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Books, Latino Literature, Parenting

10 Reasons for Kids To Read Multicultural Books

Mona Alvarado Frazier
Reading the World
Reading the World

Now that Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Book Friday is over I can get back to the Multicultural Middle Grade and YA books I promised to list (just in time for Cyber Monday).

But first, let’s discuss the term Multicultural Literature.

A single book can be a mirror for some readers and a window for others”
—Rudine Sims Bishop, Ginny Moore Kruse

MC Lit is written by and about people of color. MC books are not only for “minorities” but for all people. The value you receive, or give, when buying MC books are many. 

  1. MC Lit reflects the diversity that already exists in society and your community.
  2. Presents people of different ethnicities which provides a more realistic picture to a child or teen.
  3. Readers gain an understanding of other cultures which enhance our interactions with others and can help kids develop empathy towards their peers.
  4. MC Lit opens the world to others by stimulating conversations about traditions, heritage, food and language. One of my favorites in this area is Gary Soto’s holiday classic :

    Too Many Tamales
    Too Many Tamales.
  5. Stories with a cultural backdrop (especially Picture Books) often use words in other languages with an English equivalent
  6. MC Lit can heighten a child’s global awareness especially when the books include historical or geographic details. 
  7. When kids grow up exposed to diverse cultures, people, and places they become more open to exploring.
  8. MC Lit can take us on global trips which enrich our experiences and understanding.
  9. Educator  Jaclyn DeForge, M.S states:
  • Students should have the opportunity to be exposed to both classic and contemporary literature as well as  nonfiction texts.
  • All students should have the opportunity to see themselves reflected back, as well as to be exposed to cultures and experiences that may differ from their own, in the literature and nonfiction texts we study.
  1. 10. For children from mainstream culture, multicultural books assist in teaching understanding which leads to cultural sensitivity. For children who are culturally diverse, the use of multicultural books assists in building a positive self-concept.

“MC Books Every Teen Should Know” comes from the School of Education-University of Wisconsin.

Lee and Low (formerly Children’s Book Press) is dedicated to multicultural literature for kids and teens.

For award winning books on African American, American Indian, Middle Eastern literature please see this list.

Happy shopping.

 

A book is a gift you can open again and again-Garrison Keillor

 

Family, Parenting, Travel

A Very Vegan Thanksgiving

Mona Alvarado Frazier
A Vegan Thanksgiving
A Vegan Thanksgiving

I am not a Vegan or a Vegetarian. But I’m at my kid’s apartment preparing for the Thanksgiving meal. My son is Vegan and that’s fine because for one day I can be vegan too.

Before my trip to Denver airport I slipped in a frozen container enclosed in a freezer bag into my checked luggage. It’s a vegan ‘turkey’ roll with dressing and gravy. I tried it at Trader Joe’s and it tasted so good, I had to taste it twice.

There are no TJ’s in Colorado thus the ‘turkey’ in the suitcase. I noticed an ice spot growing bigger on the side of the suitcase when the clerk tagged the bag. I prayed my ‘turkey’ wouldn’t be confiscated.

And it was difficult to find the other items for our Vegan Thanksgiving in Colorado. The main course made it through TSA but I couldn’t find fresh cranberry relish so have to make my own. There’s a cool recipe with red wine that I’ll try.

My daughter is making the pumpkin pies. I was sure I could find non-dairy pie crusts so I wouldn’t have to make them from scratch, but I couldn’t. We settled for graham cracker crusts.

And did you know there’s no wine at Whole Foods, Walmart, or Walgreen’s here?! Blew my mind. Clerks said I must be from California. We had to go out of town to find a nice Merlot at a big liquor store.

Now that all that’s done I’m just glad to be here, on a beautiful sunny crisp day in Colorado. Snow capped mountains, bare tree limbs, and Robin’s Egg blue skin surround us. The smell of pine and fireplace smoke fills the air.

This is the first year, in my entire life, that I am not with my mother and at least one sibling for Thanksgiving. This is the year all of us decided to spend time with our children who are in different parts of California and my own in Colorado.

My mom did not like our decision but we did what we felt was right for us. She made peace with it because in the end we are family. But she still can’t believe that I’m having a Vegan Thanksgiving dinner.

I hope you have a peaceful day with lots of delicious food. Hug your family and friends.