LibGuides: Linguistic & Cultural Diversity: Read-Alouds

Lunar New Year read by Izzy

Lunar New Year by Hannah Eliot; Alina Chau (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 2018
Learn all about the traditions of Lunar New Year--also known as Chinese New Year. After the winter solstice each year, it's time for a celebration with many names: Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, and Lunar New Year!

It Feels Good to Be Yourself read by Alex

It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn; Noah Grigni (Ill.)
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Call Number: J305.3 THORN
Publication Date: 2019
This straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others.

The Story of the Sea Glass read by Addie

The Story of the Sea Glass by Anne Westcott Dodd; Mary Beth Owens (Ill.)
Call Number: E DOD
Publication Date: 1999
Nicole loves to collect sea glass, the discovery of a special piece inspires a story from the past.

Your Name Is a Song read by Yashu

Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Call Number: E THO
Publication Date: 2020
Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city.

Little Beaver and The Echo read by Leah

Little Beaver and the Echo by Amy MacDonald; Sarah Fox-Davies (Ill.)
Call Number: E MAC
Publication Date: 1990
Unaware that the voice from across the pond telling him he's lonely is his echo, a little beaver sets out to make a friend of that voice, encountering real animal friends on the way.

The Turtle Ship read by Mrs. Shupp

The Turtle Ship by Helena Ku Rhee; Colleen Kong-Savage (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 2018
An adaptation of the legend of Sunsin Yi, a young boy in sixteenth-century Korea, who, inspired by his pet turtle, designs one of the greatest battleships in history and fulfills his dream of sailing the world.

I Am Loved read by Andie

I Am Loved by Nikki Giovanni; Ashley Bryan (Ill.)
Call Number: 811 GIO
Publication Date: 2018
Hand-selected by Newbery honoree Ashley Bryan, he has, with his masterful flourish of color, shape, and movement, added a visual layering that drums the most important message of all to young, old, parent, child, grandparent, and friend alike: You are loved.

Weslandia read by Addie

Weslandia by Paul Fleischman; Kevin Hawkes (Ill.)
Call Number: E FLE
Publication Date: 1999
Wesley's garden, seeded by the wind, produces a crop of huge, strange plants. These provide him with clothing, shelter, food, and drink as he creates his own civilization.This changes his life as his tormentors become friends.

I Am Enough read by Teddie

I Am Enough by Grace Byers; Keturah A. Bobo (Ill.)
Call Number: E BYE
Publication Date: 2018
Shares a story of loving who you are, respecting others and being kind to one another.

What Are Your Words? read by Reed

What Are Your Words? by Katherine Locke; Anne Passchier (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 2021
Ari knows a lot of words for neighbors, including the pronouns each prefers, and with help from Uncle Lior, who always asks "What are your words," figures out which pronouns--and other words--fit best today.

Giraffes Can't Dance read by Breanna and Daisy

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae; Guy Parker-Rees (Ill.)
Call Number: E AND
Publication Date: 2001
Gerald the giraffe is too clumsy to dance with all the other animals at the Jungle Dance, until he finds the right music

We're All Wonders read by Sam and Erin

We're All Wonders by R. J. Palacio
Call Number: E PAL
Publication Date: 2017
Augie enjoys the company of his dog, Daisy, and using his imagination, but painfully endures the taunts of his peers because of his facial deformity

The Proudest Blue read by Jamila

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad; Hatem Aly (Ill.)
Call Number: E MUH
Publication Date: 2019
Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school.

Eyes That Speak to the Stars read by Kalei

Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho; Dung Ho (Ill.)
Call Number: E HO
Publication Date: 2022
A young Asian boy, who notices that his eyes look different from his friends', realizes that his eyes--like his father's, grandfather's, and younger brother's--rise to the skies, speak to the stars, and are visionary.

My Shadow is Purple read by Taylor

My Shadow Is Purple by Scott Stuart
Publication Date: 2022
My dad has a shadow that's blue as a berry, and my mum's is as pink as a blossoming cherry. There's only those choices, a 2 or a 1. But mine is quite different, it's both and it's none. A book about being true to yourself. This story considers gender beyond binary in a vibrant spectrum of color.

I Am Every Good Thing read by Cyusa

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes
Call Number: E BAR
Publication Date: 2020
The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend.

What Riley Wore read by Blaire

What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold and Linda Davick (Ill.)
Call Number: E ARN
Publication Date: 2019
Gender-creative Riley knows just what to wear for every occasion during a busy week with family and friends.

The Year We Learned to Fly read by Teddy

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael López (Ill.)
Call Number: E WOO
Publication Date: 2022
By heeding their wise grandmother's advice, a brother and sister discover the ability to lift themselves up and imagine a better world.

Sulwe read by Jamila

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o & Vashti Harrison (Ill.)
Call Number: E NYO
Publication Date: 2019
When five-year-old Sulwe's classmates make fun of her dark skin, she tries lightening herself to no avail, but her encounter with a shooting star helps her understand there is beauty in every shade.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters read by Addie

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
Call Number: E STE
Publication Date: 1987
Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife.

Be You! read by Ryan

Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds
Call Number: E REY
Publication Date: 2020
A joyful celebration of individuality--and staying true to you! Be curious, Be adventurous, Be brave, 'Be you!'

Magic Like That read by Jodi

Magic Like That by Samara Cole Doyon; Geneva Bowers (Ill.)
Call Number: E DOY
Publication Date: 2021
As a young Black girl waits for her mother to finish her newest hairstyle, she wonders what stunning, majestic, awe-inspiring form her hair will take next!

The House of Wisdom read by Angela

The House of Wisdom by Florence Parry Heide; Judith Heide Gilliland; Mary GrandPré (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 1999
Ishaq, the son of the chief translator to the Caliph of ancient Baghdad, travels the world in search of precious books and manuscripts and brings them back to the great library known as the House of Wisdom.

Coat of Many Colors read by Lindsay

Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton; Brooke Boynton Hughes (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 1994
Dolly Parton lends the lyrics of her classic song "Coat of Many Colors" to this heartfelt picture book for young readers.

Just Ask read by Mackenzie

Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor; Rafael López (Ill.)
Call Number: E SOT
Publication Date: 2019
A story in which friends who have different abilities, work together to build a community garden.

Opal Lee and What It Means To Be Free read by Ananda

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan; Keturah A. Bobo (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 2022
The true story of Black activist Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone will inspire children to be brave and make a difference. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that most Americans had never heard of the holiday that represents the nation's creed of "freedom for all"

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners read by Kalei

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho; Dung Ho (Ill.)
Call Number: E HO
Publication Date: 2021
A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother's, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self love and empowerment.

Like the Moon Loves the Sky read by Angela

Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan; Saffa Khan (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 2020
Illustrations and prose inspired by the Quran celebrate a mother's love and hopes for her child.

Blue read by Mrs. Shupp

Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond; Daniel Minter (Ill.)
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Publication Date: 2022
Discover a world of creativity and tradition in this fascinating picture book that explores the history and cultural significance of the color blue.

Accept and Value Each Person read by Nick and Anna

Accept and Value Each Person by Cheri J. Meiners
Call Number: 179 MEI
Publication Date: 2006
A young girl learns to recognize and appreciate the uniqueness qualities of the world's different people.

The Sandwich Swap read by Isabela

The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al Abdullah with Kelly DiPucchio; Tricia Tusa (Ill.)
Call Number: E RAN
Publication Date: 2010
Best friends Lily and Salma disagree over their preferred foods, but after trading sandwiches to see how they taste, the girls change their minds.

The Struggle Bus read by Alex

The Struggle Bus by Julie Koon; Nevin Mays (Editor)
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The Struggle Bus offers a lot: self-discovery, tips for problem-solving, and, mostly importantly, an acknowledgement that we all struggle sometimes, but we shouldn't get stuck on that bus.

The Name Jar read by Mrs. Schupp

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Call Number: E CHO
Publication Date: 2003
Unhei's classmates help her decide on a name when she moves to the United States from Korea.

Julian is a Mermaid read by Tona

Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Call Number: E LOV
Publication Date: 2018
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Juliań gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes--and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?

Fry Bread read by Kat

Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, Juana Martinez-Neal (Illu.)
Call Number: E MAI
Publication Date: 2019
Follows a Native American family as they make fry bread and celebrate their culture.

Don't Touch My Hair read by Andie

Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller
Call Number: E MIL
Publication Date: 2018
Aria loves her soft and bouncy hair, but must go to extremes to avoid people who touch it without permission until, finally, she speaks up.

New Clothes for New Year's Day read by Mrs. Schupp

New Clothes for New Year's Day by Hyun-Joo Bae
Publication Date: 2007
A young Korean girl looks forward to her family's New Year's celebration and the fancy clothes she will be wearing.