Books on diversity

I chose two books to read that address diversity and that I feel should be in every library media center. The book in chose that would appeal more to younger readers is called Shades of Black by Sandra L. Pinkney.


This book is written for young children and celebrates the different characteristics of African Americans. The book focuses on unique features such as the different shades of skin, the various colors of eyes, and several different textures of hair. I think the writer and photographer did a great job of celebrating the culture and it would be great for African American children to read in order to remind them that they are special and they come from a culture worth celebrating.

The book I chose to read for older children is Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle.



This book explores the controversial issue of homosexuality and tells the story of two girls who are exploring their own personal sexuality. I think this needs to be in every library media center because it sheds light on something that young people are almost never comfortable talking about, even if they have no issues with their sexuality at all. Also, it represents a population of young people who are struggling to find someone to confide in. Maybe after reading this book they will build the confidence to at least have a conversation with an adult about questions they might have or how to face the reality of who they are.

Dragon's Gate by Lawrence Yep

I was so glad that I chose this book to read because it is one I think I can get boys interested in. It is always tough to get boys to read things in class, much less read things in class and enjoy them. However, this book has two things going for it when it comes to appealing to boys: the main character is a boy and is going on an adventure and it is historical fiction which is always good. The boys always seem to want to learn about things that really happened.
While I did not really have any way to connect to this book personally, Yep does a great job of describing the hardships that the Chinese faced during the Civil War while trying to build the transcontinental railroad. To my dismay, I discovered that the Chinese were basically treated as slaves and forced to work in horrible conditions and overcome seemingly impossible odds.
I also enjoyed watching the relationship between Otter and his adoptive father, Uncle Foxfire. I think their relationship exemplifies what a lot of young people experience today and that is learning to depend on adults in their lives who are not necessarily their biological parents.
Overall, I would say this is a good read. It is not overwhelmingly suspenseful or action-packed, but it does contain valuable lessons on trust and determination.

Other books by Lawrence Yep include:
The Serpent's Children
Mountain Light
Dragon's gate
The Traitor
Dragonwings
The Red Warrior
Child of the Owl
Sea Glass
Thief of Hearts

To Be A Slave by Julius Lester

Wow! What an awesome read! I have never been so ashamed of our country's past as I was after I finished reading this book. The fact that this young man was able to so articulately describe his family's past and the pains, trials, and tribulations that they had to overcome is absolutely breathtaking at times. This quote from the books pretty much sums up the idea that slavery is something we all need to be made aware of so that we never come anywhere close to repeating it:
"When I think of slavery it makes me mad. I do not believe in giving you my story, 'cause with all the promises that have been made, the Negro is still in a bad way in the United States, no matter in what part he lives. It's all the same. Now you may be all right; there're a few white men who are, but the pressure is such from your white friends that you will be compelled to talk against us and give us the cold shoulder when you are around them, even if your heart is right towards us."
The thought that people still feel this way literally makes my stomach hurt. I guess I need to realize that these tragedies in history have an effect that will probably never completely go away.

Other books by Julius Lester include:
The Folksinger's Guide to the 12-String Guitar as Played by Leadbelly, co-author with Pete Seeger, 1965 
Look Out, Whitey! Black Power's Gon' Get Your Mama, 1968 
Search for the New Land, 1969 
Revolutionary Notes, 1969
Black Folktales, 1969 (Grove Press)

International Literature

A Journey around Australia by Alison Lester is worth reading just to look at the illustrations. I have seen pictures of Australia and have viewed the scenery on television, but these illustrations seem to add a bit more color and life to the great Down Under.
This is a story of a family and its travels around Australia and it is an easy read for most children I would say over the age of 6 or 7. Again, the exposure to this culture is great for the little ones because they are able to create a schema about the world outside of the United States and how other people live differently than we do.

International Literature

 

I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi gives a detailed account from a child's perspective about what it is like to live in downtown Tokyo. I particularly liked this book because it reminded me of one of my childhood best friends who was originally from Japan. She moved here because her dad's job was transferred to Kentucky. I imagined that this must have been how her life was.
The book is great because it describes different festivals that come through the streets throughout the year and it gives a detailed description of all of the different festival activities and what they represent to the Japanese culture.
This is a great way to expose American children to a world that most of them will probably never see in person.

International Literature

The Butter Man by Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou. This book is a wonderful read and really sheds light on the privileges that American children sometimes take for granted. The main character is going through a tough time with his family because there is little food in the house. His mother suggests that he go out and wait on the butter man in hopes that he will give the boy some butter to spread on his bread which is what he gets to eat for one day.
The boy becomes distracted by all of the people passing by and is able to temporarily forget about the hunger pain in his belly. His grandpa also passes the time until his father gets back with more food by telling his stories about his childhood in Morocco.
This is an endearing story and is a great read!

Awards for children's books published in other countries

Two awards that are given each year to an author from another country are the Pura Belpre Award and the Batchelder Award . According to the ALSC, "The award is named after Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. It is presented annuarly to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth."













The Batchelder Award is given to an American publisher who publishes a book that was originally published in a language other than English. The book also has to be originally published in a country other than the United States and translated into English and published in the United States.