Childrens Multicultural

Book Collection
Misti Neely
07/09/2014

Pink and Say

by
Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Philomel (September 15, 1994)
Genre: Historic Non-Fiction
Unit Theme: Civil war & Friendships & 48th United
States Colored Infantry Regiment
Summary: Say a 15 year old Yankee soldier lay there
bleeding to death when a colored Union soldier pulls
him to safety, ultimately saving his life.
Activity: 1) Before reading the book have the
students watch the book trailer on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaVO6zJseG0
2)Have students watch the YouTube video The Civil
War in Four Minutes: Black Soldiers, and write down
10 interesting facts to discuss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOyO75HJygI

Grades 1-5

What makes this book Multicultural? This book

shows that peer pressure doesnt matter along with
skin color. These two boys were suppose to be
enemies but they ended up risking their lives to
protect each other.

Thank You Mr.

Falker
By
Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Philomel (April 12, 2012)
Genre: Non-Fiction
Unit Theme: Disabilities, deciphering the code
Summary: Trisha finds that school wasnt what she
expected. When she cant figure out how to read
the other students laugh at her and call her
names. It isnt until a teacher finally helps her
discover how to decipher the code to reading that
she first learns how to read.
Activity: Have students create a key and write a
short story using symbols from their key. Have
students exchange stories and decipher them.

Grades K-5

What makes this book Multicultural? This book

shows the struggles someone with dyslexia has to
go through, creating empathy for people with
disabilities.

A Nations Hope: The

story of boxing legend
Joe Lewis
By
Matt de la Pena
Publisher: Dial (January 20, 2011)
Genre: Historic Non-Fiction
Unit Theme: A nation united and allegory
Summary: This is the story of a boxer that
brings the country together on the eve of WWII.
Blacks and whites came together to cheer for
Joe Louis, as his fight came to represent the
battle between America and Germany.
Activity: Write the definition for allegory on
the board and have students come up with
their own examples!

Grades 1-5

What makes this book Multicultural? This

is a story where the slave gets to beat the
master. While an entire nation of black and
white Americans unite to cheer the slave on.
This story represents African American culture
along with American culture.

Number the Stars

By
Lois Lowery
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers;
Reissue (May 2, 2011)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Unit Theme: Equality, Fairness, Justice,
Jewish Experience, World War II, Holocaust
Summary: This is the story of a young girl
living in fear of who she is. If the Nazis
discover Ellens true identity she will be in
grave danger along with the people who
help her survive.
Activity: Watch the movie Number The
Stars, along with movie worksheets.

Grades 3-5

What makes this book Multicultural?:

This book shows us the culture of multiple
peoples during the Holocaust. This book
builds empathy for the Jewish and other
persecuted people during the Holocaust.

Witches The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster

in Salem
By
Rosalyn Schanzer

Publisher: National Geographic (September 2011)

Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Unit Theme: Colonial and Revolutionary America,
Prejudice and Tolerance Experiences or Peer Pressure
Summary: A little lie can go a long way. In January 1692,
two girls mysteriously start acting crazy, they end up
blaming their odd behavior on witch craft. This starts a
mass witch hunt that ends with 20 lives lost and hundreds
ruined.
Activity: Have students watch this 6 min video:
http://youtu.be/fB1OWwFTZ8U?t=48s
Classroom discussion. Ask the students if anyone has ever
wrongfully accused them of something or have they been
the accuser. How did it make you feel? What caused the
Salem witch trials? Could they have been avoided?

Grades 3-5

What makes this book Multicultural? This book shows

us the culture of a puritan colony in 1692 and how easy a
prejudice or bias can escalate into something
uncontrollable very quickly. The towns people believed the
word of two young girls over those who were accused. This
shows that once an idea is put into your head it can quickly
spread with a little peer pressure.

Independent Dames
By
Laurie Hales Anderson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
(6/3/2008)
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Unit Theme: Women in the American Revolution.
Summary: You already know about the men in the
American Revolution but what where the girls doing?
Some were dressing as men and fighting right alongside
the soldiers. Some took care of the wounded. Some made
clothes for the soldiers and some road on horseback 40
miles to warn that the British were coming!
Activity: Have students write a short story about what
they would do if they were in the American Revolution!
Would the girls dress as men and fight or perhaps be a
nurse? Would boys want to perhaps be a doctor, a
general or a soldier?
What makes this book Multicultural?: This book is
shows a glimpse into the culture of the men and women
during the American Revolution. It shows girls that they
can do remarkable things if they just set their hearts on
it. It shows boys that girls can do the same things they
can, and can even be heroes themselves. Creating
empathy for women and girls.