Diversity Text Set

Children Around the World by Donata Montanari

Summary: This book talks about children who live in different

countries around the world. For each different country, a child
introduces him/herself and talks about many different aspects
that are unique or special to that country or culture. Also, it
explains how the home structure is setup and what kinds of
food they eat. For example, a girl from Morocco talks about
what her house looks like, her Muslim practices and some of
the foods that her family eats.

Grade/age level: early elementary school (2nd grade), 6-8 year

olds

3 key words: customs, traditions, practices

Evaluation of book: This book is more of an informational book. There really isnt a plot.
There is a short and sweet explanation for each culture, and children are able to see how
cultures differ from one another yet share similarities. There are short paragraphs on each
page, and the illustrations nicely accompany each paragraph. Instead of having one big
picture in most pictures, this book has multiple small illustrations on the page. It also
explains the characters family customs, traditions and routines, but it does not make
generalizations about that culture. It promotes diversity, and we do not have to agree with
other peoples cultures or backgrounds, but we should be respectful and accepting.

Recommended use of book: This book could be used for a read aloud, but it is a little long.
However, an art activity could be easily incorporated with the book. For example, the
teacher could ask the children to think about their own culture or activities they often do
with their family and draw a picture or use construction paper or other art materials to cut
out shapes. Once all the students are finished, they can share in small groups or out loud
one by one. Finally, it can be put together into a little book for all the students to look at.
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Families by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly

Summary: This book explains all different kinds of families whether

they are adopted, born into the family, how many parents live with
them and other family members who live with them. This book talks
a lot about the structure of the family and how it is set up.

Grade/age level: Pre-K/Kindergarten

3 key words: families, structure, differences

Evaluation of book: This book also does not have a rich plot, and it simply explains the
different types of families. However, the pictures are really neat because they are actual
photographs of real families instead of illustrations. This way, kids are able to see that all
these different kinds of families exist and are real, and it is written in a way that is easy for
kids to understand. Also, at the end of the book, it ends with a question, asking What about
yours? This can get the kids thinking about their own families and how it is similar to
some of the ones mentioned in the book or how it is different.

Recommended use of book: This book can easily bring up a discussion about families. Like
mentioned above, the book ends in a question and the teacher can use that question to start
a discussion and have some other follow up questions to get the students talking.
Afterwards, a small art activity can be done where the students can draw a picture of their
family or their favorite family activity and label all the members. Another simple activity
that could be implemented in the classroom is having the students bring in a family picture
and could be put on a big poster board to hang up in the classroom to see the diversity
within families.
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Lets Talk About It: Adoption by Fred Rogers,
photographs by Jim Judkis

Summary: This non-fiction book is about families

with children who are adopted. Not only does it
explain about adoption, it talks about unconditional
love and no matter how you became a part of a family,
they will always love you. It also reinforces the idea
of creating memories with family and spending time
together.

Grade/age level: first grade, 6-7 years old

3 key words: love, memories, adopt

Evaluation of book: This book similar to Families also

uses real photographs of families with adopted children. I like how it uses real photographs
because students can easily realize that there are families who are different. Also, the author
has a personal connection with adoption. His sister was adopted into his family when he
was eleven years old and decided to write this book for families to be able to talk about
difficult topics in their own way. It talks about inclusiveness and how certain types of
families should not feel excluded because of how their family is set up.

Recommended use of book: This book can be used to help students realize and better
understand that children who are adopted are no different. Many other kids can relate to
this book because it talks about unconditional love that you get from your family and how
the special memories and bonds created lasts for a long time. Since this book talks about
creating memories with family members and spending time together, children can have
journal time to write about some of their favorite family activities or how they spend time
together.
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In Our Mothers House by Patricia Polacco

Summary: Marmee and Meema, are two mothers, and their

kids are like any other family. They have family dinners
together, laugh together, share intimate conversations, and
do many other activities. However, when they host a
neighborhood party at their house, a neighbor, Mrs.
Lockner does not understand and accept their family for
who they are. She comes up to Marmee and Meema and
starts attacking their family for not being the same as hers.
Marmee and Meema teaches their kids how no matter what,
they will always love them and be a family.

Grade/age level: second grade

3 key words: acceptance, teaching, loving

Evaluation of the book: This book is great because although Marmee and Meemas family
differs from other families because they are both moms, the moral of the story is to accept
and love others for who they are. A problem arises when the neighbor does not agree, but
they teach their kids and talk about how it is okay to be different and should be accepting
of those differences. In addition, it talks about diversity because it briefly talks about the
cultural background of Marmee and Meema in the beginning of the story, and also at the
block party, it mentions neighbors from different cultures and the dishes they brought.

Recommended use of book: For this book, the students could talk about how not everyone
is accepting and respectful of everyones differences, and people have to teach others to
take the time to listen and learn about those differences, and once they do, they are more
similar than they thought. Also, kids can talk about diversity within families, and how
everyones family structure can be different.
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Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel
Kindersley

Summary: This book is divided into continents. There is

an opening about each continent and a brief introduction
of kids who are from different countries on that continent.
Then, the book goes more in depth about the kids
explaining their home, personal and social life. For
example, Monika is from Hungary, and it talks about her
hobbies, her school, her future, foods her family eats and
much more. Children reading this book get to learn about
cultures around the world and how they are similar or
different from them.
Grade/age level: second grade

3 key words: diverse, cultural, worldly

Evaluation of book: There are lots to learn from this book. Children are able to learn and
talk about cultures around the world. Even though the explanations and descriptions are
brief, there is something new to learn from it. The photographs really enhances the
experiences while reading because it goes along well with the text. For example, when a
kid talks about his/her school, there is an actual picture of the school that s/he attends.

Recommended use of book: This book would tie in well with a unit on diversity or in social
studies while learning about different countries. If the teacher is teaching about a country
that is mentioned in the book, s/he could read the couple of page about that country. An art
activity could be incorporated similar to an All About Me poster that many elementary
classrooms do. In this case, it can help the students realize even though there may be some
of them with a similar cultural background, there is variety and differences within a culture.
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Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina and illustrated
by Angela Dominguez

Summary: Mias grandmother lives far away, but comes

to live with Mias family. Once her grandmother arrives,
they have a hard time communicating with each other
because of the language barriers. Mia speaks English, but
her grandmother speaks Spanish. They work together to
teach each other the language, and soon, they are able to
communicate with each other. Back home, her
grandmother always had parrots at her house, so when
Mia sees a parrot at the store, she buys one and has a great
idea to help her grandmother.

Grade/age level: second grade

3 key words: language, communication, patience

Evaluation of book: This book incorporates Spanish words, so students can figure out the
meaning because the English word is afterwards. The students can use context clues for
this. Even though there are language barriers, it teaches a lesson of how one can learn from
another but also teach someone. There is a plot where the grandmother and Mia have to
figure out how to solve their language barrier issue, and they solve it by learning each
others languages.
Recommended use of book: This book could be used when introducing Spanish as part of
the curriculum. Some schools have Spanish class as one of their specials, so in the
beginning when students do not know many words, the teacher could read this book as an
introduction to the language. Also, this book is
relatable to many kids because having a language
barrier is not too rare, and it can happen not just in
families but outside as well.

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Matzah Ball Soup by Joan Rothenberg

Summary: Rosie and her family celebrates Passover. Her Grandma makes her matzah ball
soup every time. It is a tradition to have four matzah balls in everyones soup. Rose does
not know what a tradition is, so she learns from her grandmother about what a tradition is
and why there has to be four in every bowl.

Grade/age level: second or third grade

3 key words: tradition, bonding, sharing

Evaluation of book: This book is well written but not written in a complex way where
students reading the book would have a hard time understanding. Also, in addition to
family tradition, it talks about family structure, and how during Passover, everyone would
come together to celebrate.

Recommended use of book: This book can be used to introduce new vocabulary words to
students. For example, tradition is a word that is mentioned, so it could be one of the
vocabulary words from the book to learn. The teacher could ask the students what their
family traditions are, and the children could draw and write about it in their journals.
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 Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle and Rafael Lopez

Summary: There is a rule on the island where girls

cannot be drummers until the dream drum girl
questioned the rule. She wanted to play different kinds
of drums, so she practiced secretly. Her father found a
music teacher for her, and her teacher decided she was
ready to play outside at a caf. Everyone heard her
playing the drums, and they danced and sang. It was
decided that girls could play drums as well.

Grade/age level: first grade

3 key words: inclusive, change, acceptance

Evaluation of book: This book is helpful because it talks

about sexism. Girls were excluded from this culture, but afterwards, they were able to help
everyone realize that certain activities should not be excluded to people because of their
gender. This story was inspired by a Chinese-African-Cuban girl, Millo Castro Zaldarriaga,
who broke the traditional stereotype against girls, and formed Cubas first all-girl dance
band.

Recommended use of book: This book fits in well when talking about genders and how
women and girls can be treated more unfairly than men. Students could talk about equality
and how to treat everyone fairly. Also, there are some Spanish words incorporated into this
book, so students could learn some new Spanish vocabulary words while reading the book.
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Henry is a Big Brother by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

and illustrated by Dorothy Stott

Summary: Henry becomes a big brother when his

parents bring home baby Casey. He has many
ideas and plans with Casey but realizes he is not
old enough yet. His parents keep telling Henry to
be patient, and it takes time to grow. He comes to
the conclusion that even though Casey is not ready
for the ideas that he had in mind, there are other
ways to help out such as pushing the stroller, and
one day, when Casey is older, Henry will be able
to help out in different ways.

Grade/age level: Pre-K/Kindergarten

3 key words: helpful, bonding, relationships

Evaluation of book: This book is easy to understand for children. This book offers similar
to a problem-solution situation where Henrys ideas and plans are not possible with Casey,
so Henry thinks of different things to do with Casey instead. The book has cute illustrations
on each page that goes along well with the text. It also talks about how the family dynamic
changes when a new baby sibling is added and how there are new responsibilities and roles
of being an older sibling.

Recommendation of book: For children, after being an only child, adding a sibling to the
family can be a tough transition. This book can be relatable for students not only with
brothers but younger siblings in general. Students can talk about how having a younger
sibling has impacted their life or how being a younger sibling has worked out in their life.
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How to Cheer Up Dad by Fred Koehler

Summary: Little Jumbos dad is not having the greatest

day, but Little Jumbo does not realize that it was his
actions that put his dad in a bad mood. Little Jumbo and
his dad do activities together to cheer his dad up.

Grade/age level: first grade

3 key words: feelings, mood, consideration

Evaluation of book: This book is good for children to

realize that even though they may not realize their
actions can hurt another persons feelings, while
reading this book, they can realize that certain actions can have an effect on another person.
Also, it is a good book for a father-son relationship and really knowing their interests to
help them be in a better mood. It is cute with the elephant characters to add to the text and
something that younger children could enjoy.

Recommendation of book: This book could be used for discussions about family
relationships and structures. Kids can talk about their activities they enjoy with their
fathers. However, not all children may have active fathers in their lives, so they could talk
about activities they like to do with other family members. Also, it can help children realize
that even though parents seem like superheroes of the family, they can have some off
days, and they can help them make their day better. For many of the books mentioned
above, it can be used to have discussions and talks or ask questions, but it could be turned
into a different question for daily journaling each day after having the book as a read aloud.
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Skin Again by Bell Hooks

Summary: Celebrating all that makes us unique and different, Skin Again offers new ways
to talk about race and identity. Race matters, but only so much-what's most important is
who we are on the inside. Looking beyond skin, going straight to the heart, we find in each
other the treasures stored down deep. Learning to cherish those treasures, to be all we
imagine ourselves to be, makes us free. Skin Again celebrates this freedom.

Grade/age level: early elementary

3 key words: individuality, love, consideration

Evaluation of book: This book is a good book to use with students when discussing the
things that make us all different and unique. It focuses on racial issues and personal
identity, and stresses that it is not whats on the outside that matters, but is what is on the
inside that reveals who a person truly is.

Recommendation of book: This book could be used in a small group setting as a prompt to
discuss things that make us different and unique, but also things that make us similar.
Students can talk about things like traditions, heritage, family composition, etc. This can
help children realize that while we all have differences, there are numerous things that
make us the same, and it is not what is on the outside that matters, but rather what is on the
inside.