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Read Your World / Multicultural Booklist  / Celebrating Culture and Identity

Celebrating Culture and Identity

Guest post from Cardinal Rule Press, Read Your World’s 2024 Silver Sponsor.

Celebrating Culture and Identity

As an aunt to two adorable young girls, and a long-time lover of books, I am able to bond with them by sending them books that expose them to the world, as I believe that teaching diversity to young audiences allows them to grow into kind adults. 

One book that beautifully incorporates culture, identity, and tradition is the story It’ll Be Irie, written by Donn Swaby. The book follows a young boy named Raymond who finds out that he is moving from Jamaica to the United States. Raymond puts in so much effort to learn American culture in order to fit in with his peers, ranging from music, slang, to fashion. He is genuinely excited to be immersed in a new culture, and wants to make a good impression. However, his efforts are not well received by his classmates, as some of the American “trends” that Raymond researched are slightly outdated, or excessive in his delivery. Through this, he learns that his own culture is beautiful and that others can learn from it as he shares what Jamaican culture can offer. This story beautifully encapsulates an immigration story and cultural appreciation, while still allowing their identity to shine in a new environment. 

I have included some other children’s books that highlight the importance of identity, while embracing multiculturalism. I hope you read them and enjoy them as much as I do!

#1. Lolo’s Sari-sari Store by Sophia Lee

This book follows a young girl who spends her summers helping her Lolo run the local convenience store, known as a “sari-sari”, meaning “great variety”. Through the store, her Lolo teaches her the importance of community and connecting with those around you. After she moves away from the Philippines, she misses Lolo and the connections she made, but takes his advice and applies his lessons to her new community. This book is adorable and shares the message of kindness to strangers, and community amongst others, particularly from different cultures.

#2. Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o

The Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o wrote a heartwarming children’s book about a young girl with dark skin, darker than those around her. Sulwe sees those around her as beautiful and bright and she envies them, feeling different in her midnight-colored skin. She wishes to be lighter like her mother and sister. Then, Sulwe experiences the enchanting night sky, and learns to love her skin and unique beauty, while appreciating those around her, as we all add to a greater picture.

#3. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

Unhei, a young Korean girl, goes to a new school and learns that her name is not easy for her classmates to pronounce. This leads to her becoming self-conscious of her name so she attempts to find a new name that makes her stand out less in her new school. Suzy, Laura, Amanda, none of these names seem to fit Unhei’s personality. Alongside a new friend, Unhei learns that the best fitting name for herself is her own. This story covers topics of identity, self-love and cultural appreciation from an immigrant perspective. 

These books all incorporate the ideals of learning to love yourself, your culture, and identity, all while learning to embrace those around you, especially those with different backgrounds. These stories encapsulate appreciating yourself and your story while learning about others in different communities. I believe all of them beautifully represent multiculturalism and other values that come into play when moving to a new place and community. 

Author Bio:

Emma is a student at Michigan State University, studying Literature and History, while being the Vice President of the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta. Her goal is to go into the publishing industry, and in her spare time works at a coffee shop and bookstore, and loves books, music, and movies.

 

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Frances Evans

Frances Díaz Evans is a Latina Author, Educator, Multicultural and Language Advocate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidad del Este in Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in Spanish education from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. She joined Multicultural Children’s Book Day in the early days advocating for multicultural books as a book reviewer, then as a co-host, and now she’s excited to take on the role of project manager. Frances can be reached at admin (at) multiculturalchildrensbookday.com