Multicultural Trade Books and Resources for Children and Young Adults (Annotated Bibliography Sample)

Annotated Bibliography: Multicultural Trade Books and Resources for Children and Young Adults
Name: Wonderstruck
Citation : Selznick, B. (2011). Wonderstruck (1st Ed.). New York: Scholastic
Genre: Fiction Narrative
Grade level: Primary (K2)
Type of book: Picture book
Main idea: Tolerance
Short description: The story encourages open mindedness in children, young as they are. The story presents uncommon ideas, prompting the reader to start thinking of some situations differently. A twelve year-old boy leaves home to seek a father he never knew, since his mother has passed on. In his endeavor, he meets Rose, who is also in search of something missing in her life.
Rationale: The primary school children need a mind opener such as this one, which will allow them to think wide on family values and deafness.
Curriculum uses: The book should be included into the list of class reading.
Name: Kids Guide to Arab American History
Citation : Dennis, Y., Addasi, M., Rattray, S., & Rattray, G. (2013). A kid's guide to Arab American history (1st ed.) Chicago, Ill.: Chicago Review Press.
Genre: Non- Fiction
Grade level: middle school (K6)
Type of book: Chapter book
Main idea: Historical background
Short description: The book is a compilation of all what a young middle school child would want to find out about the Arabian history in America. The book is meant for all cultures, as the communiqué is crafted in an interesting manner, which draws any child with an interest in historical events. The book covers all the occurrences in American history, with a precarious leaning on the Arabian association in this history.
Rationale: The book is not only for the Arabian- oriented children, but also for all with interest in learning history. It fosters acceptance of cultures.
Curriculum uses: This book can be included into the curriculum, as the historical analysis resource.
Name: The Woman Upstairs
Citation : Messud, C. (2013). The woman upstairs (1st ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf
Genre: Romance
Grade level: Middle school (K6)
Type of book: Chapter book
Main idea: The utopia of love
Short description: Messud gives the story of Nora, who falls in love who he babysits. The main questions raised include those on if love conquers all, in addition to the predicament whether love conquers anger. The story is based on the idealism of love among the younger generation, and its practicability.
Rationale: The students would be able to discuss the realism of love in their stage of life
Curriculum uses: This book should be used for home reading with a short in-class analysis.
Name: Barbed Wire Baseball
Citation : Moss, M., & Shimizu, Y. Barbed wire baseball (1st ed.).
Genre: History
Grade level: Primary (K3)
Type of book: Picture Book
Main idea: Hope for the future
Short description: The picture story follows the hopes and dreams of a Japanese-American sportsperson in the midst of the Word War II. Eventually the player (Kenichi Zenimura) starts an on-camp program to raise hope for children and young players. Reading on, one experiences the hardships on camp, and understands the issues surrounding war and refugees. The story is rather motivating and awe-inspiring.
Rationale: The discussion for the book could feature sad situations in life, and try to stimulate hope.
Curriculum uses: The book should be group read and then followed up by a discussion or a follow up essay.
Name: The Thing about Luck
Citation : Kadohata, C. (2013). The Thing about Luck Simon and Schuster
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Grade level: Intermediate (K4)
Type of book: Fiction
Main idea: Bad luck in life
Short description: 'Kouun’ is good luck in Japanese. In one year a twelve-year old is separated from a family in a Japanese crisis, right before harvesting begins. This leaves Summer to take care of her little brother. She is helped by her grandmother, but the mortgage for their house has to be paid, and so Summer has to figure out a way to help. She seeks to work hard with what she has to attempt paying off their mortgage and keeping her little brother safe.
Rationale: The children need to read on real life situations, even on persons in their ages.
Curriculum uses: The book can be read at home, but the values of resilience and hard work have to be discussed in class.
Name: The Vine Basket
Citation : La Valley, J. (2013). The Vine Basket Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Genre: General fiction
Grade level: Middle school (K5)
Type of book: Chapter book
Main idea: family conflict
Short description: Fourteen-year-old Mehrigul wants to be in school, but she is wanted on the family farm, to help her family. She however realizes that the longer she misses school, the more probable it is that she will be sent to work in a Chinese factory. She is afraid that is this happens, she might never return. Her hope is restored when an American offers to buy all the baskets that she will make in three weeks. She seeks out a better future for herself
Rationale: The book teaches resilience and family values in different light
Curriculum uses: The book should be included in the curriculum as a class reader.
Name: Jet Black and the Ninja Wind
Citation : Lowitz, L., & Oketani, S. (2013). Jet Black and the Ninja Wind Tuttle Publishing
Genre: Adventure, fiction
Grade level: High School (K8)
Type of book: Fiction
Main idea: Mythology, adventure and romance
Short description: The book weaves its plot with layers of mythology, scheming, and romance. It surrounds a seventeen-year-old girl goes to japan to protect a family treasure, not knowing that she is a ninja. The book takes several twists, where the ninja is pursued by bounty hunters, and falls in love with the man who was sent to kill her. The romance is set in a twisted yet understandable way that is narrated to perfection.
Rationale: The students could discuss the ideas offered on an open basis, and analyze the background of the book on a deeper basis.
Curriculum uses: The book should be class-read, and the given a personal in depth analysis
Name: Gadget Girl
Citation : Kamata, S. Gadget Girl (1st ed.).
Genre: speculative fiction
Grade level: High School (K8)
Type of book: Chapter book
Main idea: Life decisions, coming of age
Short description: A fourteen-year-old with Cerebral Palsy is tired of following in a mother’s footsteps by becoming a sculpture model and wants to seek out her father. She wants to become a great manga artist, but takes a trip to Paris instead. The story is dependent on the realization of the dream of this girl to meet her father and half-brother. The story however ends without one finding out the truth about the relatives that she seeks in Japan.
Rationale: The story features creation and following of dreams- it would inspire the students
Curriculum uses: The book should be used for spare reading, with guided analysis from the tutor.
Name: Good fortune in a wrapping cloth
Citation : Schoettler, J., & Lanan, J. (2011). Good fortune in a wrapping cloth (1st ed.). Walnut Creek, CA: Shen's Books
Genre: Juvenile fiction
Grade level: Middle School (K6)
Type of book: Picture Book
Main idea: Psychology of separation
Short description: Ji-Su’s mother is picked to become a tailor in the emperor’s court. The daughter also wants to learn how to sew the beautiful items that she sees her mother making, so that she will be reunited with her other. She hopes that she will also be summoned and in this way reunite with her mother. The main target of the story is on hard work and strong family values.
Rationale: The story will instill family values in the readers
Curriculum uses: the book should be added to the list of curriculum texts, and analyzed in the class setting, preferably in presented critiques.
Name: A Path of Stars
Citation : O'Brien, A. S. (2012). A Path of Stars. Charlesbridge Publishing.
Genre: History- based Fiction
Grade level: Middle School (K5)
Type of book: Chapter book
Main idea: Refugees and life in Cambodia
Short description: The book is a recollection of activities in Cambodia and the story behind such experiences. The narrator’s grandmother is grieving after learning of her brother’s death, and the narrator has to help her deal with the grief. The story is set on the memories of the grandmother’s life in Cambodia. Within the text, one gets to learn about issues that ensued in the country about fleeing refugees and the whole dictatorship in general.
Rationale: The students learn of the real situations in life in other countries without peace.
Curriculum uses: The book should be given as s reading assignment to students as a part of their home assignment, with a brief discussion of the results and a thorough analysis of the themes.
Name: Chengli and the Silk Road caravan
Citation : Kang, H. (2011). Chengli and the Silk Road caravan. Tanglewood Press.
Genre: Expressionist Fiction
Grade level: High School (K8)
Type of book: Chapter book
Main idea: Mysticism and adventure
Short description: Chengli is a presumed orphan, who is an errand boy living in Chang'an China in (630 AD). His mother died from an illness, and the father was presumed dead after he disappeared into the desert. At thirteen, the boy feels ready to face the caravan that was his father. He carries a piece if jade that belongs to his father and joins the caravan. The story follows the boy, throughout the adventure, and gives the reader a feel of explorative journeying in an interesting narration.
Rationale: The advent...