorene, Louis, and Rae as they share one special summer of discovery and creative
play together. Through individual poems and poems for multiple voices, these four young people
explore the bonds of friendship, family, and community. With her free-verse poetry, award-winning
writer Eloise Greenfield poignantly reminds us that sometimes our truest friends enter our lives
when we least expect them. With inspired illustrations by renowned artist Jan Spivey Gilchrist.
(amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (1986). Honey, I love and other love poems. Illustrated by D. and L. Dillon. New
York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
Sixteen poems tell of love and the simple joys of everyday life, seen through the eyes of a child
playing with a friend, skipping rope, riding on a train, or keeping Mama company until Daddy gets
home. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (1993). Nathaniel talking. Illustrated by J. S. Gilchrist. New York: Writers &
Readers. (4-6)
Beautifully composed in a variety of styles - rap, blues, and free verse - these 18 poems offers a
black child‘s insights into his own heart and mind, and into the lives of family and friends. Nineyear-old Nathaniel reflects on what it‘s like to be curious, smart, and full of ideas. (amazon.com)
Greenfield, E. (1996). Night on neighborhood street. Illustrated by J. S. Gilchrist. New York:
Puffin. (K-3)
A collection of poems exploring the sounds, sights, and emotions enlivening an African American
neighborhood during the course of one evening. (card catalog)
Grimes, N. (1999). Aneesa Lee and the weaver‘s gift. Illustrated by A. Bryan. New York: Lothrop
Lee & Shepard. (4-6)
A collection of poems describes Aneesa Lee‘s activities as she prepares materials for weaving and
works the loom before marveling at the beauty and meaning of her handicraft. (Borders.com)
Grimes, N. (2001). A pocketful of poems. Illustrated by J. Steptoe. New York: Clarion Books. (K3)
Tiana has a pocketful of words: green words like spring, night words like moon, and words with
wings, like angel. Each word is the inspiration for a pair of poems--one, lyrical free verse and the
other, haiku. The paired poems reflect Tiana‘s lively spirit and urban outlook and are showcased in
Javaka Steptoe‘s inventive collages, which include a wide range of materials, from faucet handles
to pumpkin seeds to a hand-sculpted, gilded alphabet. (amazon.com)
Grimes, N. (2005). Danitra Brown, class clown. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Amistad. (3-5)
They may be best friends, but Zuri Jackson and Danitra Brown respond very differently to the start
of school. For Zuri, there are so many things to ponder -- a new teacher who replaced the old one
she liked so much, passing math, and worrying about her mother’s health. But for Danitra, the only
real deal is being true to herself, having fun, and supporting Zuri in any way she can. Multiple
Coretta Scott King award winners Nikki Grimes and E. B. Lewis have poured their best into Danitra
Brown, Class Clown. This third book starring Zuri and Danitra speaks to everyone who has faced
the trials of a new school year. (amazon.com)
Grimes, N. (1994). From a child‘s heart. Illustrated by B. Joysmith. New York: Just Us Books. (46)
Thirteen poem-prayers the author might have prayed as a child, expressing the hopes, fears,
longings and ordinary, everyday concerns touching a child‘s life. (amazon.com)
Grimes, N. (199). Meet Danitra Brown. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Mulberry Books. (K3)
Thirteen poems tell the story of the friendship of two girls, Zuri Jackson and Danitra Brown. The
poems, in Zuri‘s voice, celebrate Danitra‘s bravery, spunk, and kindness. Oil-wash illustrations
accompany the verses. (Borders.com)
Grimes, N. (2002). My man Blue. Illustrated by J. Lagarrigue. New York: Puffin. (1-5)
Damon‘s heartache is still fresh following the death of his father, so when he and his mother move
to a new building in Harlem, he is hesitant to accept her friend Blue as his own. But Blue, who has
suffered the loss of his own boy to the streets, promises not to let the same thing happen to Damon,
and teaches him about anger, fear, and the characteristics of a real man. (Borders.com)
Grimes, N. (2001). Stepping out with Grandma Mac. Illustrated by Angelo. New York: Orchard
Books. (3-6)
Nikki Grimes pens a series of poems, illus. by Angelo, chronicling the relationship of a 10-year-old
girl and her grandmother in Stepping Out with Grandma Mac. Told from the child‟s point of view,
the verses reveal a grandma who doesn‟t bake cookies, and whose idea of a field trip centers
around the garment district. As the collection progresses, the wisdom in Grandma Mac‟s stern
lessons and austere values slowly reveals itself to the young narrator. (Publishers Weekly, 2001)
Haskins, J. (2005). Delivering justice: W. W. Law and the fight for civil rights. Illustrated by B.
Andrews. Candlewick. (2-4)
With handsome, full-page illustrations in oil and collage, this picture-book biography tells the
stirring story of a quiet hero, Westley (W. W.) Law, a mail carrier who played a leading role in the
cvil rights movement. It begins with scenes of Law‘s growing up poor in segregated Savannah, sad
to be separated from his mother, who must work in someone else‘s home, and angry that his people
are insulted in the local department store. In 1942, Law joins the Youth Council of the NAACP and
helps people register to vote. After college and the army, he is denied work as a teacher, so he
becomes a mail carrier--a job he loves. A combination of realism and folk art, the dramatic
illustrations show the beloved mailman leading students in nonviolent protests in Savannah in the
1960s and in his neighborhood. Haskins doesn't provide sources--not even for Law‘s thoughts and
feelings--but the telling is strong, and a final full-page biography fills in the history. Pair this with
Nikki Giovanni‘s Rosa (2005). (Booklist)
Hudson, W. (editor). (2002). Pass it on: African American poetry for children. Illustrated by F.
Cooper. New York: Scholastic Trade. (1-5)
An illustrated collection of poetry by such Afro-American poets as Langston Hughes, Nikki
Giovanni, Eloise Greenfield, and Lucille Clifton. (card catalog)
Hughes, L. (1998). Carol of the Brown King: Nativity poems. Illustrated by A. Bryan. New York:
Atheneum. (all ages)
The wonder of Christmas never ceases. Each year the holiday comes and its story seems fresh and
new. The ways of telling about the very first Christmas are as many and as varied as the stars in the
sky. And so it was for Langston Hughes, who recounted those long-ago events in six different ways
-- in live poems he wrote and in one he translated from the Spanish. In this memorable book, these
six poems are simply and movingly illustrated by Ashley Bryan. That Christmas is for everyone -young and old, black and white, rich and poor -- has never been more clearly shown. Though
African American children -- and adults -- will find the book a special one for them, everyone who
takes time to enjoy the book will come away with a new understanding of the holiday.
(amazon.com)
Hughes, L. (1996). The Dream Keeper and other poems. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York:
Knopf. (3-6)
Pinkney brings a vigorous, contemporary look to the pictures that accompany each of Hughes‟s
sixty-six poems, which, though written over a quarter century ago, have the same strength of
meaning and power as if written for today‟s readers. The splendid combination of timeless words
and timely illustrations includes seven selections that did not appear in earlier editions. (Horn
Book, 1994)
Hughes, L. (1997). The sweet and sour animal book. Illustrated by students from the Harlem
School of the Arts. New York: Oxford University Press. (1-3)
Illustrated by students from the Harlem School of the Arts. Introduction by Ben Vereen. Hughes‟s
previously unpublished animal poems -- one for each letter of the alphabet -- are paired with color
photographs of paper and clay animals created by young students. The poetry is wonderful, and the
artwork may inspire the reader‟s own creativity, but the introduction and lengthy, scholarly
afterword are appropriate only for an adult audience. (Horn Book, 1995)
Johnson, A. (2000). Daddy calls me man. Illustrated by R. Mitchell. New York: Orchard. (K-3)
In these four short poems, a boy compares his shoes with his father‘s, spins with his older sister,
wonders about the moon shining in his room, and receives praise from his parents when he shares
with his baby sister. (Horn Book, 1998)
Johnson, A. (2000). The other side: Shorter poems. New York: Orchard Books. (4-6)
The razing of her hometown provides Johnson with the opportunity to revisit her childhood in this
intriguing collection. Strung together into a singular narrative with a consistent first person voice,
the poems draw a picture of growing up in Shorter, Alabama, the subtitle referring not only to the
length of the individual verses, but to their subject. Photos of the author as a child emphasize the
personal nature of this captivating narrative. (Horn Book, 1999)
McGill, A. (2000). In the hollow of your hand: Slave lullabies. Illustrated by M. Cummings. New
York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
This collection of lively tunes will be new to many readers. Each spread contains an illustration,
the text for a song, and an anecdote about its place in McGill‘s childhood and in the history of
slavery. Melodies appear in small print at the back of the book. The mixed-media illustrations use
painted paper, fabric, and quilt techniques for a folk-art look in keeping with the subject. The
accompanying CD is superb. (Horn Book, 2001).
Medearis, A.S. (1997). Rum-a-tum-tum. Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Holiday House.
(K-3)
A young girl narrates this text, describing the sounds on the streets of her hometown of old New
Orleans: the rhythmic hawking of street vendors, the call of chimney sweeps, and the dirge-to-
dance tunes of musicians leading a funeral procession. Ransome‘s vivid, textured paintings portray
the lively action involved in the making of this multitude of sounds. (Horn Book, 1997)
Medina, T. (2001). DeShawn days. Illustrated by R. G. Christie. New York: Lee & Low. (K-3)
In this uplifting story told in verse, a young boy living in the inner city projects tells about his
hopes, fears, and dreams. (amazon.com)
Muse, D. (2005). The entrance place of wonders: Poems of the Harlem Renaissance. Illustrated by
C. Riley-Webb. Abrams Books for Young Readers. (3-5)
Twenty poems with immediate child appeal celebrate the Harlem Renaissance in this picture-book
anthology, with rhythmic double-page pictures showing young people in every scene. The famous
names are here, including Langston Hughes, but several of the poets are not well known. In a fine
introduction, Muse points out that along with poems reflecting urban realism, there are many
pastoral poems, perhaps as "an attempt to transcend the difficulties of city life.‖ With the pride in
"black like me‖ and the celebration of diversity, there is also Countee Cullen‘s "Tableau,‖ about
the hostility toward a friendship between a black boy and a white one, "locked arm in arm.‖ Some
pictures leave little space for the words, but using swooping lines and brilliant colors, Riley-Webb
shows kids on the street, at a city window, and connected with forest, water, and sky. This is a book
for reading aloud and talking about in the classroom, in the library, and at home. (Booklist)
Myers, W.D. (2003). Blues journey. Illustrated by C. Myers. Holiday House. (5-8)
The African experience in America is celebrated with a soulful, affecting blues poem.
(amazon.com)
Myers, W.D. (1996). Brown angels: An album of pictures and verse. New York: HarperTrophy. (36)
In this beautiful volume, the award-winning author of Scorpions and Now Is Your Time! combines
eleven original poems with a selection of turn-of-the-century photographs chosen from his own
personal collection. (amazon.com)
Myers, W. D. (1997). Harlem: A poem. Illustrated by C. Myers. New York: Scholastic Trade. (5-6)
Depicts the rich character of Harlem through poetry and illustrations in which the author and his
son paint a picture that connects readers to the spirit of Harlem in music, art, literature, and
everyday life. (amazon.com)
Nelson, K. (2005). He‘s got the whole world in his hands. Dial. (K-2)
This picture book‘s surprisingly intimate interpretation of the well-known spiritual makes it
accessible to young children and their own "whole world.‖ Nelson uses pencils, oils, and
watercolors to create a series of striking, beautifully composed pictures. The opening scene of sun
just visible beyond the arc of the earth in space gives way to a San Francisco cityscape with the sun
against the skyline. With the words, "He‘s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,‖ the
pictures introduce an African American boy holding up a childlike portrait of his multi-ethnic
family. His fingers on the sides of the picture visually echo God‘s hands supporting his brothers
and sisters in the song. A series of double-page spreads show the boy with family (particularly his
father) engaged in a variety of activities: flying kites, fishing, doing a jigsaw puzzle of the earth. In
the end, the scenes move away from the immediate family, enlarging the child‘s vision to include a
park full of people, a hillside of homes by the bay, and finally, a shuttle‘s-eye view of the earth‘s
curve, with the moon and stars lying beyond. The last double-page spread carries the piano music
and four verses of the song, followed by a historical note. Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award
for illustration for Ellington Was Not a Street (2004), Nelson envisions the song in a highly
personal and involving manner while embodying its strength and spirit. (Booklist)
Pinkney, S. L. (2000). Shades of black: A celebration of our children. Illustrated by M. C. Pinkney.
New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Indeed, there are many shades of black, and they are beautifully exemplified in this photo album
that depicts the varied palette that makes up black skin. These gorgeous children are "gingery
brown like a cookie‖, "brassy yellow like popcorn‖, and "midnight blue like a licorice stick‖.
And yes, ―black‖ can be creamy white like vanilla ice cream. But the author and illustrator don't
stop there. They also look at eyes and hair, showing the beauty and uniqueness of eyes with hints of
tiger-eye yellow and sturdy, coiling, woollike hair. All of it is black. All of it is beautiful. (Booklist)
Perdomo, W. (2002). Visiting Langston. Illustrated by B. Collier. New York: Henry Holt. (1-3)
A young African American girl visits Hughes‘ home with her father and relates her interest in her
heritage and her own poetry. Collier‘s distinctive collages intertwine elements of the girl‘s life in
Harlem with artifacts from Hughes‘ home. (Book Links, December 2001/January 2002, p. 38)
Shange, N. (2004). Ellington is not a street. Illustrated by K. Nelson. Simon & Schuster. (3-5)
The text of this picture book for older children is a paean to Shange‘s family home and the exciting
men who gathered there, everyone from W. E. B. DuBois and Paul Robeson to Dizzy Gillispie and
Duke Ellington. Taken from Shange‘s 1983 poem "Mood Indigo,‖ the words here recall, from a
child‘s perspective, what it was like to listen "in the company of men / politics as necessary as
collards / music even in our dreams.‖ The evocative words are more than matched by Nelson‘s
thrilling, oversize oil paintings, a cross between family photo album and stage set, featuring this
group of extraordinary men interacting--playing cards, singing, discussing. The girl who is always
watching them is, unfortunately, portrayed as very young, perhaps three or four, although she
appears somewhat older on the beguiling jacket art. Preschoolers are not the audience for this, and
despite the helpful notes that introduce the men mentioned in the poem, even older children will
need further explanations (e.g., where are the famous women?). Depicting the narrator as a child
closer in age to the target audience would have helped bridge the gap between a poem written for
adults and a book for children. Still, with words and pictures that are so enticing, this will be
embraced by many. (Booklist)
Shore, D. Z. & Alexander, J. (2006). This is the dream. Illustrated by J. Ransome. Amistad. (2-4)
In this unusual book, Ransome makes a strong visual statement about equality in the U.S. The first
half of the book shows large, dramatic scenes of segregated America: the separate, unequal water
fountains, the library with a "Colored Entrance‖ leading to a collection of tattered books. Then
come pictures depicting the years of protest, with black children guarded by soldiers as they enter
their new school and adults physically harassed but unmoved during a lunch-counter sit-in.
Finally, the justice and happiness of an inclusive America is depicted as people eat, read, and
share together. The images extend to the book‘s endpapers: collage pictures of the American flag
before and after Jim Crow. At the book‘s beginning, the stars appear on bits of cloth so thin that
you can see through them, while the stripes are made up of alternating rows of small images of
black America and white America. At the book‘s conclusion, a sturdy, starred blue cloth connects
with bright, patchwork panels of patterned cloth, and the whole is supported on a map, a
multicultural collage from which faces beam with happiness. The rhythmic verse tells the story of
the civil rights struggle with simplicity and power, while the images bring the concepts home in a
way that children will see and feel. An excellent resource for discussing the changes of the civil
rights era as they benefit all Americans. (Booklist)
Smith, H. A. (2008). Keeping the night watch. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Henry Holt & Co. (4-6)
My best friend, Preacher, is being just that. His sermon today is on fathers and I am his
congregation.―Dads are light. They have no roots. One strong wind, and they‘re gone. Out of here.
History.‖ With a click, a bang, a whisper—or no noise at all. There are so many ways that a door
can close, but it‘s not just the closing; it‘s the knowing. And thirteen-year-old CJ knows too much—
about losing his father, about his family‘s pain, and especially about what it means to hold things
together when times are the toughest. In this beautifully written and powerfully moving novel in
poems, Hope Anita Smith tells the story of a young man‘s struggle to accept a father who has
walked out on his family. Here, in CJ‘s words, is a portrait of hurt and healing, and finding the
strength to open the door again. (amazon.com)
Smith, H. A. (2003). The way a door closes. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. Holt. (4-6)
In 34 compelling poems, readers are drawn into the thoughts and feelings of a 13-year-old African
American as he tries to understand and cope with a parent‘s departure from the family. The first 12
poems describe the contentment C. J. feels about being a part of a close-knit family. With the 13th
poem, "The Way a Door Closes,‖ his father abruptly leaves home. "-And when he went out the
door/he held on to the knob./The door closed with a/click./I felt all the air leave the room/and we
were vacuum-sealed inside./-I can tell a lot by/the way a door closes.‖ In carefully chosen,
straightforward language, Smith conveys the boy‘s roller-coaster emotions with pinpoint accuracy.
The results are poems that are heartbreaking, angry, and tender. Done in warm shades of mostly
brown, blue, and gold, Evans‘s color spot and full-page paintings have a realistic, slightly
sculptural appearance and are a perfect complement to the poems. Good poetry touches the heart,
and this offering does just that. (School Library Journal)
Steptoe, J. (editor). (2001). In daddy‘s arms I am tall: African Americans celebrating fathers. New
York: Lee & Low Books. (4-6)
In this collection of poetry by new and established African-American writers, fatherhood is
celebrated with honor, humor and grace. Contributors include Carole Boston Weatherford,
Michael Burgess, E. Ethelbert Miller, Lenard D. Moore, David Anderson, Angela Johnson, Sonia
Sanchez and Davida Adedjouma. (amazon.com)
Strickland, D. S. & Strickland, M. R. (editors). (1996). Families: Poems celebrating the African
American experience. Illustrated by J. Ward. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. (K-3)
Illustrated poems by Eloise Greenfield, Lucille Clifton, Langston Hughes and others explore and
celebrate family ties in black families, and teach the joy of belonging and the value of mutual
respect. (amazon.com)
Thomas, J. C. (1997). Gingerbread days: Poems. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York:
HarperTrophy. (all ages)
From a January filled with the mouthwatering smell of gingerbread baking to the gift-giving days
of December, when the best present of all is a father‘s love, these words and images about family,
tradition, heritage, and a young boy‘s place in the world will warm the heart and touch the soul.
(amazon.com)
Thomas, J. C. (2008). The blacker the berry. Illustrated by F. Cooper. Amistad. (K-4)
collection of poems, including "Golden Goodness,‖ "Cranberry Red,‖ and "Biscuit Brown,‖
celebrating individuality and Afro-American identity. (amazon.com)
A
Thomas, J. C. (1996). Brown honey in broomwheat tea. Illustrated by F. Cooper. HarperTrophy.
(all ages)
A warmly illustrated collection of inspirational poems from a National Book Award-winning author
offers joyous celebrations of the family and of individuality. (amazon.com)
Weatherford, C. B. (2007). Birmingham, 1963. Wordsong. (4-6)
Carole Boston Weatherford‘s Birmingham, 1963 is a poetic account of the Birmingham church
bombing as witnessed by a fictional ten-year old girl. The free-verse poem repeats the line ―The
year I turned ten‖ to good effect, providing a sense of day-to-day life before the shock of the
bombing. Full-page photographs of various images from the civil-rights movement complement the
poem. The volume ends with poems memorializing each of the four girls killed in the blast. An
author‘s note provides additional context and commentary. (Dean Schneider, Book Links, January
2008).
Weatherford, C. B. (2006). Dear Mr. Rosenwald. Illustrated by R. G. Christie. Scholastic. (K-5)
In the early 1920s, Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears, Roebuck, was inspired by Booker T.
Washington to give millions to build schools for African American children in the rural South, on
condition that the local community raised money too. This picture book tells the story from the
viewpoint of Ovella, 10, part of a sharecropper family, who attends a rough one-room schoolhouse
when she is not picking cotton ("Instead of learning long division / I‘ll be working in the fields‖).
Weatherford‘s short lines in clear free verse and Christie‘s exuberant gouache and colored-pencil
illustrations show Ovella as part of a vibrant family and community, hard at work, passing the
plate in church, and, finally, thrilled to be welcoming the teacher to the exciting new school ("no
more eight grades in one room‖). The story ends with the child‘s dream: "One day, I'll be a
teacher.‖ (Booklist)
Weatherford, C. B. (2000). The sound that jazz makes. Illustrated by E. Velasquez. New York:
Walker. (2-5)
A symphony of sound and color, The Sound That Jazz Makes is an eloquently rendered celebration
of a remarkable heritage. Author Carole Boston Weatherford‘s lyrical stanzas combine with the
power of luminous oil paintings by Coretta Scott King New Talent winner, Eric Velasquez (The
Piano Man) to trace the development of jazz. From African forests to wooden slave ships to Harlem
nightclubs, the tragic and joyous legacy of the African-American experience gives jazz its passion
and spirit. (amazon.com)
Woodson, J. (2003). Locomotion. New York: Putnam. (3-6)
Lonnie is grieving and angry about the loss of his parents in a fire four years ago and about his
subsequent separation from his beloved little sister, who is in foster care. He expresses his feelings
in his fifth-grade poetry-writing class, encouraged by his wonderful teacher Ms. Marcus. In a
series of free-verse poems and more formal verse, such as haiku and sonnets, he writes about his
life and about the writing that "makes me remember.” The framework of the story is fairy-tale
idyllic--perfect family before the fire; happy-ever-after foster family by the end of the book--but the
poetry is simple and immediate, true to the voice of the lost kid who finds himself with caring
people and with words. The line breaks make for very easy reading, and Lonnie talks about those
line breaks and about poetry forms, making this ideal for use in classrooms where students are
reading and writing poetry. From rap to haiku, Woodson shows and tells that poetry is about who
we are. (Booklist)
BACK
Fantasy:
Deetlefs, R. (1999). The song of six birds. Illustrated by L. Gilbert. New York: Dutton Children’s
Books. (K-3)
Wishing to make beautiful music, Lindiwe captures the songs of six birds in her new flute. (card
catalog)
Lester, J. (2000). Sam and the tigers: A new telling of Little Black Sambo. Illustrated by J. Pinkney.
New York: Puffin. (K-3)
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman is re-created in a black southern storytelling voice in which
the storyteller is involved--a voice readers may recognize from his retellings of The Tales of Uncle
Remus, among others. He turns Sam’s deals with hungry tigers into an exuberant battle of wits,
and transforms his pancake dinner into a glorious feast for the whole community. (amazon.com)
Lester, J. (1999). What a truly cool world. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York: Scholastic. (K-2)
Bursting with folk-art style paintings, this witty and inspirational creationstory is both joyful and
outrageously funny. (amazon.com)
Lester, J. (2002). Why heaven is far away. Illustrated by J. Cepeda. New York: Scholastic. (K-3)
In this playful sequel to the acclaimed What a Truly Cool World, God, His wife Irene, His
secretary Bruce, and the angel Shaniqua have a problem to solve. When God gives snakes poison to
protect themselves, he doesn‟t expect them to bite everything in sight. Now, all at once, people and
animals are climbing up the ladders connecting heaven and earth, creating chaos in God‟s
kingdom! But with a little help from Shaniqua and Irene, God has everyone dancing down the
ladders to earth. The snakes get other kinds of defenses (as well as a talking to,) and the ladders get
pulled up to prevent further ruckuses, which is why heaven is far away. (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (1996). A million fish . . . more or less. Illustrated by D. Schutzer. New York:
Dragonfly. (K-3)
Patricia McKissack, winner of the Caldecott Honor, the Newbery Honor award, and the Coretta
Scott King Award, spins an original yearn about the Louisiana bayou, paying tribute to the
American tall tale and the timeless tradition of the “one that got away.” (amazon.com)
McKissack, P. C. (1998). Dark thirty: Tales of the supernatural. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York:
Yearling. (4-6)
A Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award-winning collection of ten eerie tales about
African-Americans evinces the feelings of the South and promises spine-tingling suspense.
(amazon.com)
McKissack, P. & Moss, O. J. (2005). Precious and the Boo Hag. Illustrated by K. Brooker.
Atheneum/Anne Schwartz. (1-3)
When Precious’s bellyache keeps her from helping in the fields, she is left at home alone, with
Mama’s strict instructions to let no one inside the house for any reason, no matter what. This
admonition is reinforced by Brother’s warning that if she is not careful, Pruella the Boo Hag might
sneak in. Frightening Boo Hags tell lies and are rude, and try to get children to disobey their
mamas. Worst of all, they change shapes, so they are hard to recognize. Temptation comes in
many forms and Precious is surely baited. But she is a plucky girl who confronts her fears and, in
the end, clings to what she knows is right. The spirited language and vivid images will draw out the
performer in every reader. The authors have produced an enchanting tale that is a pinch scary but
a peck of fun. Brooker’s oil-and-collage illustrations enhance the excitement while providing a
glimpse of a modest home with peeling paint, braided rugs, and homemade jam. These images
evoke real warmth and comfort, fortifying Precious–and readers–to meet her challenges. Find a
comfy chair, gather an audience, and enjoy this wonderful book. (School Library Journal)
Mendez, P. (1991). The black snowman. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
Through the powers of a magical kente, a black snowman comes to life and helps young Jacob
discover the beauty of his black heritage as well as his own self-worth. (card catalog)
Myers, C. (2000). Wings. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
A shy girl narrates the story of Ikarus Jackson, a new boy at school whose huge wings are mocked
by his classmates, even though he can fly beautifully. Bravely, the girl scolds his tormentors and
compliments him, producing a welcome smile in her new friend. The somewhat simplistic story is
interpreted with dramatic, sophisticated collages using incongruous photographic images to create
a vibrant cityscape. (Horn Book, 2001)
Nolen, J. (2000). Big Jabe. Illustrated by K. Nelson. New York: HarperCollins. (1-4)
When Addy finds a little boy floating down the river in a basket, she‘s surprised. When he calls to
the fish to jump out of the river and into Addy‘s wagon, she‘s speechless. And when the fish obey,
she knows for a fact that life on the Plenty Plantation is about to change! In this original tall tale,
Jerdine Nolen has created a hero with the strength of fifty men, a heart as big as all outdoors, and
a mysterious gift for spiriting slaves away to freedom. (amazon.com)
Ringgold, F. (1995). Aunt Harriet‘s underground railroad in the sky. Illustrated by J. Davis. New
York: Crown Publishers. (3-5)
An imaginative blend of fact and fantasy depicts the escape from slavery as Cassie Louise Lightfoot
encounters the great Harriet Tubman and a strange train in the sky. (School Library Journal)
Ringgold, F. (1996). Tar Beach. New York: Dragonfly. (3-5)
Cassie Lightfoot, a black girl growing up in Harlem in the 1930s, has a dream--to be free to go
wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night, up on ―Tar Beach‖, the rooftop of her
family‘s apartment building, her dream comes true. The stars lift her up, and she flies over the city,
claiming everything she sees as her own. (amazon.com)
Middle Eastern
Realistic fiction:
Alalou, E. L. & Alalou, A. (2008). The butter man. Illustrated by J. K. Essakalli. Charlesbridge. (1-4)
While Nora waits impatiently for dinner, her father stirs up a story from his childhood. 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. A Junior Library Guild selection. (amazon.com)
Bunting, E. (2006). One green apple. Illustrated by T. Lewin. Clarion. (1-4)
As a Muslim girl rides in a hay wagon heading to an apple orchard on a class trip, the dupatta on her head
setting her apart, she observes that while some of the children seem friendly, others are not. Her father has
explained, …we are not always liked here. Our home country (never named in the story) and our new one
have had difficulties. Later, when she puts a green apple into the cider press instead of a ripe red one as her
classmates have done, they protest. But the cider from all their apples mixed together is delicious–a
metaphor for the benefits of intermingling people who are different. Lewin’s watercolors radiate sunlight
and capture the gamut of emotions that Farah experiences on this challenging second day in her new school
in the U.S. They show her downcast silence and sense of isolation because she can’t speak the language, her
shy smile when a classmate befriends her, and, finally, her triumphant smile as she speaks one of her first
English words, App-ell. This story, along with Bernard Wolf’s Coming to America: A Muslim Family's Story
(Lee & Low, 2003), can heighten youngsters’ awareness of what it must be like to feel different and alone
and that each person has something unique to contribute to the good of all. (School Library Journal)
Carmi, D. (2002). Samir and Yonatan. Blue Sky Press. (4-8)
Riding his bicycle down the market steps, a young Palestinian falls and smashes his knee so badly that he
needs surgery. For the first time in his life, Samir leaves his home in the Occupied Territories to go to a
Jewish hospital where an American doctor will operate on him. While waiting for the procedure, Samir gets
to know the other children on his ward, all Jews. Beautiful Ludmilla is pining away for her home in Russia
and refusing to eat. Razia hides under her bed in fear of her father. Hyperactive Tzahi can't urinate properly
and, most importantly, Yonatan with the crippled arm introduces Samir to the stars, computer games, and
the way imagination can take one away from a place of pain. As Samir thinks about the home he misses,
details of his family life are revealed. Readers learn that his younger brother was killed, shot while playing in
the street by a man wearing the same uniform that Tzahi’s brother wears when he visits. His older brother
has gone to Kuwait to earn money and his mother works two jobs. His father has stopped talking. As the
hospitalized children spend time together, they come to support one another, forming a team that crosses
cultural boundaries. Samir and Yonatan take an illegal night outing to commandeer an office computer to
play a game. Life in the hospital is described as clearly as life in the Occupied Territories and readers will
sympathize with Samir’s fear and loneliness and welcome his new friendships. Written in Hebrew but
published first in Germany, the book is smoothly translated and will have wide appeal. (School Library
Journal)
da Costa, D. (2001). Snow in Jerusalem. Illustrated by C. Van Wright & Y. Hu. Albert Whitman. (1-4)
Although they live in different quarters of Jerusalem, a Jewish boy and a Muslim boy are surprised to
discover they have been caring for the same stray cat. (card catalog)
Ellis, D. (2001). Breadwinner. Groundwood. (5-6)
Ellis (Looking for X) bases her contemporary novel on refugee stories about the oppressive rule of
Afghanistan by the Taliban. Eleven-year-old Parvana must masquerade as a boy to gain access to the
outside world and support her dwindling family. Parvana’s brother was killed years earlier by a land mine
explosion and, for much of the story, her father is imprisoned, leaving only her mother, older sister and two
very young siblings. The Taliban laws require women to sheathe themselves fully and ban girls from
attending school or going out unescorted; thus, Parvana’s disguise provides her a measure of freedom and
the means to support her family by providing a reading service for illiterates. There are some sympathetic
moments, as when Parvana sees the effect on her mother when she wears her dead brother’s clothes and
realizes, while reading a letter for a recently widowed Taliban soldier, that even the enemy can have
feelings. However, the story’s tensions sometimes seem forced (e.g., Parvana’s own fear of stepping on land
mines). In addition, the narrative voice often feels removed "After the Soviets left, the people who had been
shooting at the Soviets decided they wanted to keep shooting at something, so they shot at each other”
taking on a tone more akin to a disquisition than compelling fiction. However, the topical issues introduced,
coupled with this strong heroine, will make this novel of interest to many conscientious teens. (Publishers
Weekly)
Ellis, D. (2004). Mud City. Groundwood. (5-6)
In the third book in the Breadwinner Trilogy, orphan Afghan refugee Shauzia leaves the rough Pakistan
border camp and joins other homeless children on the streets of the city of Peshawar. Her dream, left from
the time before the Taliban when she was still at school, is to reach the ocean and a place called France.
Instead, disguised as a boy, she must beg and scrounge for food and find odd jobs. In the end, she returns to
the refugee camp and to the tough camp leader, Mrs. Weera, whom Shauzia thought she hated. The story
is strong on message, and in a final note, Ellis fills in the recent history about Afghanistan, the Taliban’s
restrictions on women, and the millions of new, desperate refugees. Middle-school readers will be caught
up in the cause and in the elemental survival adventure, especially because Shauzia is no sweet waif; she’s
mean, insolent, and rebellious. Her struggle with the rough Mrs. Weera reveals that they are both strong
and brave. Royalties from the book go to help homeless kids. (Booklist)
Ellis, D. (2003). Parvana’s journey. Groundwood. (5-6)
Sequel to The Breadwinner, Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis follows the eponymous 12-year-old girl who,
disguised as a boy, sets off from Kabul in search of her missing mother and siblings in Taliban-era
Afghanistan. When war breaks out, she bands together with other displaced children. Royalties from the
sale of the book go to Women for Women, a relief organization benefiting women in Afghanistan.
(Publishers Weekly)
Heide, F. P. & Gilliland, J. H. (1995). The day of Ahmed’s secret. Illustrated by T. Lewin. HarperTrophy. (14)
A young Egyptian boy describes the city of Cairo as he goes about his daily work and waits for the evening
to share a special surprise with his family. (card catalog)
Ichikawa, S. (2006). My father’s shop. Kane/Miller. (K-2)
A small Morrocan boy named Mustafa falls in love with a rug in his father’s shop and gets to keep it
because it has a hole. Delirious with possession, he runs through the marketplace with his brightly colored
acquisition over his head and attracts the attention of a wandering rooster, who thinks it’s found a
compatriot. "Kho kho hou houuu,” cries the rooster. The many tourists in the market exclaim over the
rooster and the boy, each citing how roosters sound in their own countries: "qui-qui-ri-qui” in Spain; "cocka-doodle-doo” in England; "koke-ko-kooo” in Japan. Mustafa runs back to his father’s shop to report
proudly that he has learned to speak "rooster” in five languages--and brings the tourist trade along with
him. Besides a gentle cultural lesson in how animals sound in different countries, Ichikawa’s glowing
pictures, with their radiant colors and slightly exaggerated forms, present an engaging image of a
Moroccan marketplace and of a boy who can find a dozen ways of playing with a rug with a small hole.
(Booklist)
Lofthouse, L. (2007). Ziba came on a boat. Illustrated by R. Ingpen. Kane/Miller. (2-5)
Ziba came on a boat. A soggy old fishing boat that creaked and moaned as it rose and fell, rose and fell,
across an endless sea...
Sitting in the crowded hull, with her mother’s arms around her, Ziba remembers all that she has left behind.
They hope to find peace and safety in a new land, but where will their journey end, and what will they find
when they arrive?
Based on real events, Ziba Came On a Boat is the moving story of a little girl whose family has lost almost
everything. This beautiful picture book takes us on her brave journey to make a new life, far from home. Full
of love, warm memories and hope for the future even in a time of fear, this lyrical story is accompanied by
stunning watercolor illustrations by the acclaimed Robert Ingpen. (amazon.com)
Matze, C. S. (2002). The stars in my Geddoh’s sky. Illustrated by B. Farnsworth. Albert Whitman. (K-3)
Alex’s Arabic-speaking grandfather comes to visit the United States, and Alex learns about his grandfather’s
Middle Eastern homeland. (card catalog)
Mobin-Uddin, A. (2005). My name is Bilal. Illustrated by B. Ciwak. Boyds Mills Press.
(4-6)
A well-done treatment of a subject not often seen in children’s picture books. Bilal transfers to a school
where he and his sister are the only Muslim children. After an incident in which a boy pulls off Ayesha’s
headscarf, Bilal decides to hide the fact that he is Muslim until an understanding teacher, who is also
Muslim, gives him a biography of Bilal ibn Rabah, a black slave who became the very first muezzin because
of his steadfastness in the face of religious persecution. Attractive watercolor illustrations emphasize the
parallels between the persecution faced by Bilal ibn Rabah and that faced by the American boy. This is an
important book for most libraries as it will enhance discussions of cultural diversity and understanding.
(School Library Journal)
Nye, N. S. (1999). Habibi. Simon Pulse. (5-6)
The day after Liyana got her first real kiss, her life changed forever. Not because of the kiss, but because it
was the day her father announced that the family was moving from St. Louis all the way to Palestine.
Though her father grew up there, Liyana knows very little about her family’s Arab heritage. Her
grandmother and the rest of her relatives who live in the West Bank are strangers, and speak a language
she can’t understand. It isn’t until she meets Omer that her homesickness fades. But Omer is Jewish, and
their friendship is silently forbidden in this land. How can they make their families understand? And how can
Liyana ever learn to call this place home? (amazon.com)
Nye, N. S. (1997). Sitti’s secrets. Illustrated by N. Carpenter. Aladdin Picture Books. (K-3)
A young girl describes a visit to see her grandmother in a Palestinian village on the West Bank. (card
catalog)
Rumford, J. (2008). Silent music: A story of Baghdad. Porter/Roaring Brook. (2-5)
“My name is Ali. I live in Baghdad.” In just a few lines per page, a young Iraqi boy describes his favorite
things: soccer, loud “parent-rattling” music, dancing, and, most of all, Arabic calligraphy: “I love to make
the ink flow . . . stopping and starting, gliding and sweeping, leaping, dancing to the silent music in my
head.” When bombs fall on the city, Ali, inspired by his hero Yakut, a thirteenth-century calligrapher, calms
himself with his pen: “I filled my room with pages of calligraphy. I filled my mind with peace.” Rumford, who
has included Arabic calligraphy in previous titles, such as Calabash Cat and His Amazing Journey (2003), fills
his multimedia collages with large, looping script that spells out the words and phrases that Ali writes.
Many children will have questions about Arabic writing and where the individual letters stop and start, but
they’ll connect with Ali’s first-person voice, which echoes the calligraphy’s graceful rhythm and tells a
simple, powerful story about a child’s everyday survival and hope in wartime Baghdad. (Booklist)
Stolz, J. (2006). The shadows of Ghadames. Translated by C. Temerson. Yearling. (5-8)
In the Libyan city of Ghadames at the end of the nineteenth century, Malika is dreading her twelfth
birthday. That is the time when, according to her family’s Berber customs, she will be close to marriageable
age and confined to the world of women. In Ghadames that means restriction to the rooftops, "a city above
the city, an open sunny town for women only, where . . . they never talk to men.” Malika longs to live
beyond the segregated city and travel, like her father, a trader. But the wider world comes to Malika after
her father’s two wives agree to harbor, in secret, a wounded stranger. The story of an outsider who
unsettles a household and helps a young person to grow is certainly nothing new, and some of the lessons
here are purposeful. But Stolz invigorates her tale with elegant prose and a deft portrayal of a girl verging
on adolescence. The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story’s universal concerns will touch readers
most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.
(Booklist)
Back
Nonfiction:
Boueri, M., Boutros, J. & Sayad, J. (2006) Lebanon A to Z: A Middle Eastern mosaic. Illustrated by T.
Sabbagh. Publishing Works. (3-5)
This charming book, written with sensitivity, introduces the reader to Lebanon and the vitality of its people.
It is indeed a mosaic of cultures that makes Lebanon unique in this part of the world. (Press release,
Revolution Booksellers)
Boueri, M. (2005). Lebanon 1-2-3: A counting book in three languages. Illustrated by M. T. Dabaji.
Publishing Works. (K-3)
In this simple counting book, two Lebanese children go to their grandparents’ house, where they spend the
day playing and feasting with many relatives. Each double-page spread features a large, colorful painting
and a brief couplet written in English, French, and Arabic. The pleasing, naive style art is occasionally
reminiscent of Matisse in its simplicity of form, vibrancy of color, and use of pattern. The verses, which
sometimes rhyme, point out things in the picture to count, such as "Nine neighbors gather, young and old.”
Appended are pronunciation guides for all three languages, a few pages that show each scene in miniature
and list more objects for children to count, and a map of Lebanon. The last page presents a brief text about
the country and notes that most of its people speak English, French, and Arabic. Written by an American
with Lebanese ties and illustrated by an artist who lives in the country today, this is one of the few picture
books that offers American children a glimpse of Lebanon. (School Library Journal)
Cromwell, Sharon. (2007). Arab Americans. Rourke. (4-6)
No synopsis available.
Douglass, S. L. (2003). Ramadan (On my own holidays). Illustrated by J. Reeves. Carolrhoda. (1-4)
An introduction to Islamic observances during the month of Ramadan and the subsequent festival of Eid-alFitr. (card catalog)
Fitterer, C. A. (2002). Arab Americans (Spirit of America: Our cultural heritage). Child’s World. (3-5)
Introduces readers to the Arab American culture, immigration aspects, customs, religion, foods, and
holidays. Famous Arab Americans, as well as noted contributions and inventions by Arab Americans, are
also presented. (amazon.com)
Ganeri, A. (2003). Muslim Festivals through the year (A Year of Festivals) . Franklin Watts. (1-4)
No synopsis available.
Ghazi, S. H. (1996). Ramadan. Illustrated by O. Rayyan. Holiday House. (1-4)
Describes the celebration of the month of Ramadan by an Islamic family and discusses the meaning and
importance of this holiday in the Islamic religion. (card catalog)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (2001). Celebrating Ramadan. Illustrated by L. Migdale. Holiday House. (2-5)
An Islamic family observes a month of prayer and fasting, which is followed by celebration. (amazon.com)
Moreno, B. (2003). The Arab Americans: We came to America (We came to America). Mason Crest. (4-6)
No synopsis available.
Stamaty, M. A. (2004). Alia’s mission: Saving the books of Iraq. Knopf. (3-6)
New York Times Book Review cartoonist recounts the heroic story of Iraqi librarian Alia Muhammad Baker
in a swift, 32-page, comic-book format. Stamaty’s soft gray-and-beige panels realistically capture Baker’s
tremendous undertaking as she rescues over 30,000 volumes from her library in Basra before it’s besieged.
The drawings themselves intensify the traumatic story, and the in-your-face, all-caps dialogue bubbles
enhance the sense of impending doom about to befall the library and the people. A fast-paced and
informative Middle Eastern study for younger audiences. (School Library Journal)
Winter, J. (2005). The librarian of Basra: A true story from Iraq. Harcourt Children’s Books. (3-5)
Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in Basra, Iraq. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place
for those who love books. Until now. Now war has come, and Alia fears that the library--along with the
thirty thousand books within it--will be destroyed forever.
In a war-stricken country where civilians--especially women--have little power, this true story about a
librarian’s struggle to save her community’s priceless collection of books reminds us all how, throughout the
world, the love of literature and the respect for knowledge know no boundaries. (amazon.com)
Wolf, B. (2003). Coming to America: A Muslim family’s story. Lee & Low. (3-5)
Addressing the surprising scarcity of books designed to introduce young readers to American adherents of
this rapidly growing faith, Wolf adds impersonal, but specific, commentary to a generous set of big, bright
photos to profile a family of Egyptian immigrants living in New York City. Hassan Mahmoud works nights
and frets about not seeing enough of his family. His wife, Soad, hampered by her lack of English, seems
practically a shut-in, except when she goes to language class. On the other hand, the three Mahmoud
children have adapted to their new country well, and are seen doing familiar tasks at home and at school,
being with non-Muslim friends, enjoying both traditional foods at dinner and an American-style cake
brought in to celebrate a birthday. Wolf ends on a formal note, with photos of the family at prayer in a
Manhattan mosque. Though the character portraits in this photo-essay are more generalized than those in
Hoyt-Goldsmith's Celebrating Ramadan (2001), and larger issues, such as post-September 11 tensions,
remain unexamined, children will come away more likely to consider the Mahmouds, and immigrant
families like them, neighbors, rather than strangers. (Booklist)
Back
Traditional:
Climo, S. (1991). The Egyptian Cinderella. Illustrated by R. Heller. HarperTrophy. (K-3)
In this version of Cinderella set in Egypt in the sixth century B.C., Rhodopes, a slave girl, eventually comes to
be chosen by the Pharaoh to be his queen. (card catalog)
Fowles, S. (2007). The bachelor and the bean: A Jewish Moroccan folktale. Frances Lincoln’s Children
Books. (K-3)
When a grumpy old bachelor accidentally drops a bean down a well, he rouses an imp. In exchange for the
lost bean, the imp offers a magic pot that — much to the bachelor’s delight— produces food on command.
A jealous old lady steals the pot, and when the bachelor confronts her he finds that she’s just as nasty and
unpleasant as he is. She’s stolen his pot . . . will she also steal his heart? Vibrant illustrations, strongly
influenced by Moroccan art and architecture, depict this most unlikely love story comprised of simple,
amusing text that’s easy for young readers to follow. (amazon.com)
Hickox, R. (1999). The golden sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella story. Illustrated by W. Hillenbrand.
Holiday House. (K-3)
An Iraqi version of the Cinderella story in which a kind and beautiful girl who is mistreated by her
stepmother and stepsister finds a husband with the help of a magic fish. (card catalog)
Johnson-Davies, D. (2005). Goha the wise fool. Illustrated by H. H. M. Fattouh & H. E. S. Ahmed. Philomel.
(2-4)
Meet Goha, that funny little man with the faithful donkey, whose tales, beloved for their wit and wisdom,
have been passed down through the streets of the smallest villages of the Middle East for centuries. Meet
Goha, who in making us laugh at him, shows us—young and old everywhere— that we can laugh at
ourselves.
Collected by one of the Middle East’s most prestigious translators and illustrated in whimsical handsewn
khimeyas, this is a joyful celebration of the best of Goha, one of folklore’s most unexpected and beloved
heroes. (amazon.com)
Kimmel, E. A. (1995). Rimonah of the flashing sword: A North African tale. Holiday House. (K-3)
A traditional Egyptian version of Snow White. (card catalog)
Kimmel, E. A. (1994). The three princes: A tale from the Middle East. Illustrated by L. E. Fisher. Holiday
House. (1-4)
A princess promises to marry the prince who finds the most precious treasure. (card catalog)
Sunami C. (2002). How the fisherman tricked the genie. Illustrated by A. Hirao. Atheneum. (3-5)
This story-within-a-story begins when a poor fisherman catches a brass bottle. Opening it, a genie that has
been imprisoned for 3000 years is released and angrily expands to a great size, announcing that he will kill
his rescuer. The fisherman tells him a story of a man who kills the doctor who healed him of a disease
because the monarch found the cure humiliating, and another story in which a prince kills his faithful dog.
The genie is not moved by the tales and demonstrates his great power by making himself even larger. The
clever man then asks if he can make himself tiny, and the foolish genie is soon back in the bottle and cast
into the sea. "The rising of the moon./The setting of the sun./The teller is tired./The story is done.” The
illustrator’s effective use of shape creates a sense of mystery and magic in this original tale that
incorporates motifs from the "Arabian Nights,” folktales, fables, and biblical accounts. Readers will take
satisfaction in seeing the poor fisherman outwit evil in this complex and creative story cycle. (School Library
Journal)
Back
Biography:
Demi. (2003). Muhammad. Margaret K. McElderry. (4-6)
Introduces Muhammad and the basic tenets of the Islamic faith. (card catalog)
Rumford, J. (2001). Traveling man: The journey of Ibn Battuta, 1325 – 1354. Houghton Mifflin. (3-6)
Ibn Battuta was the traveler of his age—the fourteenth century, a time before Columbus when many
believed the world to be flat. Like Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta left behind an account of his own incredible
journey from Morocco to China, from the steppes of Russia to the shores of Tanzania, some seventy-five
thousand miles in all.
James Rumford has retold Ibn Battuta’s story in words and pictures, adding the element of ancient Arab
maps—maps as colorful and as evocative as a Persian miniature, as intricate and mysterious as a tiled
Moroccan wall.
Into this arabesque of pictures and maps, James Rumford has woven the story not just of a traveler in a
world long gone but of a man on his journey through life. (amazon.com)
Rumford, J. (2000). Seeker of knowledge: The man who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs. Houghton
Mifflin. (2-5)
To a child, the future is a magnificent dream. For Jean-Francois Champollion, the dream was to sail up the
Nile in Egypt and uncover the secrets of the past. In 1802, when Champollion was eleven years old, he vowed
to be the first person to read Egypt’s ancient hieroglyphs. He faced great challenges over the next twenty
years as he searched for the elusive key to the mysterious writing -- and the fulfillment of his dreams.
(amazon.com)
Stanley, D. (2002). Saladin: Noble prince of Islam. HarperCollins. (4-6)
Forty years before the boy was born, a horde of bloodthirsty barbarians thundered out of the west
and conquered his native land. They had succeeded because his people, ever at war with one
another, had not fought together to defend their cities. In time the boy was destined to become the
very leader that was needed, a man with the courage and vision to unite his people and face the
most fearsome and brilliant warrior of the age. The time was the twelfth century; the barbarian
horde was the armies of the First Crusade; the great warrior was Richard the Lionhearted; and the
leader was Saladin. This is more than the other side of a familiar Western story, the Crusades. It is
the tale of an extraordinary man, remarkable for his generous and chivalrous ways, a warrior who
longed for peace. Courageous in battle and merciful in victory, he would be revered even by his
enemies as the "marvel of his time.‖ In her vibrant narrative and magnificently detailed
illustrations inspired by the Islamic art of the time, Diane Stanley presents a hero whose
compassion, piety, tolerance, and wisdom made him a model for his time -- and for ours.
(amazon.com)
Back
Poetry
Nye, N. S. (2002). The flag of childhood: Poems from the Middle East. Aladdin. (3-6)
In this stirring anthology of sixty poems from the Middle East, honored anthologist Naomi Shihab Nye
welcomes us to this lush, vivid world and beckons us to explore. Eloquent pieces from Palestine, Israel,
Egypt, Iraq, and elsewhere open windows into the hearts and souls of people we usually meet only on the
nightly news. What we see when we look through these windows is the love of family, friends, and for the
Earth, the daily occurrences of life that touch us forever, the longing for a sense of place. What we learn is
that beneath the veil of stereotypes, our human connections are stronger than our cultural differences.
(amazon.com)
Yolen, J. (1996). O Jerusalem: Voices of a sacred city. Illustrated by J. Thompson. Scholastic. (4-6)
A poetic tribute to Jerusalem, in honor of the 3000th anniversary of its founding, celebrating its history as a
holy city for three major religions. (card catalog)
Lacapa, K. (1999). Less than half, more than whole. Illustrated by M. Lacapa. Flagstaff, AZ:
Northland. (K-4)
Tony notices that his skin is darker than yellow-haired, blue-eyed Scott‟s, but lighter than that of
his Native American friend, Will. A well-designed effort, this title is for all children of multicultural
marriages who struggle to find an identity. It serves not only to illuminate Indian culture, but also
as a gentle celebration of mixed heritage.
NATIVE AMERICANS
REALISTIC FICTION:
Benchley, N. (1994). Small Wolf. Illustrated by J. Sandin. New York: HarperTrophy. (2-4)
A young Native American boy sets out to hunt on Manhattan Island and discovers some strange people with
white faces and very different ideas about land. (card catalog)
Bruchac, J. (1999). Eagle song. Illustrated by D. Andreasen. New York: Puffin. (4-6).
Danny Bigtree‘s family has moved to a new city, and Danny can‘t seem to fit in. He‘s homesick for
the Mohawk reservation, and the kids in his class tease him about being an Indian, the thing that
makes Danny most proud. Can he find the courage to stand up for himself? (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1997). Fox song. Illustrated by P. Morin. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
After the passing of her great-grandmother, a young Indian girl recalls the times they spent
together in a moving celebration of the love between the young and the old and the beauty of the
natural world. (amazon.com)
Creech, S. (1996). Walk two moons. Illustrated by L. Desimini. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
Alternately humorous, mysterious, and moving, an exploration of the life of young Samantha
Hiddle shows how she comes to understand aspects of that life, including her feelings about her
missing mother, as she travels across country with her eccentric grandparents. (amazon.com)
George, J. C. (1974). Julie of the wolves. Illustrated by J. Schoenherr. New York: HarperTrophy.
(4-6)
Protected by a wolf pack while lost on the tundra, a 13-year-old Eskimo girl begins to appreciate
her heritage and the oneness with nature that modern man is destroying. (amazon.com)
George, J. C. (1987). The talking earth. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
Billie Wind ventures out alone into the Florida Everglades to test the legends of her Indian
ancestors and learns the importance of listening to the earth‘s vital messages. (card catalog)
Hudson, J. (1999). Sweetgrass. New York: Paper Star. (4-6)
Living on the western Canadian prairie in the nineteenth century, Sweetgrass, a fifteen-year-old
Blackfoot girl, saves her family from a smallpox epidemic and proves her maturity to her father.
(card catalog)
Joosse, B. M. (1998). Mama, do you love me? Illustrated by B. Lavallee. San Francisco, CA:
Chronicle Books. (K-2)
A child living in the Arctic learns that a mother‘s love is unconditional. (card catalog)
Lacapa, K. (1999). Less than half, more than whole. Illustrated by M. Lacapa. Flagstaff, AZ:
Northland. (K-4)
Tony notices that his skin is darker than yellow-haired, blue-eyed Scott‟s, but lighter than that of
his Native American friend, Will. A well-designed effort, this title is for all children of multicultural
marriages who struggle to find an identity. It serves not only to illuminate Indian culture, but also
as a gentle celebration of mixed heritage. (amazon.com)
McCain, B. R. (2001). Grandmother‘s dreamcatcher. Illustrated by S. Schuett. Morton Grove, IL:
Albert Whitman. (K-3)
When Kimmy has bad dreams, Grandmother shows Kimmy a dreamcatcher, and with a twig, beads,
feathers, and leather, they begin to make one just for Kimmy. Will it work? Instructions for making
a dreamcatcher appear at the end of the book. (amazon.com)
Medearis, A. S. (1993). Dancing with the Indians. Illustrated by S. Byrd. New York: Holiday
House. (K-3)
While attending a Seminole Indian celebration, an African American family watches and joins in
several exciting dances. (card catalog)
Miles, M. (1985). Annie and the old one. Illustrated by P. Parnall. New York: Scott Foresman. (K3)
When Annie‘s Navajo grandmother says that when Annie's mother‘s rug is completely woven that
the grandmother will die, Annie tries to hold back time by unweaving the rug in secret.
(amazon.com)
Osofsky, A. (1992). Dreamcatcher. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
In the land of the Ojibwa a baby sleeps, protected from bad dreams, as the life of the tribe goes on
around him. (card catalog)
Oughton, J. (1997). Music from a place called Half Moon. Boston: Laurel Leaf. (4-6)
In the summer of 1956, thirteen-year-old Edie Jo Houp, of Half Moon, North Carolina, must come
to terms with entrenched prejudices against Native Americans and with the death of a special
friend. (amazon.com)
Savageau, C. (1996). Muskrats will be swimming. Illustrated by R. Hynes. Flagstaff, AZ:
Northland Publishing. (1-4)
A heart-warming tale of the lesson a girl learns from a Seneca creation story told to her by her
grandfather--a lesson of knowing who you are and staying strong in the face of hurtful criticism.
Elegantly illustrated, Muskrat Will Be Swimming is a treasure for all who have dealt with the fear
of being different. (Borders.com)
Schick, E. (1996). My Navajo sister. New York: Simon & Schuster. (K-3)
A white girl lives for a short time on a reservation and forms a close bond with a Navajo girl. (card
catalog)
Scott, A. H. (1996). Brave as a mountain lion. Illustrated by G. Coalson. New York: Clarion. (K-3)
When Spider‟s teacher asks him to participate in the big school spelling bee, Spider is terrified to
go on-stage. His family, however, offers him encouragement and tips on how to overcome his fears,
and eventually Spider places second in the contest. This gentle story of courage takes place on a
Shoshone reservation and is accompanied by warm watercolors in grays and earth tones. (Horn
Book, 1996)
Smith, C. L. (2002). Indian shoes. Illustrated by J. Madsen. New York: HarperCollins. (3-5)
What do Indian shoes look like, anyway? Like beautiful beaded moccasins...or hightops with bright
orange shoelaces? Ray Halfmoon prefers hightops, but he gladly trades them for a nice pair of
moccasins for his Grampa. After all, it‘s Grampa Halfmoon who‘s always there to help Ray get in
and out of scrapes -- like the time they are forced to get creative after a homemade haircut makes
Ray‘s head look like a lawn-mowing accident. This collection of interrelated stories is
heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny. Cynthia Leitich Smith writes with wit and candor about
what it‘s like to grow up as a Seminole-Cherokee boy who is just as happy pounding the pavement
in windy Chicago as rowing on a lake in rural Oklahoma. (amazon.com)
Smith, C. L. (2000). Jingle dancer. Illustrated by C. Van Wright & Y. Hu. New York: Morrow
Junior. (1-3)
Jenna, a contemporary Muscogee (Creek) girl in Oklahoma, wants to honor a family tradition by
jingle dancing at the next powwow. But where will she find enough jingles for her dress? An
unusual, warm family story, beautifully evoked in Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu‘s
watercolor art. (amazon.com)
Sneve, V. D. H. (2007). Lana‘s Lakota moons. University of Nebraska. (5-8)
―In the Lakota way,‖ Lori and her cousin, Lana, are sisters, and while their parents work, the girls
spend much of the time together with Grandpa and Grandma High Elk. Lori, quiet and obedient, is
jealous of her lively cousin, a theme that plays out in the background during the course of 12
Lakota moons, as the girls celebrate Indian festivals and naming ceremonies, as well as Christmas
in church, and make friends with a new classmate, whose Hmong family has arrived from Laos.
The interweaving of traditional culture is sometimes heavy-handed (―We, the Lakota, believe‖), but
the mix of Great Plains history with the contemporary scene (including occasional e-mails) rings
true, whether in the Indians‘ view of the buffalo, Custer‘s Last Stand, or the famous presidents
enshrined at Mount Rushmore. Lori‘s lively personal narrative will draw readers as she copes
with anger, guilt, sorrow, and, finally, the loss of her sister, even as she realizes that, in the Lakota
way, the girls will always be connected. (Booklist)
BACK
NON-FICTION:
Aliki. (1986). Corn is maize: The gift of the Indians. New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)
A simple description of how corn was discovered and used by the Native Americans and how it came to
be an important food throughout the world. (card catalog)
Ancona, G. (1993). Powwow. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace & Company. (4-6)
A photo-essay of the Native American’s celebration of their heritage on the Crow Reservation in
Montana. (card catalog)
Bealer, A. W. (1996). Only the names remain: The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears. Illustrated by K.
Rodanas. Toronto: Little Brown and Company. (4-6)
A young reader’s history of the tragic Trail of Tears march from 1837 to 1838 describes the enforced
journey of the Cherokee nation from Georgia to Arkansas, a period during which thousands of Native
Americans died. (amazon.com)
Bial, R. (1998). The Cherokee (Lifeways, Set 1). New York: Marshall Cavendish. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and notable people of the Cherokee Indians. (card
catalog)
Bial, R. (2000). The Cheyenne (Lifeways, Set 2). New York: Benchmark Press. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and notable people of the Cheyenne Indians.
(card catalog)
Bial, R. (2000). The Comanche (Lifeways, Set 2). New York: Benchmark Press. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and notable people of the Comanche Indians.
(card catalog)
Bial, R. (1998). The Iroquois (Lifeways, Set 1). New York: Marshall Cavendish. (4-6)
Describes the history, social structure, and customs of the People of the Longhouse. (card catalog)
Bial, R. (1998). The Navajo (Lifeways, Set 1). New York: Marshall Cavendish. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Navajo. (card catalog)
Bial, R. (2000). The Ojibwe (Lifeways, Set 2). New York: Benchmark Press. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and customs of the Ojibwe Indians. (card
catalog)
Bial, R. (2000). The Pueblo (Lifeways, Set 2). New York: Benchmark Press. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Pueblo. (card catalog)
Bial, R. (2000). The Seminole (Lifeways, Set 2). New York: Benchmark Press. (4-6)
Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and customs of the Seminole people. (card
catalog)
Bial, R. (1998). The Sioux (Lifeways, Set 1). New York: Marshall Cavendish. (4-6)
Examines the origins, beliefs, language, and culture of the Sioux, also known as the Dakota
Indians. (card catalog)
Bonvillain, N. (1996). The Cheyennes: People of the plains. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press. (4-6)
Examines the history, culture, way of life, and contemporary problems of the Cheyennes,a
native American tribe that dominated the Plains region in the nineteenth century. (card catalog)
Bruchac, J. (1998). Many nations: An alphabet of Native America. Illustrated by R. F. Goetzl. New York:
Troll Associates. (K-3)
From Anishinabe artists making birch bark bowls to Zuni elders saying prayers for the day that is done,
the diversity of Native American cultures is simply presented in this unique alphabet book. Striking fullcolor paintings depict Native Americans living in harmony with their environment. (card catalog)
Carlson, L. (1994). More than moccasins: A kid’s activity guide to traditional North American Indian life.
Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press. (K-3)
Kids will discover traditions and skills from the people who first settled this continent, including
gardening, making useful pottery, and communicating through Navajo codes. (amazon.com)
Dewey, J. O. (1996). Stories on stone; rock art, images from the ancient ones. Boston, MA: Little Brown
& Company. (1-4)
The author developed an early interest in Anasazi rock art, both painted and carved, while she was
growing up in New Mexico. Tales about numerous trips as a youngster are told in this book, which is
richly illustrated with many samples of rock art. Also included are illustrations of numerous cliff
dwellings and some speculation about how and why these paintings/carvings were done. The strength
of this book is the range and variety of images reproduced. (Borders.com)
Erdosh, G. (1998). Food and recipes of the Native Americans. New York: Powerkids Press. (K-6)
Describes the different kinds of food and methods of cooking that had been common to Native
Americans in each of five areas of the United States. Includes recipes. (card catalog)
Freedman, R. (2001). In the days of the vaqueros: America’s first true cowboys. New York: Clarion
Books. (4-6)
In this rousing account of the first true cowboys, Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman brings to
life the days when the vaqueros rounded up cattle, brought down steers, and tamed wild
broncos. In the service of wealthy Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century, Mexican
ranch hands began herding cattle, often riding barefoot. They soon developed and perfected the
skills for this dangerous work and became expert horsemen. Hundred of years later the
vaqueros shared their expertise with the inexperienced cowboys of the American West, who
adopted their techniques and their distinctive clothing, tools, and even lingo. Yet today it is the
cowboy whom we remember, while the vaquero has all but disappeared from history. The
vaqueros are at last given their due in this dramatic narrative, lushly illustrated with beautiful
period paintings and drawings. (amazon.com)
Hucko, B. (1997). A rainbow at night: The world in words and pictures. Illustrated by Navajo children.
San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (4-6)
Through the eyes of children, readers learn about some of the special traditions of Navajo life while
discovering the universality shared by children of all backgrounds. Hucko offers insights into the Navajo
culture and suggests art projects relating to each image that invite children of all ages and cultures to
get out their art materials and create. (amazon.com)
Jeffers, S. (1993). Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A message from Chief Seattle. New York: Dutton. (1-4)
A Suquamish Indian chief describes his people‘s respect and love for the earth, and concern for
its destruction. (card catalog)
Kamma, A. (1998). If you lived with the Cherokee. Illustrated by L. Gardner. New York:
Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
The third title in a series about Native American people, this book reveals what it was like to
grow up in a Cherokee family long ago. Full-color illustrations by a Cherokee artist
complement facts about Cherokee games, language, dwellings, medicine, names, and more.
(amazon.com)
Kamma, A. (1999). If you lived with the Hopi. Illustrated by L. Gardner. New York: Scholastic
Trade. (4-6))
The history of the Hopi (meaning ―wise and beautiful people‖) is explored through a series of
questions and answers, such as ―Would you live in a teepee?‖ and ―What did girls have to
learn?‖ (amazon.com)
Kessel, J. K. (1986). Squanto and the first Thanksgiving. Illustrated by L. Donze. Minneapolis,
MN: Carolrhoda Books. (K-3)
Describes how the Indian Squanto, an English-speaking Christian and former slave, whose
village had been wiped out by smallpox, taught the Pilgrims the skills they needed to survive the
harsh Massachusetts winter. (card catalog)
Left Hand Bull, J. (1999). Lakota Hoop-Dancer. Illustrated by S. Haldane. New York: Dutton. (4-6)
Repeated strikes on the drum-like a heartbeat-and an intense, chantlike song draw people near. In the
still, stubborn heat of a summer’s day, an American Indian man performs a breathtaking dance for an
eager audience. (amazon.com)
Levine, E. (1999). If you lived with the Iroquois. Illustrated by S. Hehenberger. New York: Scholastic
Trade. (4-6)
Detailed, four-color paintings and a question-and-answer text bring to life the traditional life, customs,
and everyday world of the Iroquois - one of the most powerful and influential of the Indian nations.
(amazon.com)
Lucas, E. (1993). The Cherokees: People of the Southeast. Brookfield, CT: The Milbrook Press. (4-6)
Discusses the early history, beliefs, and daily life and customs of the Cherokee Indians, their daily
interaction with white society, and the current status of the Cherokee Nation. (card catalog)
Lund, B. (1997). The Apache Indians. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (3-4)
Provides an overview of the past and present lives of the Apache people, covering their daily
life, customs, relations with the government and others, and more. (card catalog)
Lund, B. (1997). The Cherokee Indians. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (3-4)
Provides an overview of the past and present lives of the Cherokee people, covering their daily
life, customs, relations with the government and others, and more. (card catalog)
Lund, B. (1997). The Comanche Indians. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (3-4)
Provides an overview of the past and present lives of the Comanche people, covering their daily
life, customs, relations with the government and others, and more. (card catalog)
Lund, B. (1997). The Iroquois Indians. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (3-4)
Discusses the Iroquois as a modern group with a unique history and its own special practices
and customs. (card catalog)
Lund, B. (1997). The Ojibwa Indians. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (3-4)
Provides an overview of the past and present lives of the Ojibwa people, including daily life,
customs, relations with the government and others, and more. (card catalog)
Lund, B. (1997). The Pomo Indians. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (3-4)
Provides an overview of the past and present lives of the Pomo people, including daily life,
customs, relations with the government and others, and more. (card catalog)
Lund, B. (1997). The Seminole Indians. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (3-4)
Provides an overview of the past and present lives of the Seminole people, including daily life,
customs, relations with the government and others, and more. (card catalog)
McGovern, A. (1992). If you lived with the Sioux Indians. Illustrated by J. S. Drew. New York:
Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
In question-and-answer style, the author describes the daily life of the Sioux before and after
the coming of the white man. Boys and girls will be surprised to know that each child had a
second mother and father who helped take care of him... that everyone had his own ―medicine
bundle‖ to keep danger away... that the men sometimes had more than one wife... that a boy
was expected to hunt his first buffalo calf before he was ten years old. They‘ll discover what
happened to someone who broke the rules of a tribe, what was considered the bravest thing a
Sioux Indian could do, and the ritual ceremonies at which children were accepted as adults. In
a final section the author explains what is happening to these Indians today. (amazon.com)
Miller, J. (1997). American Indian festivals. Chicago, IL: Children‘s Press. (1-5)
Briefly describes some of the customs and practices related to festivals celebrated in various
North American Indian cultures. (Borders.com)
Simmons, M. (2004). Friday the Arapaho boy: A true story from history. Illustrated by R. Kil.
University of New Mexico Press. (2-4)
By the Anglos’ calendar it was the last week of May 1831 and the Arapahos were camped beside the
Cimarron River in what is today southwestern Kansas. Young Warshinun strayed from the camp as he
hunted for prairie dogs and became separated from his family and the tribe. This is the true story of
Warshinun’s adventures. Nearly dead of thirst and hunger after hiding for a week from Kiowa raiders,
the young Arapaho was discovered and cared for by Thomas Fitzpatrick, a Rocky Mountain trader.
Fitzpatrick named the boy "Friday” for the day of the week he first found the young Indian, and took
him to Santa Fe and Taos, Colorado and Wyoming in search of Friday’s family. The trader finally took
Friday to St. Louis, enrolled him in school, but continued looking for the boy’s family as he traveled
through Arapaho country. Friday grew up to become an important Arapaho leader. (To this day,
"Friday” is a prominent family name among the Arapaho.) He attended the famous council in Wyoming
that led to the Fort Laramie treaty of 1851. Friday spent the last thirty years of his life trying to prevent
war between his people and the Anglos, and died in 1881.
Steedman, S. (1997). How would you survive as an American Indian? Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts. (4-6)
A second-person narrative invites readers to imagine themselves transported back through time
to the heyday of the Plains Indians. Readers are provided with facts about food, clothing, dress,
and customs. (Horn Book, 1996)
Stein, R. C. (1993). The trail of tears. Chicago, IL: Children‘s Press. (4-6)
Describes the Federal government‘s seizure of Cherokee lands in Georgia and the forced
migration of the Cherokee Nation to Oklahoma along the route that came to be known as the
Trail of Tears. (card catalog)
Tapahonso, L. (1999). Navajo ABC: A Dine alphabet book. Illustrated by E. Schick. New York:
Aladdin Paperbacks. (1-4)
A simple alphabet book describes aspects of Navajo life, joining A with Arroyo, B with Belt, C
with Cradleboard, and so on, in an introduction to one of the largest Native American tribes in
the United States. (amazon.com)
Weber, E. N. R. (2004). Rattlesnake Mesa: Stories from a Native American Childhood.
Photographs by R. Renkun. Lee & Low. (4-8)
Weber‘s memoir of growing up in the early 1900s brings readers into the thoughts and
surroundings of her eight-year-old self with humor and sincerity. When her grandmother died,
her father took her to live with him at Crown Point Indian Agency on the Eastern Navajo
Reservation. At the school there, she witnessed boys being beaten with a horsewhip, which
haunted her. "I carried a mortal shame, fear, and hurt away with me.‖ Just as she started to
feel at home at Crown Point, she was sent to the faraway Phoenix Indian School, where her
father was educated. However, she and her new friends became survivors ("we learned early–
laughing was best.‖) Her memories of the ridiculous teachers and underground games are
expressed in a conversational voice that begs to be read aloud. Readers will identify with her
predicaments, whether they are learning about a different culture or recognizing their own. The
voice does shift occasionally throughout the book to one that seems oddly outsider, and a
homecoming ceremony involving Sacred Yellow Corn Pollen is not fully explained. But then
Weber‘s evocative voice resurfaces. The recollections are illustrated with black-and-white
photos of unidentified contemporary children posed in the New Mexico landscape as if they
were part of the story, which sometimes makes an odd contrast, though they are beautiful. For
its unique voice, consider this collection as supplementary material on the Indian boarding
school experience, or as a captivating read-aloud. (School Library Journal)
BACK
TRADITIONAL LITERATURE:
Baker, O. (1985). Where the buffaloes begin. Illustrated by S. Gammell. New York: Viking
Press. (1-4)
After hearing the legend retold by the tribe's oldest member, Little Wolf hopes to someday
witness the beginning of the buffaloes at the sacred lake. (card catalog)
Bierhorst, J. (2000). The people with five fingers: A native Californian creation tale. Illustrated
by R. A. Parker. New York: Marshall Cavendish. (K-3)
Luminous watercolors and a concise text work together to capture the humor and insight of
Native American storytellers in this engaging creation tale from California. Since „this earth
cannot stay naked!” the plan is to create people. Masterminded by Coyote but carried out by all
the animals, the strategy calls for a world in which people are different, yet the same. They will
speak different languages. They will be different in color. Yet, they will live in harmony since
“they will all have hands with five fingers.” A tale that cleverly accounts for the past...we can
only hope it also predicts the future. (amazon.com)
Bierhorst, J. (1999). The woman who fell from the sky: The Iroquois story of creation.
Illustrated by R. A. Parker. New York: Morrow. (K-3)
A fresh, authoritative retelling of the Iroquois creation story, in which the world as we know it
today begins with a woman who fell from the sky and her two small children. Robert Andrew
Parker‟s luminous paintings add spectacular details to this simple, yet profound, tale of our
beginnings and of the mystery and harmony of the universe. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1999). Between earth and sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places.
Illustrated by T. Locker. New York: Voyager. (2-5)
With grace and drama, Abenaki poet Joseph Bruhac retells traditional native legends of ten of
America‘s most awe-inspiring natural landscapes. These wise stories, together with Thomas
Locker‘s glowing painting, evoke the essential spiritual power of the earth. A full-color map
charting the homelands of nearly 200 North American tribes is included. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1995). Flying with the eagle, racing the great bear: Stories from Native North
America. Illustrated by M. Jacob. New York: Troll Associates. (5-6)
Drawn from 16 Native North American cultures, this collection of authentic tribal tales focuses
on a theme of universal appeal--the rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. At the heart of
each story lies an exciting adventure and a journey toward self-discovery. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. & Bruchac, J. (2003). How Chipmunk got his stripes. Illustrated by J. Aruego & A
Dewey. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
The Bruchacs, famous for their Native American folklore retellings, have joined forces with the
best-selling illustration team of Aruego and Dewey to create a buoyant picture book teeming
with surprises, glowing colors, and big, boastful fun! When you tease someone, you might just
end up with more than you bargained for! Brown Squirrel is very small, but that doesn‟t keep
him from saying what‟s on his mind. When Big Bear brags that he can do anything, Squirrel
challenges him to keep the sun from rising the next morning. The sun comes up, of course, and
Squirrel can‟t resist the mean urge to tease. But soon Big Bear teaches him a hard lesson: The
new claw marks down Brown Squirrel‟s back will be a permanent reminder of his bad
behavior! And henceforth, Brown Squirrel will be known as Chipmunk, “the striped one.”
(amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. & Caduto, M. J. (1999). Keepers of the Earth: Native American stories and
environmental activities for children. Illustrated by J. K. Fadden & C. Wood. Golden, CO:
Fulcrum. (4-6)
A selection of traditional tales from various Native American peoples, each accompanied with
instructions for related activities dealing with the environment. (card catalog)
Bruchac, J. & Caduto, M. J. (1994). Keepers of the night: Native American stories and
nocturnal activities for children. Illustrated by J. K. Fadden & C. Wood. Golden, CO: Fulcrum.
(4-6)
Eight Native American stories and nighttime artistic and scientific activities teach children
about astronomy and nocturnal weather, plants, and animals, helping them to develop a caring,
constructive relationship with nature and the out-of-doors. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. & Bruchac, J. (2004). Raccoon‘s last race: A traditional Abenaki story. Illustrated
by J. Aruego & A. Dewey. Dial. (K-4)
Long ago, Azban the Raccoon loved to race on his long legs. He was the fastest of all the animals, but he
was also the most conceited. When the other animals grew tired of his attitude, Azban chose Big Rock
as his next opponent. But, busy taunting instead of running, Azban tripped . . . and Big Rock flattened
him--splat! Only the ants would help stretch Azban out again--as long as he promised to be their friend.
Did Azban keep this promise? Is the raccoon still the fastest of all the animals? In this lively, funny romp,
the team that created How Chipmunk Got His Stripes and Turtle’s Race with Beaver once again
captures the fun and energy of traditional Native American stories. This time, they have chosen an
Abenaki tale that warns against arrogance and honors the importance of keeping your promises.
(amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1995). The boy who lived with the bears and other Iroquois stories. New York:
Harper Collins. (4-6)
In this collection of animal tales, the reader will meet clever Rabbit, hungry Fox, vain Buzzard,
smart Chipmunk and a young Boy, who finds love with a family of bears. These tales celebrate
the tradition of storytelling with glorious depictions of nature and humorous accounts of
lessons learned. (amazon.com)
Bruhac, J. (1998). The first strawberries: A Cherokee story. Illustrated by A. Vojtech. New
York: Puffin. (K-3)
A quarrel between the first woman and the first man is reconciled when the Sun causes
strawberries to grow out of the Earth. (card catalog)
Bruchac J. & Bruchac, J. (2008). The girl who helped thunder and other Native American
folktales. Illustrated by S. Vitale. Sterling. (4-6)
Welcome the second book in the Folktales of the World series! Engaging, inspirational, and
above all entertaining, these legends come from Native American peoples across the U.S.
Richly illustrated with original art, they capture a wide range of belief systems and wisdom
from the Cherokee, Cheyenne, Hopi, Lenape, Maidu, Seminole, Seneca, and other tribes. The
beautifully retold tales, all with informative introductions, range from creation myths to animal
fables to stirring accounts of bravery and sacrifice. Find out how stories first came to be, and
how the People came to the upper world. Meet Rabbit, the clever and irresistible Creek
trickster. See how the buffalo saved the Lakota people, and why the Pawnee continue to do the
Bear Dance to this very day.
Stefano Vitale‘s art showcases a stunning array of animal figures, masks, totems, and Navajostyle rug patterns, all done in nature‘s palette of brilliant turquoises, earth browns, shimmering
sun-yellow, vivid fire-orange, and the deep blues of a dark night. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. & Ross, G. (1996). The girl who married the moon: Tales from Native North
America. Illustrated by S. S. Burrus. New York: Troll Associates. (5-6)
A companion volume to Bruchac‘s Flying with the Eagle, Racing the Great Bear, this anthology
focuses on the role of women in traditional Indian cultures. Culled from 16 Native North
American cultures, these traditional tribal tales dwell on the time in a young girl‘s life when she
discovers she is becoming a woman. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1994). The great ball game: A Muskogee story. Illustrated by S. L. Roth. New
York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
With characteristic action and wit, renowned Native American storyteller Bruchac retells the
amusing and rousing folktale of an epic ball game between the Birds and the Animals, which
offers the explanation as to why birds fly south every winter. Roth‟s brilliant collage art
enhances the story. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1995) & Ross, G. The story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee tale. Illustrated by V.
Stroud. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
The legend of the Milky Way tells of an elderly couple who lived long ago. One day they
discovered that a giant spirit dog had stolen some of their cornmeal and drove the dog from the
village into the night sky. The band of stars that formed in its wake is the Milky Way.
(amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. & Bruchac, J. (2005). Turtle‘s race with Beaver. Illustrated by J. Aruego & A.
Dewey. Puffin. (1-3)
When Beaver challenges Turtle to a swimming race for ownership of the pond, Turtle outsmarts
Beaver, and Beaver learns to share. (card catalog)
Casler, L. (1994). The boy who dreamed of an acorn. Illustrated by S. Begay. New York:
Philomel. (K-3))
A powerful story based on the Native American rite known as the spirit quest. One night,
beneath the yellow moon, three boys climb the slopes of a great mountain. There, each boy
hopes to dream a dream that will symbolize the path he will take through life. One boy dreams
only of a tiny acorn, and wonders what power this common thing could possibly hold for him.
(Borders.com)
Cohen, C. (1992). The mud pony. Illustrated by S. Begay. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)
A poor boy becomes a powerful leader when Mother Earth turns his mud pony into a real one,
but after the pony turns back to mud, he must find his own strength. (card catalog)
Cohlene, T. (1991). Clamshell boy: A Makah legend. Illustrated by C. Reasoner. Mahwah, NJ:
Troll Communications L. L. C. (4-6)
Retells the legend of Clamshell Boy, who rescues a captured group of children from the
dreaded wild woman Ishcus. Includes information on the customs and lifestyle of the Makah
Indians. (card catalog)
Cohlene, T. (1991). Dancing drum: A Cherokee legend. Illustrated by C. Reasoner. Mahwah,
NJ: Troll Communications L. L. C. (4-6)
Retells the Cherokee legend in which Dancing Drum tries to make Grandmother Sun smile on
the People again. Also describes the history, culture, and fate of the Cherokee Indians. (card
catalog)
Cohlene, T. (1991). Little Firefly: An Algonquian legend. Illustrated by C. Reasoner. Mahwah,
NJ: Troll Communications L. L. C. (4-6)
A retelling of the Algonquian Indian legend of how a young girl, badly mistreated by her
sisters, becomes the bride of the great hunter known as the Invisible One. Includes information
on the history and customs of the Algonquian Indians. (card catalog)
Cohlene, T. (1991). Quillworker: A Cheyenne legend. Illustrated by C. Reasoner. Mahwah, NJ:
Troll Communications L. L. C. (4-6)
A Cheyenne legend explaining the origins of the stars. (amazon.com)
Cohlene, T. (1991). Turquoise boy: A Navajo legend. Illustrated by C. Reasoner. Mahwah, NJ:
Troll Communications L. L. C. (4-6)
A retelling of a Navajo Indian legend in which Turquoise Boy searches for something that will
make the Navajo people‘s lives easier. Includes a brief history of the Navajo people and their
customs. (card catalog)
Dabcovich, L. (1999). The polar bear son: An Inuit tale. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)
A lonely old woman adopts, cares for, and raises a polar bear as if he were her own son, until
jealous villagers threaten the bear‘s life, forcing him to leave his home and his ―mother‖, in a
retelling of a traditional Inuit folktale. (amazon.com)
dePaolo, T. (1996). The legend of the bluebonnet. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
This favorite legend, based on Comanche lore, tells the story of how the bluebonnet, the state
flower of Texas, came to be. (amazon.com)
dePaolo, T. (1996). The legend of the Indian paintbrush. New York: Scott Foresman. (K-3)
Little Gopher follows his destiny, as revealed in a dream-vision, of becoming an artist for his
people and eventually is able to bring the colors of the sunset down to earth. (card catalog)
French, F. (1997). Lord of the animals: A Miwok Indian creation myth. Brookfield, CT: The
Milbrook Press. (K-3))
In a beautifully illustrated retelling of a Native American creation myth, Coyote convenes a
council of the animals to discuss his ideas for a superior being who will rule over all creation.
(amazon.com)
Goble, P. (1998). Adopted by the eagles: A Plains Indian story of friendship and treachery.
New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (3-5)
Stunning full-color portraits of the wildlife and landscapes of the Great Plains complement a
dramatic retelling of a Lakota tale of treachery and adventure. (amazon.com)
Goble, P. (1987). Buffalo woman. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
A young hunter marries a female buffalo in the form of a beautiful maiden, but when his people
reject her he must pass several tests before being allowed to join the buffalo nation.
Goble, P. (1995). Crow Chief: A Plains Indian story. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
Crow Chief always warns the buffalo that hunters are coming, until Falling Star, a savior,
comes to camp, tricks Crow Chief, and teaches him that all must share and live like relatives
together. (card catalog)
Goble, P. (1997). Dream Wolf. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
When two Plains Indian children become lost, they are cared for and guided safely home by a
friendly wolf. (card catalog)
Goble, P. (1992). Iktomi and the berries: A Plains Indian story. New York: Orchard Books. (K3)
Relates Iktomi‘s fruitless efforts to pick some buffalo berries. (card catalog)
Goble, P. (1991). Iktomi and the boulder. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
Iktomi, a Plains Indian trickster, attempts to defeat a boulder with the assistance of some bats,
in this story which explains why the Great Plains are covered with small stones. (amazon.com)
Goble, P. (1996). Iktomi and the buffalo skull: A Plains Indian story. New York: Orchard
Books. (K-3)
Iktomi, the Plains Indian trickster, interrupts a powwow of the Mouse People and gets his head
stuck in a buffalo skull. (card catalog)
Goble, P. (1994). Iktomi and the ducks: A Plains Indian story. New York: Orchard Books. (K3)
After outwitting some ducks, Iktomi, the Indian trickster, is outwitted by Coyote. (card catalog)
Goble, P. (1993). Her seven brothers. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
Retells the Cheyenne legend in which a girl and her seven chosen brothers become the Big
Dipper. (card catalog)
Goble, P. (1999). The gift of the sacred dog. New York: Bt. Bound. (3-5)
In response to an Indian boy's payer for help for his hungry people, the Great Spirit sends the
gift of the Sacred Dogs, horses, which enable the tribe to hunt for buffalo.
Goble, P. (1999). The girl who loved wild horses. New York: Bt. Bound. (3-5)
Though she is fond of her people, a girl prefers to live among the wild horses where she is truly
happy and free. (card catalog)
Goble, P. (2002). The legend of the white buffalo woman. Washington, DC: National
Geographic Society. (4-6)
In this picture book for older readers, Goble uses his characteristic decorative paintings to help
retell an important sacred legend of the Lakota people. He describes a great flood, which killed
almost all life on the earth, and relates how the nation came to be born again from the union of
a woman of the earth and an eagle of the sky. He then explains how the people came upon hard
and frightening times and tells of the arrival of the powerful White Buffalo Woman, who gave
the Lakota people the Sacred Calf Pipe, a gift of the Great Spirit. (Booklist)
Goble, P. (2003). Mystic horse. HarperCollins. (1-3)
Adapted from a Pawnee story recorded in 1889, this magical tale tells of a poor boy and his
grandmother who rescue a sickly horse. When an unnamed tribe attacks, the horse tells the boy
to cover him in mud and ride directly into the enemy: "But do not do it more than four times!‖
When the boy attacks a fifth time, an arrow kills the animal. While in mourning, the boy sees the
dead horse rise and head to the place of the spirit animals. Later, the animal returns with
enough horses for the boy, his grandmother, and others in need. The ink, watercolor, and
gouache paintings make full use of color, texture, and form, both in the minutely detailed
naturalistic flora and fauna and in the exquisite abstract patterning. A lovely rhythm makes the
story good for reading aloud, and the pictures will definitely stand up to repeated examination.
Goble, who has studied Plains cultures deeply, provides clear notes and references to his work.
(Booklist)
Martin, R. (1997). The eagle‘s gift. Illustrated by T. Kiuchi. New York: Putnam. (K-3)
After Marten‘s two brothers disappear, Marten sets off to find them with the help of a magical
eagle that guides him along the way while teaching him important lessons of life, in a
traditional Innuit Alaskan tale. (amazon.com)
Martin, R. (1998). The rough-face girl. Illustrated by D. Shannon. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)
In this Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story, the rough-face girl and her two
beautiful but heartless sisters compete for the affections of the Invisible Being. (card catalog)
McDermott, G. (1977). Arrow to the sun: A Pueblo Indian tale. New York: Viking. (K-3)
A Pueblo Indian tale about the creation of the prodigy of the Lord of the Sun who proves
himself the son of the Lord through a test of his endurance. (card catalog)
McDermott, G. (1999). Coyote: A trickster tale from the American Southwest. New York:
Voyager Books. (2-5)
Coyote, who has a nose for trouble, insists that the crows teach him how to fly, but the
experience ends in disaster for him. (card catalog)
McDermott, G. (2001). Raven: A trickster tale from the Pacific Northwest. New York: Harcourt
Brace. (1-3)
Raven, a native American trickster, must figure out a way to steal the light from the house of the
Sky Chief where it is hidden and bring it to the world. (amazon.com)
McDermott, G. (1996). Zomo the rabbit: A trickster tale from Africa. New York: Voyager
Books. (K-3)
Zomo the rabbit, a West African trickster, is given three apparently impossible tasks to
complete before the Sky God will give him the wisdom that Zomo seeks, in a colorful version of
a traditional tale from West Africa. (amazon.com)
Oughton, J. (1996). How the stars fell into the sky: A Navajo legend. Illustrated by L. Desimini.
New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
A Navajo myth explaining the constellations in the sky. (card catalog)
Pollock, P. (1996). The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella story. Illustrated by E. Young. New
York: Little Brown. (K-3)
A young girl who tends turkeys for a living dreams of going to the Dance of the Sacred Bird.
But how can a poor girl with tattered clothing ever hope to attend such a festival? One day, to
her amazement, one of the turkeys offers to help and makes a magical gown of feathers and
jewels. But there‘s a stipulation: the girl must return home before the first rays of the sunrise –
or the turkeys will abandon her forever. (amazon.com)
San Souci, R. D. (1997). Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella story. New York: Bantam Books. (K4)
In a Native American version of the Cinderella story, two lazy sisters force Sootface, their
younger sister, to do all the housework, but when a mighty warrior seeks a kind and honest
wife, it is Sootface he chooses. (amazon.com)
Stevens, J. (1994). Coyote steals the blanket: A Ute tale. New York: Holiday House. (K-3)
Coyote receives his comeuppance when he tries to take something that does not belong to him.
(amazon.com)
Taylor, C. J. (2006). All the stars in the sky: Native stories from the heavens. Tundra. (2-4)
Drawing from several North American tribal traditions, Taylor offers seven memorable stories
that explain the "skyworld.‖ From a story about Coyote creating the Big Dipper to a selection
about Grandmother bringing light to the world, these easy-to-understand, thought-provoking
tales range from funny to instructional to inspirational. Each tale is illustrated with a colorful
full-page painting that adds visual appeal. Taylor, of Mohawk heritage, explains more about
the tales in an afterword and expresses her hope that the selections will awaken children‘s
wonder in the night skies. No source notes are provided, although each tale is attributed to a
specific tribe. (Booklist)
Van Lann, N. (1993). Buffalo dance: A Blackfoot legend. Illustrated by B. Vidal. Boston:
Little, Brown and Company. (4-6)
A graceful and attractive retelling of a Native-American myth explains the origin of the buffalo
dance of the Blackfoot people and the contribution of one brave young woman to the welfare of
her tribe. Illustrated with handsome colored-pencil illustrations, the tale of the relationship
between hunter and prey is marked by a clear, poetic text and close attention to source
material. (Horn Book, 1994)
Van Laan, N. (1999). Rainbow crow. Illustrated by B. Vidal. New York: Bt. Bound. (3-6)
When the weather changes and the ever-falling snow threatens to engulf all the animals, it is
Crow who flies up to receive the gift of fire from the Great Sky Spirit. (amazon.com)
Young, E. (1993). Moon mother: A Native American creation tale. New York: Harper Collins.
(3-5)
When the creator of the first men departs with his newfound spirit wife -- who becomes the
moon -- they leave their baby daughter behind, and she grows up to be the first woman.
Young‘s technique of concealing one image within another is especially appropriate in his
expressive illustrations for this moving adaptation of a tale from an unspecified tribe. (Horn
Book, 1994)
BACK
Biography:
Adler, D. A. (2001). A picture book of Sacagawea. Illustrated by D. Brown. New York:
Holiday House. (1-4)
This picture book tells the story of Sacagawea‘s life, courage, and spirit as a captured
Shoshone taken far from her people. Colorful illustrations complement the story of an
important figure in our history. (Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001,
p. 4)
Adler, D. A. (1993). A picture book of Sitting Bull. Illustrated by S. Byrd. New York: Holiday
House. (1-4)
A brief biography of the Sioux chief who worked to maintain the rights of Native Americans and
who led the defeat of General Custer at the Little Big Horn in 1876. (card catalog)
Bruchac, J. (1998). A boy called Slow: The true story of Sitting Bull. Illustrated by R. Baviera.
New York: Scott Foresman. (1-4)
Longing for a more powerful name than Slow which he is called because he is slow in
everything, a young Sioux proves his courage during a battle with enemy Crow and is given a
new name, Sitting Bull, in honor of his bravery. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (2000). Crazy Horse‘s vision. Illustrated by S. D. Nelson. New York: Lee and Low.
(1-4)
Joseph Bruchac tells the compelling story of how a young boy named Curly seeks a vision in the
hope of saving his people - and grows into the brave and fierce warrior Crazy Horse. Sioux
artist S. D. Nelson‘s paintings, in the traditional ledger style of the Plains Indians, evokes the
drama and the tragedy of this important American figure. (card catalog)
Bulla, C. R. (1990). Squanto: Friend of the pilgrims. Illustrated by R. Williams. New York:
Scholastic Paperbacks. (4-6)
Tells of the adventurous life of the Wampanoag Indian, Squanto. (amazon.com)
Cwiklik, R. & Baird, W. D. (1993). Tecumseh: Shawnee rebel. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House.
(4-6)
Documents the struggle of the great Shawnee chief in his attempts to unite all Indians in a
battle against the usurping white settlers and his partial success in creating a large Indian
confederacy by the time of his death in 1813. (amazon.com)
Eisenberg, L. (1991). The story of Sitting Bull: Great Sioux chief. Illustrated by D. Rickman.
New York: Yearling. (4-6)
From a very young age, Sitting Bull demonstrated bravery and determination, qualities that
would make him an exceptional leader of the Sioux Nation. He fought long and hard to keep his
people off the reservations, and his victory over Custer at Little Big Horn will never be
forgotten. His remarkable story is brought to life for young readers in this lively biography.
(amazon.com)
Ferris, J. (1991). Native American doctor: The story of Susan LaFlesche Picotte. Minneapolis,
MN: Carolrhoda Books. (4-6)
A biography of the young Omaha Indian woman who became the first Native American woman
to graduate from medical school. (card catalog)
Freedman, R. (1992). Indian chiefs. New York: Holiday House. (4-6)
Biographies of six Western Indian chiefs who led their people in a historic moment of crisis, when a
decision had to be made about fighting or cooperating with the white pioneers encroaching on their
grounds. (card catalog)
Greene, C. (1989). Pocahontas: daughter of a chief. Danbury, CT: Children's Press. (3-5)
A brief biography of the American Indian princess who as a young girl befriended John Smith,
saving him from death at the hands of her father, and later was very helpful to the colonists at
Jamestown. (card catalog)
Laribee, E. (1998). I am Native American (Our American Family Series). New York:
Powerkids Press. (1-4)
No synopsis available.
Penner, R. (1994). The true story of Pocahontas. Illustrated by P. Johnson. New York: Random
House. (K-3)
An easy-to-read biography of Pocahontas follows the life of the Powhatan Indian girl who
played a key role in the early history of America. (amazon.com)
Rinaldi, A. (1999). My heart is on the ground: The diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux girl.
New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (4-6)
Acclaimed historical novelist Ann Rinaldi makes her "Dear America" debut with the diary of a
Sioux girl who is sent to a government-run boarding school to learn the white man‘s customs
and language. (amazon.com)
Rowland, D. (1989). The story of Sacajawea, guide to Lewis and Clark. New York: Yearling
Books. (4-6)
This book draws an accurate portrait of the woman who helped forge the trail across the West.
Sold as a slave to a fur trader, Sacajawea later became his wife and met Lewis and Clark.
(amazon.com)
Rumford, J. (2004). Sequoyah: The Cherokee man who gave his people writing. Houghton. (14)
This fascinating biography, presented in a tall, slim format, introduces Sequoyah, who decided
in the early 1800s to give the Cherokee language a written form. Creating 84 symbols for
sounds, he began to teach the language to others in the Cherokee nation. This technique spread,
enabling the publication of books and newspapers, and it survives today. Below the paragraphs
of English text, appearing usually on the book‘s right-hand pages, is a translation into the
Cherokee language. Like the giant sequoia trees that appear in the framework story, the
illustrations on the facing pages are vertical and stately. Created in ink, watercolor, pastel, and
pencil, the unusual artwork has a primitive quality that reflects the strength and deceptive
simplicity of the text. Back matter includes a chart showing the Cherokee syllabary, a
discussion of Sequoyah and his accomplishment, and a time line of his life. (Booklist)
Sanford, W. R. & Green, C. R. (1997). Sacagawea: Native American hero. Berkeley Heights,
NJ: Enslow. (4-6)
Profiles the life of the young Shoshoni woman Sacagawea, who served as an interpreter and
guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
(Borders.com)
Schwartz, M. & Baird, W. D. (1992). Geronimo: Apache warrior. New York: Chelsea House.
(4-6)
Examines the life and career of the Apache warrior chief. (card catalog)
Stevenson, A. (1996). Sitting Bull: Dakota boy. Illustrated by R. Jenney. New York: Aladdin
Paperbacks. (4-6)
Sitting Bull was admired by friends and enemies alike for his courage, strength, intelligence,
and humanity. A great Sioux chief, he fought to preserve his people‘s homeland and way of life
from the encroachment of the white man. (amazon.com)
Tallchief, M. & Wells, R. (1999). Tallchief: America‘s prima ballerina. Illustrated by G. Kelley.
New York: Viking Press. (3-5)
From her early years on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma to her dance training in Los
Angeles to her departure for New York and a professional career, the fascinating story of
Maria Tallchief, America‘s prima ballerina, is sure to captivate the hearts of young readers
and dance lovers alike. (amazon.com)
Turner, A. W. (1999). The girl who chased away sorrow: The diary of Sarah Nita, a Navajo girl,
New Mexico, 1864. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
In her first book for the Dear America series, acclaimed historical fiction writer Ann Turner
brings readers the deeply affecting story of a Navajo girl on the long walk. (amazon.com)
BACK
HISTORICAL FICTION:
Ackerman, N. (2002). Spirit Horse. New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (4-6)
Running Crane‘s mother has married a member of the Kainaa band, and he still feels like an
outsider. When he is unexpectedly chosen to participate in a horse raid on the Snake People he
sees it as an opportunity to prove himself. The unrelenting bullying and hostility from Weasel
Rider, another boy chosen for the raid, makes everything more difficult. But when the raid goes
wrong, Running Crane finds himself lost on the prairie and driven by dreams to find and tame the
legendary Spirit Horse. (Kirkus Reviews, 1998)
Bierhorst, J. (2001). Is my friend at home? Pueblo fireside tales. Illustrated by W. Watson. New
York: Farrar Strauss & Giroux. (K-3)
Bierhorst and Watson, who teamed up for Doctor Coyote (1987), are back together for this
retelling of seven trickster tales. The setting is a Hopi desert cliff dwelling on a winter evening,
when “the Sun climbs the long ladder down to the underworld” and people sit around campfires
and tell stories. In the stories the animals both help and trick one another, revealing some
surprises--for example, why the gullible Coyote has short ears and how Snake lost her only friend.
Watson‟s paintings, which set cartoonlike creatures against a glowing desert landscape rendered
in the golds and purples of evening light, strike exactly the right note for the tales. (Booklist)
Bruchac, J. (2002). The arrow over the door. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
In the year 1777, a group of Quakers and a party of Indians have a memorable meeting.
(amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1998). Children of the longhouse. New York: Puffin. (4-6)
Tekwaarathon (known now as lacrosse) is used to settle a dispute between two boys in this novel
set in a fifteenth-century Mohawk village. Eleven-year-old Ohkwa'ri gains the grudging respect of
his archrival, an older boy, and comes to realize that, as his sister has told him, sometimes things
do happen that you did not expect. Bruchac provides an interesting afterword on the people of the
longhouse. (Horn Book, 1996)
Bruhac, J. (2006). Hidden roots. Scholastic. (5-9)
Eleven-year-old Sonny and his mother can‘t predict his father‘s sudden abusive rages. Jake‘s
anger only gets worse after long days at the paper mill -- and when Uncle Louis appears. Louis
seems to show up when Sonny and his mother need help most, but there is something about his
quiet wisdom that only fuels Jake‘s rage. Through an unexpected friendship with a new school
librarian, Sonny gains the strength to stand up to his father, and to finally confront his mother and
uncle about a secret family heritage that may be the key to his father‘s self-hatred. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (2000). Squanto‘s journey: The story of the first Thanksgiving. Illustrated by G. Shed.
Austin, TX: Raintree/Steck-Vaughn. (2-4)
This first-person text recounts the story of the first Thanksgiving from a Native American
viewpoint. Squanto‘s tale is told with respect and dignity, without glossing over the more difficult
aspects of his life or the relationship between the native inhabitants and the colonists. The
gouache paintings display a proud Native American past. (Horn Book, 2001)
Carbone, E. (2006). Blood on the river: James Town, 1607. Viking Juvenile. (5-8)
Following Stealing Freedom (1998) and Storm Warriors (2001), both set in the nineteenth century,
Carbone dips further back in U.S. history to the founding of James Town. Young orphan Samuel
Collier narrates from his viewpoint as Captain John Smith‘s page, and the gripping historical
fiction reflects Carbone‘s heavy reliance on primary source material, which she cites in an
appendix. The dense particulars of daily life may tire readers who demand high-action plots.
Others, though, will be easily caught up in the meticulously drawn scenes, from the fetid ship‘s
hold to the snowy forests where Samuel learns to hunt with Powhatan friends. The cover, showing
two crouched Powhatan Indians surveying the settlement, is a puzzling choice, particularly since
the British characters are the focus. Still, like Joseph Bruchac‘s Pocahontas (2003), the text offers
a view of Indian life that is far from the Disney stereotypes. An author‘s note offers more historical
contest. A strong, visceral story of the hardship and peril settlers faced, as well as the brutal
realities of colonial conquest. (Booklist)
Carvell, M. (2005) Sweetgrass basket. Dutton. (5-6)
In prose poetry and alternating voices, Marlene Carvell weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful story
based on the real-life experiences of Native American children. Mattie and Sarah are two Mohawk
sisters who are sent to an off-reservation school after the death of their mother. Subject to
intimidation and corporal punishment, with little hope of contact with their father, the girls are
taught menial tasks to prepare them for life as domestics. How Mattie and Sarah protect their
culture, memories of their family life, and their love for each other makes for a powerful,
unforgettable historical novel. (amazon.com)
Cherry, L. (2002). A river ran wild: An environmental history. New York: Voyager Books. (2-5)
An environmental history of the Nashua River, from its discovery by Indians through the polluting
years of the Industrial Revolution to the ambitious clean-up that revitalized it. (card catalog)
Cornelissen, C. (1999). Soft rain: A story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears. New York: Laureleaf. (46)
Set in 1838, a tale captures the struggles of a young Native American girl who is separated from
her family and forced to march the Trail of Tears alongside other Cherokee people in a mandated
relocation process by the U.S. government. (amazon.com)
Erdrich, L. (2002). The birchbark house. New York: Hyperion Press. (4-6)
In the first of a cycle of novels partly based on her own family history, Erdrich offers a compelling
and original saga, told from the point of view of a young Ojibwa girl on an island in Lake
Superior in 1847. (amazon.com)
Erdrich, L. (2006). The game of silence. New York: HarperCollins. (4-6)
Her name is Omakayas, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop, and she lives on an island in Lake
Superior. It is 1850, and the lives of the Ojibwe have returned to a familiar rhythm: they build their
birchbark houses in the summer, go to the ricing camps in the fall to harvest and feast, and move to their
cozy cedar log cabins near the town of LaPointe before the first snows. The satisfying routines of
Omakayas’s days are interrupted by a surprise visit from a group of desperate and mysterious people.
From them, she learns that all their lives may drastically change. The chimookomanag, or white people,
want Omakayas and her people to leave their island in Lake Superior and move farther west. Omakayas
realizes that something so valuable, so important that she never knew she had it in the first place, is in
danger. Her home. Her way of life.
In this captivating sequel to National Book Award nominee The Birchbark House, Louise Erdrich continues
the story of Omakayas and her family. (amazon.com)
Hudson, J. (2000). Dawn rider. New York: Penguin Putnam Books. (4-6)
Kit Fox knows she can learn to ride the horse her tribe has captured from their enemies. But the
elders object, so the girl learns in secret. Then the tribe is attacked, and it‘s up to Kit to save her
people. (Borders.com)
Hunter, Sara H. (1996). The unbreakable code. Illustrated by J. Miner. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland
Publishing. (K-3)
John‘s mother is getting married and he has to leave the reservation. John‘s grandfather tells him
he has the special unbreakable code to take with him. This story portrays the quiet pride of a
Navajo code talker as he explains to his grandson how the Navajo language, faith and ingenuity
helped win World War II. (amazon.com)
Kulinski, K. (1995). Night Bird: A story of the Seminole Indians. Illustrated by J. Watling. New
York: Puffin. (4-6)
In 1840 Night Bird, whose clan of Seminole Indians is fighting to preserve its traditional way of
life in Florida, must decide whether to seek land and an unknown future in distant Oklahoma.
(card catalog)
McGraw, E. J. (1986). Moccasin Trail. New York: Penguin Putnam Books. (4-6)
A pioneer boy, brought up by Crow Indians, is reunited with his family and attempts to orient
himself in the white man‘s culture. (card catalog)
O‘Dell, S. (1987). Island of the Blue Dolphins. Illustrated by T. Lewin. New York: Random
House. (4-6)
Left alone on a beautiful but isolated island off the coast of California, a young Indian girl spends
eighteen years, not only merely surviving through her enormous courage and self-reliance, but
also finding a measure of happiness in her solitary life. (card catalog)
O‘Dell, S. (1992). Sing down the moon. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)
The Spanish slavers were an ever present threat to the Navajo way of life. This historical novel is
about a young Navajo girl who is kidnapped and enslaved by Spaniards and then rescued by her
husband-to-be. (amazon.com)
O‘Dell, S. (1996). Zia. New York: Laurelleaf. (4-6)
A young Indian girl, Zia, caught between the traditional world of her mother and the present
world of the Mission, is helped by her aunt Karana whose story was told in the Island of the Blue
Dolphins. (amazon.com)
Porter, P. (2004). Sky. Illustrated by M. J. Gerber. Groundwood. (3-5)
Eleven-year-old Georgia lives with her grandparents, Paw Paw and Gramma, on the edge of the
Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Spring comes, and it rains and rains until one afternoon the
creek behind their house suddenly becomes a wall of water, washing away everything the family
owns — their house, their barn, and even Daisy, the only stuffed animal Georgia has ever had.
Through sheer determination, Georgia and her grandparents gradually rebuild their lives, but it‘s
not until Georgia finds Sky — a foal that somehow survived the flood — that the family begins to
heal and find meaning again despite their losses. Based on the true story of Georgia Salois and
written in the haunting voice of a young child, Sky vividly describes the historic flood of 1964 and
its effect on Georgia and her people. Their courage in overcoming disaster, poverty, and
discrimination provides young readers with a compelling portrayal of endurance. (amazon.com)
Roop, P. (1994). Ahyoka and the talking leaves. New York: Beech Tree Books. (4-6)
Ahyoka helps her father Sequoyah in his quest to create a system of writing for his people. (card
catalog)
Santiago, C. (2002). Home to Medicine Mountain. Illustrated by J. Lowry. San Francisco, CA:
Children‘s Book Press. (3-6)
Two young Maidu Indian brothers sent to live at a government-run Indian residential school in
California in the 1930s find a way to escape and return home for the summer. (amazon.com)
Stroud, V. A. (1994). Doesn‘t fall off his horse. New York: Dial Books for young Readers. (1-4)
Saygee‘s great-grandfather tells her the story of how he got his name, Doesn't Fall Off His Horse.
(card catalog)
Tingle, T. (2008). Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw tale of friendship and freedom. Illustrated by
J. R. Bridges. Cinco Puntos Press. (2-4)
Dramatic, quiet, and warming, this is a story of friendship across cultures in 1800s Mississippi. While
searching for blackberries, Martha Tom, a young Choctaw, breaks her village’s rules against crossing the
Bok Chitto. She meets and becomes friends with the slaves on the plantation on the other side of the river,
and later helps a family escape across it to freedom when they hear that the mother is to be sold. Tingle is
a performing storyteller, and his text has the rhythm and grace of that oral tradition. It will be easily and
effectively read aloud. The paintings are dark and solemn, and the artist has done a wonderful job of
depicting all of the characters as individuals, with many of them looking out of the page right at readers.
The layout is well designed for groups as the images are large and easily seen from a distance. There is a
note on modern Choctaw culture, and one on the development of this particular work. This is a lovely story,
beautifully illustrated, though the ending requires a somewhat large leap of the imagination. (School
Library Journal)
Waters, K. (1996). Tapenum‘s day: A Wampanoag Indian boy in Pilgrim times. Photographs by R.
Kendall. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)
Chosen to become a special warrior prince in 1627, Tapenum prepares himself for the great honor
by hunting, fishing, and sharing a day with friends and family, in a story that is complemented by
photographs of Plymouth Plantation. (amazon.com)
Whelan, G. (1987). Next spring an oriole. Illustrated by P. Johnson. New York: Random House.
(4-6)
In 1837 ten-year-old Libby and her parents journey by covered wagon to the Michigan frontier,
where they make themselves a new home near friendly Indians and other pioneers. (card catalog)
Whelan, G. (1996). Night of the full moon. Illustrated by L. Bowman. New York: Random House.
(3-6)
In 1840, Libby, living with her family on the Michigan frontier, finds herself inadvertently caught
up in the forced evacuation of a group of Potawatomi Indians from their tribal lands. (card
catalog)
Whelan, G. (1997). Shadow of the wolf. Illustrated by T. Meers. New York: Random House. (4-6)
Libby Mitchell is reunited with her friend Fawn after her family relocates to an area next to
Fawn‘s Indian camp, and when greedy men try to cheat the Indians out of their land, Libby helps
Fawn devise a plan to prevent this from happening. (amazon.com)
Whelan, G. (1997). The Indian School. Illustrated by G. Dellosso. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
When shy, ten-year-old Lucy comes to live with her aunt and uncle at their mission school, she‘s
surprised at the number of harsh rules and restrictions imposed on the children. Why, she
wonders, should the Indians have to do all the changing? And why is her aunt so strict with them?
Then a girl called Raven runs away in protest, and Lucy knows she must overcome her timidity
and stand up to her aunt—no matter what the consequences. Once again Gloria Whelan has taken
a chapter from our past and transformed it into gripping, accessible, historically accurate fiction.
(amazon.com)
Wyss, T. H. (2005). Bear Dancer: The story of a Ute girl. McElderry. (4-6)
Elk Girl, sister of a Ute chief, lives a traditional life with her tribe high in the Rocky Mountains in 1860. Elk
Girl is bold: She loves to hunt deer with her brother, and she races her pony to win. She also knows the
importance of ceremonies like the Bear Dance, which wakes the bears from hibernation and celebrates
spring. But all of that changes when Cheyenne warriors capture Elk Girl. They take her to the Great Plains
and make her a slave. On the Plains, Elk Girl encounters white men for the first time, and she sees how the
Cheyenne have come to depend on their handouts. She also sees the truth of what her brother has told
her: The white men are the real enemy. Their soldiers are everywhere. Even if Elk Girl could escape, how
would she get home? Thelma Hatch Wyss has crafted a moving story based on the life of a real girl. It is
both a gripping personal adventure and a compelling look at two cultures confronting each other at a
pivotal time of change. (amazon.com)
Yolen. J. (1996). Encounter. Illustrated by D. Shannon. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace. (4-6)
An old Salvadoran man recounts the story of his first encounter with the white men who landed on
the island in 1492 as a warning to people everywhere of the threat of invasion and conquest that
destroyed his people and culture. (amazon.com)
BACK
POETRY:
Baylor, B. (1993). Desert voices. Illustrated by P. Parnall. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K3)
Desert inhabitants describe the beauty of their home. (card catalog)
Baylor, B. (1986). Hawk, I’m your brother. Illustrated by P. Parnall. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
Determined to learn to fly, Rudy adopts a hawk hoping that their kinship will bring him closer to his
goal. (card catalog)
Baylor, B. (1992). One small blue bead. Illustrated by R. Himler. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)
A small boy, the member of a hunter-gatherer tribe living long ago, begins to suspect that the
earth is inhabited by others like him, and one day he finds his suspicions confirmed when he
meets a little boy from another group. (amazon.com)
Baylor, B. (1987). The desert is theirs. Illustrated by P. Parnall. New York: Scott Foresman. (14)
Simple text and illustrations describe the characteristics of the desert and its plant, animal, and
human life. (card catalog)
Baylor, B. (1987). When clay sings. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)
The daily life and customs of prehistoric southwest Indian tribes are retraced from the designs
on the remains of their pottery. (card catalog)
Bierhorst, J. (1994). On the road of stars: Native American night poems and sleep charms.
Illustrated by J. Pedersen. New York: Simon & Schuster. (4-6)
A collection of Native American night poems, sleep charms, and other special night songs
intended to soothe, heal, bring dreams, or make sleep irresistible. (card catalog)
Bruchac, J. (1998). The earth under Sky Bear‘s feet: Native American poems of the land.
Illustrated by T. Locker. New York: Paper Star. (4-6)
In the companion to Thirteen Moons on Turtle‘s Back, Sky Bear, the great storytelling bear
made of stars, tells of nature‘s nighttime wonders and Native American legends from his post in
the sky. (amazon.com)
Bruchac, J. (1997). Thirteen moons on turtle‘s back: A Native American year of moons.
Illustrated by T. Locker. New York: Paper Star. (2-4).
Celebrates the seasons of the year through poems from the legends of such Native American
tribes as the Cherokee, Cree, and Sioux. (card catalog)
De Coteau Orie, S. (1996). Did you hear wind sing your name?: An Oneida song of spring.
Illustrated by C. Canyon. New York: Walker and Company. (K-3)
Pictures and words pay homage to the Oneida Indians' view of the cycle of spring.
(amazon.com)
Grossman, V. (1995). Ten little rabbits. Illustrated by S. Long. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle
Books. (K-1)
This well-designed counting book features rabbits who celebrate the traditions of native
Americans. Though the simple rhyming text refers to neither native Americans nor rabbits, an
afterword shows clearly that each double-page spread depicts the clothing and practices of a
different tribe. (Horn Book, 1991)
Lee, F., editor. (1999). When the rain sings: Poems by young Native Americans. New York:
Simon & Schuster. (4-6)
A collection of poems written by Native Americans ranging in age from seven to seventeen gives
passionate voice to their experiences both past and present. Representing eight tribes, the
poems were primarily written in response to pictures of indigenous artifacts and archival
photos from the National Museum of the American Indian. A spare but handsome design
underscores the power of the words and pictures. (Horn Book, 1999)
Longfellow, H. W. (1996). Hiawatha. Illustrated by S. Jeffers. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
An abridgement of the epic poem describing the life and deeds of a legendary Native American
brave. (card catalog)
Philip, N. (1996). Earth always endures: Native American poems. Photographs by E. S. Curtis.
New York: Viking Books. (4-6)
More than forty duotone photographs by the legendary photographer and a collection of sixty
poems come together to form an insightful portrait of the world of Native Americans, their
beliefs, lifestyles, traditions, and views on many various topics. (amazon.com)
Swann, B. (1998). Touching the distance: Native American riddle poems. Illustrated by M.
Rendom. New York: Harcourt Brace. (3-6)
Children who like guessing games may enjoy this picture-book collection of 14 succinct riddlepoems. Each selection is accompanied by a picture of an unusual collage construction, which
hints at the answer to the riddle. Some of the answers are fairly easy to guess, but many are
challenging. (Booklist)
BACK
Fantasy
Erdrich, L. (1999). Grandmother‘s pigeon. Illustrated by J. Lamarche. New York: Hyperion
Press. (1-4)
A year after Grandmother hitches a ride on the back of a porpoise, her family finds a nest of three
eggs in her bedroom. The eggs hatch, and the family soon discovers that the squabs belong to an
extinct species of passenger pigeons. Rich, expressive illustrations rendered in acrylic and
colored pencil perfectly complement the poignant work of magic realism. (Horn Book, 1996)
Momaday, N. S. (1999). Circle of wonder:A Native American Christmas Story. Albuquerque,
NM: University of New Mexico Press. (4-6)
A mute Indian child has an extraordinary experience one Christmas when, following a figure who
seems to be his beloved grandfather who has died, he becomes part of a circle in which he,
animals, nature, and all the world join in a moment of peace and good will. (card catalog)
Japanese Americans
Realistic Fiction:
Buck, P.S. (1986). The big wave. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)
His family and village swept away, Jiya learns to live with the ever-present dangers from the sea
and volcano. (card catalog)
Bunting, E. (1998). So far from the sea. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Clarion Books.
(K-3)
Laura Iwasaki‘s father was interned along with thousands of other American citizens of Japanese
heritage during World War II. When her grandfather died he was buried in the internment camp and
now that the family is moving this will probably be their last visit to Grandfather‘s grave.
(amazon.com)
Friedman, I. R. (1987). How my parents learned to eat. Illustrated by A. Say. New York: Houghton
Mifflin. (K-3)
An American sailor courts a Japanese girl and each tries, in secret, to learn the other‘s way of
eating. (card catalog)
Johnston, T. (1996). Fishing Sunday. Illustrated by B. Root. New York: William Morrow. (K-3)
A young boy, originally embarrassed by the traditions of his Japanese grandfather, comes to an
understanding one day as he observes him during a fishing trip and notes that the old man and his
ways are not silly at all but are actually rather magical. (amazon.com)
Kadohata, C. (2004). Kira-kira. Atheneum. (5-8)
In Cynthia Kadohata‘s lively, lovely, funny and sad novel -- winner of the 2005 Newbery Medal -the Japanese-American Takeshima family moves from Iowa to Georgia in the 1950s when Katie, the
narrator, is just in kindergarten. Though her parents endure grueling conditions and impossible
hours in the non-unionized poultry plant and hatchery where they work, they somehow manage to
create a loving, stable home for their three children: Lynn, Katie, and Sammy. Katie‘s trust in, and
admiration for, her older sister Lynn never falters, even when her sisterly advice doesn‘t seem to
make sense. Lynn teaches her about everything from how the sky, the ocean, and people‘s eyes are
special to the injustice of racial prejudice. The two girls dream of buying a house for the family
someday and even save $100 in candy money: "Our other favorite book was Silas Marner. We were
quite capitalistic and liked the idea of Silas keeping all that gold underneath the floorboards.‖ When
Lynn develops lymphoma, it‘s heartbreaking, but through the course of her worsening illness, Katie
does her best to remember Lynn‘s "kira-kira‖ (glittery, shining) outlook on life. Small moments
shine the brightest in this poignant story; told beautifully and lyrically in Katie‘s fresh, honest voice.
(amazon.com)
Kroll, V. L. (1996). A carp for Kimiko. Illustrated by K. Roundtree. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
(K-3)
Although the tradition is to present carp kites only to boys on Children‘s Day, Kimiko‘s parents find
a way to make the day special for her. (card catalog)
Nomura, T. (1995). Grandpa‘s town. New York: Kane/Miller Book Publishers. (K-3)
A young Japanese boy, worried that his grandfather is lonely, accompanies him to the public bath.
(card catalog)
Sakai, K. (1995). Sachiko means happiness. Illustrated by T. Arai. San Francisco, CA: Children‘s
Book Press. (K-3)
A simply told, understated story of young Sachiko‘s acceptance of her grandmother‘s Alzheimer‘s
disease is illustrated in warm, sunset tones, with insets featuring traditional Japanese motifs.
Touching and unsentimental, the book is a boon for those looking for contemporary images of
Asian-American children. (Horn Book, 1991)
Say, A. (1997). Allison. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
When Allison tries on the red kimono her grandmother has sent her, she is suddenly aware that she
resembles her favorite doll more than she does her mother and father. When her parents explain that
she is adopted, Allison‘s doll becomes her only solace until she finds a stray cat in the garden and
learns the true meaning of adoption and parental love. (amazon.com)
Say, A. (1996). Emma’s rug. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. (K-3)
Emma, who is gifted with immense artistic talent and whose favorite possession is a shaggy old rug,
faces an unexpected challenge when her mother puts the rug in the washer, in a story of the
inspirations, both simple and profound, that combine to make up the creative visual mind.
(amazon.com)
Say, A. (1992). The lost lake. New York: Sandpiper. (K-3)
A young boy and his father become closer friends during a camping trip in the mountains. (card
catalog)
Say, A. (1991). Tree of cranes. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (2-4)
A Japanese boy learns of Christmas when his mother decorates a pine tree with paper cranes. (card
catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1993). A jar of dreams. Aladdin. (4-6)
A young girl grows up in a closely-knit Japanese American family in California during the 1930‘s, a
time of great prejudice. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1985). The happiest ending. New York: Margaret McElderry. (5-6)
When twelve-year-old Rinko learns that a neighbor‘s daughter is coming from Japan to marry a
stranger twice her age, she sets out to change this arrangement and gains new insights into love and
adult problems. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1993). The best bad thing. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
At first dismayed at having to spend the last month of the summer vacation helping out in the
household of recently widowed Mrs. Hata, Rinko discovers there are pleasant surprises for her, but
then bad things start to happen. (card catalog)
Yashima, T. (1976). Crow boy. New York: Viking Press. (K-3)
No synopsis available.
BACK
NON-FICTION:
Allan-Meyer, K. (1995). I have a new friend. Photographs by M. Spinelli. New York: Barron’s
Educational Series. (K-3)
Saki is a little Japanese girl whose best friend is Lisa. Lisa learns about Japanese customs, Saki
learns about American ways, and language is no barrier to their friendship. Spinelli‘s candid
black-and-white photos transform the book into a kind of photo album. (amazon.com)
Brenner, B. & Takaya, J. (1999). Chibi: A true story from Japan. Illustrated by J. Otani. New
York: Clarion. (K-3)
Based on actual events, this dramatic story follows a mother duck and her ten babies as they move
from one location in Tokyo to another and survive a series of disrupting storms. This tale,
reminiscent of Robert McCloskey‘s 1941 classic, is told in a crisp, straightforward style and
illustrated with uncluttered, realistic watercolor and ink artwork that captures a sense of
traditional Japanese painting. (Horn Book, 1996)
Brown, T. (1995). Konnichiwa! I am a Japanese-American girl. Photographs by K. Arai. New
York: Henry Holt & Company. (2-4)
Presents the activities of Lauren Kamiya and her family as they prepare for and participate in the
Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco, an event that combines elements of both Japanese and
American cultures. (amazon.com)
Chin, S. A. (1995). When justice failed: The Fred Korematsu story. Illustrated by D. Tamura.
Austin, TX: Raintree/Steck-Vaughn. (4-6)
When the US government orders Japanese American citizens to report to relocation camps, Fred
Korematsu files a lawsuit, and it goes all the way to the supreme court. (Asia for Kids 2000 – 2001
Educational Catalog, p. 30)
Doran, C. (1995). The Japanese. New York: Thomson Learning. (4-6)
Color photographs of original artifacts, including tapestries, mosaics, armor, architecture, and
maps, among other items, reinforce a succinct historical perspective of two great warrior
civilizations. Societal structure, religious practices, transportation, and the arts during the
medieval Norman period contrast with a more sophisticated seventeenth-century Japanese
culture. (Horn Book, 1995)
Fremon, D. K. (1996). Japanese-American internment in American history. Springfield, NJ: Enslow.
(5-6)
Includes personal accounts to describe the period in American history when Japanese Americans
were detained in internment camps; also discusses the issues and controversy surrounding the
decision. (card catalog)
Galvin, I. F. (1996). Japan: A modern land with ancient roots. New York: Benchmark Books. (4-6)
Discusses the history, geography, daily life, culture, and customs of the island nation of Japan.
(card catalog)
Hamanaka, S. (1995). The journey: Japanese Americans, racism, and renewal. New York: Orchard
Books. (4-6)
Text and photographed details of a mural depict the history of the Japanese people in America.
(card catalog)
Haskins, J. (1988). Count your way through Japan. Illustrated by M. Skoro. Minneapolis, MN:
Carolrhoda Books. (K-3)
Presents the numbers one through ten in Japanese, using each number to introduce concepts
about Japan and its culture. (card catalog)
Heinrich, A. (1998). Japan: Enchantment of the world series. New York: Children’s Press. (5-6)
Describes the history and culture of the island nation of Japan. (card catalog)
Hoobler, D. & Hoobler, T. (1996). The Japanese American family album. New York: Oxford
University Press. (4-6)
Introduction by George Takei. Six chapters illustrated with black-and-white photographs cover the
immigration experience, from leaving the Old Country to becoming part of America. Background
information opens each chapter; following sections feature selections from original documents.
The varied voices recounting their own stories offer a personalized view of American history. A
chronology is included. (Horn Book, 1996)
Kalman, B. (2000). Japan: The land. New York: Crabtree. (4-6)
This beautifully designed book covers every aspect of Japan - its geography, natural phenomena,
resources, agriculture and history. (amazon.com)
Kalman, B. (2000). Japan: The people. New York: Crabtree. (4-6)
This distinctive blend of traditional and modern traits in the daily lives of the Japanese are
revealed as they are seen at home, work, school, and play. (amazon.com)
Kitano, H. (1995). The Japanese Americans (Immigrant experience). New York: Chelsea House
Publishers. (4-6)
After first arriving in the U.S. in 1890, the Japanese overcame the barriers of prejudice through
education and perseverance, revealing the immense talents of their people. Their achievements
are those of a people who have fought the odds and triumphed. (amazon.com)
Knorr, R. (1995). If I lived in Japan. Illustrated by J. Knorr. Marietta, GA: Longstreet Press. (1-4)
Young readers are invited to join in the daily activities of their peers in Japan – their schooling,
cultural experiences, outdoor activities, etc. –while learning some basic vocabulary in Japanese.
Playful illustrations and rhyming verse. (Asia for Kids 2000-2001 Educational Catalog, p. 26)
Lee, L. (1996). Japanese Americans. New York: Benchmark Books. (5-6)
Provides a history of Japanese immigration to the United States and discuses Japanese customs
and contributions to American culture. (card catalog)
Littlefield, H. (1997). Colors of Japan. Illustrated by H. Byers. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda
Press. (K-3)
Ten colors are used to introduce readers to Japan. 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. Watercolors depict both historical and contemporary scenes, and a map is included.
(Horn Book, 1998)
MacMillan, D. M. (1997). Japanese Children‘s Day and the Obon Festival. Berkeley Heights, NJ:
Enslow. (K-3)
Describes the history, significance, and traditions of Japanese Children‘s Day and the Obon
Festival, and the ways they are celebrated in Japan and the United States. (card catalog)
McKay, S. (1997). Japan (Festivals of the world). Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens. (4-6)
Describes how the culture of Japan is reflected in its festivals, including the Gion Festival, the
Fire Festivals, and the Sapporo Snow Festival. (card catalog)
Say, A. (2004). Music for Alice. Lorraine/Houghton. (4-6)
As a girl, Alice loved to dance, but the rhythms of her life offered little opportunity for a foxtrot,
let alone a waltz. World War II erupted soon after she was married. Alice and her husband, along
with many other Japanese Americans, were forced to leave their homes and report to assembly
centers around the country. Undaunted, Alice and her husband learned to make the most of every
circumstance, from their stall in the old stockyard in Portland to the decrepit farm in the Oregon
desert, with its field of stones. Like a pair of skilled dancers, they sidestepped adversity to land
gracefully amid golden opportunity. Together they turned a barren wasteland into a field of
endless flowers. Such achievements did not come without effort and sacrifice, though, and Alice
often thought her dancing days were long behind her. But as her story testifies, life is full of
changes . . . In this striking book, Allen Say introduces readers to the remarkable story of the life
of a woman whose perseverance and resilience serve as an inspirational reminder that dreams
can be fulfilled, even when least expected. (amazon.com)
Stanley, J. (1996). I am an American: A true story of the Japanese
internment. New York: Crown. (4-6)
With stunning intensity, Stanley examines the plight of one group of American citizens during
World War II. He describes in depth the events leading up to the authorized evacuation and
imprisonment of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. A sense of immediacy is provided
through Stanley‘s interpretation of events as they affected one particular young man, Shiro
Nomura, and his family and close friends. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs. (Horn
Book, 1995)
Stefoff, R. (1998). Japan. Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House. (4-6)
An overview of the history, geography, economy, government, people, and culture of Japan. (card
catalog)
Takabayashi, M. (2001). I live in Tokyo: A Japanese calendar. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K3)
Colorfully detailed illustrations will draw readers to this lively introduction to Japan. Seven-yearold narrator Mimiko takes readers on a month-by-month tour of contemporary Tokyo, briefly
describing one or two festivals, customs, or facets of life each month. The narrative remains
consistently childlike throughout: kimonos make Mimiko "feel like a princess,‖ but they also itch,
and while her grandmother finds the tea ceremony relaxing, Mimiko notes that it‘s long and
boring and "my feet fall asleep.‖ The book focuses on the stuff of daily life-a kid‘s daily life,
including information such as Mimiko‘s "Top Ten Favorite Meals‖ and the fact that on
Valentine‘s Day in Japan it‘s girls who give chocolate to boys. The child-friendly focus doesn‘t
prevent the book from accurately reflecting the way in which the ultra-modern and the ancient, the
high-tech and the low-tech, comfortably co-exist in Japan: one month finds the youngster doing
calligraphy ("Shodo makes me feel calm‖), while another month she travels to her grandparents‘
house via "one of the fastest trains in the world.‖ As with many things Japanese, this book is a
model of efficiency and elegance, cramming numerous details into a small space in a compact and
attractive manner. (Horn Book, 2001)
Tunnel, M. & Chilcoat, G. (1996). The children of Topaz: The story of a Japanese American
internment camp based on a classroom diary. New York: Holiday House. (4-6)
The diary of a third grade class of Japanese American children being held with their families in an
interment camp in Topaz, Utah, during World War II. (card catalog)
Turner, P. S. (2004). Hachiko: The true story of a loyal dog. Illustrated by Y. Nascimbene.
Houghton. (1-4)
Imagine walking to the same place every day, to meet your best friend. Imagine watching
hundreds of people pass by every morning and every afternoon. Imagine waiting, and waiting, and
waiting. For ten years. This is what Hachiko did. Hachiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a
dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could not
come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who
passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko‘s story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young
boy whose life is changed forever by his friendship with this very special dog. Simply told, and
illustrated with Yan Nascimbene‘s lush watercolors, the legend of Hachiko will touch your heart
and inspire you as it has inspired thousands all over the world. (amazon.com)
Welch, C. A. (2000). Children of the relocation camps. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. (46)
Explores the experiences of Japanese American children who were moved with their families to
relocation centers during World War II, looking at school, meals, sports, and other aspects of
camp life. (Borders.com)
Wells, R. (1992). A to ZEn: A book of Japanese culture. Illustrated by Yoshi. New York: Simon &
Schuster. (K-3)
An illustrated alphabet book introduces children to Japan, identifying the key influences, ancient
and modern, that are at the core of Japanese culture today. (amazon.com)
BACK
Traditional:
Baker, K. (1997). The magic fan. New York: Voyager Picture Books. (K-3)
Despite the laughter of his fellow villagers, Yoshi uses his building skills to make a boat to catch the
moon, a kite to reach the clouds, and a bridge that mimics the rainbow. (amazon.com)
Bodkin, O. (2001). The crane wife. Illustrated by G. Spirin. New York: Harcourt. (1-4)
A retelling of the traditional Japanese tale about a poor sail maker who gains a beautiful but
mysterious wife skilled at weaving magical sails. (amazon.com)
Coatsworth, E. (1990). The cat who went to heaven. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
A little cat comes to the home of a poor Japanese artist and, through humility and devotion, brings
him good fortune. (card catalog)
French, F. (2001). Little Inchkin: A tale of old Japan. New York: Frances Lincoln Limited. (K-3)
A unique young man named Inchkin--so named because he is only several inches tall--finds himself
face-to-face with two fiery demons, with only his skill and bravery to defend himself. From
decorative edges that make the adventure unfold like scenes from a play to the characters' stark
white faces, French's full-color paintings capture the style of 18th-century Japanese prints.
(amazon.com)
Johnston, T. (1990). Badger and the magic fan: A Japanese folktale. Illustrated by T. DePaola. New
York: Putnam. (K-2)
In this retelling of a Japanese folk tale, a wicked badger steals a magic fan that makes noses grow
and shrink. He uses it to trick a rich man‟s beautiful daughter into marrying him but is foiled in the
end by mischievous goblin children. DePaola‟s characteristic art aptly complements the simple
humor of the story. (Horn Book, 1990)
Kajikawa, K. (2000). Yoshi’s feast. Illustrated by Y. Heo. New York: Dorling Kindersley. (K-3)
Text, illustrations, and the book’s design are all marvelous here. Heo’s dazzling collages of painting,
pencil, and handmade papers bring out the outrageous action and humor in Yoshi and Sabu’s
conflict, extending the lively dialogue and rich text. (Booklist)
Kimmel, E. A. (2004). Three Samurai cats: A story from Japan. Illustrated by M. Gerstein. Holiday.
(K-3)
An adaptation of a Japanese folktale in which a feudal lord seeks a samurai cat to rid his castle of a
savage rat, but soon discovers that violence is not always the best way to accomplish things. (card
catalog)
Kudler, D. (1997). The seven gods of luck. Illustrated by L. Finch. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
(K-3)
In this story adapted from a Japanese folktale, two penniless young siblings are generously
rewarded when they thoughtfully brush off the piles of snow covering the statues of the seven gods of
luck. A brief note describes the Japanese New Year celebration, and the wintry setting is effectively
realized in detailed watercolors that match the light tone of the story. (Horn Book, 1998)
Lachenmeyer, N. (2008). The origami master. Illustrated by A. Sogabe. Albert Whitman. (2-4)
Shima the Origami Master lives on a mountain in Japan. He isn’t lonely, for his beautiful origami
animals keep him company. One morning Shima finds a marvelous new paper elephant on his desk.
Where could it have come from? The next morning, a splendid dragon is in its place. It looks real
enough to fly away. That night, Shima stays awake to find out who could make such wonderful
creatures. But when he discovers who the mysterious artist is, he learns a surprising lesson about
friendship. Included are instructions on how to make the origami flapping bird design.Aki Sogabe’s
paper-cut art in the Japanese tradition richly complements Nathaniel Lachenmeyer’s lovely story.
(amazon.com)
Levine, A. A. (1994). The boy who drew cats: A Japanese folktale. Illustrated by F/ Clement. New
York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
In an intriguing book, Levine retells the story of a frail, artistic boy whose drawings of cats come to
life in a temple one night, vanquishing the terrible Goblin Rat. The unembellished, smooth narrative
nicely complements Clément‘s elegant acrylics. A source note is included, as well as a chart giving
the pronunciation and meanings of the Japanese characters that appear at the top of each page of
text. (Horn Book, 1994)
Long, J. F. (1996). The bee and the dream: A Japanese tale. Illustrated by K. Ono. New York:
Dutton Books. (K-3)
As he watches his friend Tasuke sleeping and dreaming of buried treasure, Shin sees a bee fly from
Tasuke‘s nose. Convinced by this odd sign that Tasuke‘s dream is true, Shin investigates, and
though unsuccessful at first, he soon becomes the owner of the treasure. The illustrations, created by
a Japanese artist contribute considerably to the atmosphere of the book. (Horn Book, 1996)
Melmed, L. K. (1997). Little Oh. Illustrated by L. Lamarche. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard. (K-3)
Illustrated with exquisite paintings, this original fairy tale about an origami girl who comes to life is
a tender and exciting adventure. From her wild river ride aboard a teacup boat to her escape from
an angry dog to her flight home on the neck of a crane to her transformation into a real little girl,
Little Oh is sure to capture readers’ hearts. (amazon.com)
Mosel. A. (1993). The funny little woman. New York: E. P. Dutton. (4-6)
While chasing a dumpling, a little lady is captured by wicked creatures from whom she escapes with
the means of becoming the richest woman in Japan. (card catalog)
Nishimoto, K. (1999). Japanese Fairy Tales ( Classic Japanese fairy tales, Vol. I). Illustrated by Y.
Imoto. Heian International Publishing Company. (K-3)
These collections of stories include some of Japan’s most cherished tales. These timeless stories are
more than just entertaining. They address some of life’s enduring themes about goodness and
happiness. As they read or listen to each tale, children will learn about human virtue and enjoy the
pleasure and insight that flow from traditional wisdom. Colorfully cute illustrations. (Asia for Kids
2000-2001 Educational Catalog, p. 25)
Palazzo-Craig, J. (1996). The magic peach: A story from Japan. Illustrated by M. Nagano. New York:
Troll. (K-3)
An extraordinary Japanese boy sets out to destroy the ogres who have terrorized his village for
years. (amazon.com)
Paterson, K. (1995). The tale of the Mandarin ducks. Illustrated by L. & D. Dillon. New York: Puffin.
(K-3)
A pair of Mandarin ducks, separated by a cruel lord who wishes to possess the drake for his beauty,
reward a compassionate couple who risk their lives to reunite the ducks. (card catalog)
Sakade, F. (1958). Peach Boy and other Japanese children‘s favorite stories. Illustrated by Y.
Kurosaki. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle. (K-3)
Stories that delight children of one land are sure to delight children everywhere. In this charming
collection of stories, twenty of Japan‘s best-loved children‘s stories are told. Here are the playful
goblins with long noses; the magic teakettle with badger feet & badger tail; Little One-Inch & his
needle swords; & many other beloved characters. (Borders.com)
San Souci, R. D.(1997). The samurai’s daughter: A Japanese legend. Illustrated by S. T. Johnson.
New York: Puffin. (4-6)
A Japanese legend about the brave daughter of a samurai warrior and her journey to be reunited
with her exiled father. (card catalog)
San Souci, R. D. (1993). The snow wife. Illustrated by S. T. Johnson. New York: Dial Books. (K-3)
When a Japanese woodcutter breaks his promise and describes his encounter with a terrifying snow
woman, he loses his wife and must make a dangerous journey to win her back. (card catalog)
Say, A. (1974). Once under the cherry blossom tree: An old Japanese tale. New York: Harpercollins.
(1-4)
No synopsis available.
Schroeder, A. (1997). Lily and the wooden bowl. Illustrated by Y. Ito. New York: Picture Yearling. (K3)
A young girl who wears a wooden bowl over her face to hide her beauty overcomes a variety of
trials and finally finds love, riches, and happiness. (card catalog)
Snyder, D. (1993). The boy of the three year nap. Illustrated by A. Say. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
(4-6)
A poor Japanese woman maneuvers events to change the lazy habits of her son. (card catalog)
Tompert, A. (1993). Bamboo hats and a rice cake. Illustrated by Demi. New York: Crown. (1-4)
Wishing to have good fortune in the new year, an old man tries to trade his wife‘s kimono for rice
cakes. Characters from the Japanese alphabet are incorporated into the text. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1993). The magic purse. Illustrated by K. Narahashi. New York: Margaret McElderry. (24)
After facing danger to help a young woman, a poor farmer receives a magic purse that always
refills itself with gold. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1987). Two foolish cats. Illustrated by M. Zemach. New York: Atheneum. (1-4)
Two foolish cats go to the old monkey of the mountain to settle their quarrel. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1994). The wise old woman. Illustrated by M. Springett. New York: Margaret McElderry
Books. (3-5)
A dramatic Japanese folktale that tells the story of a cruel overlord and a young farmer‘s elderly
mother. The overlord threatens to destroy the farmer‘s village unless the young lord can perform
three seemingly impossible tasks. How the elderly mother accomplishes the tasks and saves the
village is a satisfying story brought to life with remarkable full-color paintings. (Borders.com)
BACK
Biography:
Blumberg, R. (2003). Shipwrecked: The true adventures of a Japanese boy. New York:
HarperTrophy. (4-6)
In the 1800s, the Japanese government had strict isolation laws. By decree, foreigners and ideas
from outside Japan were forbidden. So when fourteen-year-old Manjiro and four other fishermen
were shipwrecked on a small rocky island three hundred miles from shore, they wondered if they
would ever be allowed to return home! Celebrated author Rhoda Blumberg regales us with
Manjiro‘s exciting true story. He was the first Japanese person to come to the United States, and
his impressions of the country give us vivid glimpses of mid nineteenth-century American life. He
even took part in the Gold Rush! In a surprising twist of fate, Manjiro became a hero in Japan,
playing an important role in opening his country to westerners. Told here by a brilliant storyteller
with a passion for history, Manjiro‘s biography is a fast-paced, historically accurate, inspiring
true-life adventure. (amazon.com)
Coerr, E. (1999). Mieko and the fifth treasure. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)
Staying with her grandparents after the atomic bomb has been dropped on Nagasaki, ten-year-old
Mieko feels that the happiness in her heart has departed forever and she will no longer be able to
produce a beautiful drawing for the contest at school. (card catalog)
Coerr, E. (1997). Sadako. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Scott Foresman. (1-4)
Hospitalized with the dreaded atom bomb disease, leukemia, a child in Hiroshima races against
time to fold one thousand paper cranes to verify the legend that by doing so a sick person will
become healthy. (card catalog)
Coerr, E. (1999). Sadako and the thousand paper cranes. Illustrated by R. Himler. New York: Puffin.
(2-4)
Hospitalized with the dreaded atom bomb disease, leukemia, a child in Hiroshima races against
time to fold one thousand paper cranes to verify the legend that by doing so a sick person will
become healthy. (card catalog)
Emery, V. & Stuart, L. (1998). I am Japanese American (Our American Family Series). New York:
Powerkids Press.. (1-4)
No synopsis available.
Gold, A. L. (2000). A special fate: Chiune Sugihara: Hero of the Holocaust. New York: Scholastic
Trade. (5-6)
Award-winning author Alison Gold presents the little-know story of Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986),
a Japanese diplomat who risked everything to save the lives of thousands of Jews during the
Holocaust. Sugihara chose to issue visas to Jews escaping Lithuania, despite the fact that his
superiors strictly forbade him to do so. (amazon.com))
Gollub, M. (1998). Cool melons – turn to frogs!: The life and poems of Issa. Illustrated by K. G.
Stone. New York: Lee and Low. (1-4)
Born in 1763 on a farm in central Japan, Issa began writing haiku as a young child. Matthew
Gollub has integrated the story of Issa‘s life and selections of his best-known work with Kazuko
Stone‘s visual interpretations in the form of whimsical watercolors. (amazon.com)
Mochizuki, K. (1997). Passage to freedom: The Sugihara Story. Illustrated by D. Lee. New York: Lee
& Low Books. (3-5)
Here is the authorized true story of Chiune Sugihara, the ―Japanese Schindler‖, who saved
thousands of Jews during World War II. Passage to Freedom tells Sugihara‘s heroic story,
highlighting his courageous humanity. (amazon.com)
Rambeck, R. (1994). Kristi Yamaguchi. Chicago, IL: The Child‘s World. (3-5)
A biography of the young ice skater who won the gold medal in women‘s figure skating in the 1992
Olympics. (card catalog)
Savage, J. (1996). Kristi Yamaguchi: Pure Gold. Bloomington, IL: Dillon Press. (3-5)
A biography of a young Japanese-American skater who won the Gold Medal in women‘s figure
skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics. (card catalog)
Say, A. (1999). Tea with Milk. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (2-4)
With elegant watercolors, Say has created a moving tribute to his parents and their path to
discovering where home really is. The story of his mother and her journey as a young woman is
heartfelt. Vividly portraying the graceful formality of Japan, this book effectively captures the
struggle between two cultures as May, the young girl in the story, strives to live her own destiny.
(amazon.com)
Spivak, D. (1997). Grass sandals: The travels of Basho. Illustrated by Demi. New York: Atheneum.
(3-5)
An evocative portrait of the great Japanese haiku poet describes Basho‘s many experiences as he
traveled throughout his beloved native Japan, in a volume that also includes haiku written by
Basho and Japanese characters that represent words from the verses. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1995). The invisible thread: An autobiography. New York: Beech Tree Books. (4-6)
Children‘s author, Yoshiko Uchida, describes growing up in Berkeley, California, as a Nisei, a
second-generation Japanese American, and her family‘s internment in a Utah concentration camp
during World War II. (card catalog)
Yamaguchi, K. & Brown, G. (1998). Always dream. Illustrated by D. Keith. Texas: Taylor
Publishing Company. (4-6)
Two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi has won the hearts of
millions of fans. In ―Always Dream‖, Kristi reveals how her determination, ambition and love of
skating keeps her going, even in the midst of obstacles and tragedy. (amazon.com)
BACK
Historical Fiction:
Denenberg, B. (1999). The journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559 Mirror Lake Internment Camp (My
name is America). New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. (4-6)
Heartbreaking and humorous, this is the story of a twelve-year-old prisoner in one of America’s
Japanese internment camps of World War II. (amazon.com)
McCully, E. A. (2008). Manjiro: The boy who risked his life for two countries. Farrar. (3-5)
In 1841, Japan had been closed to the outside world for 250 years, and anyone who tried to return
to the country after leaving it could be executed. So when the small fishing boat on which
fourteen-year-old Manjiro was working was shipwrecked, he despaired of ever returning to his
village. The captain of the American whaling ship that rescued Manjiro took a special interest in
him, inviting him to come live in Massachusetts. There, Manjiro was treated like Captain
Whitfield’s son, and he began to feel as though Massachusetts was his second home. Still, he never
gave up his dream of finding a way to return to Japan and see his mother again.
Watercolor illustrations bring to life the true story of a determined and resourceful young man
whose intimate knowledge of two cultures later led him to play an important role in the opening of
Japan to Western trade and ideas. (amazon.com)
Mochizuki, K. (1995). Baseball saved us. Illustrated by D. Lee. New York: Lee & Low Books. (1-5)
A Japanese American boy learns to play baseball when he and his family are forced to live in an
internment camp during World War II, and his ability to play helps him after the war is over. (card
catalog)
Mochizuki, K. (1997). Heroes. Illustrated by D. Lee. New York: Lee & Low Books. (2-4)
From the author of Baseball Saved Us comes an intergenerational story that describes how a
Japanese-American family deals with the painful legacy of war. Set against the backdrop of the
1960s and talk of Vietnam, it offers a universal message of dignity and courage to anyone who feels
they are different. (amazon.com)
Nishizuka, K. (2009. The beckoning cat: Based on a Japanese folktale. Illustrated by R. Litzinger.
Holiday. (K-2)
This charming retelling of a Japanese folktale explains the good-luck symbolism behind the waving
white cat, whom kids may recognize in the ubiquitous white statues that sit with paws raised on
business counters. Young Yohei, a poor, hardworking door-to-door fish monger, finds his life
transformed after a muddy white cat comes begging. Yohei shares his meager dinner with the
feline visitor, and the next day he is astonished when customers begin to come straight to him. The
reason, he soon discovers, is the grateful white cat, who lures people to Yohei’s door with his
beckoning paw and stays on to help Yohei create a prosperous fish business. In her children’s book
debut, Nishizuka writes in captivating, simple, easily paced language that is well suited for
storytime, as are Litzinger’s watercolor, pencil, and gouache pictures. In petal-soft shades and
textures, the uncluttered compositions feature appealingly rounded, expressive figures, and
children will enjoy following, and then talking about, the mysterious, prominently placed greeneyed cat to the book’s happy conclusion. (Booklist)
Noguchi, R. & Jenks, D. (2001). Flowers from Mariko. Illustrated by M. R. Kumata. New York: Lee
and Low Books. (1-4)
Mariko‟s family has been freed from a Japanese-American internment camp, but the transition
hasn‟t been easy. Because her father‟s truck has disappeared, he can‟t start up his gardening
business, and the family must move to a trailer park. One day, Mariko‟s father gives her two seed
envelopes. She plants the seeds and even serenades them. Mariko‟s father is so preoccupied he
doesn‟t notice her garden -- until he hears her singing. At last he smiles. Flowers from Mariko tells
of a family striving to re-establish their lives -- through hope, perseverance, and love.
(amazon.com)
Otey-Little, M. (1996). Yoshiko and the foreigner. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. (K-3)
When Yoshiko befriends a charming young American Air Force officer without her family‘s
knowledge, and he receives orders to return to America and proposes marriage to Yoshiko, she
must earn her father‘s blessing before their two worlds can unite, in a story based on the author‘s
parents‘ courtship. (amazon.com)
Salisbury, G. (1995). Under the blood-red sun. New York: Yearling Books. (5-6)
Tomikazu, a Hawaiian-born boy of Japanese descent, must help his family survive when his father
and grandfather are arrested after the attack on Pearl Harbor. (amazon.com)
Savin, M. (1995). The moon bridge. New York: Apple. (4-6)
When Mitzi and her Japanese-American family are moved to an internment camp during the
Second World War, she and her best friend, the rebellious Ruthie, plan to meet after the war at
Golden Gate Park. (amazon.com)
Say, A. (1993). Grandfather’s journey. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (2-4)
A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather‘s journey to America which he later also
undertakes, and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries. (card catalog)
Say, A. (1989). The bicycle man. New York: Scott Foresman. (1-3)
The amazing tricks two American soldiers do on a borrowed bicycle are a fitting finale for the
school sports day festivities in a small village in occupied Japan. (card catalog)
Trottier, M. (1999). Flags. Illustrated by P. Morin. Don Mills, ON: Stoddart Kids. (K-3)
Trottier turns her vision on the plight of the Nisei during World War II in this tender little story.
The point of view here is interesting, with the narrator as observer, and only in the end a true
participant. But it is skillfully handled. The ocean sings in these pages; the plum tree blooms. And
Mr. Hiroshi‘s garden endures, if not in the unfolding events, then certainly in the heart of young
Mary. The reader carries away a sense of warmth, of sadness at injustice, and of hope. (Borders.
com)
Uchida, Y. (1996). The bracelet. Illustrated by J. Yardley. NewYork: Paper
Star. (1-4)
Emi, a Japanese American in the second grade, is sent with her family to an internment camp
during World War II. The loss of her bracelet, a gift from her best friend, proves that she doesn‘t
need a physical reminder of that friendship. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1993). A jar of dreams. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)
Eleven-year-old Rinko grows up in a closely-knit Japanese American family in California during
the Depression, a time of great prejudice. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1992). Journey Home. Illustrated by C. Robinson. New York: Scott Foresman. (4-6)
After their release from an American concentration camp, a Japanese-American girl and her family
try to reconstruct their lives amidst strong anti-Japanese feelings which breed fear, distrust, and
violence. (card catalog)
Uchida, Y. (1988). Journey to Topaz. Illustrated by D. Carrick. New York:
Scott Foresman. (4-6)
Like any 11-year-old, Yuki Sakane is looking forward to Christmas when her peaceful world is
suddenly shattered by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Uprooted from her home and shipped with
thousands of West Coast Japanese Americans to a desert concentration camp called Topaz, Yuki
and her family face new hardships daily. (amazon.com)
BACK
Poetry:
Cassedy, S. & Suetake, K. (1992). Red dragonfly on my shoulder. Illustrated by M. Bang. NewYork:
Harpercollins. (K-5)
Thirteen haiku about animals translated from the Japanese and illustrated with collages and
assemblages. (card catalog)
Demi. (1994). In the eyes of the cat: Japanese poetry for all seasons. New York: Henry Holt. (2-5)
A collection of Japanese nature poems organized according to the seasons, illustrated with
paintings corresponding to the themes of the poems. (card catalog)
Livingston, M. C. (1997). Cricket never does: A collection of Haiku and Tanka. Illustrated by K.
DeKiefte. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. (5-6)
Divided into four sections, one for each season of the year, an anthology of sixty-seven haiku and
tanka, Japanese forms of verse, explores the poet‘s thoughts and feelings about the world and its
wonders. (amazon.com)
Mado, M. (1998). The magic pocket: Selected poems. Translated by the Empress Michiko of Japan.
Illustrated by M. Anno. New York: Margaret McElderry. (K-3)
The Magic Pocket, Mado‟s second collection of poetry (The Animals, 1992) reflects with quiet
intimacy children‟s relationship with the natural world, with lithe phrasing that is exquisitely pared
down and precise. Minimal language conjures striking images, “Umbrella, umbrella, The
world's/Biggest flower.'” Anno‟s neutral-toned illustrations match the diminutive scale of the
poems; hailstones with little faces, smiling fingernails in a row, happy acorns, and bounding
rabbits decorate the pages. Both Japanese and English versions of the poems appear. (Kirkus
Reviews, 1998)
Melmed, L. K. (1995). The first song ever sung. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Puffin. (K-3))
Animal and human friends provide lyrical answers to a young boy‘s musical query. (card catalog)
Nishimoto, K., editor. (1999). Haiku picturebook for children. Illustrated by K. Shimizu. Heian
International Publishing Company. (K-3)
Word-pictures are complemented by charming illustrations in this unique introduction to haiku.
The haiku poems from some of Japan’s most famous masters are arranged in a seasonal pattern,
starting with spring and ending with winter. (Asia for Kids 2000 – 2001 Educational Catalog, p. 26)
Shannon, G. (1996). Spring: A haiku story. Illustrated by M. Zeldis. New York: Greenwillow. (K-3)
A collection of poems cleverly arranged to give the young reader the feeling, through the immediate
haiku moments, of one walking through a rejuvenating spring day, is enhanced by vivid and lively
folkart paintings. (amazon.com)
Spivak, D. (1997). Grass sandals: The travels of Basho. Illustrated by Demi. New York: Atheneum
Books for young Readers. (3-5)
An evocative portrait of the great Japanese haiku poet describes Basho‘s many experiences as he
traveled throughout his beloved native Japan, in a volume that also includes haiku written by
Basho and Japanese characters that represent words from the verses. (card catalog)
BACK
Fantasy:
Bang, M. G. (1987). The paper crane. New York: William Morrow. (3-5))
A mysterious man enters a restaurant and pays for his dinner with a paper crane that magically
comes alive and dances. (card catalog)
Myers, T. (2000). Basho and the fox. Illustrated by O. S. Han. New York: Marshall Cavendish. (K3)
In this fictional tale about the seventeenth-century Japanese poet, Basho naively believes a fox
who informs him that foxes are better poets than humans. Myers’s gently humorous story uses
familiar folktale and fable elements to good effect, while Han’s watercolor paintings contain
scenes reminiscent of the simple, spare appearance of haiku. (Horn Book, 2001)
Say, A. (1993). A river dream. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
While sick in bed, a young boy opens a box from his uncle and embarks on a fantastical fishing
trip. (card catalog)
Say, A. (1998). Stranger in the mirror. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. (3-5)
Waking up one morning to discover that he has rapidly aged overnight and become very old,
eight-year-old Martin visits doctor after doctor, who say there is nothing wrong with him, and
suffers changed relationships with his friends and family. (amazon.com)
Wells, R. (1998). Yoko. Los Angeles, CA: Hyperion Press. (K-3)
When Yoko brings sushi to school for lunch, her classmates make fun of what she eats--until one
of them tries it for himself. (amazon.com)
Wells, R. (2008). Yoko writes her name. Hyperion. (K-1)
Yoko is so excited for the first day of school. She’s just learned to write her name. But when Mrs.
Jenkins asks Yoko to show everyone, Olive and Sylvia make fun of her Japanese writing. "Yoko
can't write. She's only scribbling!” The teasing continues as Yoko shares her favorite book at
show and tell, and reads it back to front. That evening, Yoko declares that she can’t go back to
school. "How can I when my reading and writing are a failure?” she asks. Luckily a little wisdom
from her Mama, a little cooperation from Mrs. Jenkins, and a lot of enthusiasm from her
classmates teach Yoko the most important lesson of the year: that friendship can bridge cultural
differences. Not only does Yoko learn to read and write in English and graduate Kindergarten
with her classmates, but everyone’s name appears in two languages on their diploma--even
Olive’s and Sylvia’s! (amazon.com)
KOREAN AMERICANS
Realistic Fiction:
Balgassi, H. (1997). Tae’s sonata. New York: Clarion. (4-6)
A novel about a Korean eighth grader, a recent immigrant to the United States, coming to terms
with her background. “Tae is a Korean-American eighth grader. It‟s bad enough that her social
studies teacher assigns her South Korea for her class project, but he also pairs her with popular
Josh Morgan which garners her the spite of a popular clique of girls. . . . The characters are
familiar and believable and aspects of Korean life are well incorporated into the story. . . . Well
written and appealing.” (amazon.com; School Library Journal)
Bercaw, E. C. (2000). Halmoni’s day. Illustrated by R. Hunt. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)
Jennifer’s grandmother, Halmoni, is visiting all the way from Korea--and she’s arrived just in time for
Grandparents’ Day at school. Halmoni doesn’t speak English, and Jennifer isn’t sure what the day will be
like...for herself or Halmoni. But as this moving story shows, there are many ways to express love--ways
that bridge differences in generations and cultures. (amazon.com)
Bunting, E. (2001). Jin Woo. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Clarion. (K-3)
David likes his family the way it has always been, just him and Mom and Dad. He never wanted
to be a big brother. And he certainly didn‟t want Jin Woo, the little baby from Korea, to join the
family. Now Jin Woo is getting all the attention, and David feels as if no one cares about him
anymore. But then a surprising letter helps him to understand that being a brother can mean
being surrounded with more love than ever. Eve Bunting and Chris Soentpiet bring the same deep
emotion that distinguished their previous collaboration, So Far from the Sea, to this moving story
of an adoptive family that has love to spare. (amazon.com)
Choi, S. N. (1993). Halmoni and the picnic. Illustrated by K. M. Dugan. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
One of the few picture books reflecting a Korean-American experience, the lovely story describes the
difficulties Yunmi’s newly arrived grandmother faces while adjusting to life in New York City. In an effort
to cheer Halmoni, Yunmi invites her grandmother to chaperone at the annual class picnic in Central Park.
With gentle, glowing detail, the art and text weave a touching tale. (Horn Book, 1994)
Choi, S. N. (1997). Yunmi and Halmoni’s trip. Illustrated by K. M. Dugan. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K3)
Yunmi and her grandmother, Halmoni, are going to Korea, where Halmoni lived before she moved to New
York City. While Yunmi enjoys seeing Korea and meeting her relatives, she feels like an outsider and longs
to have Halmoni to herself again. She also fears that Halmoni will not return home to New York with her.
Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip vividly and gracefully crosses cultural and generational boundaries.
(amazon.com)
Choi, Y. (2001). The name jar. New York: Knopf. (K-3)
Unhei has just come with her family from Korea and is starting school. Her name is pronounced
Yoon-hye, which means grace, but she feels awkward about it after some teasing on the school
bus. She decides to choose an American name, and her classmates oblige her by filling a glass jar
with their suggestions. Her mother reminds her that she and her grandmother went to a name
master for Unhei‟s name, and Unhei practices stamping her name with the beautiful name stamp
her grandmother gave her. Finally, Unhei decides to keep her own name, and one of her
classmates even has a stamp made for himself with the Korean characters for friend. The
paintings are mostly in gold and earth tones, and the figures have both stature and simplicity--as
does the story. (Booklist)
Girard, L. W. (1992). We adopted you, Benjamin Koo. Illustrated by L. Shute. Morton Grove, IL: Albert
Whitman. (2-5)
Nine-year-old Benjamin Koo Andrews, adopted from Korea as an infant, describes what it’s like to grow
up adopted from another country. (amazon.com)
Heo, Y. (1995). Father’s rubber shoes. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)
Yungsu is homesick for his native Korea, so his father tells a story from his own childhood to explain why
they have come to America. The next day, proud of his father and his heritage, Yungsu shares some
Korean food with a classmate, opening the door for a friendship between them. Heo’s innovative
compositions reflect Yungsu’s blossoming feelings of security in his place in his family and, finally, in the
world. (Horn Book, 1996)
Heo, Y. (2009). Ten days and nine nights: An adoption story. Schwartz & Wade/Random. (K-2)
“I mark a circle on the calendar. I have ten days and nine nights.” The opening of this adoption story
shows a young Asian girl marking May 10 on a calendar. As she waits for her mom to return, she counts
down each day by doing something that’s a clue: cutting a red paper heart, helping Grandpa redecorate
her room, watching her dad buying new furniture, practicing holding a baby, and washing her old teddy
bear. Then Grandma makes a little pink dress and Daddy closes his dry-cleaning store. Interspersed with
the girl’s actions are wordless scenes of Mom signing papers and flying home with the new baby sister.
Heo’s stylized artwork fills the pages with family warmth in this welcome and endearing addition to
adoption books. The calendar device is exactly childlike, as is the girl’s first-person voice. An author’s note
refers to personal acquaintances who have adopted Korean babies. (Booklist)
Himelblau, L. (2005). The trouble begins. Delacorte. (4-6)
Du Nguyen is finally home. Except he’s never even met his family. And home is an ocean away from
everything he’s ever known. Du’s mother, father, brother, and two sisters immigrated to California when
he was just a baby. Du and his grandmother had to stay behind in the Philippines.
But now, 10 years later, Du has finally joined his family. And the trouble begins.
What’s so great about this place, anyway? Du wonders. Kids at school call him Doo-doo, and it’s hard to
muster a good comeback when he can’t think of the right words in English.
Only his grandmother understands who Du really is. “You are a dragon,” she says. But for Du to feel like a
dragon, he must untangle the trouble he finds himself in and call upon the strength he knows he’s always
carried inside. (amazon.com)
Kraus, J. H. (1993). Tall boy’s journey. Illustrated by K. Ritz. Minneapolis, MN: First Avenue Editions. (4-6)
After his beloved grandmother dies, an orphaned Korean boy, Kim Moo Yong, is adopted by an American
couple. When he arrives in the United States, full of fear, anger, and confusion, an understanding Korean-
American man helps him adjust and bridges the gap between Kim Moo Yong and his adoptive parents.
Kraus compellingly depicts Kim Moo Yong’s inner journey and his new family’s love and patience. (Horn
Book, 1993)
Lee, M. G. (1999). F is for fabuloso. New York: Camelot. (5-6)
Jin-Ha fails her math test, but her Korean immigrant parents believe her when she says an F is a good
mark. Guilty and desperate to make up her grade, she gets tutoring from Grant Hartwig, a hockey player
with family expectations to live up to as well. Cross-cultural confusions are delicately portrayed, the
pressures Jin-Ha faces are realistic, and the tentative junior-high attraction is sweet. (Horn Book, 1999)
Lee, M. G. (1995). If it hadn’t been for Yoon Jun. New York: Avon. (5-6)
Alice Larsen is a popular seventh grader who considers herself one hundred percent American, and she is
not happy when her father wants her to befriend the geeky new kid to learn more about her Korean
heritage. (amazon.com)
Paek, M. & Paek, R. (1988). Aekyung’s dream. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (1-4)
A young Korean immigrant learns to adjust to her new life in America by heeding the words of an ancient
Korean king. (Borders.com)
Pak, S. (2001). Dear Juno. Illustrated by S. K. Hartung. New York: Puffin. (K-3)
Although Juno, a Korean-American boy, cannot read the letter he receives from his grandmother in Seoul,
he understands what it means from the photograph and dried flower enclosed and decides to send a
similar letter back to her. (Borders.com)
Park, L. S. (2005). Project Mulberry. Clarion. (4-7)
When Julia Song moves with her family to Plainfield, IL, where they are the only Korean family in town,
she becomes good friends with her neighbor Patrick. They have joined the Wiggle (Work-Grow-Give-Live)
Club, and they need a project for the state fair. Animal husbandry is their category of choice, but what
can they raise in their suburban neighborhood? When Julia’s mother suggests silkworms, Patrick is
enthusiastic, but Julia is not. Raising silkworms is so Korean, and she wants a real American project. Still,
she agrees to the idea. When she realizes that to get the silk, the worms must die, her anguish clearly
indicates how much her attitude has changed. At the end of almost every chapter, Park and her young
protagonist discuss the story inside the story: where the author’s ideas came from, how the characters
take on a life of their own, how questions raised in the book continue to percolate inside some readers’
minds when it is finished. This lively interaction provides an interesting parallel to the silkworm project as
it moves from idea to reality. Julia, a feisty seventh grader, concludes that it is important to know what
you don’t know, an insight that she has as she grapples with her mother’s attitude toward blacks. Park
appropriately leaves Julia wondering what’s behind her mother’s prejudices in certain situations. As the
novel progresses, Patrick and Julia negotiate the ups and downs of their friendship, and Julia begins to
show a gradual change in attitude toward her younger brother. This skillfully written tale will have wide
appeal. (School Library Journal)
Pellegrini, N. (1991). Families are different. New York: Holiday House. (K-3)
In her first children‘s book, Pellegrini takes on the voice of her younger adopted daughter, Nico,
who explains that she and her sister come from Korea; they don‘t look like their parents- -―I
grew in someone else‘s belly, but my mom and dad are the ones who promised to love and take
care of me forever.‖ Comparing her family to others she knows, Nico discovers nine other
patterns--varied in size, color, composition, and family resemblances--all ―glued together
with...love.‖ Like real people, the ones in Pellegrini‘s serviceable illustrations are a little homely,
but they effectively communicate their mutual affection. Warm, attractive, and useful. (Kirkus
Reviews, 1991)
Recorvits, H. (2003). My name is Yoon. Illustrated by G. Swiatkowska. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
(K-2)
Yoon‘s name means Shining Wisdom, and when she writes it in Korean, it looks happy, like
dancing figures. But her father tells her that she must learn to write it in English. In English, all
the lines and circles stand alone, which is just how Yoon feels in the United States. Yoon isn‘t
sure that she wants to be YOON. At her new school, she tries out different names – maybe CAT or
BIRD. Maybe CUPCAKE!
Helen Recorvits‘s spare and inspiring story about a little girl finding her place in a new country
is given luminous pictures filled with surprising vistas and dreamscapes by Gabi Swiatkowska.
(amazon.com)
Recorvits, H. (2008). Yoon and the jade bracelet. Illustrated by G. Swiatkowska. Farrar. (K-2)
It is Yoon‘s birthday and all she wants is a jump rope so she can play with the other girls in the
school yard. Instead, Yoon‘s mother gives her a Korean storybook about a silly girl who is
tricked by a tiger. Yoon also receives a jade bracelet that once belonged to her grandmother. The
next day at school, a girl offers to teach Yoon how to jump rope, but for a price: she wants to
borrow the jade bracelet. When Yoon tries to get her bracelet back, the girl swears it belongs to
her. Yoon must use the lessons learned in her storybook and her ―Shining Wisdom‖ to retrieve
the precious keepsake.
In this third book featuring Yoon, lush impressionistic dreamscapes evoke a simple and timeless
message: it is possible to trick a tiger. (amazon.com)
Recorvits, H. (2006). Yoon and the Christmas mitten. Illustrated by G. Swiatkowska. Farrar.
(K-2)
The endearing heroine of My Name Is Yoon (Farrar, 2003) is learning about Santa Claus and
the North Pole at school. She is captivated, but her parents insist that …we are not a Christmas
family. We are a Korean family. However, after Yoon points out that they are both American and
Korean, her parents figure out a way to meld a Christmas tradition with their own New Year‘s
celebration. Yoon‘s round and expressive face is depicted as captivated, joyous, and implacable
by turns, and her holiday imaginings are rendered as sprightly, juggling Korean-looking elves
and a surreal but childlike North Pole. Her parents are rather suddenly and easily convinced to
let the tradition of Santa into their home, but children and parents alike will be charmed by
Yoon‘s yearning and determination to experience a bit of Christmas magic. (School Library
Journal)
Soyung, P. (2003). Sumi‘s first day of school. Illustrated by J. U. Kim. Viking. (K-1)
Sumi, a Korean American child, is lonely and afraid when she starts school, but with the help of a
kind teacher and a friendly classmate, she comes to realize that school may be "not-so-lonely,
not-so-scary, not-so-mean.‖ Simple words and clear, brightly colored expressive pictures stay
true to the small child‘s perspective, showing close up her confusion and hurt. When Sumi first
enters the classroom, she‘s shown outside the group; but when she gets to know a girl in the
schoolyard, their arms are parallel as they draw pictures in the dirt. As in Recorvits‘ My Name Is
Yoon [BKL Mr 15 03], the honesty will touch kids. Pak acknowledges the meanness (one boy
"stuck out his tongue . . . squished his eyes‖), and even non-immigrant newcomers to school will
recognize the feeling of dislocation and the language and gestures that seem to make no sense.
(Booklist)
Wong, J. S. (2000). The trip back home. Illustrated by B. Jia. New York: Harcourt. (K-3)
Simple and poetic, this unadorned story of a young girl‟s trip to Korea to visit her relatives has
an appealing circular structure in which gifts and hugs are exchanged at the beginning and end
of the visit. The rural household is very traditional, with no hint of contemporary life. Based on
Wong‟s own experience, the themes of family love and nonverbal communication are lovingly
portrayed in the text and the quiet watercolors. (Horn Book, 2001)
BACK
Nonfiction:
Anderson, D. (2007). Korean Americans. Rourke, (4-6)
No synopsis available.
Haskins, J. (1990). Count your way through Korea. Illustrated by D. Hockerman. Minneapolis, MN:
Carolrhoda Books. (1-3)
The book contains a brief introduction to the land, peoples, and traditions of the country. Words for
numbers one to ten are introduced in the native language. Each number and select words in each entry
have pronunciation guides. The device is successful, playful, but somewhat contrived. The brief
introduction puts the country and its language into a useful perspective. (Horn Book, 1990)
Kim, R. & Turk, R. (1998). I am Korean American (Our American Family Series). New York: Powerkids Press.
(1-4)
A Korean-American child talks about aspects of her Korean heritage, including clothing, foods, and
customs. (Borders.com)
McMahon, P. (1998). Chi-Hoon: A Korean girl. Photographs by M. F. O’Brien. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills
Press. (1-4)
A typical week in the life of a high-spirited eight-year-old in Seoul, emphasizing her wish to be properly
dutiful and respectful (paramount cultural values in Korea) in order to win a prize at school, with excerpts
from her diary (the days in Korean characters) and a wealth of information about names, foods, schools,
and the city of Seoul. McMahon is candid about the tension between traditional attitudes toward females
and the more equitable practices favored by younger Koreans. (Kirkus Reviews, 1993)
Nahm, A. C. (1992). I love Korea. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International Corporation. (3-5)
A highlight of Korean lifestyles, history, folktales, poems and songs with stories and songs that reflect the
wit and humor of a people who have overcome difficulties in their history. Bilingual English and Korean.
The best book for learning about Korea. (Asia for Kids 2000 – 2001 Educational Catalog, p. 31)
Patterson, W. & Kim, H. (1993). The Koreans in America. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. (4-6)
Surveys the immigration of Koreans to America from 1903 to the present time and identifies the
contributions of individual Koreans to American life and culture. (Borders.com)
BACK
Traditional:
Choi, Y. (1997). The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy. New York: Knopf. (1-3)
This Korean folktale, a variant of the Red Riding Hood tale, tells how a hungry tiger swallows a
woman whole, then tricks her children into letting him into their house. Quick-witted, they keep
the tiger at bay for a time, but their eventual escape—they‟re turned into the sun and the moon-is determined by the helping hand of their mother. The rich colors and provocative angles of the
illustrations enhance the simple text. (Horn Book, 1998)
Climo, S. (1996). The Korean Cinderella. Illustrated by R. Heller. New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)
Children will delight in comparing this version of the familiar story with the one they already
know. A frog, sparrows, and an ox help Pear Blossom find happiness in a manner different from
that of the traditional fairy godmother, but the end result is the same. Ancient Korean patterns
are carefully woven into the illustrations. (Horn Book, 1993)
Han, S. C. (1999). The rabbit’s tail: A story from Korea. Illustrated by R. Wehrman. New York: Henry Holt.
(K-3)
Everyone knows that rabbits have short, fluffy tails. But this wasn‘t always the case. In this
captivating version of a Korean folktale, a tiger tells a rabbit the story of how he narrowly
escaped being eaten by an evil creature. Amazed that anything could scare a tiger, the curious
rabbit dashes off to see the creature. The tiger warns him not to go, but the rabbit doesn‘t listen
and gets himself in a spot of trouble that changes all rabbits forever. Illustrated with dramatic
detail and vibrant hues, The Rabbit‘s Tail will transport young readers to a time deep in Korea‘s
folktale tradition. (amazon.com)
Heo, Y. (1996). The green frogs: A Korean folktale. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)
Misbehaving at every opportunity, two young frogs hop about recklessly, get dirty in the mud, and croak
loudly, until their naughty habits land them in an unfortunate predicament, in a retelling of a Korean
folktale. (amazon.com)
Kim, D. (1998). Long, long time ago: Korean folk tales. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International Corporation.
(K-3)
20 of the most wonderful stories from Korea are whimsically illustrated in soft warm water
colors. Learn about the rabbit who outwits a tiger, the lazy man who wished he was an ox, and
many more. (Asia for Kids 2000 – 2001 Educational Catalog, p. 29)
San Souci, D. (1999). In the moonlight mist: A Korean tale. Illustrated by E. K. Neilan. Honesdale, PA:
Boyds Mills Press. (K-3)
When a poor woodcutter saves an enchanted deer, he is granted his wish for a wife and children. The
deer teaches him how to capture a heavenly maiden who bathes in a moonlit lake, but he loses her a
year later when she flies off to heaven, their baby in her arms. In a happily-ever-after ending, he is
reunited with his family in the heavenly kingdom. The acrylic paintings extend the well-told text and add
cultural details. (Horn Book, 1999)
BACK
Biography
Stewart, M. (2000). Se Ri Pak: The drive to win. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press. (4-6)
In 1998, Se Ri Pak won the U.S. Women’s Open, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)
Championship, and was named LPGA Rookie of the Year. She shot the lowest score ever for an LPGA
tournament, and her 10-under-par 61 at the Jamie Farr Classic went into the record books as the best
round of golf in LPGA history. Declared “a national treasure”, this phenomenal athlete from the Republic
of South Korea was only twenty years old. In her quest to be the best, Se Ri endured loneliness, isolation,
and a training program that was at times unorthodox and harsh. However, her greatest challenges may
lie beyond the links as she struggles to become an independent woman while finding a way to “...honor
her father, serve the game, and blend two very different cultures together....” (Borders.com)
Yoo, P. (2005). Sixteen years in sixteen seconds: The Sammy Lee story. Illustrated by D. Lee. Lee & Low.
(2-4)
This inspirational biography recognizes the life of the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal,
at the 1948 Games in London. Even though he grew up in California when "people of color” were only
allowed to use the public swimming pools one day a week, Lee was never discouraged from his dream. In
college, he made an agreement with his father that he would keep good enough grades to enter medical
school, but continue to enter diving competitions. Yoo brings the biography to a dramatic conclusion with
the 16 seconds of a three-and-a-half somersault dive. Lee’s painterly illustrations give texture and depth
to the full-page spreads. More than a story about discrimination and unfair treatment, this story shows
one young man’s determination and resolve toward accomplishing a goal in life. (School Library Journal)
BACK
Historical Fiction
Balgassi, H. (2000). Peacebound trains. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (3-5)
Sumi‟s grandmother tells the story of her family‟s escape from Seoul during the Korean War,
while they watch the trains which will eventually bring her mother back from army service. (card
catalog)
Park, L. S. (2003). A single shard. New York: Yearling. (4-6)
Tree-ear is an orphan boy in a 12th-century Korean potters‟ village. For a long time he is content
living with Crane-man under a bridge barely surviving on scraps of food. All that changes when
he sees master potter Min making his beautiful pottery. Tree-ear sneaks back to Min‟s workplace
and dreams of creating his own pots someday. When he accidentally breaks a pot, he must work
for the master to pay for the damage. Though the work is long and hard, Tree-ear is eager to
learn. Then he is sent to the King‟s Court to show the master‟s pottery. Little does Tree-ear know
that this difficult and dangerous journey will change his life forever. (amazon.com)
Park, L. S. (2001). Seesaw girl. Illustrated by J. & M. Tseng. New York: Young Yearling. (4-6)
Jade never ventures beyond the walls of her family‟s Inner Court; in seventeenth-century Korea, a
girl of good family does not leave home until she marries. She is enthralled by her older brother‟s
stories about trips to the market and to the ancestral grave sites in the mountains, about reading
and painting, about his conversations with their father about business and politics and adventures
only boys can have. Jade accepts her destiny, and yet she is endlessly curious about what lies
beyond the walls. A lively story with a vividly realized historical setting, "Seesaw Girl” recounts
Jade Blossom‟s daring attempts to enlarge her world. (amazon.com)
BACK
Poetry
Wong, J. S. (1996). A suitcase of seaweed and other poems. New York: Margaret McElderry. (4-6)
In this collection’s three sections -- Korean Poems, Chinese Poems, and American Poems-- quiet lyric
poems acknowledge proudly, subtly, and with occasional touches of irony and humor the distinct strands
within the weave of cultures of which Wong is a part. A few of the poems rhyme, but the best of them
are written in free verse that is wistful, revealing, and direct. (Horn Book, 1996)
Wong, J. S. (1994). Good Luck Gold and other poems. New York: Scott Foresman. (4-6)
The collection of poems, most written from the point of view of a young Asian-American girl, capture
loving and poignant recollections of family members and tell of moments where American, Chinese, and
Korean cultures meet or clash. (Horn Book, 1995)
Wong, J. S. (2000). This next New Year. Illustrated by Y. Choi. New York: Farrar/Frances Foster. (K-3)
A young boy prepares for Chinese New Year with rituals and wide hopes, in this illustrated, free
verse poem. The narrator, who is half Korean, describes how he and his friends, like so many
people in a multicultural society, celebrate the holiday with a modern blend of adopted and
inherited traditions: the boy‟s mother makes traditional Korean new year soup; Evelyn, part
Hopi and Mexican, loves the money-stuffed red envelopes from her Singaporean neighbor; and
Glenn, part French and German, “calls it Chinese New Year, too, even though he celebrates it
at his house by eating Thai food to go.” At home, the boy cleans the house, “so it can soak up
good luck like an empty sponge,” grooms himself, and pledges to be brave and positive—“none
of that can't do, don't have, why me.” Choi‟s smooth, brightly colored paintings--filled with
firecrackers, dragons, and other cultural symbols--ably illustrate the optimistic activity and the
yearning in the accessible, rhythmic text. Children of diverse backgrounds will connect with the
boy‟s earnest desire to help change the family‟s luck and realize his own potential. (Booklist)