Glen Hams

ED 260
Multicultural Picture Books
African-American Picture Books
Book: No Mirrors in My Nanas House
Author: Ysaye M. Barnwell
Illustrator: Synthia Saint James
Colorfully illustrated childrens book about
a little girl at her Nanas house where there
are no mirrors. The little girl doesnt know
what she looks like. She focuses on the
beautiful and interesting qualities of her
Nana and wonder is she has those features
as well.

Book: Nappy Hair

Author: Carolivia Herron
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Beautifully illustrated and interestingly
worded story. It is about a grandfather
explaining how great and unique his
granddaughters nappy hair is. It is a
celebration for her African heritage.
Somewhat controversial, I dont know if
Id read it to a class (especially with the
odd phrasings, I would know how it should
sound).

Asian-American Picture Books

Book: Chinatown
Author: William Low
Illustrator: ?
Story about a little boy going on a walk
with his grandma and seeing everything is
Chinatown (the market, herb shop, and
parade). It was an okay, but not great
book.

Book: Dear Juno

Author: Soyung Pak
Illustrator: Susan Kathleen Hartung
This is about a Korean boy in America
who gets a letter from his grandma from
back in South Korea. He cant read the
letter because it is written in Korean, but
by looking at the photo and pressed
flower that came with the letter he can get
an understanding of what grandma must
have written about. He takes the letter to
his mom and dad and tells them the news
about how grandma got a new dog and is
planting a flower garden. The mom takes
and reads the letter and is surprised
because he was right. The boy (Juno)
decides to write a letter back to his
grandma by drawing pictures and
including a leaf. He gets a letter back with
just photos and items.
I really liked how communication gets
thorough in the end with families living in
other cultures. Nice illustrations too.

Hispanic-American Picture Books

Book: Super Oscar
Author: Oscar De La Hoya & Mark
Shulman
Illustrator: Lisa Kopelke
Story about a boy named Oscar who
daydreams all day long. He daydreams on
the bus, in class, at home, everywhere he
goes! The neighborhood is has a big picnic
every Saturday in the park and Oscars
mom sends lists to other families for what
food to bring. Oscar is suppose to deliver
the lists, but forgets because he is
daydreaming. His mom is upset and is
going to cancel the picnic when Super
Oscar! saves the day.
Very humorous (especially the squirrel
characters in the background)
Book: Jalapeno Bagels
Author: Natasha Wing
Illustrator: Robert Casilla
Story about a young Hispanic-Jewish boy
named Pablo. He has to bring some food to
school to share for International Day. He
goes to work with his parents at their
bakery to decide what to bring. Pablo helps
his Hispanic mother make sweets and then
helps his Jewish father make bagels and
breads. Pablo then decides to bring
Jalapeno Bagels because it is a mix
between his mothers and fathers cultures
just like him.
Great story with a mixed culture family.
There are Spanish and Yiddish words
throughout the story and a glossary in the
back. There are also recipes in the back so

you can make your very own jalapeno

bagels.

Native American Picture Books

Book: The First Strawberries
Author: Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator: Anna Vojtoh
This is a story about a Native American
couple who are happy, but one day the
husband gets angry at his wife and she
gets mad and leaves. The man feels bad
and regrets what he said and goes after
his wife, be she is very fast. The sun in
the sky decides to help the man get his
wife back by growing berries if front of
her to try and get her to stop.
Raspberries dont work, and neither do
blueberries or black berries. Finally the
sun grows strawberries and the woman
stops to pick some. The sweetness of
the strawberries remind her of her
happiness with her husband. By this
time the husband has caught up to his
wife and he apologizes. They eat
strawberries and live happily ever after.
They are reminded to always be kind
to each other; to remember that
friendship and respect are as sweet as
the taste of ripe, red berries.
Wonderful illustrations, simple story,
good lesson in getting along and
apologizing.

Book: Knots on a Counting Rope

Author: John Archambault
Illustrator: Ted Rand
Navaho boy is told the story of his
birth by his grandfather while sitting
around a campfire. The boy was sick
when he was born and they were
worried be would die. Two blue horses
gave the baby the strength to live. So
the boy was then named Boy-Strength
of Blue Horses. The boy will need this
strength because he is blind.