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Books to Expand the Mind and Spirit

Preschool- 3rd grade

Global Peace and Understanding of Cultures Around the World The Gift: A Magical Story about Caring for the Earth By Isia Osuchowasa, Wisdom, 1996 ISBN-13: 978-0861711161 This is a charming book that teaches about generosity and respect for all things. Between Earth and Sky By Joseph Brachac, Harcourt Children’s Books, 1996 ISBN-13: 978-0152020620 This story explores the Native American concept of “Sacred.” Whoever You Are By Mem Fox, Voyager Books, 1997 ISBN-13: 978-0152060305 This book makes a strong statement of the interconnectivity of children all around the world. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987 ISBN-13: 978-0688129354 This is a Zimbabwean folktale about two sisters, one kind and the other selfish. The pictures are outstanding. A Ride On Mother’s Back By Emery Bernard, Gulliver Books, 1996 ISBN-13: 978-0152008703 This book celebrates the different ways people carry their babies around the world. Brothers in Hope: The story of the Lost Boys of Sudan By R. Gregory Christie, Lee and Low Books, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-1584302322 This is a young boy’s account of the Lost Boys’ flight out of war-torn Sudan. Children Around the World by Donata Montanari, Kids Can Press, Ltd., 2004 ISBN-13: 978-1553376842 This book gives its readers a fun and exciting trip around the world to experience an average day with twelve different children from twelve different areas and cultures of the world. The Color of Home By Mary Hoffman, Penguin, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-0803728417 This is a story of a Muslim family who fled from Somalia to the United States. The healing powers of art and a wonderful teacher help the child deal with his painful memories. Respect and Interpersonal Conflict Resolution I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, Little, Brown Young Readers, 1998 ISBN-13: 978-0316522755 This is a beautifully illustrated book on hair, which is educational and affirming.

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The Hurt By Teddi Doleski, Paulist Press, 1983 ISBN-13: 978-0809165513 Justine gets his feelings hurt and retreats into himself to nurse The Hurt. The longer he holds on to it, the bigger it grows. Finally he learns to deal with his feelings and let The Hurt go. When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry… By Molly Bang, Scholastics, 1999 ISBN-13: 978-0439924931 Sophie finds comfort in nature as she deals with her feelings. The Friendly Four by Eloise Greenfield, Amistad, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0060007591 Four boys beat the summer blues with their friendship. Hot Day on Abbott Avenue by Karen English, Clarion Books, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0395985274 Two girls, mired in a “Never-to-be-friends-again day,” find a way to re-forge their friendship. Pass it On by Wade Hudson, Scholastic Press, 1993 ISBN-13: 978-0590457705 Beautiful illustrations are accompanied by fun poems about childhood’s pleasures and trials by poets like Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, and Gwendolyn Brooks. Keep Your Ear on the Ball by Genevieve Petrillo, Tilbury House Publishers, 2007 ISBN-13: 978-0884482963 A class learns about Davey and his unique ability to hear the world around him. Jonathan and His Mommy By Irene Smalls, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1992 ISBN-13: 978-0316798808 Jonathan and his mother run, walk, and skip through the neighborhood in absolute joy. On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier, Harcort Children’s Books, 1991 ISBN-13: 978-0152579951 This book emphasizes the importance of each individual and the connectivity of everything. An Enchanted Hair Tale by Alexis Devious, Harper & Row, 1987 ISBN-13: 978-0064432719 The story is about being different and proud. A boy named Sudan has unusual hair that giggles, roars, and sprouts wings. Everyone makes fun of him, and Sudan feels hurt until his mother's friend and a group of people much like Sudan show him their self-confidence. Sky Dancers by Connie Ann Kirk, Lee & Low Books, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-1584301622 The story is of self acceptance by a Mohawk Native American boy during the 1930’s.

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The Story of Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1984 ISBN-13: 978-0688087401 This is a Native American legend, retold by John Steptoe. It is a wonderful story of what it really means to care for others. Mama, Do You Love Me? By Barbara Joosse, Chronicle Books, 1991 ISBN-13: 978-0811821315 This is a story of a young Eskimo child testing her independence from her mother, and a wonderful mother who constantly reassures her child that nothing could ever change her love for the child. This book is also a good introduction to Eskimo or Inuit culture. Papa, Do you Love Me? By Barbara Joosse, Chronicle Books, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-0811842655 Another Joosse book about unconditional love, this time set in Africa. This book offers a good introduction to Maasai life. Two Mrs. Gibsons By Toyomi Igus, Children’s Books Press, 2001 ISBN-13: 978-0892391707 A story of a little girl’s biracial family and the cultures she lives between. Courage and Resistance to Injustice Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom By Tim Tingle, Cinco Puntos Press, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0938317777 Set in Mississippi in the days before the Civil War, the author and illustrator create a tale of friendship across cultures. A Choctaw girl befriends a family of slaves on a plantation. The result is heartwarming and magical. Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! Janitor Strike in L.A. By Diana Cohn, Cinco Puntos Press, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-0938317890 This is a powerful bilingual story of the struggle of janitors in Los Angeles to be treated with dignity and justice. It represents a critical insight for young readers today. A Place Where Sunflowers Grow By Amy Lee-Tai, Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0892392155 This book is about a young Japanese American girl’s account of life in an internment camp during WWII. Martin’s Big Words By Doreen Rappaport, Hyperion Books for Children, 2001 ISBN-13: 978-1423106357 A beautifully illustrated and wonderfully told story of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. ending with the assurance that “his big words are alive for us today.” Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado by Gloria Anzaldua, Children's Book Press, 1997 ISBN-13: 978-0892391301 This bilingual story of friendship between a South Texas Chicana girl and a boy from Mexico is very appropriate in today’s reality with regard to immigration. Courage, friendship, and wisdom abound.

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Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez By Kathleen Krull, Harcourt Children’s Books, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0152014377 Chavez’s nonviolent revolt culminating in a 300-mile protest march that produced the first farm workers' contract, is chronicled in this book. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom By Carole Boston Weatherford, Jump At The Sun, 2006 ISBN-10: 0786851759 A striking narrative describes Harriet’s work on the Underground Railroad and the faith that got her through. Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, Henry Holt and Co., 2005 ISBN-13: 978-0805071061 A creative span of the Civil Rights movement begins with Rosa Parks and snowballs into national reform. Selavi, That Is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope By Youme Landowne, Cinco Puntos Press, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-0938317951 The story describes the struggle and hope of a Haitian-American orphan.

4th-6th grade Global Peace and Understanding of Cultures Around the World Red Land Yellow River: A Story from the Cultural Revolution by Ange Zhang, Groundwood Books, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0888994899 A boy discovers hope and the beauty of individuality during the time of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Waiting for the Rain by Sheila Gordon, Orchard Books, 1987 ISBN-13: 978-0440226987 Friendship between two young men, one Black and one White, provides a penetrating look at the system of apartheid. La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol / The Woman Who Outshone the Sun by Alejandro Cruz Martinez, Children's Book Press, 1997 ISBN-13: 978-0892391264 This bilingual story from Mexico's Zapotec Indians is about a beautiful woman who is one with nature and who endures the village’s jealousy of her. Ramadan By Suhaib Hamid Ghazi, Holiday House, 1996 ISBN-13: 978-0823412754 This is a wonderful book detailing the reasons for the practices of modern Muslim children during the month of Ramadan. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, A Yearling Book, Dell Publishing, 1977 ISBN-13: 978-0142404409 A gentle presentation and a near classic, this is the story of Sadako Sasaki, an 11-year-old victim of the bombing at Hiroshima.

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Number the Stars By Lois Lowery, Laurel-Leaf, 1998 ISBN-13: 978-0440227533 This is a fictional story based on real events, around the evacuation of Jews from Denmark during World War II. A 10-year-old Danish girl is the central figure, as her family decides to harbor a Jewish family. The Invisible Hunters/Los cazadores invisibles by Harriet Rohmer, Children's Book Press, 1997 ISBN-13: 978-0892391097 Nicaraguan folklore tells about three hunters who are given a magical gift to help them hunt and the promises they make and break. Out of Bounds By Beverly Naidoo and Desmond Tutu, Heinemann Educational Publishers, 2003 ISBN-13: 978-0435130602 Or Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope By Beverly Naidoo, HarperCollens Children’s Books, 2003 ISBN-13: 978-0060507992 The collections of stories tell about people living in South Africa during apartheid. Faithful Elephants by Yukio Tsuchiya, Houghton Mifflin, translated in 1988 ISBN-13: 978-0395861370 This is a very moving and true story of what happened to the animals in Japan because of the fear of being bombed. It could be read aloud and is appropriate for all ages. Weedflower By Cynthia Kadohata, Atheneum, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0689865749 A Japanese-American girl lives in the interment camps during WWII. The Children We Remember by Chana Byers Abells, Greenwillow Books, 1986 ISBN-13: 978-0064437776 Moving photographs from the Yad Vashem Archives in Jerusalem about the children who lived and died during the Holocaust make this book appropriate for all ages. Zulu Dog By Anton Ferreira, Frances Foster, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-0374392239 A three-legged dog brings together two unlikely friends in the middle of racially divided South Africa. The Everything Kids’ Environment Book: Learn How You Can Help the Environment-- By Getting Involved at School, At Home, or at Play By Sheri Amsel, Adams Media Corporation, 2007 ISBN-13: 978-1598696707 This volume is full of concrete ideas for actions which young people can take to improve their environment. Respect and Interpersonal Conflict Resolution The Three Questions By Jon J. Muth, Scholastic Press, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-0439199964 This is a beautiful tale based on a story told by Leo Tolstoy discussing life questions.

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My Diary from Here to There/Mi diario de aqui hasta alla by Amada Irma Perez, Children's Book Press, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-0892391752 Amada feels like she is not brave enough to move from her beloved Mexico into Los Angeles. Smoky Night By Eve Bunting, Voyager Books, 1999 ISBN-13: 978-0152018849 This is a story of a community brought together through a midnight fire in their apartment building. Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia McKissack, Knopf, 1988 ISBN-13: 978-0679883333 Based on the oral southern tradition, this is a delightful story of the relationship between Mirandy and the elusive Brother Wind. The Friendship by Mildred D. Taylor, Dial Books, 1987 ISBN-13: 978-0140389647 Wonderful illustrations by Max Ginsburg add to a telling story about racial prejudice in the 1930's. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Blue Sky Press, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-0439120425 Esperanza lives as a princess in Mexico till her Father is murdered and her family is forced to flee to California to work in the fields for little pay. She must learn to adjust and find hope in hopelessness. The Road to Paris By Nikki Grimes, Putnam Juvenile, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0399245374 This is a poignant story of faith, family and resilience based on the love and trust of others. As 8-year-old Paris deals with the pain of the foster care system, she learns how to “keep God in her pocket” and believe in herself and others. What Is My Song? By Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn, and Matthew Linn, Paulist Press, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-0809167227 Based on a traditional African tale, this book explores the idea that each child comes into the world with his or her own song to sing. Children know their song, and it is up to adults to help them find it. Rules By Cynthia Lord, Scholastic Press, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0439443821 Catherine’s autistic brother teaches her that “normal” is overrated. A Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida, Atheneum, 1981 ISBN-13: 978-0689716720 This is a story about an 11-year-old Japanese American girl living in California during the Depression. The Legend of Buddy Bush By Shelia P. Moses, Simon Pulse, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-1416907169 Pattie Mae, 12, learns about the strength of family when racial prejudice threatens her loved ones.

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Courage and Resistance to Injustice The New York Public Library Amazing Women in American History: A Book of Answers for Kids by The New York Public Library, Jossey-Bass, 1998 ISBN-13: 978-0471192169 This book will get kids interested in stories of all kinds of women and their impact on America. Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac, Puffin, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0142405963 This book depicts one story of a Navajo code talker in WWII. The Story of Ruby Bridges By Robert Coles, Scholastic, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0439598446 This is a courageous story of one famous little girl during the beginnings of school integration in New Orleans and the faith that got her through. Day of Tears By Julius Lester, Jump At The Sun, 2007 ISBN-13: 978-1423104094 A moving, well-written account describes the largest slave auction in U.S. history. Counting on Grace By Elizabeth Winthrop, Wendy Lamb Books, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0553487831 The book uses historical photographs and the art of story telling to teach about child labor during the industrial revolution. Remember: The Journey to School Integration By Toni Morrison, Houghton Mifflin, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0618397402 A mix of archival photographs, historical background, and fictional narrative explains the journey of school integration. Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Scholastic, 2000 ISBN-13: 978-0439332200 The stories of Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and others offer a window into the tremendous power of the courage of fighting for your beliefs. A Dream of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968 By Diane McWhorter, Scholastic, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0439576789 McWhorter provides excellent historical coverage of the grand sweep of the civil rights movement, highlighting some of its most important leaders. Archival photos add immensely to its power. My Name is Sally Little Song by Brenda Woods, Putnam Juvenile, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0399243127 It is a well-researched account of a young slave girl’s escape to freedom.

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The Voice that Challenged A Nation by Russell Freedman, Clarion Books, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0618159765 This inspiring life story lifts up Marian Anderson and all her achievements in the civil rights movement. Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott By Russell Freedman, Holiday House, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0823420315 It is an award winning account of racial injustice and the brave men and women who fought against it. Maritcha: A Nineteenth- Century American Girl By Tonya Bolden, Harry N. Abrams, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-0810950450 A fascinating book tells the story of a young free African American girl who had many connections to the famous adult abolitionist of the time. Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen By Luba Tryszynska-Frederick, Tricycle Press, 2003 ISBN-13: 978-1582460987 Luba is an inspiring story of one woman’s courage to save over 50 children from death during WWII.

7th –12th grade Global Peace and Understanding of Cultures around the World The Journey of the Lost Boys By Joan Hecht, Allswell Press, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-0976387503 This is a moving account of Sudanese refugee boys and their long journey to the U.S. Somehow Tenderness Survives: Stories of Southern Africa selected by Hazel Rochman, Harper & Row, 1988 ISBN-13: 978-0064470636 The spirit and pain of South Africa is movingly portrayed in this anthology. Ain't Gonna Study War No More by Milton Meltzer, Harper & Row, Publishers, 1985 ISBN-13: 978-0375822605 This tells the history of civil disobedience, examining theories, thoughts, and actions of generations of heroes who bravely rejected all violence or participation in wars they considered unjust. The Serpent's Children by Lawrence Yep, Harper & Row, Publishers, 1984 ISBN-13: 978-0064406451 An unconventional brother and sister live in a very traditional Chinese village. They put aside their differences to work together and resist the actions of relatives, who don't understand the children's individuality. The Heaven Shop By Deborah Ellis, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005 ISBN-13978-0192754356 A 13 year-old African child’s struggle to hold a family together in poverty stricken, Aids torn society.

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Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Harvest Books, 2003 ISBN-13: 978-0156027328 Pi Patel is fascinated with animals and religions. When he is 16 he sets sail with his family and his father’s zoo animals to travel from India to Canada. The story takes a major turn when he finds himself in a small life boat in the middle of the ocean with the 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The Book Thief By Markus Zusak, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2007 ISBN-13: 978-0375842207 A story told from the perspective of the character Death about a young German girl who saves books from Nazi book burnings. Respect and Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Running Before the Wind by Linda Woolverton, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987 ISBN-13: 978-0395421161 A teenage girl struggles to deal with physical abuse, and her own ability to solve problems. Respect: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect & Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed by Courtney Macavinta and Andrea Vander Pluym, Free Spirit Publishing, 2005. ISBN-13: 978-1575421773 This book encourages girls to find their way though the tough issues by using self-reflection and respect Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers By Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack, Scholastic, 1999 ISBN-13: 978-0590483131 “The sea was an equalizer of men.” This story describes a voyage where the readers will meet people like Paul Cuffe, ship owner and captain; Lewis Temple, who designed the toggle-harpoon, Fredrick Douglass and others. The Land By Mildred Taylor, Penguin, 2001 ISBN-13: 978-0142501467 A combination history and storytelling explores double standards in the South during the years following the Civil War. Suspense, humor, love, hope, and reconciliation fill its pages. Dark Sons By Nikki Grimes, Hyperion Books for Children, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-1423102519 This remarkable tale of two teenagers, one biblical (Ishmael) and one modern (Sam), tells a story n free-verse narratives of pain, betrayal, loss, and hope in the midst of the struggle to forgive. Courage and Resistance to Injustice With These Hands: The Hidden World of Migrant Farmworkers Today by Daniel Rothenberg, University of California Press, 2000 ISBN-13: 978-0520227347 This is a startling study of 250 interviews of people in and surrounding the subject of migrant farmworkers and the abuse and poverty they endure. PeaceJam: How Young People Can Make Peace in Their Schools and Communities by Darcy Gifford, Jossey-Bass, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0787968441 This book traces the inspiring lives of five American teens that were determined to make a difference.

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My Mother the Cheerleader by Robert Sharenow, HarperTeen, 2007 ISBN-13: 978-0061148965 Louise, 13, discovers a lot about her family, her community, and herself when Ruby Bridges begins going to her school. Copper Sun By Sharon Draper, Atheneum, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0689821813 A riveting story describes in detail the realities of the slave trade and life on a plantation. The survivor’s spirit of 15-year-old Amari is an anchor in the fast-moving plot. Let the Circle be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor, Puffin Books, 1995 ISBN-13: 978-0140372908 A compelling book by an outstanding author tells the story of the Logan family during the Depression. Delfino's Journey by Jo Harper, Texas Tech University Press, 2000 ISBN-13: 978-0896724372 This story is about a young man who struggles to immigrate to North America and the trials when he arrives. With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman’s Right to Vote By Ann Bausum, National Geographic Society, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0792276470 A gritty, tenacious, determined account telling of the woman’s suffrage movement and the women, like Alice Paul, who were small but mighty. Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Amistad, 2004 ISBN-13: 978-0064407311 Steve Harmon is 16 and writing from jail while awaiting a murder trial. Is he a monster? Behind Barbed Wire by Daniel S. Davis, Dutton, 1982 ISBN-13: 978-0525263203 This book describes the life of Japanese Americans who were interred during World War II. It is illustrated with archival photos. A Wreath for Emmett Till By Marilyn Nelson, Houghton Mifflin, 2005 ISBN-13: 978-0618397525 This book of sonnets is penetrating and at times raw as it creates a memorial to a teenager who was lynched. It offers great material for adult-teen discussion and also conveys a sense of hope, even in the midst of terrible pain.