This time I’d like to share with you some wonderful multi cultural picturebooks for all ages. These inside glances at different customs and beliefs will enrich any classroom or school library.
Awe-Samosas! is written by Marzieh Abbas and illustrated by Bhagya Madanasinghe. The Pakistani author shares her knowledge of making samosas in this colourful celebration of traditional food. Noor wants to make her favourite snack for her friends. But grandma, Dadijaan, is far away. So her father, Abbu, helps her to gather ingredients and together they experience in mixing, folding and baking samosas with many different fillings. The back pages offer a recipe to try making samosas yourself, as well as a helpful glossary of Urdu terms. A wonderful picturebook to use when looking at different customs and dishes. The story will appeal to children from different cultures whose grandparents also live far away.
ISBN 978-0-06-325727-6, Harper Collins Childrens
How We Say I Love You by Nicole Chen is a multicultural story of a Taiwanese family and how they express their love for one another. They don’t even need to say the words; they show love in their every day interactions. Grandfather, Ah Gong, shows his love when he walks Hana to school. Her father shows his love by cheering her on during a soccer game, even if she doesn’t score a goal. And Hanna already shows her love to a soon-to-arrive sibling by telling it stories. A nice story to share and discuss how we can express love to our family and friends. I read the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library version of this book which gives suggestions for sharing and discussions with young readers. A glossary of both Mandarin and Taiwanese words is included.
ISBN 978-0-593-70273-4, Random House Kids
Kimiko Murakami by Haley Healey is the biography of a Japanese Canadian pioneer. Born and raised in BC, Canada, Kimiko was part of a Japanese-Canadian family, many of whom who made their living fishing and farming. During the Second World War, she was among the 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were sent to live in internment camps because they were seen as “enemy aliens.” The camp’s living conditions were dirty and crowded and robbed people of Japanese decent of their basic rights and freedoms. Following the war, Kimiko and her family were allowed to return to Salt Spring Island, BC but had to rebuild their farm and their life from scratch. Through it all, Kimiko and her family – pioneers and survivors – never lost hope. This book celebrates her achievements, courage, and spirit through vivid illustrations and an informative, inspiring narrative. It is also an important story about a dark part of Canadian/Japanese history as well as a story of forgiveness.
ISBN 978-1772034677, Heritage House
It’s Powwow Time!, written by Martha Troian and illustrated by Hawlii Pichette is a beautiful story that celebrates both American and Canadian First Nations’ celebrations. A young boy wakes up to rhymes and beats as he travels to a powwow – time to dance. The glorious illustrations have a special indigenous touch, their colours dancing off the pages. Eagles circle as moccasins dance and drums beat. This is a long overdue picture book to celebrate indigenous culture. The book offers a chance to dance and discuss other celebrations in the classroom.
ISBN 978-0-06-311666-5, Greenwillow Books
Margriet Ruurs writes books for children and conducts author presentations at International Schools.