Multicultural Fiction

This lists covers a variety of age levels.  Call number are listed first.  Please feel free to ask a librarian to help you find these books.

JB Ada *Under the Royal Palms by Alma Flor Ada.  A collection of stories and reminiscences drawn from Alma Flor Ada’s childhood on the island of Cuba. This is a companion volume to her first book, Where the Flame Trees Bloom. Reading Level: 3rd — 7th grade

J 811.54 Ala  *From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems by Francisco Alarcón

JS 811.54 Ala *Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems by Francisco Alarcón

J 811.54 Ala   *Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems by Francisco Alarcón.  Bilingual collection of seasonal poems by the renown Mexican American poet, Francisco Alarcon, inspired by his memories of his childhood in Mexico.  Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

YAP Ber  Lessons of the Game by Diane Gonzales Bertrand.  The story of student teacher Kaylene Morales, and old friend Alex Garrison, who is the football coach and fellow teacher at Leon Creek High School. As the two become reacquainted, they must find a balance between their working and personal relationships. Reading Level: 7th — 10th grade

J Fic Car  *Storm Warriors by Elisa Carbone.  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. Here he hopes to join the all African American crew at the nearby lifesaving station, despite his father's objections.Reading Level: 3rd — 6th grade 

JE Che *Grandfather Counts by Andrea Cheng. Grandfather is coming from China to live with Helen’s family. Helen is very excited, but also anxious. How will she and her siblings, who only know English, communicate with Grandfather, who speaks only Chinese? This is a story where love helps cross the boundaries of language and culture. Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

JE Cho  *The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi. Having just arrived from Korea with her family, Unhei is anxious about making friends and worried that no one will be able to pronounce her name. She decides to pick a new name. She tries to make this decision with the help of her classmates. What will be her new name and what will become of her old name? Reading Level: Kindergarten — 3rd grade

JE Dav  *The Paper Dragon by Marguerite Davol. Mi Fei is a humble, beloved Chinese scroll painter. One day the dragon, Sui Jen, awakens from a hundred years sleep and begins to destroy everything. Mi Fei must confront the dragon, who assigns Mi Fei three impossible tasks. If he completes the tasks, the dragon will return to sleep. Reading Level: 1st — 4th grade

J 398.209 Dia   *The Hatseller and the Monkeys by Baba Wagué Diakité.  BaMusa, the hatseller, travels from town to town selling the hats that are piled up at the top of his head. One day, while he stops and rests, monkeys steal his hats from his head. How will he get them back?

Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

JE Eng *Nadia’s Hands by Karen English.  Nadia, a Pakistani-American, has been chosen to be the flower girl in Auntie Laila’s traditional Pakistani wedding. Her hands are decorated with beautiful and intricate designs with henna. Nadia worries about what her classmates will say about her hands.  Reading Level: Kindergarten — 3rd grade

J 895.613 Gol *Cool Melons—Turn to Frogs by Matthew Gollub. An introduction to haiku poetry through the work of Issa, an eighteenth century Japanese writer. Issa began writing poetry as a young child. This is a biographical account of Issa’s life and includes 33 of his haiku poems.

Reading Level: Kindergarten — 4th grade

JS 398.2 Gon *The Bossy Gallito bu Lucía M. González. A Cuban folktale, of a bossy little rooster on his way to his uncle Parrot’s wedding. Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

J 811.54 Gri  *Come Sunday by Nikki Grimes. It’s Sunday morning and LaTasha is on her way to church. In fourteen poems, she describes the typical Sunday of worship at the Paradise Baptist Church.

Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

JE Heo  *Father’s Rubber Shoes by Yumi Heo.  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.  Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

JE Heo  *One Afternoon by Yumi Heo.  Minho, a Korean-American boy, enjoys shopping with his mother as they peek into the pet store, go to the supermarket and walk past the construction site. Every place they visit has its own noise.  Reading Level: Preschool — 1st grade

JE Lee   *In the Park by Huy Voun Lee.  Xiao Ming and his mother go to the park, where she teaches him Chinese characters of some of the springtime things they see.  Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

J 895.114 Mu  *The Song of Mu Lan by Jeanne Lee.  A Chinese folk poem of Mu Lan, a young woman who disguises herself as a boy and takes her father’s place in the army. After ten years of service, she is brought to the Emperor and Golden Court and offered whatever she wishes as a reward. She asks only to go home. There she surprises her family and fellow soldiers.  Reading Level: 1st — 5th grade

JE Lee   Nim and the War Effort by Milly Lee.  During World War II, everyone is trying to do his or her patriotic part to help the war effort. Nim’s school has a paper drive and the person who brings in the most newspapers wins the contest. Nim wants to bring in the most newspapers. But where will she find enough? Reading Level: 2nd — 5th grade

JE Les  Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo by Alison Lester.  Ernie says goodbye to his six friends when he leaves for his new home in Arnhem Land, Australia, where he will live for a year while his parents work in a hospital there. Ernie writes to each friend about a different season, explaining what that time of year brings and revealing the exciting things that he and his new friends are doing.

Reading Level: Kindergarten — 2nd grade

JE Lin  Dim Sum For Everyone! By Grace Lin.  A child describes the various little dishes of dim sum that she and her family enjoy on a visit to a restaurant in Chinatown.  Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

JE Loo  Henry’s First-Moon Birthday by Lenore Look.  Jenny’s baby brother, Henry, is having his one month birthday, or his first-moon as it’s called in Chinese. Even though Jenny isn’t sure if he deserves it — all he does is eat, sleep and cry — there’s a big celebration planned. Jenny and her grandmother make all the preparations for his special party. Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade

J Fic Mar Spirits of the High Mesa by Floyd Martinez.  Just after World War II, many technological changes come to Flavio’s small rural town in New Mexico. Flavio, a young Mexican-American, is torn between the appeal of technological progress and his loyalty to the village traditions, which are upheld by his grandfather, El Grande. Will his grandfather be able to compete with all that is new and exciting?  Reading Level: 7th grade & up

J Fic Roc  *Strudel Stories by Joanne Rocklin.  This novel follows a Jewish family through seven generations and more than a hundred years as they brave war, dare the difficulties of immigration, and enjoy the simple pleasures of friendship and sports.  Reading Level: 3rd — 6th grade

Taking Sides by Gary Soto.   It is a stressful time for Lincoln Mendoza when he moves from the barrio to the tree-lined streets of the suburbs. He has left behind his basketball team and is now playing at his new school. When the two schools are scheduled to play against each other, he worries whether he can play his best with his white friends at his new school against his old buddies from his old school. Lincoln learns about loyalty, change and friendship.  Reading Level: 4th — 8th grade

J Fic Tre  *I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño.  Juan is an African slave who assists Spanish painter Velazquez and becomes an accomplished artist in spite of the prohibition against a slave learning to paint.  Reading Level: 3rd — 6th grade