Please welcome Cynthia Levinson today with a list of inspirational stories about valuing and celebrating diversity comprised of picture and chapter books. We are also giving away a copy of her nonfiction book, Watch Out for Flying Kids! Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.
Inspirational stories about valuing and celebrating diversity
The Garden of My Imaan by Farhana Zia
About being Muslim in America. This is a lovely book about a teenager who, with the help of her grandmother, finds her way her way as both an American and a Muslim. [chapter book, ages 8-12]
Snow in Jerusalem by Deborah Da Costa
About finding peace in the Middle East. Two boys—an Arab and a Jew—in the Old City in Jerusalem first argue and then come together, with the help of a cat. [picture book, ages 5-8]
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter
About overcoming war in the Middle East. A true story about a librarian both maintains her library’s collection when it is threatened by war and continues to bring diverse people together. [picture book, ages 4-7]
Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison
About circuses and the value of being different. Jane is a sweet-tempered but ordinary dog whose friends are amazing circus performers. She learns to accept her ordinariness and the value it has for others. [picture book, ages 3-5]
Painting for Peace in Ferguson by Carol Swartout Klein
About artistry defeating violence in Ferguson, MO. Hundreds of artists and residents came together to create beauty in a St. Louis neighborhood shocked and reeling from racial violence. [picture book, ages 5-12]
Keep On!: The Story of Matthew Henson, Co-discoverer of the North Pole by Deborah Hopkinson
About fortitude and perseverance. A poetic true story about an African American born shortly after the Civil War who helped reach the North Pole. [picture book, ages 7-10]
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom by Lynda Blackmon Lowery, Retol by Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley
About children who make a difference. A true, as-told-by story about the youngest marcher in Selma, AL in 1965. [chapter book, ages 12 and up]
Watch Out for Flying Kids!: How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community by Cynthia Levinson
Nine young people of different backgrounds, religions, races, and socioeconomic status who all share a common love for the circus, and overcome conflict and come together to perform remarkable acts. [chapter book, ages 11-14]
Win Watch Out for Flying Kids! GIVEAWAY
To win a copy, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. addresses due to the high cost of shipping.
Cynthia Levinson holds degrees from Wellesley College and Harvard University and also attended the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. A former teacher and educational policy consultant and researcher, she is the author of numerous nonfiction books for young people, including the award-winning and critically-acclaimed We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March. She has also published articles in Appleseeds, Calliope, Cobblestone, Dig, Faces, and Odyssey. Visit her at her website and follow her on Twitter (@cylev).
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To find more diverse and multicultural books for children, please check out our Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents. We also have Pinterest board full of ideas:
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Great list! Libraries and readers need more stories like these until the violence and hatred end.
Thanks for stopping by, Karen!