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| Books for Children and Young Readers The books on this page focus on the topics of diversity, tolerance, and multiculturalism. Many of them are offered to you with Amazon.com's Associates Program. Beginning the Journey receives a portion of the sales when you purchase these resources. It is our hope that they assist you in your journey as well. |
| Beginning the Journey Recommends Click on the picture or title for more detailed description. Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tommy dePaola Oliver Button would rather read, dance, and draw pictures than play football like the other boys. His classmates' taunts don't stop him from doing what he likes best, and his practice and persistence pay off in the end--when Oliver Button is a star. Illustrated childrens' book. The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric On the first day of school there's a brand new kid in the class. When the students are aksed to welcome the ultrablond, blue-eyed, pink-lipped, loud-voiced, accent-sporting Lazlo S. Gaskyl, they all mock him instead. Ellie begins to wonder what it must be like to be a new kid, feeling so "different and strange," and she decides to take steps to get to know him, even at the risk of facing her friends' ridicule. NBC News' Today coanchor Katie Couric's rhyming book provides a healthy approach to treating people who may be perceived as different, and works well as a springboard to discussion. Illustrated childrens' book. Misfits by James Howe (Popular author of Bunnicula) This fictional book is about four outcast kids who have had enough -- the overweight boy, the brainy girl, the "hooligan" trouble maker, and the boy who acts like a girl. They make up the "gang of five" -- five so that they always have a place for anyone else who feels outcast. This group is tired of the name calling so they decide to make a difference -- by running for school elections! The book touches on popularity, name-calling, gay/straight issues, bullying, activism, and other pre-teen/teenage issues. An upbeat, reassuring novel that encourages us to celebrate our individuality. Appropriate for 10 and up. Skuborm and His Super Hat by Greg Atkinson This the story of Skuborm, a little boy who is picked on because of his unusual name and colorful hat. Skuborm longs to be like everyone else until his fairy godfather gives him the chance to do just that. It is only once he loses his individuality that he begins to appreciate how super it is to be Skuborm. Skuborm and his Super Hat is a great way to assure young minds that being unique is not a detriment but an advantage. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, Caroline Binch (Illustrator) Though schoolmates tell Grace that she can't be Peter Pan in the upcoming play because she is a girl and black, her mother and grandmother lovingly reaffirm all possibilities. Thus convinced, Grace wins the part, acting out a magical Peter Pan to universal acclaim. Expertly executed, realistic watercolors. -- Copyright � 1992 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved. Ages 4-8 Boundless Grace: Sequel to Amazing Grace (Picture Puffins) by Mary Hoffman, Caroline Binch (Illustrator), J. Bonnell (Editor) The engaging protagonist from Amazing Grace (Dial) grapples with the idea of family when she travels to Africa to visit the father she vaguely remembers. He is now remarried and has two other children. Her beloved Nana accompanies her, offering help and advice as Grace tries to define her role in two families. The story is illustrated with a series of dazzling studies ranging from portraits to landscapes to genre paintings. -- Copyright � 1995 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved. Ages-4-8 Angel Child, Dragon Child by Michele Surat Surat, Michele Maria Surat, Vo-Dinh Mai (Illustrator) This book is a wonderful story about a Vietnamese child trying to adjust to life in the USA. Ut has trouble with children at school because she is different. Haven't we all been there? Angel Child, Dragon Child is very realistic. Many children are brought to the USA by their families looking for a better life for themselves and their children. Unfortunately, not all people are accepting of those that are different. Surat does a terrific job of showing how UT sees herself as both an angel child and a dragon child. This story is one that should be used in classrooms across the country. The Arctic Son by Jean Craighead George, Wendell Minor Luke, a white child born in a small town near the Arctic Ocean, is given an Eskimo name--Kupaaq--by Aalak, an Eskimo friend of Luke's parents. As Kupaaq grows, Aalak teaches him about Eskimo culture and Arctic life--the northern lights, fish camp, snow caves, whale camp. The cold and darkness of the region are contrasted with the warmth of the Eskimo culture in both the simple text and the detailed, realistic watercolors. -- Copyright � 1998 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved. Am I Blue?: Coming Out from the Silence by Marion Dane Bauer (Editor), Beck Underwood (Illustrator) Sixteen short stories by a stellar group of YA writers--some gay, some not--all of whom have something meaningful to say about gay awareness and want to present readers with positive, credible gay role models. Wonderfully diverse in tone and setting, the stories cut across color and class lines to incorporate everything from a contemporary, feminist story about a girl's coming out and a tale written with a nod to the Vietnam War to a fantasy that takes place in a mythical Amazonian kingdom and a story set in a Catholic girls' school. With stories that go beyond struggle and stereotype to show individuality, pride, and affection, this is an important book that should be in every YA collection. Grades 8 - 12. The Journey Out: A Guide for and About Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Teens by Rachel Pollack, Cheryl Schwartz (Contributor) A calm and practical exploration of teen sexuality and the special concerns of lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens offers clear advice on such issues as homophobia and harassment, provides information on gay health and political issues, and much more. Grades 8 - 12. Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco, Edward Miller (Illustrator) The author draws from a childhood experience as she recalls how she and two African-American friends create an ingenious plan to buy a special Easter hat for the boys' grandmother, a lady well known for her wonderful chicken dinners. This loving, multicultural, and intergenerational experience is made richer by visually delightful illustrations, some with actual photographs imposed on a painted background. -- Copyright � 1992 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved. The Hating Book by Charlotte Zolotow, Ben Shecter (Illustrator), Ben Schecter (Illustrator) As a hurt little girl tells about a misunderstanding with her friend, "both author and illustrator show their understanding of how small children think and act."--Parent's Magazine. The Meanest Thing to Say by Bill Cosby Oprah Book Club� Selection, December 1997: The books in Bill Cosby's Little Bill series, which fall somewhere between Fat Albert and Fatherhood in sensibility, are designed to help kids cope with tough social situations. In The Meanest Thing to Say Little Bill must figure out how to avoid the challenge offered by the new kid in his class, "The Dozens," a duel of insults Bill doesn't want to join. With his family's help (which is free of preaching), Bill finds a solution. Ages 4-8 Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe This African tale evokes the Cinderella story in its portrayal of two sisters, spiteful Manyara and considerate Nyasha, and the young king who is searching for a bride. Steptoe has illustrated this modern fable with stunning paintings that glow with beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors. |
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