Multicultural Titles
By Staff -- Curriculum Connections, 10/1/2006
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Gr 7-10 –In the aftermath of 9/11, the U.S. government required the registration of Muslim men, many of whom were living here with expired visas. Fourteen-year-old Nadira, the daughter of immigrants from Bangladesh, describes the anguish and uncertainty caused by her father’s detention over a misspelled surname. B
GRIFFIN, Starla. Girl, 13: A Global Snapshot of Generation. 239p. maps. photos. bibliog. Web sites. CIP. Hylas. 2005. pap. $22.95. ISBN 1-59258-112-9. LC 2005016595.
Gr 6 Up– Interviews with 43 girls from every part of the globe capture each one at the same point of adolescent development, relating basic biographical information, opinions, talents, and hobbies. A vibrant design, profuse illustrations, and lively essays by the girls combine to give readers a unique worldview. B
KING, C. Richard. Media Images and Representations. 117p. ISBN 0-7910-7968-6. LC 2005007546.
WATKINS, Joe Edward. Sacred Sites and Repatriation. 122p. ISBN 0-7910-7969-4. LC 2004003266.
ea vol: (Contemporary Native American Issues Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Chelsea House. 2005. PLB $30.
Gr 11 Up –These two well-written entries present the complexity of the issues and will help rectify misunderstanding and stereotypes in both popular culture and legal tensions over property rights and scientific research. B
RODRIGUEZ, Robert & Tamra Orr. Great Hispanic-Americans. 128p. photos. reprods. index. Publications Int’l. 2005. PLB $38. ISBN 1-4127-1148-7. LC 2004118176.
Gr 6 Up –A handsome layout enhances this compilation of two-page essays about 55 Hispanic Americans from a variety of fields–music, literature, labor, science, design, and politics. A few surprises spring up among the usual names; e.g., actor Martin Sheen was born Ramón Estévez to an Irish mother and a Spanish father, and proudly bears his own name offstage. B
SHETH, Kashmira. Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet. 249p. CIP. Hyperion. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-7868-3857-4. LC 2005050338.
Gr 8-10 –Family tensions along with the conflict between old customs and modern sensibilities set the background for this first-person love story of a 16-year-old girl coming of age in 21st-century India. B
YANG, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. illus. by author. 233p. Roaring Brook/First Second. 2006. pap. $18.95. ISBN 1-59643-152-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up –It’s tough to talk about today’s most serious issues (such as racial prejudice, self-acceptance, and spirituality) without appearing sanctimonious or sappy. But graphic artist Gene Yang deftly sidesteps that quicksand in this zippy, heartfelt tale of what it means to grow up Asian American. B
Welcome to France. (www.info-france-usa.org/kids). Embassy of France, Washington, DC. (Accessed 8/1/06).
Gr 6 Up –Whether kids are learning the language, plan to take a trip, or need information for homework, this is a good spot to get a firm grounding in all things French. Succinct descriptions of the economy, sports, history, culture, people, and daily life in France are combined with maps, photos, and “10 Reasons to Learn French.” W
