Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia

Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia

Written and Illustrated by: Ted and Betsy Lewin

Elementary Grades

"This colorful travelogue recounts the Lewins' trip to Mongolia to experience the annual summer celebration Naadam, in particular the horse-racing competition. It focuses on young Tamir as he prepares for and participates in the event. Information about Mongolian culture and the holiday's traditions are interspersed with an account of the competition. An introduction provides brief background, and unfamiliar terms are explained in context and in the glossary."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.leeandlow.com/p/horse_song_talk.mhtml

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

Written by: Dee Brown

Junior High and High School Grades

"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is Dee Brown's classic, eloquent, meticulously documented account of the systematic destruction of the American Indian during the second half of the nineteenth century. A national bestseller in hardcover for more than a year after its initial publication, it has sold over four million copies in multiple editions and has been translated into seventeen languages.

Using council records, autobiographies, and firsthand descriptions, Brown allows great chiefs and warriors of the Dakota, Ute, Sioux, Cheyenne, and other tribes to tell us in their own words of the series of battles, massacres, and broken treaties that finally left them and their people demoralized and decimated. A unique and disturbing narrative told with force and clarity, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee changed forever our vision of how the West was won, and lost. It tells a story that should not be forgotten, and so must be retold from time to time."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/knee.htm
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Wounded_Knee,_South_Dakota

Only the Names Remain: The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears

Only the Names Remain: The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears

Written by: Alex W. Bealer

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"From 1837 to 1838, thousands of Cherokee Indians were marched from their homelands in Georgia to exile in Arkansas by the same white men they has once befriended. The Cherokees journeyed through bitter cold and blazing heat, with little food or water. One out of every four died and with them died a culture that had existed for hundreds of years, a civilization that had existed for hundred of years, a civilization that had embraced the white man's ways only to perish through his betrayal. Today, only the names remain of this once great nation."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.pbs.org/indiancountry/history/trail.html
http://www.cherokeebyblood.com/trailtears.htm

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

Written by: Judith Kerr

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Nine-year-old Anna was too busy with schoolwork and friends in 1933 to take much notice of Adolf Hitler's rise to power in her native Germany. But when her father is suddenly, unaccountably missing, and her family flees Berlin in secrecy, Anna is forced to learn the skills needed to be a refugee and finds she's much more resilient than she thought."

Product Description

Online Resources:
http://www.remember.org/educate/moretta.html

My Place

My Place

Written by: Nadia Wheatley & Donna Rawlins

Elementary Grades

"My Place is a wonderfully intimate history of Australia starting in 1988 and going back 200 years to 1788. Young readers learn its history by being told the story of one particular place by the generations of Australian children who have lived there. Rich in detail, with maps that the successive generations of children have draw, My place could completely occupy a child (or an entire class of children). Nadia Wheatly is an historian and in collaboration with illustrator Donna Rawlins have successfully combined their mutual curiosity about the past to show the story of Australia as seen by children."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://kcac.kennesaw.edu/classroom_resources/Xhullender.html

A Single Shard

A Single Shard

Written by: Linda Sue Park

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Set in 12th century Korea, this is the story of Tree-ear who lives under a bridge with his disabled older friend Crane-man. Tree-ear becomes fascinated with the potter's craft and longs to create celadon ceramics. However pottery is a trade passed on from father to son and Tree-ear is an orphan. He works long and hard hoping to become an apprentice."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://eduscapes.com/newbery/02a.htm

Good Fortune: My Journey to Gold Mountain

Good Fortune: My Journey to Gold Mountain

Written by: Li Keng Wong

Junior High and High School Grades

"An elementary school teacher for 35 years tells about her family's journey to America, their interrogation at Angel Island, and the difficult life they faced in Oakland, CA, where her father ran an illegal lottery business. Paw Paw worked in Gold Mountain and sent money home. One day, the author, her two sisters, and their mother received a letter announcing that they would be returning with him after his next visit. The family studied the papers that he sent to prepare them for the difficult questions they would be asked upon their arrival. Particularly worrisome was the fact that Paw Paw wasn't allowed to bring his wife to America, so she would be posing as his sister. This memoir clearly shows the hardships, sacrifices, and eventual successes of the Chinese families who came to America during the Depression."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/asian-american/angel_island/

Tap Dancing on the Roof

Tap Dancing on the Roof
*2010-2011 Texas Bluebonnet Award*

Written by: Linda Sue Park
Illustrated by: Istavan Banyai

Elementary Grades

"A sijo, a traditional Korean verse form, has a fixed number of stressed syllables and a humorous or ironic twist at the end. Like haiku, sijo are brief and accessible, and the witty last line winds up each poem with a surprise. The verses in this book illuminate funny, unexpected, amazing aspects of the everyday--of breakfast, thunder and lightning, houseplants, tennis, freshly laundered socks. Carefully crafted and deceptively simple, Linda Sue Park's sijo are a pleasure to read and an irresistible invitation to experiment with an unfamiliar poetic form. Istvan Banyai's irrepressibly giddy and sophisticated illustrations add a one-of-a-kind luster to a book that is truly a gem."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://suzyred.com/2010_Tap_Dancing_on_the_Roof.html

Sparrow Girl

Sparrow Girl

*2010-2011 Texas Bluebonnet Award*

Written by: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by: Yoko Tanaka

Elementary Grades

"Ming-Li looked up and tried to imagine the sky silent, empty of birds. It was a terrible thought. Her country's leader had called sparrows the enemy of the farmers--they were eating too much grain, he said. He announced a great "Sparrow War" to banish them from China, but Ming-Li did not want to chase the birds away.

As the people of her village gathered with firecrackers and gongs to scatter the sparrows, Ming-Li held her ears and watched in dismay. The birds were falling from the trees, frightened to death! Ming-Li knew she had to do something--even if she couldn't stop the noise. Quietly, she vowed to save as many sparrows as she could, one by one..."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://suzyred.com/2010_Sparrow_Girl.html
http://www.sarapennypacker.com/pennypacker-sparrow.htm

City Boy

City Boy

Written by: Jan Michael

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Samuel Sangala has grown up in urban areas in Malawi. His parents wanted nothing to do with those “ignorant” people in the bush, and they never returned to the rural valley where their families live. But after both his father and his beloved mother die of the “The Disease” (AIDS), Sam has to move to his aunt’s small, dark hut in a country village, where there is no electricity and no computer, and he is expected to share his stuff with his cousins. Readers will recognize from the start that Sam will eventually find a way to feel at home in his new community, but that predictability doesn’t detract from the story, which remains true to his viewpoint and shows, without condescension or sentimentality, the wrenching upheaval, the ravages of AIDS, and Samuel’s grief. Even as he longs for the technology he learned to rely on, he also recognizes that his parents lost a lot when they broke from their roots. Above all, he learns that the definition of “family” encompasses more than just relatives."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/africa_malawi_village/html/1.stm

Ninth Ward

Ninth Ward

Written by: Jewell Parker Rhodes

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina is the setting for this tense novel that blends the drama of the catastrophic storm with magic realism. Twelve-year-old Lanesha’s teenage mother died while giving birth to her, and, because her mother’s wealthy uptown family won’t have anything to do with her, she is raised in the Ninth Ward by loving Mama Ya-Ya, 82, who feels like her “mother and grandmother both.” Born with a caul over her eyes, Lanesha is teased at school, but she is strengthened by her fierce caretaker’s devotion and by a teacher who inspires Lanesha to become an engineer and build bridges. Lanesha also has “second sight,” which includes an ability to see her mother’s ghost. As the storm nears and the call comes for mandatory evacuation, Mama Ya-Ya envisions that she will not survive, but Lanesha escapes the rising water in a small rowboat and even rescues others along the way. The dynamics of the diverse community enrich the survival story, and the contemporary struggle of one brave child humanizes the historic tragedy."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://jewellparkerrhodes.com/children/books/ninth-ward/

Mama's Saris

Mama's Saris

Written by: Pooja Makhijani

Illustrated by: Elena Gomez

Elementary Grades

"On her seventh birthday, the narrator helps her mother select a sari to put on for her party and they recall the various occasions at which she wore each beautiful outfit. In the process, readers learn that the girl's mother only dons a sari for special events, while her grandmother dresses in one every day. The child pleads to be allowed to wear one and her mother finally agrees, saying, "just today, because it's your birthday." Mama wraps the cloth around her, finishing with bangles and a bindi (a decorative mark worn on the forehead). The child's happiness is evident in her expression as she tells her mother, "I think I look like you!" The colorful, detailed acrylic illustrations complement the simple storyline by showing the designs of the various saris mentioned in the text. A glossary of the Hindi words is provided. A pleasant offering about family traditions that depicts a positive interaction between mother and daughter."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.poojamakhijani.com/mamassaristg.html
http://www.poojamakhijani.com/note.html

P is for Pakistan

P is for Pakistan

Written by: Shazia Razzak

Elementary Grades

"In this photographic alphabet, the author introduces young readers to some of the customs, religions and cultures - both ancient and modern - that make up this fast-developing country. Focusing on both city and country life, this is a celebration of Pakistan in all its aspects, from dhobi to jasmine, from hijab to water buffalo."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.katw.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=119
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/aw/wr/article/0,28138,1612040,00.html

Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea

Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea

Written by: Greg Mortonson
Illustrated by: Susan Roth

Elementary Grades

"Best-selling author Mortenson told his remarkable story in the adult book Three Cups of Tea (2006). After getting lost while trying to climb the mountain K2, he found himself in a Pakistani village. This, as it turned out was the beginning of a different journey. Here Mortenson and Roth retell his remarkable story through the eyes of Pakistani children. After being rescued and nursed to health by the villagers, Mortenson wonders what he can do to thank them. Advised by a wise elder to “listen to the wind,” Mortenson becomes aware of children’s voices, children he has helped teach during his convalescence, and he decides to build them a school. The steep terrain and remote setting present nearly overwhelming obstacles, but finally, the school is opened with great celebration. The picture-book narrative successfully compresses Mortenson’s story by focusing on the elements most important to children: the stranger’s appearance, the drama of the construction, the happy conclusion."

Book List Review

Online Resources:
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World... One Child at a Time

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World... One Child at a Time

Written by: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Junior High and High School Grades

"Hiking in the mountains of Pakistan in 1993, Mortenson got lost. He found his way to a small village where the locals helped him recover from his ordeal. While there, he noticed that the students had no building and did all of their schooling out of doors. Motivated to repay the kindness he had received, he vowed to return to the village and help build a school. Thus began his real life's journey. Mortenson's story recounts the troubles he faced in the U.S. trying to raise the money and then in Pakistan, trying to get the actual supplies to a remote mountain location. His eventual success led to another, and yet another, until he established a foundation and built a string of schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson manages to give the story an insider's feel despite being an outsider himself. His love of the region and the people is evident throughout and his dedication to them stalwart."

School Library Journal Review


Online Resources:
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/literature-guide/printable/60117.html

One Hen - How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference

One Hen - How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference

Written by: Katie Smith Milway

Elementary Grades

"Families in a Ghanan village pool their small savings into a community bank that makes loans available to members. When Kojo’s mother borrows money, he asks her for a few coins to buy a hen. The hen produces eggs for the family as well as a few for him to sell at the market, and Kojo uses that money to grow his business into a thriving enterprise. As a successful adult entrepreneur, Kojo now loans money to other aspiring businesspeople. Kojo’s inspiring, upbeat microfinance story makes the economic concept easy to grasp and admire. Sunny acrylic illustrations incorporate African animals and scenery into impressionistic full-page art that reflects the optimistic tone of the story. Back matter includes a photograph and short biography of a “real Kojo,” information on microcredit organizations, and a glossary."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://onehen.opportunity.org/

Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad

Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad

Written by: James Rumford

Elementary Grades

"When bombs begin to fall, Ali drowns out the sound of war with a pen. Like other children living in Baghdad, Ali loves soccer, music and dancing, but most of all, he loves the ancient art of calligraphy. When bombs begin to fall on his city, Ali turns to his pen, writing sweeping and gliding words to the silent music that drowns out the war all around him. Gorgeously illustrated with collage, pencil and charcoal drawings and, of course, exquisite calligraphy, this timely and yet universal story celebrates art and history but also offers young children a way to understand all they see and hear on the news."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/iraq/0,8805,424876,00.html
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/think-pair-share

Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan

Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan

Written and Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter

Elementary Grades

"This story begins with an author's note that succinctly explains the drastic changes that occurred when the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in 1996. The focus is primarily on the regime's impact on women, who were no longer allowed to attend school or leave home without a male chaperone, and had to cover their heads and bodies with a burqa. After Nasreen's parents disappeared, the child neither spoke nor smiled. Her grandmother, the story's narrator, took her to a secret school, where she slowly discovered a world of art, literature, and history obscured by the harsh prohibitions of the Taliban."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://unplugyourkids.com/tag/peace/

My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

Written by: Margriet Ruurs

Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Ruurs visits 13 countries and explores the manner in which librarians provide services to patrons using everything from boats and wheelbarrows to elephants. Many of the full-color photographs were actually taken by the librarians themselves. A boxed section also provides a map and basic facts about the featured country. While this is an attractive browsing item, the amount of text on each page and the textbook style of writing may discourage students from reading it cover to cover. However, with little information available about libraries of the world, this title offers a glimpse into the world of books, which several countries consider as important as air or water. This might be an interesting revelation to many students who consider reading a laborious task and to those who take an abundance of books very much for granted."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources
Look for "online teachers guide" at the bottom of this page:
http://www.margrietruurs.com/books/my_librarian_is_a_camel.html

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

Written and Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter

Elementary Grades

"One person can make a difference, and in this book Luis Soriano makes all the difference in the world. A Colombian schoolteacher with a passion for reading, he had so many books in his house that he decided to take them to children high up in the mountains where no libraries existed. With the help of two burros, Soriano made the mountainous trek each weekend to spread literacy where it was desperately needed. Winter has a gift for creating nonfiction that is accessible to and appeals to very young readers."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://elbiblioburro.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuTswmx9TQU
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/25/cnnheroes.soriano/index.html

Shinchi's Canoe

Shinchi's Canoe

Written by: Nicola I. Campbell
Illustrated by: Kim LaFave

Elementary Grades

"A follow up to the book Shi-shi-etko also written by Campbell, this realistic, tender story recounts the experiences of Native siblings sent to a government-mandated, church-run boarding school such as those that were common in Canada and the United States from the late 1800s until the 1970s. Hauled away with the other reservation children in a cattle truck, six-year-old Shin-chi and his older sister, Shi-shi-etko, try to memorize life at home from the "trees, mountains, and river below." Shin-chi clutches a tiny carved canoe, a forbidden memento homemade by her father. During the school year (until the sockeye salmon return), Shin-chi and Shi-shi-etko are not allowed to speak to one another and must endure the cruel treatment and restrictions forced upon Native children as they work and go to mass and to school. Hungry and lonely, young Shin-chi tries desperately to hold on to his Native traditions, sneaking out to sing his grandfather's prayer song and release his canoe in the river. An author's introduction details the practice of sending Native children to residential schools. An accessible and important contribution to Native literature."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol15/no7/shinchiscanoe.html

Shi-shi-etko

Shi-shi-etko

Written by: Nicola I. Campbell
Illustrated by: Kim LaFave

Elementary Grades

"This is a moving story set in Canada about the practice of removing Native children from their villages and sending them to residential schools to learn the English language and culture. An introduction explains that governments believed Native people were ignorant and made laws to educate their children. Shi-shi-etko counts down her last four days before going away. She tries to memorize everything about her home–tall grass swaying to the rhythm of the breeze, determined mosquitoes, working bumblebees. There is a family party to say good-bye. Her father takes her out in a canoe and implores her to remember the trees, the water, and the mountains, and her grandmother gives her a small bag made of deer hide in which to keep her memories. The vivid, digital illustrations rely on a red palette, evoking not only the land but also the sorrow of the situation and the hope upon which the story ultimately ends. This contemplative narrative will help children see how Native people have been treated in both Canada and the United States. A good choice to enhance units on Native North American cultures."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-about-nicola-campbells-shi-shi.html
http://umanitoba.ca/cm/vol12/no9/shishietko.html

Grandfather Counts

Grandfather Counts

Written by: Andrea Cheng
Illustrated by: Ange Zhang

Elementary Grades

"Helen has to adjust to changes in her household when Gong Gong, her grandfather from China, comes to live with her family. Gong Gong can't speak any English, nor can Helen speak Chinese. So it's difficult for them to communicate. Worse, she has had to give up her back bedroom, so she can no longer watch the passing trains from her window. But Helen soon learns that Gong Gong is also a train watcher, and the two find they can enjoy counting the cars together, in both English and Chinese. Several Chinese words, including the numbers one to eight, are naturally incorporated into this moving story of a bicultural, biracial family."

Publishers Description

Online Resources
Classroom Guide for Book Use:
http://www.leeandlow.com/p/counts_tg.mhtml