Multicultural Children's Literature By Genre
The goal of this list is to organize high quality children’s literature by genre and age level. Please note that many books will fit into several genres, so I chose the category that seemed most appropriate to me. Each genre is organized by approximate age range, from youngest (early readers) to oldest (young adult).
I elected to omit many books that are already common in schools and some books that educators may want to reconsider using in their classrooms. I included resources for reading about some of these authors and books in Appendix A.
In order to help teachers, parents, and learners find texts, I attempted to also provide key words (organized into an index). Most of these key words are group identifiers (e.g., Latinx American author or characters, characters with disabilities, LGBTQIAP+ author or characters, etc.), and there are footnotes to help clarify why certain terms were chosen. Please email me if any texts are mis-identified or if you think any terms were misused. It is important to remember that no culture can be defined by any one text or any set of characteristics. The goal of these key terms is primarily to help find windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors for all children.
Genres
Picture Books
Picture books can be both fiction and non-fiction, and many of them will fit into other genres.
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Age range ( f1): 3-6 (AD580L)
- Synopsis (f2): It's the hottest, stickiest day of the summer. A fat-sun-in-the-sky day. An eating-ice-pops-on-the-porch day. And for Kishi and Renée, it's a best-friends-breakup day. Each girl sits on her own front porch, waiting for the other to apologize, even though they know they'll never speak to each other again, no matter how bored they get. But then the sounds of feet slapping the pavement and voices chanting double-dutch rhymes drift up the avenue, and neither one can resist going out in the street to play.This lyrical friendship story, the first collaboration of two outstanding artists, pairs a rhythmic text with distinctive collage illustrations. Its subtle message about sharing and forgiveness will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the ups and downs of being, and having, a best friend.
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Additional resources:
- Age range: 3-6 (660L)
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Synopsis: Magnificently capturing the colorful world of Islam for the youngest readers, this breathtaking and informative picture book celebrates Islam's beauty and traditions. From a red prayer rug to a blue hijab, everyday colors are given special meaning as young readers learn about clothing, food, and other important elements of Islamic culture, with a young Muslim girl as a guide. Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures, Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is equally at home in a classroom reading circle as it is being read to a child on a parent's lap. -
Key words: Muslim author and protagonist; Pakistani-American Author
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Age range: 4-8 (490L)
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Synopsis: If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her author-illustrator debut, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.
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Key words: Latinx American author/characters ( f5); Peruvian-American; Family History
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 4-8 (AD580L)
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Synopsis: Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything. In this stunning debut picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.
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Key words: Body image ( f6); Kenyan-Mexican author
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 4-8
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Author and characters with disabilities ( f7); Latinx American author/characters; Puerto Rican-American; Powerful Women
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 4-9
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Indigenous author/characters ( f8); Ojibew; Native Language
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 5-9 (650 L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Japan; Japanese-American author/characters ( f9); Family History; Immigrant Experience
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Additional resources:

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Age range: 7-10
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Synopsis:
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Key words: LGBTQIAP+ author and characters; Latinx American author and characters ( f10); Mexican-American author; social justice
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 8-10 (800L)
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Synopsis:
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 8-11 (AD860L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Jewish characters ( f12); Jewish-American author; Russia; Immigrant Experience
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 9-13 (330L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Australian author; social justice; bullying
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Additional resources:
Historical Fiction
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Age range: 4-8 (AD660L; f1)

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Synopsis ( f2):
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 4-8 (AD760L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Ukranian-American characters; Powerful women; Activism; Social injustice; Immigrant experience
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 4-8 (350L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Powerful women; White American ( f14) author and characters
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 4-8 (AD740L)

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Synopsis:
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Key words: Irish American characters; Immigrant story; Family history
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 5-7 (AD830L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Black American characters; Powerful women
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 5-8 (600L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Black author and characters; LGBTQIAP+ author ( f10); Family history
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 8-9 (AD730L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Japanese-American author and characters ( f9); injustice; social justice
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 5-11 (570L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Black American author and characters; social injustice
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 5-11 (NP)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Black American author and characters; social justice
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 7-10 (AD930L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Poland; Jewish author and characters ( f12); Social injustice
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Additional resources:
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Age range: 8-12 (860L)
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Synopsis:
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Key words: Chinese characters; Chinese American and Indigenous Author; Suquamish Author (