Multicultural Children’s Book and The Children’s Book Council are thrilled to team up to present the 2022 #ReadYourWorld Book Jam. Please welcome Donna Barba Higuera with her list of the Power of Storytelling.
El Cucuy is Scared, Too! by Donna Barba Higuera, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
Ramón is a little boy who can’t sleep. He is nervous about his first day at a new school. And El Cucuy is the monster who lives in Ramón’s cactus pot. He can’t sleep, either. It turns out that El Cucuy is scared, too!
This gentle, perceptive story explores the worries that can accompany moving to a new place and beginning a new journey—and reveals how comfort, bravery, and strength can be found through even the most unexpected of friendships. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
We are giving away 5 copies of El Cucuy is Scared, Too!. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
The Power of Storytelling
I’ve chosen books that incorporate folklore, mythology, or family tales from the author’s culture and best enriched the power of storytelling.
The Star Festival by Moni Ritchie Hadley, illustrated by Mizuho Fujisawa
This enchanting book draws a parallel between the Japanese legend of love separated amongst the stars to a young Keiko who loses her grandmother at the Star Festival and reunites with her in this beautiful retelling. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
In this epic tale unlike anything I’ve ever read, we are introduced to Khousrou as he travels from Iran to Oklahoma, and masterfully weaves his family’s tales and Persian folklore into his own immigration journey. [middle grade, ages 10 and up]
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book and A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales
Not just counting and alphabet books, these vibrant tales do double duty using Mexican culture and folklore as Señor Calavera’s tale teaches counting and the alphabet in Spanish and English with flare and unparalleled illustrations. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger
This captivating tale is told in alternating points of view of a Lipan Apache girl and a Cottonmouth person, allowing readers to escape to a world bordering the human realm, where animal people must navigate tricksters, complicated friendships, and nature to help one another. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
When You Trap A Tiger by Tae Keller
A heartfelt book where Korean folklore, storytelling, and magical realism assist Lily on her complicated journey as she navigates an increasingly complicated life and familial relationships. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
In this magical quest tale, the oral tradition of storytelling is a gift to the reader as well as the character, Minli, as her father’s fantastical Chinese folklore accompanies her as she seeks to change her family’s fortune. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
5 Book Giveaway of El Cucuy is Scared, Too!
We are giving away 5 copies of El Cucuy is Scared, Too!. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Donna Barba Higuera grew up dodging dust devils in the oilfields of central California. She was a daydreamer, constantly blending life experiences and folklore into stories. Now she weaves them into picture books and novels. Higuera currently lives among the spiraling mists of the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four children, three dogs, two frogs, and hundreds of wild birds who flock to her backyard birdfeeders every day. El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! is her debut picture book. She is also the author of the middle-grade novel Lupe Wong Won’t Dance. To learn more, please visit her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Join us Friday, January 28th at 9 pm EST for our #ReadYourWorld Twitter party. We will be giving away book bundles of 9 books each every five minutes!
These are fantastic selections. I consider these to be necessary, a part of any core collection, espc the Yuyi Morales books.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and A Big Mooncake for Little Star are my favorites.
We love Yuyi Morales books!
Great list of books! I just checked out El Cucuy Is Scared, Too from the library! The vibrant cover drew me in and I love the story. I also like how Erin Entrada Kelly’s Hello Universe incorporates folktales into the plot of her story. The book is a hit with my 4th and 5th grade students.
My favorite books that incorporate folktales are from the subgenre of fairy tales, but are slightly fractured and incorporate culture: For example The Three Little Javelinas, Federico and the Wolf, Lon Popo.
I love the Rick Riordan Presents label!
These selections are amazing! Love Grace Lin!
I loved Sal and Gabi Break the Universe!
I would be thrilled to add some new titles to my classroom library!
I love the Rick Riordan presents books for all different cultures mythology!
These look amazing!
What a great collection. I will have to check them out!
Some great books that come to mind are:
-Anansi Boys by Neil Gasiman
-Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
-Trash and Other Lies by Lyra Wolf
and
-A Ruin of Roses by K. F. Briene
One of my favorite books that incorporates mythology is The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim. Love that book!