Storynory: Little Red Riding Hood

Hi everyone,

I know I promised to upload a short audio clip of Aladdin's Lamp but it is taking too long. Thus, instead of that story, I found a Youtube video of Little Red Riding Hood done by Storynory.

Hope you like it.

Storynory: Introducing Prince Bertie

Welcome back to Reading Cultures!

Today I searched for podcasts that read aloud children's books. I was so excited to come across the podcast called Storynory. Since November 2005, Storynory has been publishing an audio story every week. Their mascot is a frog named Prince Bertie. The storytellers are amazing - they use different voices for different characters. Even though Storynory covers various children's stories, there are many multicultural stories selections such as the Chinese fairytale The Emperor's Dream. Children will have a fun time listening to the audio stories while learning about different cultures.

You can even enjoy these audio stories on the go by downloading the audio file to your computer from their web site and to your Ipod via Itunes. At Itunes, just search for Storynory and all the podcasts are FREE.

Check out their web site at http://storynory.com/.

To give you a taste of Storynory, here is a short audio clip of the Persian tale Aladdin's Lamp. The story is narrated by Natasha Gostwick.

*On second thought, since it is taking a while for the clip to be uploaded, I will have the clip another time.

The Multicultural Minute #8: Biracial Middle Grade and YA

Check out Shen's Books: Great resource for stories about different Asian cultures

Hi everyone!

While looking for multicultural children's books I came across Shen's Book. Shen's Book is "a publisher of multicultural children’s literature that emphasizes cultural diversity and tolerance, with a focus on introducing children to the cultures of Asia" (Shen's Book website).

Also, Shen's Book has a Youtube Channel called ShensBooks where they have a segment named "The Multicultural Minute." During the one minute clips, they interview authors and share book titles.

If you need a place to find books on different Asian cultures, definitely check out Shen's Book.

The website is http://www.shens.com/.

Here is a video clip of "The Multicultural Minute," too. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQxeCqmskjs&feature=related. In the video, Renee shares book titles featuring biracial characters for older children (middle school & YA).

Better yet - check out this video clip right above this posting!!!

A Day's Work by Eve Bunting

Title: A Day's Work

Author: Eve Bunting

Targeted Age Group: Ages 4-8 & Grades K-3

*Latino/a story*

Summary: A Day's Work captures the intergenerational love shared between the abuelo and his nephew. A boy named Francisco tries to find work for his abuelo (grandfather) who has just moved to California to live with Francisco and his mother. His abuelo is originally from Mexico and speaks limited English. Thus, Francisco serves as his abuelo's interpreter and persuades Ben to hire his abuelo as a gardener for a day's work. In order to get hired, Francisco lies that his abuelo is skilled gardener when in fact he is actually a carpenter. Abuelo gets upset when he learns the truth about Francisco's lie.

How to Use the Book Within the Classroom: In grades K-3, the story can be used to get students to discuss about intergenerational differences they have experienced with their own grandparents. Even though the targeted age group is ages 4-8, I feel that this book can also be used in a sixth grade classroom to introduce the issue of immigration and work.

I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

Title: I Love My Hair!

Author: Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

Targeted Age Group: Ages 4-8 & Grades K-3

*African-American story*

Summary: Title: Keyana, a young African-American girls shares her story of when her mother tries to comb the tangles out of her hair. Keyana dislikes it when her mother combs her hair because it hurts. However, her mother tells her that she is fortunate to be blessed with her hair. The reader goes on an imaginary journey as the mother explains to Keyana why she is lucky. Keyana learns to cherish her distinctive hair and her heritage.

How to Use the Book Within the Classroom: The book can serve as a good read aloud book in class especially in a classroom with African-American students. Students would learn about the importance of appreciating their cultural heritage.

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

Title: The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

Author: Paul Goble

Targeted Age Group: Ages 4-8 & Grades K-3

Fun Fact: 1979 Caldecott Medal winner

*Native American story*

Summary: In The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, Goble tells the tale of a Native American girl whose tribe follows the buffalo. She tends the horses in her tribe and grows to love them. Thus, the girl follows her dream and decides to live with the horses. Her family respects her decision and allows her to be with the wild horses.

How to Use the Book Within the Classroom: The book can serve as a good introduction to an unit on Native Americans or art in a grade K-3 classroom. The teacher could also play the audio tape of the book where the story is accompanied by Native American music. After reading the story, the students can work on an activity that incorporates art where they create a picture similar to ones in The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses.

Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

Title: Grandfather's Journey

Author: Allen Say

Target Age Group: ages 4-8 & grades K-3

Fun Fact: Won the 1994 Caldecott Medal

Summary:

Grandfather's Journey serves as personal tribute to Say's grandfather who left his native land of Japan to explore new lands and came to America. The picture books addresses the issue of immigration and acculturation. The illustrations resembles faded formal paintings that help tell the story as a well-preserved family album. The story follows the life of Say and his grandfather who both long to return to Japan. Say writes, "The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other."


Ways to Use Within the Classroom: If there is a student in your classroom who has immigrated from another country, reading Grandfather's Journey could help students understand better about immigration and why people do so. By doing so, the student does not feel forced to talk if he or she prefers not to. Also, students can make connections to how Say and his grandfather longed to go back to Japan.

50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know

Here is a list of 50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know that was complied by the Cooperative Children's Book Center (School of Education) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. By clicking on the links, you can read a brief summary of each book.

At the CCBC, they define "multicultural" literature as books by and about people of color: African and African Americans, American Indians, Asian/Pacific and Asian Pacific Americans, and Latinos.

Preschool

Ada, Alma Flor and F. Isabel Campoy, selectors. English adapations by Alice Schertle . ¡Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes. Illustrated by Viví Escrivá. HarperCollins, 2003. 64 pages. Ages birth - 6 years

Cumpiano, Ina. Quinito, Day and Night = Quinito, dia y noche. Illustrated by José Ramírez. Children's Book Press, 2008. 22 pages. Ages 2-5

Heo, Yumi. One Afternoon. Orchard, 1994. Ages 2 - 4

Morales, Yuyi. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. Chronicle, 2003. 28 pages. Ages 4 - 7

Steptoe, John. Baby Says. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1988. Ages 1 - 3

Tarpley, Natasha. I Love My Hair!. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Little, Brown, 1998. Ages 4 - 8

Te, Ata. Baby Rattlesnake. Illustrated by Mira Reisberg. Children's Book Press, 1989.

Thong, Rosanne. Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes. Illustrated by Grace Lin. Chronicle, 2000. 32 pages. Ages 3-5

Wheeler, Bernelda. Where Did You Get Your Moccasins? . Illustrated by Herman Bekkering. Peguis, 1986.

Williams, Vera B. More, More, More, Said the Baby: Three Love Stories. Greenwillow, 1990.

Ages 5-7

Cheng, Andrea. Grandfather Counts. Illustrated by Ange Zhang. Lee & Low, 2000. Ages 4 - 8

Cisneros, Sandra. Hairs/Pelitos. Illustrated by Terry Ybånez. Knopf, 1994. Ages 3 - 7

Diakité, Penda. I Lost My Tooth in Africa. Illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité. Scholastic Press, 2006. 32 pages. Ages 4-7

Greenfield, Eloise. Honey, I Love, and Other Poems. Illustrated by Leo & Dianne Dillon. Harper, 1978.

Harjo, Joy. The Good Luck Cat. Illustrated by Paul Lee. Harcourt, 2000. Ages 4 - 7

Look, Lenore. Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding. Illustrated by Yumi Heo. Anne Schwartz / Atheneum, 2006. 32 pages. Ages 3-7

McKissack, Patricia C. Mirandy and Brother Wind. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Knopf, 1988. Ages 4 - 8

Messinger, Carla and Susan Katz . When the Shadbush Blooms. Illustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden. Tricycle Press, 2007. 32 pages. Ages 4-8

Pinkney, Sandra L. Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children. Illustrated by Myles Pinkney. Scholastic, 2000. 28 pages. Ages 3 - 11

Tafolla, Carmen. What Can You Do With a Paleta?. Illustrated by Magaly Morales. Tricycle Press, 2009. 32 pages. Ages 3 - 6

Vyner, Tim. World Team. U.S. edition: Roaring Brook Press, 2002. 32 pages. Ages 4 - 9

Waboose, Jan Bourdeau. Morning on the Lake. Illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Kids Can Press, 1998. Ages 5 - 8

Zepeda, Gwendolyn. Growing Up with Tamales = Los tamales de Ana. Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura (from the English). Illustrated by April Ward. Piñata Books / Arte Público Press, 2008. 32 pages. Ages 6-9

Ages 7-9

Ada, Alma Flor. My Name Is Maria Isabel. Atheneum, 1993. Ages 8 - 10

Alarcon, Francisco X. From the Bellybutton of the Moon, and Other Summer Poems / Del ombligo de la luna, y otros poemas de verano. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children's Book Press, 1998. Ages 7 - 10

Campbell, Nicola I.. Shin-chi's Canoe. Illustrated by Kim LaFave. Groundwood Books / House Anansi Press, 2008. 40 pages. Ages 7-10

Cha, Dia and Chue and Nhia Thao Cha . Dia's Story Cloth: The Hmong People's Journey to Freedom. Denver Museum of Natural History/Lee & Low, 1996. Ages 8 - 11

Hamilton, Virginia. The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Knopf, 1985.

Lester, Julius. John Henry. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Dial, 1994. Ages 4 - 12

Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu, Brave and True. Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. An Anne Schwartz Book / Atheneum, 2004. 105 pages. Ages 5 - 9

Ortiz, Simon. The People Shall Continue. Illustrated by Sharol Graves. Children's Book Press, 1988.

Perkins, Mitali. Rickshaw Girl. Illustrated by Jamie Hogan. Charlesbridge, 2007. 91 pages. Ages 8-10

Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach. Crown, 1991. Ages 5 - 11

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Indian Shoes. Illustrated by Jim Madsen. HarperCollins, 2002. 66 pages. Ages 6 - 9

Walter, Mildred Pitts. Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World. Lothrop, 1988. Ages 7-9

Woodson, Jacqueline. Show Way. Illustrated by Hudson Talbott. Putnam, 2005. 40 pages. Ages 5-9

Ages 9-12

Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. Scholastic, 1999. Ages 9 and older

Bryan, Ashley. Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song. Photographed by Bill
McGuinness. Antheneum, 2009. 58 pages. Ages 9 and older

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. Delacorte, 1999. Ages 8 - 13

Erdrich, Louise. The Birchbark House. Hyperion, 1999. Ages 8 - 12

Grace, Catherine O'Neill and Margaret M. Bruchac, with Plimoth Plantation . 1621: A New
Look at Thanksgiving. Photographed by Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson. National
Geographic Society, 2001. 48 pages. Ages 7 - 14

King, Casey and Linda Barrett Osborne . Oh, Freedom! Kids Talk About the Civil
Rights Movement with the People Who Made It Happen. Knopf, 1997. Ages 8 - 14

Lin, Grace. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Little, Brown, 2009. 278 pages.
Ages 8 - 11

Nye, Naomi Shihab, editor. The Tree Is Older Than You Are: A Bilingual
Gathering of Poems & Stories from Mexico with Paintings from Mexican
Artists. Simon & Schuster, 1995. Age 8 and older

Park, Linda Sue. A Single Shard. Clarion, 2001. Ages 9 - 12

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Esperanza Rising. Scholastic, 2000. Ages 10 - 14

Shange, Ntozake. ellington was not a street. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Simon &
Schuster, 2004. 32 pages. Ages 6-18

Sheth, Kashmira. Boys without Names. Balzer & Bray, 2010. 320 pages. Ages 9-13

Skarmeta, Antonio. The Composition. Illustrated by Alfonso Ruano. U.S. edition: A
Groundwood Book/Douglas & McIntyre, 2000. 36 pages. Ages 9 - 16

Taylor, Mildred D.. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.. Dial, 1976.

Compiled by Ginny Moore Kruse and Kathleen T. Horning
Updated by Kathleen T. Horning, Carling Febry, Merri T. LIndgren and Megan Schliesman
© 2010, 2006, 2001 Cooperative Children's Book Center