I run a book project called Reach Out and Read, and we give used books away in the waiting room at Kaiser in Richmond and new ones to children when they come for a well check up. I received a donation one day after 9/11/01, and in the bag was the book "Whoever You Are" by Mem Fox. It's beautifully illustrated and the message is about how "There are little ones just like you all over the world, and even though their skin may be different or their homes may be different, their hearts are just like yours and their smiles are just like yours...joys are the same, love is same, tears are the same, blood is the same" etc... I would love to see all parents here in the USA reading this book as a reminder to the ADULTS about children everywhere.
Like many of you, my heart is heavy these days as I think of the children in NY who have lost their parents, homes, and schools, and as I think of children in the Middle East who are suffering and afraid. Mem Fox is a great children's writer and story teller. Her new book for parents is called "Reading Magic". It gives great suggestions about reading to your child from birth, and she really communicates the value in having fun while you read. She will be here for a book tour on Nov. 1st in Corte Madera at the Book Passage at 1:00PM. At Kaiser in Richmond we will continue to give her book "Whoever You Are" to children ages 3-5 years, as a part of our program. I suggest you may want to check it out, and give a gift to the young children, and adults, in your life. Rona
In a recent UCB Parents message a parent was asking about multicultural books for a list she/he is putting together for her/his child's class. I deleted it but since I saw this flyer I thought I would pass on this information:
The Educational Loft Program, presented by USF School of Education, will lead an evening discussion on: Awe and Imagination in the World of Multicultural Children's Books led by Daphne Muse. Thursday April 30, 1998 6:30-8pm Univ. of San Francisco - Harney, Room 232 (located on Golden Gate Ave next to Gleeson Library). For queries or additional information, call (415) 422-6525 . No charge for this event.
Daphne Muse has published more than 150 feature articles, reviews and commentaries. She is an employee of UCB, a research coordinator for the McNair Scholarship Program if those who can't make the talk want to get in touch with her.
Harding Elementary School has a Multicultural Committee and lending library. Please call the school at 525-0273 and leave a message for the Multicultural Committee asking for a list of books they have and maybe set up a time to meet with them. Good luck.
The Berkeley Public Library (Children's Dept) used to have a list of highly recommended multicultural books. Check with the children's librarians there; they are very helpful and knowledgeable. You might also check their web site (not sure of web address), and can send inquiries by email and they will get back to you.
One great resource is the Children's Literature Web Guide
One of the links on the home page is Lots of Links, which includes Best Books lists for 1994-1997, as well as lists for specific subjects. In my quick scan I didn't see any specifically "multicultural" lists, but I did see headings for Jewish Religion and Culture, Latino People, History, and Culture, Native American Books, and Multiracial Families, among others; and I'm sure a more thorough perusal of this site will turn up many other lists.
Another terrific web site is Berkeley Public Library's Librarians Index to the Internet
The Kids page has links to many resources, including the Children's Literature Web Guide mentioned above.
You didn't say how big your list has to be. If what I've given you so far is overkill, you may want to head to the children's room at BPL's Central Library , at Kittredge and Shattuck. It seems to me that in the past I've seen staff- created reading lists of the type you're seeking; even if my memory is faulty one of the librarians should be able to help out. I know that there are a number of bibliographies to multicultural children's literature in print. Hope this gets you started!
A great resource for multi-cultural books is "Let's Hear it for the Girls" this book lists and describes "375 books for readers 2-14" that have strong female characters and many are multi-cultural. It is published by Penguin and is compiled by Bauermeister & Smith. I have found some great relatively unknown books which my family has really enjoyed.
The Berkeley Public Library's children's staff has produced a number of
lists suggesting children's books by topic and age group. For instance:
African American Folklore and Poetry
All Together Now; Recent Multicultural Books for Children
Children's books on the Asian Experience in America 9/93
Cornbread and Cornrows; African American Fiction for Children 2/96
Families and Friends; African American Picture Books 1/96
Freedom's Children; True Stories for Children about African
Americans
They also maintain in-house bibliographies on a variety of topics,
including social issues, multicultural titles.
You may need to focus on what is meant by "multicultural." Are you
looking for books with characters of many colors, or are you looking for
books which portray aspects of different cultures within the U.S., or are
you looking for world cultures? And does multicultural mean ethnicity,
or also include sexual orientation, religion, etc.? Obviously your
school has something in mind when they give you an assignment such as
this, but I find that commonly used words such as multicultural or
diverse often have many different interpretations.
Here are a couple of good websites:
Books with Multiracial Families
http://deeptht.armory.com/~web/fambooks.html
Children's Literature Web Site (many lists)
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/index.html>
| UCB Parents Home Page | UCB Parents Recommendations | UCB Parents Advice |