Literature is one of the best ways to develop understanding and to connect with kids. This is a short list of titles, along with their themes, that help students' awareness of diversity, to help them find themselves among the pages, and to use to foster rich discussions. Email me with your ideas and I will add them to the list!
Islam
Mosque by David MacAulay
The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World by Bryn Barnard
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan
Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye
Bullying
Wonder by RJ Palacio (bullying, kindness, differences)
Booked by Kwame Alexander
Mosque by David MacAulay
The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World by Bryn Barnard
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan
Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye
Bullying
Wonder by RJ Palacio (bullying, kindness, differences)
Booked by Kwame Alexander
Poverty
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (poverty, fitting in)
Monkey Island by Paula Fox (poverty, homelessness)
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor (homelessness, poverty, morals)
The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson (poverty, homelessness)
Trash by Andy Mulligan (poverty)
A Heart Without a Home by Nicole Anne Carpenter (poverty)
Hispanic
Castle by David MacAulay (non-fiction)
I Lived On Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin
Look Both Ways in the Barrio Blanco by Judith Robbins Rose (growing up)
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez by Robin Yardi (growing up, bullying)
Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes (family, friendship, dealing with the past)
Native American
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Salt by Helen Frost
Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose
Family
Summerlost by Allie Codie (Asian American)
Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai (Vietnam)
The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly (Phillipines)
Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu (Japanese American)
The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Mongolian brothers)
Prejudice/Civil Rights
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles (segregation, racism)
The Watson's Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis (racism, family, bullying)
The Watson's Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis (racism, family, bullying)
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco (prejudice, Civil War)
Sneetches by Dr. Seuss (prejudice, society and class, identity)
The Cay by Theodore Taylor (prejudice, friendship, trust, blindness, WWII)
Stones in Water (WWII, kindness, fear, compassion)
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Walking Home by Eric Walters
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Death and Dying
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles (death)
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (death, acceptance)
Mick Harte was Here by Barbara Park (death)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (death, love)
Pleasing the Ghost by Sharon Creech (humorous-dealing with death)
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (death, friendship)
Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola (death, family)
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Addiction
Wishes and Worries: Coping With a Parent Who Drinks Too Much Alcohol by Center for Addiction and Mental Health
Mental Health
Rules by Cynthia Lord (autism)
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine (aspergers)
Sad Days, Glad Days by DeWitt Hamilton (depression)
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson (being left alone, fear)
Sneetches by Dr. Seuss (prejudice, society and class, identity)
The Cay by Theodore Taylor (prejudice, friendship, trust, blindness, WWII)
Stones in Water (WWII, kindness, fear, compassion)
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Walking Home by Eric Walters
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Death and Dying
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles (death)
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (death, acceptance)
Mick Harte was Here by Barbara Park (death)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (death, love)
Pleasing the Ghost by Sharon Creech (humorous-dealing with death)
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (death, friendship)
Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola (death, family)
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Addiction
Wishes and Worries: Coping With a Parent Who Drinks Too Much Alcohol by Center for Addiction and Mental Health
Mental Health
Rules by Cynthia Lord (autism)
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine (aspergers)
Sad Days, Glad Days by DeWitt Hamilton (depression)
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson (being left alone, fear)
Foster Care
The Pinballs by Betsy Byars (foster care)
Illness
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (thinking positively, illness)
Being Yourself/Fitting In
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (being yourself, friendship)
It Ain't So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas
Survival
Caminar by Skila Brown (Guatemala story in free verse poetry)
Great Literature for Kids
ReplyDeleteI was amazed by the the diversity of topics available.Thank you for including the Native American section. I have been to see "Unto These Hills" twice now. We are in such close proximity to the "Trail of Tears". I have more questions than comments from this section.
Are these books available at most school libraries?
Are all of these available within the Buncombe County library system?
How would a student find out about these books? Teacher, guidance counselor, fellow student?
Are there transgender publications?
The a-ha - I forget that children as well as adults can also be homeless.
Lisa, the diversity of topics amazed me, too!! I know literature has a wide variety of topics, but some of the topics listed surprised me just in the sense that they're for kids. It's funny, though, because I should have seen it coming after studying English literature for so long.
DeleteI have always wanted to see Unto These Hills. Answers to your questions:
ReplyDeleteYes, you should be able to find these books at the school library or the Buncombe County system. Especially if you have a list of what you want or a particular book, visit the library first thing and ask the librarian to help you.
Great question about how a student would find out about them. The hope is that they have a good teacher, or substitute teacher, to point some out or to point them in the right direction.
I'm not sure about the transgender titles, I'm sure they are out there. I will do some research into this because I would love to have some handy.
Great thoughts and questions!
This is Camille - Such a great list! I wanted to add "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye, about Palestine and Israel. It is about a young girl whose family moves from America to Palestine and follows her struggles to fit in and understand the culture.
ReplyDeleteThank you Camille!
ReplyDeleteI recognized a few of these books from my childhood!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie; The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles; Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech; If I Stay by Gayle Forman; Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson; Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli; and Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata. A few of their plots are fuzzy but I remember reading Bridge to Terabithia when the plot came out. I remember learning the world "elusive" from Stargirl, as it was used to describe the eccentricity and inability to describe the main character. I also have a signed copy of Robert Cole's book after he came to read to our school in first grade.
Questions: Is it easier to read a book as a class out loud or as a take home assignment?
How does classroom management and volume control get in the way of read alouds?
This list reminded me that there are a variety of genres to expose children to and a lot encourage important life lessons, not just fantasy. Many of these books were written well enough to return to and learn from as an adult.
Awesome questions! We will address these Saturday too!
ReplyDeleteGreat Literature for Kids
ReplyDeleteI also glad to see many ethnic groups included in the list, especially in the family section.
The varied genres help include many cultures and our differences as a blended country and incorporating many people in our world. With the digital world, our world is becoming smaller and we need to learn to live peacefully together and learn about others.
The section of poverty can help to bring insight to everyone that has been lucky to not experience poverty in their life. This helps build character and develop empathy.
Questions: Do the books listed also have age and/or reading levels that are appropriate? Would it be taboo to read a book of a specific topic/genre if most of the class can relate or should we stay away from that? i.e. specific ethnic children or foster children?
a-ha moment: I am glad to see many nonfiction/ based on true events on this list. I hope children could relate to them more and look forward to reading more.
I like the way these books are separated into specific topics. They all seem useful for children, especially the themes regarding diversity, poverty and fitting in. Sadly, somehow I have heard of almost none of the books on this list.
ReplyDeleteAre there good collections of poems or short stories that could be kept in a sub pack and read as appropriate?
If you assign a book, does the school offer financial assistance to students who cannot afford it?
My aha-moment was seeing that there are books for children who have parents with drug or alcohol addiction. I never read anything like that in school, and I think its a great idea.
Great reference list for books on specific topics. I especially liked "Wonder"(it's a movie now), "How To Steal a Dog", "Sneetches"(can't believe I never heard of this one), and "Stargirl". All four books cover topics that I think are very on target in our society, thus for our kiddos today.
ReplyDelete