Best Books on Cross-Cultural Friendship

Title Author Illustrator Publisher Date of Reading Appropriateness Summary Concerns Uses Publication Level Chicken Patricia Patricia Polacco Philomel Books 1992 3rd grade 1st-4th grade This is the story of the friendship Evidence of I think this is an excellent story for building Sunday Polacco between young Patricia (who is white) prejudice cultural awareness. This can be done using and her African American neighbors. a Venn diagram. For early grades, the girl The characters embrace their cultural and the neighbor boys could be compared. differences and use them to show Older children could use three circles to kindness to a Russian storekeeper and compare Patricia, her neighbors, and the Miss Eula. storekeeper. Afterwards, students could reflect on similarities and differences among culture groups. Crispin: The Avi Not given Hyperion 2003 Boys will Not given Crispin: The Cross of Lead is an action- The main Uses in the Classroom: Cross of especially filled page-turner set in 14th-century character in  With literature circle groups Lead enjoy this England. “Asta’s son” is the only name this novel reading a selection of books tale of the 13-year-old title character has ever must deal dealing with cross cultural adventure known when he is suddenly orphaned with death friendship, poverty, survival, or and intrigue and stripped of home and possessions. and murder, historical fiction – Medieval era set in Accused of murder and wanted dead or corrupt  As part of an author study on Avi Medieval alive, Crispin flees his village and falls adults who  To compliment a social studies Europe, in with a juggler, Bear, who becomes wrongly unit on Medieval Europe since they his protector and teacher. Relentlessly accuse him will be able pursued by Crispin’s enemies, the pair in order to to make flees to solve the mystery of his identity protect and connections and fight the injustices of feudalism. increase to the main The 2003 their own character. power, and The novel is having to easy to live a life on read, and the run. the story There is has a some satisfying violence, ending, but it is not typical of out of step other works with the by the historical same era being author portrayed. David’s Cathryn Not given Lee & Low Books 2001 Ages 3 to 8 Not given David sees a tree on his way to school Not given This book demonstrates the ability to form Drawings Falwell and draws a picture of it. When his friendships and exhibit feelings for others friends see the picture, they all have which are indicators of social and emotional ways to make it better. David willingly readiness. allows the changes. He redraws his picture of the tree when he gets home. Excellent examples of diversity within the pages of this book. Best Books on Cross-Cultural Friendship

I Hadn’t Woodson, Not given Laurel Leaf 1995 This book is Twelve-year-old Marie is a leader This novel Uses in the Classroom: Meant to Tell Jacqueline age- among the popular black girls in deals with With literature circle groups reading a You This appropriate Chauncey, Ohio, a prosperous black some selection of books dealing with cross cultural for the suburb. She isn't looking for a friend weighty friendship, death, racism and prejudice, peer target grade when Lena Bright, a white girl, appears issues, pressure, or social problems level. The in school. Yet they are drawn to each including main other because both have lost their child abuse, character is mothers. And they know how to keep a and may be from a secret. For Lena has a secret that is difficult for minority terrifying, and she's desperate to some group, so protect herself and her younger sister students to many from their father. Marie must decide handle. students whether she can help Lena by keeping Teachers will instantly her secret...or by telling it. will want to identify with let parents her. know up Because front what the main issues character students and her may be friends are reading girls, the about and book will be discussing less in class. appealing to boys. The book deals with some sensitive subjects, so it may be difficult for some students to get through.

In the Year Bette Bao Marc Simont New York: Harper 1984 9-12 Not given A Chinese girl is Americanized through Not given immigration, Chinese New Year traditions of the Boar Lord and Row Jackie Robinson and baseball in and Jackie Brooklyn during the 1940’s. Robinson

Number the Lois Lowry Not given Bantam Doubleday 1989 5.2 Ages 9-12 10 yr old Annemarie Johannsen’s family None. World War II unit Stars harbors her best friend Ellen Rosen on Best Books on Cross-Cultural Friendship

the eve of a Nazi round-up of Jews in Newbery Medal Denmark. Paul and Rene Ulises Kane/Miller 1991 Ages 4 to 8 Not given Paul lives in a green trailer with Boys being Not given Sebastian Escudie Wensell blue curtains. Sebastian lives in a lost in the blue apartment with green storm may curtains. Their parents don't want be too them to play together. But in time, scary for as is the way of children, they some 4-5 become best friends, and in the year olds. process teach the adults something about "differences." In a simple, noncontroversial way, and through a story that all children will be able to relate to, Escudie introduces the universal problem of prejudice.

Pink and Say Patricia Patricia Polacco Philomel Books 1994 Not given Not given This story is about a friendship that Not given I like to have a variety of characters on my Polacco develops between a black and a white bookshelves and would use this book as a solder during the Civil War. read aloud. It would be a great book to use if the class was studying the Civil War. Ruby the Peggy Not given Scholastic, Inc. 1991 2.5 K-3 A new student copies another student Not given Understanding our differences; unique Copycat Rathmann to fit in. With the help of the teacher she qualities; it’s ok not to be like everyone else finds her fit in the new school. Slam Walter Not given Scholastic 1996 6-9 6-9 Slam, an inner-city basketball star, Drugs; Diversity; Cross-Cultural Friendship; Peer Dean Myers fights to rectify his dreams of greatness Tobacco Pressure; Responsibility; Reaching Goals with his teenage apathy and friends. Sort of Sally Kyrsten Brooker Scholastic Inc. 1998 5.9 Ages 9-12 Ever since Cady can remember, Nana Deep Learning about friendship; Teach topics of Forever Warner has been there for her. Whether Cady Topics Story Elements, Compare/Contrast was stuck at the top of a slide, or (Cancer stranded in the middle of an ice-skating and Death) rink, or hit in the head with a tennis ball, Nana was always the first to her rescue. She’s never let Cady down. But the summer before seventh grade, it looks as if that might happen. Strong, funny, feisty Nana has cancer, a disease that threatens to take away her humor, her strength, and, ultimately, her life. And as Cady watches her friend change, she’s not sure she knows, or wants to know, this new Nana – until she realizes that now it is Nana who needs to be rescued. Teammates Golenbock, Bacon, Paul Gulliver Books 1990 3rd grade 1st grade and This moving story tells how Jackie This book This can be used during Black History Peter above Robinson became the first black player includes Month. Lessons can be taught about civil Best Books on Cross-Cultural Friendship

on a major league baseball team and issues such rights and the history of baseball. how his friend Pee Wee Reese stood as prejudice up for what he believed in to support his and friendship with Jackie. segregation .

The Bean Barbara Not given Harper Collins 1988 9-12 9-12 Taylor leaves Kentucky to escape the Allusion to Point of View; Literary Technique; Hispanic Trees Kingsolver inevitable house wife life, but she finds Sexual and Native American Literature; Diversity; herself as guardian of a abandoned Abuse Cross-Cultural Friendship; Sharing; Poverty; baby. Responsibility The Cow Bernard Bernard Most Harcourt Brace and 1990 1.5 All grades A cow and a pink that work together to Not given Teamwork; good things can come from That Went Most Company say moo and oink. differences in people Oink The Other Jacqueline E.B. Lewis G. P. Putnam’s 2001 -Grades 2-3 Not given -Two girls of different races were told to -Discuss -This text could be used as an introduction to Side (Two Woodson Sons -5-12/2.1- stay on their own side of the fence by segregation a unit on segregation. Follow the reading Reviewers) 2.5 their mothers. They get to know each in addition with a discussion of what it would feel like if other one summer by sitting on the to reading we were not allowed to be friends with either side of the fence that divides their this text to anyone that we wanted because of the color town. avoid of their skin. misunderst -This book is great for displaying cross- -Story takes place during times of racial anding. cultural friendship. Lessons on historical separation in America. A fence divides events the blacks from the whites, but two girls - of different color establish a friendship (segregatio despite the events going on. n, civil rights, etc.) should be emphasized with caution. The Sign of Elizabeth Not given Yearling Books 1984 5.2 Ages 9-12 Until the day his father returns to their None Not given the Beaver George cabin in the Maine wilderness, twelve- Speare year-old Matt must try to survive on his own. Although Matt is brave, he's not prepared for an attack by swarming bees, and he's astonished when he's rescued by an Indian cheif and his grandson, Attean.

As the boys come to know each other Attean learns to speak English while Matt becomes a skilled hunter. Though many months have passed, there's no sign of Matt's family. Then Attean asks Matt to join the Beaver tribe and move north. Should Matt abandon his hopes Best Books on Cross-Cultural Friendship

of ever seeing his family again and move on to a new life?

The Silent Lois Lowry Not given Walter Lorraine 2003 5.5 Ages 10-14 A sensitive, moving story of a wide- None Not given Boy Books eyed young girl growing up at the beginning of the 20th century and the influence of the farm community around her. Through Katy Thatcher's eyes, readers can experience for themselves the haunting impact of her friendship with the silent boy. The Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss Random House 1961 Not given Not given In this tale the unfortunate Sneetches, Not given During our author study of Dr. Suess I like to Snee learn that pointless prejudice can be use this story to teach about prejudice tche costly. s and Othe r Stori es

The View E.L. Not given Atheneum Books 1996 Grade 4- Grades 4- 8 Four students, with their own individual Not given Great to increase detailed narrative writing from Konigsburg for Young Readers Middle stories, develop a special bond and and telling stories from different point of Saturday Grades attract the attention of their teacher, a views. paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition To Kill a Harper Lee Not given Warner Books 1960 7-12 9-10 This classic is a Southern tale of a Racially Theme; Cross Cultural Friendship; Poverty Mockingbird young tomboy, Scout, who learns to charged Setting; Historical Fiction accept those who can’t stand up for language; themselves, including a recluse and a rape black man accused of rape. Yo! Yes? Chirs Chris Raschka Scholastic Inc. 1993 -K -K-2nd -Not many words have to be spoken to None In the classroom, students can collaborate (Two Raschka -4-10/1.0- - Not given have something in common and form a found. other words or gestures that assist with Reviewers) 2.0 friendship. communication.

-Story of a cross-cultural friendship that develops with communication. The two boys communicate with simple words, and body language (words like Yo!; Look!; Yes; Not much). Best Books on Cross-Cultural Friendship

This is an excellent book that demonstrates a variety of ways that people can communicate.