Multicultural Book File #1 (Older Reader)

Author: Ruby Bridges

Title: Through My Eyes
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Synopsis: This book is the incredible autobiography of the life of Ruby Bridges and being one of
the first black children to be integrated into a white school in New Orleans in 1960.
Evaluation: This book can be labeled an autobiography, a picture book, an informational book
and a multicultural book. Although the story is written in her words, Ruby includes so many
other perspectives on this historical event with her use of all of the quotes and pictures which add
depth to this book. I not only found myself totally engrossed in this book, I became more
knowledgeable about integration in the 1960’s after reading it.
Style and Language: 10
Comment: This book added awareness to a historical event while leaving out didacticism.
Ruby’s personal voice shined throughout this story.
Compelling details: 10
Comment: This story with all of Ruby Bridge’s anecdotes helped me as the reader, to have a real
understanding about what she might be feeling in her situation.
Fascinating comparisons: 9
Unusual subjects or viewpoints: 10
Comment: All of the viewpoints she used with her quotes added credibility to her autobiography.
Personalized content: 10
Accuracy: 10
Attractive design: 10
Photo or artwork captions: 10
Comment: The realistic photographs made her story really come life and brought me back to the
1960’s and integration in the schools in the south.
Is it a well-rounded piece? : 10
Comment: Yes, it told the whole story and not just Ruby’s.
Rating (1-10): 10
Comment: I loved this story about the life of Ruby Bridges and feel that every child read this.
 Multicultural Fiction Book File # 2 (Older Reader)
Author: Alma Flor Ada
Title: My Name is Maria Isabel
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Summary: Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez is coping with being the new girl in an all English taught
school. The most difficult transition for Maria is when her teacher decides to call her a different
name (Mary Lopez), instead of her given name and Maria is left feeling she has lost the most
important part of herself. Can she make her teacher understand just how important being called
by her real name is to her?
Evaluation: As a teacher, this story made me sad to think that certain children get put in a box to
make the teacher more comfortable and not the students. It was a great reminder of how
important it is to treat all children with respect for their heritage, and that we all our unique
which is what makes us special.
Plot: 1-10 = 9
Major Dramatic Question: 1-10= 9
Comment: I felt happiness and pride for Maria when she finally shared her real feelings with her
teacher in order to be called the name she loved so much, her name.
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.) 1-10= 9
Comment: This book had a definite conflict between student and teacher. As a teacher myself, I
clearly heard the lesson being taught in the story by placing myself in Maria’s shoes.
Style and Language: 1-10= 8
Pacing: 1-10= 8
Character: 1-10= 9
Comment: I had an appreciation for Maria’s character and that she stood up for what she
believed in.
Setting: 1-10= 8
Theme: 1-10= 9
Comment: Although I mentioned that there was a lesson to be learned as a teacher in this story, I
don’t believe that this book had overt didacticism.
Other Considerations (mood, tone etc.) 1-10= 9
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1-10= 9
Comment: This was a quick read that left me with a greater understanding of the Spanish culture.
Overall Rating: 1-10 = 9
 Multicultural Book File # 3 (Ages 0-7)
Author: Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
Title: I Love My Hair!
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Summary: Keyana gets her hair combed every night before she goes to bed by her mama. No
matter how gentle her mama is in combing her hair, it stills hurts Keyana and she doesn’t feel
very lucky to have her hair. Her mama shows her just how lucky she is to have hair that she can
spin into fine yarn, or plant rows of braids, and soon Keyana starts to take pride in her hair.
Evaluation: This book is a day in the life of a young African American girl, and how important
her hair is to her heritage. The illustrations allow the reader to fully understand the process it
takes to create the hair styles that this culture is responsible for.
Plot: 1-10= 8
Major Dramatic Question: 1-10= 8
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.) 1-10= 8
Comment: I enjoyed how Keyana’s mother helped her to feel proud of her culture through her
hair.
Style and Language: 1-10= 8
Comment: The wordage used stayed true to this culture while making it an appropriate book for
a young child.
Pacing: 1-10= 8
Character: 1-10= 9
Comment: The author made the characters and the way they might be feeling very real.
Setting: 1-10= 8
Theme: 1-10= 8
Comment: The theme was a young girl adjusting to and being proud of her hair.
Other Considerations (mood, tone etc.) 1-10= 7
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1-10= 8
Overall Rating: 1-10 = 8
Comment: This book celebrated the uniqueness of the hair of the African American culture.
 Multicultural Fiction Book File # 4 (Older Reader)
Author: Tomie dePaola
Title: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Publisher: Putnam and Grosset
Summary: This story is about the legend of how the Indian Paintbrush plant got its name many
years ago through the Plains of Texas and Wyoming.
Evaluation: This was a beautiful story with wonderful illustrations that paints a picture of the
legend of the Indian Paintbrush and how a young Native American boy had a dream to share his
visions with his people. I would highly recommend this sweet story about not giving up on a
dream.
Plot: 1-10= 9
Major Dramatic Question: 1-10= 9
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.) 1-10= 9
Style and Language: 1-10= 9
Comment: The style of text stayed true to the culture and time it was written about.
Pacing: 1-10= 9
Character: 1-10= 9
Comment: I loved how the character had the attitude of never giving up on his dream and vision.
Setting: 1-10= 9
Comment: The illustrations made the setting really come to life.
Theme: 1-10= 9
Comment: The theme of this story was about not giving up on a dream and God given talents.
Other Considerations (mood, tone etc.) 1-10= 9
Comment: At times the tone was sadness for Little Gopher not riding with the others, and yet it
was his curiosity that never allowed him to stray from what he believed he was called to do.
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1-10= 9
Overall Rating: 1-10 = 9
Comment: Although this is a fictional book, I think it portrayed the time in which it was written
about accurately.
 Multicultural Book File # 5 (Ages 0-7)
Author: Michael Tyler
Title: The Skin You Live In
Publisher: Chicago Children’s Museum
Summary: This story delivers an important message about social acceptance for adults and
young children alike. It reminds us of how wonderful and unique the skin we live in really is.
Evaluation: This wonderful picture book with its beautiful illustrations offers a sweet venue for
teachers/parents to engage in discussion about important social concepts with children.
Plot: 1-10= 8
Major Dramatic Question: 1-10= 8
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.) 1-10= 8
Comment: This wasn’t a tension filled story although it delivers a clear message.
Style and Language: 1-10= 9
Comment: The style much like a nursery rhyme makes this book appropriate to hold a young
child’s attention.
Pacing: 1-10= 9
Comment: This story flowed at a constant rate.
Character: 1-10= 10
Comment: The character in this story is everyone! Every culture is represented in this book.
Setting: 1-10= 9
Theme: 1-10= 10
Comment: Acceptance of all others is definitely the theme of this book.
Other Considerations (mood, tone etc.) 1-10= 9
Comment: The importance of social acceptance and kindness is felt throughout this book.
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1-10= 9
Overall Rating: 1-10 = 9
Comment: This is a sweet book to help young children see the likeness and difference of their
peers.
 Multicultural Book File #6 (Older Reader)

Author: Calvin Alexander Ramsey with Gwen Strauss

Title: Ruth and the Green Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Synopsis: This is a historically based story of how African American’s who traveled in the USA
avoided persecution and danger by following the advice of the “Negro Motorist Green Book”,
that had information like restaurants and service stations where African Americans were
welcome. Written in 1936, the green book was sold for 25 cents at Esso stations that was just
about the only gas stations to sell gas to African Americans until 1964. The story is told by
Ruby, a girl that took a trip with her family from Chicago to Alabama to visit her grandma.
Evaluation: This story gave a true depiction of how a young African American girl that traveled
across the country would feel in the 1950’s. It enlightened me to the harsh reality of just how
segregated our country was, and how important it was in our countries history when integration
was introduced.
Style and Language: 9
Comment: The text used to describe the setting gave me a vivid picture of the USA during that
time.
Compelling details: 9
Comment: The danger an African American traveling across the country went through in the
1950’s and the details that this story provided was fascinating.
Fascinating comparisons: 8
Unusual subjects or viewpoints: 9
Comment: Ruth told how she thought her dad was feeling by his reactions which made it more
authentic.
Personalized content: 8
Accuracy: 9
Attractive design: 9
Photo or artwork captions: 10
Comment: The illustrations really showed what the characters were feeling!
Is it a well-rounded piece? : 10
Rating (1-10): 10
 Multicultural Book File # 7 (Ages 0-7)
Author: George David Weiss and Bob Thiefe
Title: What a Wonderful World
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Summary: This beautiful picture book with lyrics written by the authors but made famous by
Louis Armstrong, does a wonderful job of expressing the beauty around the world using children
of many backgrounds.
Evaluation: This is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations that showcases the diversity of
humans and creatures around our world should be read or sung to a child.
Plot: 1-10= 7
Major Dramatic Question: 1-10= 7
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.) 1-10= 8
Comment: This book does not have tension, although it has a great conclusion with its poetic
words.
Style and Language: 1-10= 9
Comment: The style of the text used made this such a poetic read.
Pacing: 1-10= 9
Character: 1-10= 9
Comment: The characters were definitely multicultural, but there wasn’t one main character.
Setting: 1-10= 9
Comment: The setting was as vast as the nature of the world.
Theme: 1-10= 10
Other Considerations (mood, tone etc.) 1-10= 9
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1-10= 9
Overall Rating: 1-10 = 9
Comment: This is one of my favorite songs and this beautifully illustrated book makes the words
more poignant to me.
 Multicultural Book File #8 (Ages 0-7)

Author: Rosmarie Hausherr

Title: Celebrating Families
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Synopsis: Fourteen families with lively children introduce you to their own unique families in
this book. From two parent families and adopted families, to step families and extended families,
these children have a reason to celebrate the people that love and care for them each day.
Evaluation: This book does a marvelous job of celebrating all children with their diverse
families and how they live.
Style and Language: 9
Comment: The author does a great job using language that is compatible with the culture of each
family she writes about.
Compelling details: 9
Fascinating comparisons: 8
Unusual subjects or viewpoints: 9
Comment: The author shows the viewpoint of each family and how they live.
Personalized content: 10
Comment: The details about all of the families written in this book make its content so
personalized.
Accuracy: 10
Attractive design: 8
Photo or artwork captions: 10
Comment: Being able to see a family portrait while reading about each family’s story, made me
feel like I actually knew them.
Is it a well-rounded piece? : 9
Rating (1-10): 9
Comment: This book was about so many cultures and family types, that I feel it is a great read
for anyone.
 Multicultural Book File # 9 (Ages 0-7)
Author: Allen Say
Title: Grandfather’s Journey
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Summary: This is a story about a man’s cross culture experience of being from Japan and
moving to California and back, and having his grandson’s perspective to tell it.
Evaluation: I enjoyed this book and how the simple words and well-illustrated pictures gave
meaning to the struggle a man had to falling in love with two different cultures and his decision
to introduce them to his family, which is in part how they learned to understand him more
deeply.
Plot: 1-10= 9
Comment: From the beginning of the story, I found myself wondering where the grandfather
would end up residing.
Major Dramatic Question: 1-10= 9
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.) 1-10= 9
Comment: The main character’s conflict was how to love and experience two completely
different countries and cultures and feel happy where he was at.
Style and Language: 1-10= 9
Pacing: 1-10= 8
Character: 1-10= 9
Comment: Having the grandson fully experience both cultures his grandfather did helped him
know his grandfather better, which made me as the reader feel more connected to the story.
Setting: 1-10= 9
Comment: This story has a vast setting that spanned from California to Japan.
Theme: 1-10= 9
Other Considerations (mood, tone etc.) 1-10= 9
Comment: There was clearly a somber feeling to the story when it began to talk about the war
between the two countries and how it changed lively in Japan for the grandfather.
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1-10= 9
Overall Rating: 1-10 = 9
Comment: I thought this book would be a great introduction to young children about the
difference of two cultures.
 Multicultural Fiction Book File # 10 (Older Reader)
Author: Nicki Weiss
Title: The World Turns Round and Round
Publisher: Harper Collins
Summary: Children with all different cultural backgrounds describe the gifts they receive from
their relatives from around the world.
Evaluation: From Japan and the kimono to Kenya and the dashiki to the mountains of Colorado
and the cowboy boots, just about every culture and country is represented in this book that shares
a little about the differences of many cultures and reminds us of our similarities at the same time.
Plot: 1-10= 8
Major Dramatic Question: 1-10= 8
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.) 1-10= 8
Style and Language: 1-10= 10
Comment: I liked how the author used words from each country/culture to describe the person
giving the gift and the gift being received.
Pacing: 1-10= 9
Character: 1-10= 9
Comment: There were multiple characters with multiple cultures represented in this book.
Setting: 1-10= 9
Comment: The setting was limitless as it represented the whole world and people in it.
Theme: 1-10= 9
Comment: This book was about the uniqueness of every culture, although I felt the similarity in
each child receiving a gift from a relative.
Other Considerations (mood, tone etc.) 1-10= 9
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1-10= 9
Overall Rating: 1-10 = 9
Comment: I read this to my class and it allowed for many open-ended questions between myself
and my class. We also talked about what we would call the gifts that the children were receiving.
A book that assists in group discussion like this one did, is a great addition to the class book
collection.