Around the World in Books
An essential part of Librarianship for myself is being able to expose children to many different cultures. This is important now more than ever as the world continues to see turmoil in some regions of the world. Children’s parents are being sent off to fight in war’s that will impact their lives forever. There is also the influx of political refugees and other immigrants which is significantly impacting the diversity of our neighborhoods. “Children encounter diversity daily in their interactions with others at home, school and in their neighborhood.” (Campbell, 2014) As cultures across the world start to blend it is becoming more important for children to know about their own culture as well as others. One way we can teach lessons on culture is through stories. “Stories help children understand how society perceives their culture as well as the cultures of their classmates, teachers, caregivers, and others that shape their social development.” (Campbell, 2014)
Another way to help bridge the cultural divide is to ensure a rich and diverse collection of multicultural books. These books should focus on, language, religion, and cultural customs. Providing books that expose children to other cultures is great but don’t forget to also offer culturally rich resources for our own culture. Why are we who we are?
There are several initiatives out there that are working toward helping libraries become great resources to learn about a culture. I highly encourage everyone to think outside the box and look to international children’s groups for resources. Below are a few initiatives to give you an idea of programs your library can participate in.
Libraries are also trying to bring more diversity into their community with El día de Los niños/ El día de Los Libros (children’s day/book day) also referred to as Día! Diversity in action. This is an initiative run on April 30th by ALSC to emphasize the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. (LaTronica, 2014)
Another effort International Children’s Book Day celebrated on April 2nd since 1967 (near Hans Christian Anderson’s birthday) is observed to inspire the love of reading and to call attention to international children’s books. Each year a different country sponsors the day and promotes an author and or illustrator from their country. (www.ibby.org) This is a beautiful project to get involved in and to really be on top of International Authors.
Information can be a powerful tool in a child’s tool belt. Arming a child with understanding and compassion will not only help our world in the future but build a bridge of friendship and understanding. The future is our children, and we should do all we can to invest in them.
There are several delivery methods for this project. You could start the project out at story-time or run the project for a month and/or design activities for the children to do during a summer reading program. The longer the program or display is shown, the more patrons it would reach. To introduce this project, I have selected 3 books that teach children what is going on around the world while they are living in their world. These books are perfect for showing time and differences in life/lifestyle.
Part 1: Story-Time – 20 min
Perrin, Clotilde. 2011. At the Same Moment Around the World.
This book is brilliant. It portrays what is going on through all the original 24 time zones. Follow the different children and see what they are doing at the same time you are going to bed.
Laroche, Giles. 2011. If you Lived Here.
With this book, you can step into many different homes. See how people live and why their homes are built the way they are.
Orbeck-Nilssen, Constance and Duzakin, Akin. 2016. Why Am I Here?
This book is beautifully illustrated and follows a boy on his journey in asking Why is he where he is? What is his purpose? He explores other worlds asking if he is the only one who is questioning Why am I here? Translated to English from Norwegian.
I am going to provide a list of books that will take us around the world. Using the resources available to you at your library, you can augment any of these books with something tangible (like a trinket or fabric if you have had the opportunity to visit). This is also a way you can get others in your community involved if you ask them to bring in something that represents their culture or family.
Around the World we go:
Refugees
Leatherdale, Mary Beth and Shakespeare, Eleanor. 2017. Stormy Seas Stories of Young Boat Refugees.
Australia
Germein, Katrina. 2002. Big Rain Coming.
Bancroft, Bronwyn. 2016. Why I love Australia.
Fox, Mem. 1991. Possum Magic.
Lindsay, Norman. 1918. The Magic Pudding: The Adventures of Bunyip Bluegum and his friends Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff.
Asia
Park, Linda Sue and Lee, Ho Baek. 2005. Bee-bim Bop.
Lin, Grace. 2001. Dim Sum for Everyone!
Wells, Rosemary. 1998. Yoko.
Park, Soyung and Hartung, Susan Kathleen. 1999. Dear Juno.
Choi, Yangsook. 2003. The Name Jar.
Reibstein, Mark. 2008. Wabi Sabi.
Wenxuan, Cao. 2017. Bronze and Sunflower.
Liu, Na and Martinez, Andres Vera. 2012. Little White Duck: A Childhood in China.
Venkatesh, Arundhati. 2016. The Book-a-Suras. (Multi series from Indian author)
South America
Krebes, Laurie and Fronty, Aurelia. 2011. Up and Down the Andes.
Mitchell, Susan, and McLellan, Connie. 2007. The Rainforest Grew All Around.
Brown, Monica, and Parra, John. 2010. Me llamo Gabriela
Van Laan, Nancy, and Vidal, Beatriz. 1998. The Magic Bean Tree: A Legend from Argentina.
Ray, Deborah Kogan. 2006. To Go Singing through the World: The Childhood of Pablo Neruda.
Europe
Banks, Kate and Hallensleben, Georg. 2004. The Cat who walked Across France.
Ahlberg, Janet and Ahlberg, Allen. 2013. Starting School.
Polacco, Patricia. 1996. Rechenka’s Eggs.
Fleming, Candace, and Potter, Giselle. 2001. Gabriella’s Song.
Bunting, Eve and Berry, Holly. 1996. Market Day.
Sasek, Miroslav. 1959. This is London.
Borden, Louise, and Daly, Niki. 2004. The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands.
Riva, Renee, and Bjorkmann, Steve. 2005. Guido’s Gondola.
Africa
Alalou, Elizabeth and Essakalli, Julie. 2008. The Butter Man.
Chamberlin, Mary, and Cairnes, Julie. 2006. Mama Panya’s Pancakes.
Hoffman, Mary, and Binch, Caroline. 2000. Boundless Grace.
McBrier, Page and Lohstoeter, Lori. 2004. Beatrice’s Goat.
Nivola, Claire. 2008. Planting the Tree’s of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai.
Provencal, Francis and McNamara, Catherine. 2003. Nii Kwei’s Day: From Dawn to Dusk in a Ghanaian City.
To conclude I hope that I have provided you with a significant number of resources There are many authors out there from other countries that we are not aware of but really offer insight into different ways of life. J.K. Rowling and Cornella Funke to name a few. I didn’t include them in my list because their books are primarily fantasy fiction. I highly encourage everyone to think of the world beyond them and search for international authors. Pinterest and some of the blogs I have listed below also offer fun activities that you can do along with the books.
Resources and Blogs to Follow
ALSC White Paper Diversity in Libraries
International Board on Books for Young People
Libraries Working to Bridge The Cultural Divide
We Are Teachers Books on Diversity
Youth Lit Review Picture Books Around the World
An essential part of Librarianship for myself is being able to expose children to many different cultures. This is important now more than ever as the world continues to see turmoil in some regions of the world. Children’s parents are being sent off to fight in war’s that will impact their lives forever. There is also the influx of political refugees and other immigrants which is significantly impacting the diversity of our neighborhoods. “Children encounter diversity daily in their interactions with others at home, school and in their neighborhood.” (Campbell, 2014) As cultures across the world start to blend it is becoming more important for children to know about their own culture as well as others. One way we can teach lessons on culture is through stories. “Stories help children understand how society perceives their culture as well as the cultures of their classmates, teachers, caregivers, and others that shape their social development.” (Campbell, 2014)
Another way to help bridge the cultural divide is to ensure a rich and diverse collection of multicultural books. These books should focus on, language, religion, and cultural customs. Providing books that expose children to other cultures is great but don’t forget to also offer culturally rich resources for our own culture. Why are we who we are?
There are several initiatives out there that are working toward helping libraries become great resources to learn about a culture. I highly encourage everyone to think outside the box and look to international children’s groups for resources. Below are a few initiatives to give you an idea of programs your library can participate in.
Libraries are also trying to bring more diversity into their community with El día de Los niños/ El día de Los Libros (children’s day/book day) also referred to as Día! Diversity in action. This is an initiative run on April 30th by ALSC to emphasize the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. (LaTronica, 2014)
Another effort International Children’s Book Day celebrated on April 2nd since 1967 (near Hans Christian Anderson’s birthday) is observed to inspire the love of reading and to call attention to international children’s books. Each year a different country sponsors the day and promotes an author and or illustrator from their country. (www.ibby.org) This is a beautiful project to get involved in and to really be on top of International Authors.
Information can be a powerful tool in a child’s tool belt. Arming a child with understanding and compassion will not only help our world in the future but build a bridge of friendship and understanding. The future is our children, and we should do all we can to invest in them.
There are several delivery methods for this project. You could start the project out at story-time or run the project for a month and/or design activities for the children to do during a summer reading program. The longer the program or display is shown, the more patrons it would reach. To introduce this project, I have selected 3 books that teach children what is going on around the world while they are living in their world. These books are perfect for showing time and differences in life/lifestyle.
Part 1: Story-Time – 20 min
Perrin, Clotilde. 2011. At the Same Moment Around the World.
This book is brilliant. It portrays what is going on through all the original 24 time zones. Follow the different children and see what they are doing at the same time you are going to bed.
Laroche, Giles. 2011. If you Lived Here.
With this book, you can step into many different homes. See how people live and why their homes are built the way they are.
Orbeck-Nilssen, Constance and Duzakin, Akin. 2016. Why Am I Here?
This book is beautifully illustrated and follows a boy on his journey in asking Why is he where he is? What is his purpose? He explores other worlds asking if he is the only one who is questioning Why am I here? Translated to English from Norwegian.
I am going to provide a list of books that will take us around the world. Using the resources available to you at your library, you can augment any of these books with something tangible (like a trinket or fabric if you have had the opportunity to visit). This is also a way you can get others in your community involved if you ask them to bring in something that represents their culture or family.
Around the World we go:
Refugees
Leatherdale, Mary Beth and Shakespeare, Eleanor. 2017. Stormy Seas Stories of Young Boat Refugees.
Australia
Germein, Katrina. 2002. Big Rain Coming.
Bancroft, Bronwyn. 2016. Why I love Australia.
Fox, Mem. 1991. Possum Magic.
Lindsay, Norman. 1918. The Magic Pudding: The Adventures of Bunyip Bluegum and his friends Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff.
Asia
Park, Linda Sue and Lee, Ho Baek. 2005. Bee-bim Bop.
Lin, Grace. 2001. Dim Sum for Everyone!
Wells, Rosemary. 1998. Yoko.
Park, Soyung and Hartung, Susan Kathleen. 1999. Dear Juno.
Choi, Yangsook. 2003. The Name Jar.
Reibstein, Mark. 2008. Wabi Sabi.
Wenxuan, Cao. 2017. Bronze and Sunflower.
Liu, Na and Martinez, Andres Vera. 2012. Little White Duck: A Childhood in China.
Venkatesh, Arundhati. 2016. The Book-a-Suras. (Multi series from Indian author)
South America
Krebes, Laurie and Fronty, Aurelia. 2011. Up and Down the Andes.
Mitchell, Susan, and McLellan, Connie. 2007. The Rainforest Grew All Around.
Brown, Monica, and Parra, John. 2010. Me llamo Gabriela
Van Laan, Nancy, and Vidal, Beatriz. 1998. The Magic Bean Tree: A Legend from Argentina.
Ray, Deborah Kogan. 2006. To Go Singing through the World: The Childhood of Pablo Neruda.
Europe
Banks, Kate and Hallensleben, Georg. 2004. The Cat who walked Across France.
Ahlberg, Janet and Ahlberg, Allen. 2013. Starting School.
Polacco, Patricia. 1996. Rechenka’s Eggs.
Fleming, Candace, and Potter, Giselle. 2001. Gabriella’s Song.
Bunting, Eve and Berry, Holly. 1996. Market Day.
Sasek, Miroslav. 1959. This is London.
Borden, Louise, and Daly, Niki. 2004. The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands.
Riva, Renee, and Bjorkmann, Steve. 2005. Guido’s Gondola.
Africa
Alalou, Elizabeth and Essakalli, Julie. 2008. The Butter Man.
Chamberlin, Mary, and Cairnes, Julie. 2006. Mama Panya’s Pancakes.
Hoffman, Mary, and Binch, Caroline. 2000. Boundless Grace.
McBrier, Page and Lohstoeter, Lori. 2004. Beatrice’s Goat.
Nivola, Claire. 2008. Planting the Tree’s of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai.
Provencal, Francis and McNamara, Catherine. 2003. Nii Kwei’s Day: From Dawn to Dusk in a Ghanaian City.
To conclude I hope that I have provided you with a significant number of resources There are many authors out there from other countries that we are not aware of but really offer insight into different ways of life. J.K. Rowling and Cornella Funke to name a few. I didn’t include them in my list because their books are primarily fantasy fiction. I highly encourage everyone to think of the world beyond them and search for international authors. Pinterest and some of the blogs I have listed below also offer fun activities that you can do along with the books.
Resources and Blogs to Follow
ALSC White Paper Diversity in Libraries
International Board on Books for Young People
Libraries Working to Bridge The Cultural Divide
We Are Teachers Books on Diversity
Youth Lit Review Picture Books Around the World