Celebrate differences in cultures, countries and people by using great picturebooks with all grade levels.
Sundays Are For Feasts, written by Leila Boukarim and illustrated by Ruaida Mannaa, is the story of Yasmine whose other home is across the ocean and where she spends her summers. The highlights of those summers are food and family. And when her grandfather decides that Yasmine can make the hummus, she is worried. Will she know how? Will they like her hummus. Text and illustrations take us through the process, step by step. The art even shows labels on bottles and jars in Arabic. When the meal is served, even her grouchy uncle approves of Yasmine’s hummus. The book offer the recipe and makes you hungry enough to try it! ISBN 978-1-77306-907-4, Groundwood Books
The Most Beautiful Thing I Have Ever See, by Nadia Devi Umadat, illustrated by Christine Wei, might be one of the most beautiful picturebooks I’ve ever read…. A small girl lives in a faraway place with her family and many friends. But when terrible things happen they are forced to leave. After living in a cramped room with many others, the girl and her family get to board an airplane to start living in a new country. She doesn’t understand the words of her new teacher. And the recess bell scares her. But soon enough she learns new words. She even learns about different seasons – one of which brings snow, which she has never seen. Many of the things she sees are new and different. But the most beautiful thing is when people from many nations gather, wearing different clothes, to become new citizens in the country that is now home. The story is beautifully written. It doesn’t happen often that a picturebook brings tears to my eyes, but this one did. It is such an important story that it should be in every classroom to share and discuss. ISBN 978-1-77260-314-9, Second Story Press
The Great Expedition by Peter Carnavas is a wonderful picturebook to use with children of a wide age range. Written as if a major exploration of land is taking place, Robert and Will are handed over an important parcel to deliver their… ‘senior officer’. Their expedition is joined by others who soon fall to the wayside as they cross dangerous territory and face hardships like running out of water. WheN, against all odds, they do manage to reach their destination, the team looks back across the terrain they crossed. It turns out to be their own backyard and playground. A fun story to read aloud and discuss how you can turn any trip into a major expedition and how explorers plan ahead. ISBN 978-1-77278-321-6, Pajama Press
Everybelly by Thao Lam is an appealing picturebook with fun collage art of bellies! Big bellies and floppy bellies, tattooed bellies and bulging bellies. When Maddie spends the day at the pool, all she sees is everyone’s bellies. A unique book of fun illustrations that will appeal to kids. After reading and discussing this kid’s viewpoint, make your own wonderful collage art of feet of noses, or other parts of the body. ISBN 978-1-77306-764-3, Groundwood
Margriet Ruurs shares books with people around the world. Contact her now to book author presentations at your school for the next school year: www.margrietruurs.com