Multicultural Titles
-- Curriculum Connections, 10/1/2008
CRAIG, Colleen. Afrika. 233p. CIP. Tundra. 2008. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-88776-807-1. LC C2007-902717-2.
Gr 6-8– Kim van der Merwe, 13, has grown up in Canada with her single, white South African mother, who is a journalist. When her mother is asked to report on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Kim goes with her to Cape Town to meet her family for the first time and becomes determined to learn her father’s identity. A compelling coming-of-age novel set against the vivid backdrop of South Africa during the period. B
D’ALUISIO, Faith. What the World Eats. photos. by Peter Menzel. 160p. charts. maps. index. CIP. Tricycle. 2008. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-1-58246-246-2. LC 2007041439.
Gr 6 Up–From Australia to Greenland, the authors look at 25 families, how much food each eats in a week, where it all comes from, and total grocery costs. Numerous color photos, recipes, fact boxes, and charts add to an eye-opening consideration of similarities, disparities, and global consequences. B
LIN, Grace. The Year of the Rat. illus. by author. 182p. CIP. Little, Brown. 2008. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-316-11426-4. LC 2007012327.
Gr 3-5–Following The Year of the Dog (Little, Brown, 2006), Lin continues the story of Pacy, a young Taiwanese-American girl. With loving support from her family, Pacy navigates between two cultures, coping with loss when a best friend moves, and prejudice, when a new Chinese student arrives at her school. B
NANJI, Shenaaz. Child of Dandelions. 214p. map. CIP. Front St. 2008. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-932425-93-2. LC 2007031576.
Gr 6-9–In August 1972, President Idi Amin announced that all people of Indian ancestry had 90 days to leave Uganda. At first, 15-year-old Sabine and her family didn’t think this meant them; after all they were Ugandan citizens, weren’t they? The confusion, chaos, and violence that ensued in the nation following Amin’s edict are well realized in this finely wrought, suspenseful novel. B
Worlds Together: Ethiopia for Kids. DVD. 29 min. Worlds Together. (worldstogether.com). 2008. $29.95.
Gr 1-6–Three children narrate an overview of Ethiopia, explaining how this nation has been shaped by its diverse cultures, religions, social issues, and environments. A map introduces the major regions of the country, and rapid live-action video segments offer a realistic picture of daily life in this African nation. D
