Monday, 20 March 2006 - 1:37 PM MST

Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell.
Story of a girl during the Long Walk.

Sunday, 9 April 2006 - 9:26 PM MDT

The Way to Make Perfect Mountains: Native American Legends of Sacred Mountains as told by Byrd Baylor

Lots of stories from Native American tribes in the Southwest about mountains and how people, gods, and the environment are reflected in mountains. Mountains that provide all good things and mountains that protect you from your enemies; mountains that mark the place of the birth of a nation, or the birth of a person; mountains that change and grow to help their local tribes. These stories are told- as remembered- from tribal persons and each story identifies its tribe. The author is not a member of any of the tribes represented by the stories.

Baylor, Byrd. (1997) The Way to Make Perfect Mountains: Native American Legends of Sacred Mountains as told by Byrd Baylor. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press.


Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

This is an adapted story of a true account of a little girl from Japan who contracts leukemia as a result of radiation fall-out from the 1945 atomic bomb blast in Hiroshima. She struggles against the sickness by a powerful spirit and her effort to make 1000 origami paper cranes. Her story and struggle is honored in Japan today at Hiroshima’s Peace Park. The book includes directions for folding the same kind of paper crane that Sadako folded.

Coerr, Eleanor. (1977) Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. New York: Scholastic Inc.


Race to the Moonrise

This story, written as historical fiction, about two children and their uncle up travel from their home in Mexico (Casa Grande- Mogollon Tribe) to many different tribal groups in the Southwest, ending their journey at Chimney Rock near present day Pagosa Springs, Colorado. They are making this journey to collect offerings from the tribes- to be made at the great standing still moon rise. What makes this book especially valuable is that it was written by an archeologist, incorporating what we currently know about these cultures- in this story.

Crum, Sally (1999) Race to the Moonrise. Ouray: Western Reflections Inc.


Whoever You Are

This is a young readers story (1st -2nd grade) about the things that make use different, and the things that make us all the same- across the world. One review describes it as “An essential book that acknowledges in the simplest of terms our common humanity” (Kirkus Reviews). A great first read for a young class going into a unit or multi-cultural topic.

Fox, Mem. (1997) Whoever You Are. New York: Scholastic Inc.


The Unbreakable Code

A Navajo family is getting ready to move off the reservation- but the young son doesn’t want to go. His grandfather, a Navajo Code-talker, tells him the story of how he learned to be strong while he was gone from the reservation, through the power of Navajo Language. The young boy learns confidence and pride in himself and his culture from his grandfather’s story. (Written by a non-Navajo woman- who researched and interviewed Code-talkers on the Navajo reservation).

Hunter, Sara Hoagland. (1996) The Unbreakable Code. Flagstaff: Rising Moon Press.


If You Lived with the Hopi

A question and answer book, about what life was like living with the Hopi Indians long ago. The text describes what home and community life was like, the food you would eat, the games and work you would do, the Hopi religion and beliefs, the way you learned things, and other important aspects of Hopi Life. The book ends with a brief look at the modern-day Hope Indians and some of the aspects of their life that is the same, and different from the past.

Kamma, Anne. (1999) If You Lived with the Hopi. New York: Scholastic Inc.


The Three Little Javelinas

This is a modern-day retelling of the Three Little Pigs story- set in the American Southwest. The pigs of the story are javelinas- or peccaries- and the big, bad wolf is a willie coyote. The javelinas make homes of tumbleweed, saguaros ribs, and adobe bricks. Along the way, the javelinas meet a Native American and a Spanish-speaking person. The story ends with a reminder of the ways of the desert, and a common evening coyote pastime.

Lowell, Susan. (1992) The Three Little Javelinas. Flagstaff: Rising Moon Press.


Number the Stars

Set in Denmark in 1943, this historical fiction tells the story of two young families during the Nazi occupation of World War II. The story is told from the perspective of a 10 year old girl named Annemarie (not Jewish) and her best friend, Ellen, who is Jewish. The day comes when the Nazi’s begin to ‘relocate’ all the Danish Jews, and Annemarie’s family helps to hide and then smuggle Ellen and her family out of the country and into allied-controlled Sweden. The author choose to write the story after studying about the Danish resistance, and in particular, the story of a young man active in the Danish resistance, is later discovered by the Nazis and executed.

Lowry, Lois. (1989) Number the Stars. New York: Yearling (Bantam Doubleday Dell Books).


The Moccasin Game: A Navajo Legend.

An early story in Navajo History, this is the story of the lessons learned by the animals when the first moccasin game was played. A giant plays against them and instructs them in how to play. Some of the lessons learned include:
- If you look into the face, you can easily tell who is telling the truth or lying;
- If we take care of our health, we can live a very long time;
- Some people are able to switch between good and evil, and can be both without bothering their conscience.
- Dishonesty is just not part of the Holy People’s Plan

In addition, the illustrations are really fantastic- and the book is written in English in one direction, and then you can turn the book over and read the book in Navajo.

Mose, Don Jr. and Hurst, Kathryn; illustrations by Whitethorne, Baje (2004) The Moccasin Game: A Navajo Legend. Blanding: San Juan School District Media Center.

Monday, 10 April 2006 - 10:36 AM MDT

1. The Hard Times Jar by Ethel Footman Smothers ill by John Holyfield.
This book is about having a desire to have something but acquiring it the "right way". Emma wants store bought books so bad but her family can't afford them. She borrows some from the school library which doesn't allow students to take books home. In the end she does the right thing and is able to have some books of her own.

2. Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
This is a story about a doll that runs away with a slave family. she is left behind at one of the stops along the underground railroad. It is told from the doll's perspective. This is a good way to show the anxiety and fear of trying to get to freedom without making the people appear weak. Very touching. I cried.

3. Night by Elie Wiesel
This book is about a 15 year old boy in a Nazi concentration camp. it tells his story of survival and the percecution of others that he witnessed. It is a true story and it is very touching.

4. Chanda's Secrets by Allan Stratton
This book is about a 16 year old girl living in Africa amongst the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Chanda's community keeps the AIDS virus a secret and shuns anyone suspected of having it. When someone in her family contracts it she has to find the courage to go against her community and love and take care of that family member.

5. Marigolds for Dona Remedios by Adriana Montemayor Ivy and ill by Jim Hays.
THis is a story about a young boy and his grandmother who is a healer in thier village. Tomas' best friend Luisa becomes sick but won't let Dona help because she holds her responsible for her husbands death. This book is about the Mayan people. It has 12 Spanish words in the book. The book was OK but not the greatest.

6. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor.
This is a book about the Logan family and the ways they confront the racism and percecution by thier white neighbors. The Logans are boycotting a store in the neighborhood because of the corruption that occurs there. This book is set in the 1930's and is told from the point of view of a child.

7. Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples
This book is about a young girl in Pakistan who is asked to sacrifice a lot in order to save her family. The story is very good. I asked Uma Krishnaswami about the authenticity of the cultural aspects of this book and she told me that they are fairly accurate.

8. The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake
THis is my favorite book. It is about a young girl in an inner city middle school where she is teased relentlessly because of everything from her dark skin to her homemade cloths. She ends up getting into some trouble because she has gotten into the wrong crowd. She ends up learning to love herself regardless of what others may see. A very good book.

9. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
This is a book about a young girl who runs away and is lost in the Arctic Wilderness. She befriends a pack of wolves and learns to survive the way her ancestors did. upon finding her family she is torn because of the techonology and modern advancements that she sees as ruining her native way of life.

10. Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami
This is a story about a young girl who has to spend her summer in India while her mom tries to sell her grandfather's old house. While she is there she learns things about her family that make it easier to accept her paretns divorce. She faces some of the issues about her culture. In America she is considered Indian but in India she is considered American. Maya is able to find comfort and acceptance of her family curculstances and her identity.

11. Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark.
This is a story about a boy who lives in the Andes MOuntains who has never been out of them nor has he ever seen humans other than Cuzi, his gaurdian. Cuzi finially decides that it is time for Churro to leave the mountain and find whatever it is her wants. while away Churro discoveres that what he really wants is to be in the mountains where he feels at home. because he returned he is entrusted with a secret of his ancsestors.

I have tons more if anyone needs a list of multicultural books.

Monday, 10 April 2006 - 4:11 PM MDT

5 Picture Books

*Grandpa Is Everything Black Bad? by Sandy Lynne Holman
- Montsho learns from his grandpy that the color Black is not always associated with bad things. The color black is seen as his heritage

*Abuelito Eats with His Fingers by Janice Levy
-Cristina is left with her abuelito (grandpa) for the first time. In their day together Cristina learns more about her grandpa than she ever thought possible.

*The Sea Maidens of Japan by Lili Bell
- Kiyomi is the youngest of her siblings practicing to become an ama (sea madien of Japan) like her mother. With the help of a star turtle she conquers her fears of the deep ocean.

*The Thunder God's Son by Ariane Dewey
- At thirteen Acuri was sent from his world by his father Paricaca the Thunder God, to teach a greed man's family about the humbleness of life.

*Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner by Amy Schwartz
- Annabelle starts kindergarten with advice from her sister Lucy which turns out to be inaccurate but as the day ends one great thing she learned from her sister makes her stand out.

4 Chapter Books

*The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Preferably for an Older Audience (High School)
- A young girl is victim to her fathers desires, has it in her mind to desire blue eyes. She finally gets her blue eye's in the end but is it or is it not for the reason she thinks?

*The Giver by Lois Lowery
- A boy starts to question his tolitarian surroundings and starts to learn the difference choices make.

*The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Preferably for Older Audience (High School)
- A young girl stricken with tradgedy has been taken away from her family. She watches her family from a far and notices that being away from her family she finally relizes who she is while at the same time her family learns to live without her.

*The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton
- A young boy moves into a new house over the summer because his father accepted a teaching position at the universtiy. The new house hold old mysteries which the boy encounters through the summer.

Wednesday, 12 April 2006 - 9:16 AM MDT

Chapter Books:

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
A journey of discovery takes three young British children far away from home to a land called Narnia. Magic rules all in this land and it is no surprise that the children encounter adventure, danger, and mystery.

Ann of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
A lonely Canadian orphan finds a home with a couple of kindly elderly people. Her imagination never ceases to get her into trouble time after time, but the depths of her imagination are full of passion, romance, and danger.

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
A British family is ship wrecked on a deserted island. They encounter wild animal and violent storms, but the experience brings them closer together than ever.

Picture Books:

Oh, the THINKS You Can Think! By Dr. Seuss
This is a book about not limiting your imagination, because you never know what you can come up with if you don’t try. Imagination is a powerful muscle that should be exercised as often as possible.

How Glooskap Found Summer by Maria Voris
This is a story about a Native American chief that goes in search of a solution to the endless winter. In this story he discovers his own weaknesses and finds the maiden of summer.

!El Cucuy! by Joe Hayes
This is a story about two little Spanish girls who never take anything seriously, well one day their dad calls El Cucuy (aka The Bogey Man) on them and he swoops down from the Mountains and carries them away to his cave.

Tortillas and Lullabies (Tortillas y Cancioncitas) by Lynn Reiser
This is a story about a Spanish family that has a tradition of making tortillas. The great-grandmother made them for the grandmother. The grandmother made them for the mother, and the mother made them for her daughter.

Ma’ii and Cousin Horned Toad by Shonto Begay
This is a Native American story about hungry coyote and its very cunning prey a horned toad lizard. The lizard is sly of speech and talks the coyote into a lot of trouble.

Monday, 1 May 2006 - 2:40 PM MDT

Picture Books

Turquoise Boy by Terri Cohlene
A young navajo boy sets out on a quest to make the lives of his people the Dine a little easier.
Young Amelia Earhart by Sarah Alcott
A childrens readable Biography about Amelia Earhart and her life and love for Airplanes
Squanto's Journey; The Story of the First Thanksgiving
The journey of Squanto to England and how it helps the first Pilgrims survive their first winter in Plymouth.
Bidii by Marjorie W. Thomas
A young Navajo boy and his mischevious nature gets him into trouble while herding sheep to get dipped. This is a Bilingual book written in Navajo and English.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
The story of Joseph and how his overcoat becomes a jacket, vest, scarf, tie,handkerchief and a button. Set with a jewish background and great illustrations.

Chapter Books

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
An English boy get a magic key and cupboard for his birthday and turns a plastic Indian into a real one. An adventure any child will like.
The Girl who Chased Away Sorrow, The Diary of Sarah Nita a Navajo Girl by Ann Turner
A story set during the Long Walk to Fort Sumner. Sara Nita was and orator who chased peoples sorrow away with her stories on their journey
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
A man becomes obsessed with creating life and ends up paying dearly for it when he does not take responsiblity for his creation and ignores Frankenstein.
George Washington : The Man Who Would Not Be King by Stephen Krensky. The Biography of George Washington and how his journey to becoming our first President of the United STates.

Tuesday, 9 May 2006 - 10:30 PM MDT

Chapter Book #1-The Watson's go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
The story of a black family from the South who move away and raise their family. They have difficulties with their oldest and take him back to the South to live with his grandmother. When they are there, a church bombing occurs. A great book! I love the chapter titles they make you wonder what will happen in the chapter.

Tuesday, 9 May 2006 - 10:33 PM MDT

Chapter Book #2-Petey by Ben Mikaelsen
The story of a man who grows up institutionalized for cp. Later he lives in a group home and meets a friend. They form a long friendship and it is devastating when Petey dies. A good book, but very sad.

Tuesday, 9 May 2006 - 10:35 PM MDT

Chapter Book #3-River Boy by Tim Bowler
The story of a girl and her grandpa. It turns out that he is the river boy.

Tuesday, 9 May 2006 - 10:40 PM MDT

I'll get the name and author in the morning the kids are asleep in their rooms where the book is

A book about controlled population laws. A family can only have two kids because of government control. If there is a third child they are hidden. He can't go outside, but eventually he sneaks away and finds a friend.

Tuesday, 9 May 2006 - 11:11 PM MDT

Watch out Big Bros's coming! by Jez Alborough
All the animals think a great big animal is coming, but it turns out to be a tiny mouse, but a big brother so they always seem larger than life.

Babboon by Kate Banks
A mother babboon shows her baby the world.

The Ant and the Elephant by Bill Peet
An elephant rescues many animals but when he needs help no one is there for him. Finally an army of 95,000 ants helps him.

How Leo Learned to be King by Marcus Pfister
The story of the king of the jungle, a lion who needs help learning to be nice and become a leader.

Where the Wild THings Are
A boy goes on an adventure from his room.

Wednesday, 10 May 2006 - 7:53 AM MDT

Among the Hidden by Magaret Peterson Haddix, the name of the book and the author

Wednesday, 10 May 2006 - 1:37 PM MDT

Among the Hidden by Magaret Peterson Haddix

Wednesday, 10 May 2006 - 4:07 PM MDT

Barbara Helen Berger
A lot of otters
New York: Philomel Books, C1997

Chinese Culture

This story is about a child that wonders by himself while reading a book, he runs into a lot of otters that take the book from the water and play. Mother moon finds the little boy her son. It is a dreamlike journey that the little boy takes. His mother comforts him. I liked how in the middle of the book there is a page with no words it lets the reader imagine what it would be like with the otters.

The illustrations are wonderful. They make you feel like you are in the book.

I could read this book and talk about imaginations and how it can be fun.



Ellen Levine
I Hate English
New York: Scholastic Inc. c1989

This book is about a young girl named Mei Mei, who moves to New York from Hong Kong with her family. She finds school very difficult because she thinks it is impossible to learn the ridiculous sounds of English.

I think that this is a wonderful multicultural book and would fit nicely in a unit about different cultures. I believe it could give students insight on how hard it is to function in a world that is foreign to you.


Cynthia DeFelice
Shelley Jackson
Willy’s Silly Grandma
Orchard Books, 1997

This book is about a little boy in the south who thinks his grandmother is crazy with all her superstition. He doesn’t believe anything she says. He soon finds out that she is not silly and she actually knows a lot about things.

I could hear the little boys voice in this story. The pictures were wonderful in setting you in the story and the words were great. I liked how the author let the little boy learn through his own experiences.

Since this is a African American Family it might be good for something do with different cultures.
Eric Carle
Mister Seahorse
New York: Philomel books c 2004

Mrs. Seahorse lays her eggs in Mr. Seahorse’s pouch. Mr. Seahorse goes through the sea visiting other ocean daddy’s and sees how they take care of their babies.

The pictures are beautiful in that they are very colorful. The colors are soft and soothing. Transparencies are used throughout, so that you have to flip them to find out what is behind the objects on the transparencies. This book can be used in a unit about the ocean and ocean life. We can compare and contrast the different creatures that live their and how the behave.




Louis Sachar
Sideway Stories from Wayside School
Morrow Junior Books, 1978

This is not your ordinary school! This book is about a strange school that is thirty stories high. All the characters in the book are unique in some way and are faced with weird situations everyday.

The author is very descriptive in describing the characters and every chapter is devoted to a character and what makes them unique and different from “real” ordinary kids. In order to enjoy this book, you have to have a sense of humor.

Miriam Schlein
The Year of The Panda
Harper Trophy, 1990

This is a story about young Chinese boy who finds an orphaned baby panda half dead in the mountains. He nurses the baby back to life and is faced with his conflicts concerning his family traditions and what he wants out of life.

This book explains what life is like for a young boy in China whose family life is the family farm. I liked how the book kept the Chinese culture and used Chinese words. This makes the story more believable.



Rosemary Wells
YOKO
Hyperion Books for Children, 1998

Yoko’s mother packs Yoko sushi for lunch and the other children laugh at her and tease her because of the sushi. Yoko feels awkward in the story until her teacher intervenes and has all students bring food in the following day for International Food Day to share with the class (all food must be from a foreign country). The kids find out that they shouldn’t make judgments until they try it first.

I think that this would be a good book to use in the classroom to discuss different cultures and food from different parts of the world (traditions of cultures).



Ann Cameron
Illustrated by Ann Strugnell
The Stories that Julian Tells
Pantheon, 1981

African American Family

This story is about a seven year old boy’s life as an older brother and the stories he tells and what happens after he exaggerates the truth in some cases. He gets into trouble throughout the book with his little brother Huey. Some of the things he experiences in this book are planting a garden, trying to loose a tooth and grow taller. He also experiences making a new friend.

I think that students could relate to these stories. This book has very descriptive words and is humorous in areas, which most children love.



Gerald McDermott
Jabuti, the tortoise: a trickster tale from the Amazon
Harcourt, 2001

This is a trickster tale from the Amazon. All the animals of the rainforest love the music Jabuti plays with his flute, all except vulture. Vulture is jealous of Jubuti because he can’t sing. Vulture tricks Jabuti into riding on his back and something awful happens as a result.

This would be great for a unit on trickster tales from around the world. The pictures in this book are full of vibrant colors. I fall in love with the illustrations.


Barbara Knutson
Love And Roast Chicken a trickster tale from the Andes mountains
Carolrhoda books, c2004

There are Spanish words throughout the story. It is about a guinea pig that always outsmarts a fox. He also tricks a farmer. I could use this in a unit about trickster tales across the world. Illustrations are great they help the story be told.

Can be used in Units:
Trickster tales
Farming
Niches
Andes Mountains


Ann Grifalconi
The Village of Round and Square Houses
Little, Brown, 1986

African Culture

A grandmother explains to the village children why the men live in square houses and the women live in round houses.

This is a good book about a different culture (African culture). The pictures show exactly what happens when they get together and show how they all live peacefully in the same village. The mentality of the people comes through in the illustrations. The part where they people of the village are hugging the earth beneath them and asking why they are being punished is a very strong illustration. I could feel their fear through both the text and the illustrations.

Bill Martin
Knots on a Counting Rope
H. holt, 1987

Indians of North America

A grandfather and his blind grandson reminisce about the young boy’s birth and his first horse. They also talk about his exciting horse race.

The little boy in the story is blind and independent. The grandfather and he share a special bond. It gives the reader insight to the native American way of life and what they hold dear to them “stories”.

This is a wonderful book about self perseverance and inner strength.


Uma Krishnaswami
Chachaji’s Cup
Children’s Book Press, 2003

East Indian Americans
Interest Level: k-3 Reading Level: 4.0

A young boy learns about his family history and the Partition of India through stories that are told to him from his great uncle. This story is told through his love for the teacup that has been passed down.

All the pictures are painted and are beautiful, they are all slightly different and makes them unique.
This story teaches about sentimental values of objects and can open up take about the children’s own family heirlooms and how special they are and what they mean to the family. We could also talk about an object that they would use to represent their family.


Patricia Polacco
Babushka’s Doll
Aladdin Paperbacks, 1995, c1990

Interest Level: k-3 Reading Level: 2.3
Russian Culture

A little girl gets to play with her grandmother’s doll. The doll comes to life and is naughtier than she is. She learns how awful it is for others when you are a brat.

I got a feel for what the Russian culture is like through the illustrations. The clothing was a little different and the way the grandmother talked to the little girl and the words she used gave an insight to the culture.
*I could do this in a unit for cultures around the world or as a book to help with behaviors/manners.


Gail E. Haley
A Story, a Story: an African tale
New York: Atheneum, 1970

Explains why most African folktales are called “spider stories.” Anansi is set out on a mission for three impossible tasks in order to receive the stories to share with the people of the earth.

This is a more traditional telling of how the stories were taken from the sky god. The man is called spider man because he is able to spin webs. The pictures are abstract and are brightly colored. This story is told from a narrator. The noises that are made in this book are hard to say in English because they are African sounds.