DIWALI IN MY NEW HOME
DIWALI IN MY NEW HOME by Shachi Kaushik is such a sweet story of hope and unity.
It features a girl named Priya who immigrated from India to a place where no one celebrates Diwali.
She helps her mother clean and decorate before the festival, and she prays that Goddess Lakshmi visits her new home.
As she draws a colorful rangoli on her porch, the neighbors notice and offer to help. They were curious about the lights and decorations, and Priya was happy to share everything she knows about her favorite holiday.
At sunset, they gather for puja. Lighting diyas and clay lamps and offering marigolds to the gods and goddesses.
Later, Priya is super excited when all the neighbors gather to celebrate with them.
With vivid and vibrantly majestic illustrations by Aishwarya Tandon, this book is absolutely wonderful and is great for children adjusting to a new home or country.
Sharing your culture in places that may seem unfamiliar may take some adjusting, but with supportive family and friends, it becomes a lot easier. Publisher: Beaming Books. AGE: 4-8
TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX
TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX, written by Costantia Manoli is a remarkable story of friendship and belonging.
After moving to a new country, a cute girl feels lonely on her first day of school.
The teacher and students mispronounced her name, and her tomato at lunch differs from the other lunches.
She longs for her home country, where the sound of her name is soft and familiar.
With reassurances from her family, she is brave enough to make a friend who shares a common interest and sparks the start of a great friendship.
Moving to another country is never an easy change and, coupled with the start of a brand new school, it may be harder to adjust.
Having a supportive family and the courage to be bold can help make adjusting easier.
The bold and distinctive illustrations by Magdalena Mora are always amazing and capture the essence of the message in this book. It’s definitely a book for your home or school library. Publisher: Roaring Brook Press. AGE: 5-8
LIKE A DANDELION
LIKE A DANDELION by Huy Voun Lee is a delightful story of immigration.
It features a family as they navigate through life in a new country, embracing new friendships and community as the season’s change.
Every season brings new experiences and ultimately a sense of belonging.
The vibrant and captivating illustrations capture the essence of this book and their metaphorical references to dandelions.
It’s inspired by Huy Voun Lee’s experience as a refugee and it fosters strength and hope. Perfect for children immigrating to a new country. Publisher: Balzer + Bray.AGE:4-8
I WISH YOU KNEW
I WISH YOU KNEW by Jackie Azúa Kramer is a heartfelt story of a sad little girl whose father had to return to his native country.
She misses him, but with love and support from her teacher and classmates, she realizes she’s not alone because everyone has an experience to share. An experience that makes them strong and hopeful.
We absolutely love how relatable this book is. School is not only for learning and playing, but a place to explore and appreciate our differences and provide support for anyone in need. Especially when they’re going through a difficult time.
School should allow children to express themselves in a nonjudgmental way and encourage open and honest communication.
The illustrations by Magdalena Mora are absolutely remarkable and full of color.
DANBI LEADS THE SCHOOL PARADE
DANBI LEADS THE SCHOOL PARADE by Anna Kim is a delightful dream to read and portrays how food can always unite.
Danbi is excited to start her new school in America after migrating from Korea, but her way of doing things was a little different from the other children. They did not understand her, so she did things alone.
At lunch, she amazed all the other children with her delicious food. This was the perfect opportunity to allow them to explore her culture and learn about who she was.
From chopstick fun to tapping on juice boxes, a parade started through the lunchroom and into the playground. She made friends and even learned to write her name in English.
This book is totally relatable, and it’s another perfect back to school book for children from a different country and whose first language isn’t English.
It’s about friendship and community and the wonderful illustrations are vibrant and bright, making this a total favorite of ours. AGE:4-8
YOUR NAME IS A SONG
YOUR NAME IS A SONG by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a perfect celebration of names and their meanings.
Your name is the first introduction during any social setting, especially at school, and for Kora-Jalimuso’s first day of school, this proved difficult because no one at school could pronounce her name.
Feeling dismayed, she told her mother, who teaches her how important her name is and its likeness to a song.
It is the melody played by street musicians, the tapping of feet, and patting of her chest. Names come from the heart.
We loved every single thing about this book, and the bright and vibrant illustrations by Luisa Uribe are majestic.
It allows everyone, especially children, to embrace their unique names.
Children and even grownups have trouble pronouncing very eccentric names which can leave you feeling like they don’t belong, but this book provides a reassuring way to teach them in a fun and exciting way. AGE:4-8
WATCH ME
WATCH ME by Doyin Richards is an inspirational story of hope and resilience.
Joe immigrated from Sierra Leone to America to fulfill his dreams. He persevered through many challenging times, including hateful situations and discouragement from his peers.
He thrived and succeeded through it all, and his story and the story of many others like him inspire other immigrants seeking a better life.
This book is for anyone who feels ridiculed for their will to succeed. People may doubt you, but as long as you don’t doubt yourself and work hard, then that’s all that matters.
It’s perfect for children adjusting to a new country, and the bright, vibrant acrylic illustrations by Joe Cepeda capture the entire essence of this book. Publisher: Feiwel & Friends. AGE 4-8.
EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS
EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS by Joanna Ho is such a heartwarming ode to family, told through the eyes of an Asian girl.
Her eyes aren’t like her friend’s eyes, her eyes kiss at the corners. So do her Mama, Amah, and sister Mei Mei. Through their eyes, she experiences joy and love and stories of her ancestors.
Like most, their eyes say what they feel. From warm eyes that welcome sisterly bonds to eyes that provide hope for the future.
This book is magnificent and is a wonderful celebration of self-acceptance and pride. It celebrates the rich heritage and the strength of Asian culture, and it’s perfect for every classroom.
The illustrations by Dung Ho are absolutely stunning, with vibrant hues that transition through every page. Publisher: Harper Collins AGE 4-8.
ISLANDBORN
I love love love this book called ISLANDBORN by Junot Díaz. Not only because it’s such a beautiful story but the illustrations by Leo Espinosa are the best…ever! It’s full of color and definitely reminds you of the Islands.
In the book, Lola has to draw a picture that reminds her of the island she came from, but unlike the other children, she can’t seem to remember, so she sets out on a mission to find out everything about the island from her family and by asking people in her neighborhood.
You’ll be amazed at all the things Lola learned. From the music to the food to some beautiful moments in history and also some terrifying ones.
The book is completely relatable and absolutely relevant. It’s important to teach children about their ancestors and where they came from. Knowing your culture and heritage is beautiful.
Younger children will love the beautiful, vibrant pictures and older children will love reading it too. A must-have for every home. AGE :5-10
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
A magnificent book that can help with children’s understanding of who they are and where they’re from is WHERE ARE YOU FROM by Yamile Saied Mendez.
He takes her on a heartfelt ancestral journey of life back on the island and tells the story of the gaucho, rivers and mountains and reminisces about the warm beaches and even the hurricanes on the island.
ALL ARE WELCOME
ALL ARE WELCOME by Alexandra Penfold is an amazing book about Diversity and Inclusivity. This book features children of all races and cultural backgrounds at a school that is warm and welcoming.
They go through the day supporting, playing and learning with each other and everyone just looks so happy. I love books about inclusivity and diversity because it teaches children to accept and support people who may not look like them.
The illustrations by Suzanne Kaufman is absolutely stunning and full of vibrant colors that capture the essence of the book. It even features a poster of all cultures that I will share in my story. AGE:2-4
