Stories that center around a specific ethnicity or cultural and its traditions, in a way in which kids can learn about it and enjoy the story
The Composition
By: Antonio Skarmeta
Picture Book
Summary: One day, Pedro, Daniel, and the neighborhood kids were playing soccer. Suddenly, they all stopped to see Daniel’s father, Don Daniel, taken out of his grocery store by military men. This was because Don Daniel was against the dictatorship. Pedro, only nine years old, did not understand. The next day in school, Captain Romo came in with their teacher and ordered the students to write a paper on what they do with their families. Whoever wrote the best essay would win a prize from General Perdomo. This was the military’s way of figuring out which families were against the dictatorship.
Interest Level: 2nd – 5th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.8 (3rd Grade 8 Months)
By: Antonio Skarmeta
Picture Book
Summary: One day, Pedro, Daniel, and the neighborhood kids were playing soccer. Suddenly, they all stopped to see Daniel’s father, Don Daniel, taken out of his grocery store by military men. This was because Don Daniel was against the dictatorship. Pedro, only nine years old, did not understand. The next day in school, Captain Romo came in with their teacher and ordered the students to write a paper on what they do with their families. Whoever wrote the best essay would win a prize from General Perdomo. This was the military’s way of figuring out which families were against the dictatorship.
Interest Level: 2nd – 5th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.8 (3rd Grade 8 Months)
Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher
By: Becky Ray McCain
Picture Book
Summary: A young girl is on her way to her grandmother’s house with her mama and daddy where she will stay for a week while. Once they finally arrive, the little girl falls asleep on the couch and has a nightmare. Mama wakes her up and comforts her. The next morning her grandmother shows her a dream catcher. Grandmother explains how the dream catcher will send all of her dreams to the Great Spirit and only the good dreams will be sent back to her. That night the girl goes to sleep and doesn’t have any bad dreams!
Interest Level: 5 – 8 Years Old
Grade Level/Reading Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
By: Becky Ray McCain
Picture Book
Summary: A young girl is on her way to her grandmother’s house with her mama and daddy where she will stay for a week while. Once they finally arrive, the little girl falls asleep on the couch and has a nightmare. Mama wakes her up and comforts her. The next morning her grandmother shows her a dream catcher. Grandmother explains how the dream catcher will send all of her dreams to the Great Spirit and only the good dreams will be sent back to her. That night the girl goes to sleep and doesn’t have any bad dreams!
Interest Level: 5 – 8 Years Old
Grade Level/Reading Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
I Hate English!
By: Ellen Levine
Picture Book
Summary: Mei Mei and her family move to New York City all they way from Hong Kong. This forces Mei Mei to adjust to American cultural starting with speaking English. She does not want to speak English because she loves Chinese and everything about it. One day she meets Amy at the tutoring center after school. Amy shows her around the city one day while telling Mei Mei everything about herself. She goes on and on until Mei Mei interrupts because she wants to tell Amy all about herself! That is when Mei Mei sees that she can speak English and still remember and speak Chinese when she chooses to.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 2.7 (2nd Grade 7 Months)
By: Ellen Levine
Picture Book
Summary: Mei Mei and her family move to New York City all they way from Hong Kong. This forces Mei Mei to adjust to American cultural starting with speaking English. She does not want to speak English because she loves Chinese and everything about it. One day she meets Amy at the tutoring center after school. Amy shows her around the city one day while telling Mei Mei everything about herself. She goes on and on until Mei Mei interrupts because she wants to tell Amy all about herself! That is when Mei Mei sees that she can speak English and still remember and speak Chinese when she chooses to.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 2.7 (2nd Grade 7 Months)
Tea with Milk
By: Allen Say
Picture Book
Summary: Masako was born and raised in San Francisco, California. Her friends and teachers there called her May, but her parents, who were Japanese called May her real name, Masako. After graduating high school, May’s parents decided to move back to Japan where May had to re-do high school, was not allowed to speak English, sit on the floor for long hours, and marry someone she was matched up with. She hated it! Therefore, she packed her belongings and went to Osaka where she got a job as an elevator greeter in a department store. She was able to prove herself when she was able to speak English to an English family. Soon she met a coworker, Joseph who also knew English and they created a life together. This story is told by May and Joseph’s first child.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.7 (3rd Grade 7 Months)
By: Allen Say
Picture Book
Summary: Masako was born and raised in San Francisco, California. Her friends and teachers there called her May, but her parents, who were Japanese called May her real name, Masako. After graduating high school, May’s parents decided to move back to Japan where May had to re-do high school, was not allowed to speak English, sit on the floor for long hours, and marry someone she was matched up with. She hated it! Therefore, she packed her belongings and went to Osaka where she got a job as an elevator greeter in a department store. She was able to prove herself when she was able to speak English to an English family. Soon she met a coworker, Joseph who also knew English and they created a life together. This story is told by May and Joseph’s first child.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.7 (3rd Grade 7 Months)