June 13th- Multicultural and Coretta Scott King Award Winners

One Crazy Summer by: Rita Williams-Garcia. Grade level: 3-5. 

This beautiful novel, set during the ever present civil rights movement, tells the story of Delphine and her younger sisters as they struggle to deal with their mothers abandonment. However, when they are forced to relocate to live with their mother they are in for one crazy ride! Rather than taking care of them, their mother sends them to a summer camp that is sponsored by the Black Panthers. This book allows children to not only have a different multicultural perspective, but it gives them a view into a tumultuous time in American history.

The Snowy Day by: Ezra Jack Keats. Grade: Pre-K- 1.


This wonderful children's classic is about a boy named Peter and his adventures in the snow after a storm. I think that both children and adults can relate to this story, because it's something that many of us have or would love to experience. I think that the illustrations are fantastic as well. This is definitely a book that will stand the test of time!


Roots and Blues: A Celebration by: Arnold Adoff. Grade level: 4-8.


The book which is composed both of poetry and poetic prose, is the story of his family and his past, along with being a celebration of music that he grew up with "The Blues". The illustrations are stunning. The book also describes how certain tragedies or situations infused the music that began to erupt for this population. I really enjoyed the book.




Heart and Soul- The Story of America and African Americans by:  Kadir Nelson. Grade level: 3-6.


This historical and multicultural book captures the stories of African Americans throughout the America's history. Beginning with the Declaration of Independence, to the Civil War, all the way up to Civil Rights Movement the book captures the inequality and struggle that African Americans had to endure for centuries. I think that this books beautiful illustrations and educational chapters can really keep kids engaged, and teach them a lot about a portion of American history that many people try to forget.



Black is Brown is Tan by: Arnold Adoff. Grade level: K-2.


This multicultural book is about a family that has an African American mother and a Caucasian father. The semi-rhyming story, along with adorable illustrations show children from any type of background or home life, that they are still your average family who play together and love one another. I think that this is a great read along book and a way for kids to begin practicing acceptance at a very early age.






Indian Shoes by: Cynthia Leitich Smith. Grade level: 3-5.


This book offers a look into the point of view of Ray Halfmoon, a Seminole-Cherokee boy and his relationship with his grandfather. The stories offer a look into the fine line of being a American (attending baseball games) and also preserving their Native American culture, which includes so great moccasins. I think that the illustrates a really well done, and its a more positive story, unlike ones that focus on abuse and poverty, from a Native American boy's point of view.


Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems by: Eloise Greenfield. Grade level: 4-7.


This collection of poems begins with the narrator telling us all the things that she loves, whether they be people, places, or things. She then talks about music, her aunt, and then back to love again. I think that poems were awesome and something that kids could really connect to and maybe open up their own paths of creativity. 







Rickshaw Girl by: Mitali Perkins. Grade level: 3-5.


This interesting story follows Naima, a young girl who can create the best alpana patterns in her village. However, she dreams of being able to have a job that could help her family earn money. After she wrecks her father's rickshaw, and means of income, she dresses as a boy and is determined to get it fixed. She eventually fixes it with the help of the owner of the repair shop, a woman! This book is great for girls especially because it highlights the different gender roles in other countries, but also shoes that women can do anything men can do!



The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by: Virginia Hamilton. Grade level: 3-5.


This book is a compilation of about two dozen black American folktales that include everything from cautionary and animal tales, to tales about slaves gaining freedom. The beautiful illustrations add to the story about how many slaves dreamed of being able to fly away to freedom, but were never able to. I really enjoyed the tales and the illustrations, and I think that this would be a creative teaching tool.