Thank you to Junior Library Guild, the collection development and book review service relied upon by thousands of schools and public libraries, for donating the books for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Reading Challenge!
The Junior Library Guild editorial team reviews more than 3,000 new titles each year, in manuscript or prepublication stage. They have a keen sense for finding the best of the best. Over 95 percent of their selections go on to receive awards and/or favorable reviews.
Here are some of the books that we are giving away as part of our Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Reading Challenge.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Reading Challenge SIGN UP
How does it work?
- Teachers: Sign up for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Reading Challenge HERE.
- Introduce 2 to 4 diversity books to your class by the end of your school year. (Diversity picture book list for 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade tied to Core Curriculum.)
- Earn a FREE Book like ones below for your classroom library. We will match book to your grade’s reading level.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Reading Challenge BOOKS YOU CAN EARN (Partial List)
A New Year’s Reunion by Yu Li-Qiong
This poignant, vibrantly illustrated tale, which won the prestigious Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award in 2009, is sure to resonate with every child who misses relatives when they are away — and shows how a family’s love is strong enough to endure over time and distance. [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Martina una cucarachita muy linda: Un cuento cubano by Carmen Agra Deedy
A sweet and witty retelling of the Cuban folktale, you ll never look at a cockroach the same way again. [bilingual in Spanish picture book, ages 4 and up]
Abuelos by Pat Mora
In this delightful story two young children, Ray and Amelia, discover an old New Mexican tradition — ‘los abuelos’ — for the first time. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Magic Horse of Han Gan by Chen Jiang Hong
A well known painter himself, Chen Jiang Hong introduces Han Gan, a ninth-century Chinese artist, who painted horses so realistically, they seemed to jump off the page. In this story, they really do come alive!m [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Yatandou by Gloria Whelan
Yatandou lives in a Mali village with her family and neighbors. And though she is only eight years old and would much rather play with her pet goat, she must sit with the women and pound millet kernels. [picture book, ages, 6 and up]
How Tía Lola Learned to Teach by Julia Alvarez
Tía Lola has been invited to teach Spanish at her niece and nephew’s elementary school. But Miguel wants nothing to do with the arrangement. He hasn’t had an easy time adjusting to his new school in Vermont and doesn’t like living so far away from Papi, who has a new girlfriend and an announcement to make. On the other hand, Miguel’s little sister, Juanita, can’t wait to introduce her colorfully dressed aunt —that is, if she can stop getting distracted long enough to remember to do so. Before long, Tía Lola is organizing a Spanish treasure hunt and a Carnaval fiesta at school. Will Miguel be willing to join the fun? [chapter book, 8 and up]
Pemba Sherpa by Olga Cossi
An exquisitely illustrated story of a brother and his younger sister facing a life-threatening and life-changing landslide. Pemba and his younger sister Yang Ki both yearn for roles as guides and porters to the high country of the Himalayas. While such a goal is well within Pemba’s reach, his seven-year-old sister faces an obstacle, mainly because girls aren’t encouraged, let alone accepted, as porters or guides. When he and Yang Ki are caught in a landslide, both brother and sister reach beyond their perceived limitations to regain safety as well as alter viewpoints about societal roles. [picture book, ages 7 and up]
The Dragon’s Child: A Story of Angel Island by Laurence Yep
Ten-year-old Gim Lew Yep knows that he must leave his home in China and travel to America with the father who is a stranger to him. Gim Lew doesn’t want to leave behind everything that he’s ever known. But he is even more scared of disappointing his father. He uses his left hand, rather than the “correct” right hand; he stutters; and most of all, he worries about not passing the strict immigration test administered at Angel Island. [chapter book, ages 10 and up]
Mexican Immigrants in America by Rachael Hanel
Everything in this book happened to real people. And YOU CHOOSE what side you’re on and what you do next. The choices you make could lead you to survival or to death.In the You Choose Books set, only YOU can CHOOSE which path you take through history. What will it be? Get ready for an adventure. [nonfiction, ages 10 and up]
Blessing’s Bead by Debby Dahl Edwardson
Two distinct teenage voices pull readers into the native world of northern Alaska in this beautifully crafted and compelling debut novel. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
My Name Is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson
Luke knows his Iñupiaq name is full of sounds white people can’t say. So he leaves it behind when he and his brothers are sent to boarding school hundreds of miles away from their Arctic village. Here, speaking Iñupiaq—or any native language—is forbidden. And Father Mullen, whose fury is like a force of nature, is ready to slap down those who disobey. Luke struggles to survive at Sacred Heart. But he’s not the only one. There’s smart-aleck Amiq, a daring leader— if he doesn’t self-destruct; Chickie, blond and freckled, a different kind of outsider; and small, quiet Junior, noticing everything and writing it all down. They each have their own story to tell. But once their separate stories come together, things at Sacred Heart School—and the wider world—will never be the same. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
How to Get Started:
Multicultural Children’s Book Day: Diversity Classroom Reading Challenge for Teachers was created to be a streamlined and simple way to encourage the reading of diversity titles while earning a special multicultural book for your classroom. GO HERE to sign up your classroom.
Our hashtag is #ReadYourWorld
Thank you so much for your support!
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Ooooh, I like some of these picks. May check out a couple
Hi Patricia,
We are so lucky to have Junior Library Guild as part of this program! They screen the books to get the very best and the giveaway is all HARD COVER books!
Congratulation for your great job to celebrate diversity.
Thank you so much for your support Martiza!