Pluralist Summer Reading List
“Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Across the world racist monuments of slave traders, pro-slavery confederate generals and subjugator colonial figures are being marred and removed amid this global movement. This is an opportunity to not only dismantle racist figures from the pedestal, but also the dominant narratives that white wash the histories, cultures and stories from across the world.
And this is where books can play an important role. Books make us see the world in different ways and broaden our thinking. They can be a gateway to the world — fostering empathy, encouraging perspective taking and enabling new thoughts. Books written by people of different cultures, races, ethnicities, nationalities give us the perspective and insight in to their world — paving way to understand and appreciate human diversity.
Reading fiction enables us to put ourselves in others’ shoes—increasing the our capacity to understand and relate to other people’s beliefs and desires that may differ from one’s own beliefs and desires. In short it develops the crucial skills of empathy and perspective taking. Skills that are as essential in the classrooms, as in day to day life.
In order to raise diversity aware and diversity appreciative kids, we need for children of all ages to understand and experience the human diversity. For them to see a world beyond their own social circles and cultural and racial identities. And also, to ensure the stories we tell and the stories we share reflect various peoples of the world so child is left feeling isolated or alone — unable to see their selves in the popular culture.
During this pandemic when most of us are unable to fully travel and experience the diversity within the country or across the globe, we can turn to books to understand, think and reflect on the experience of people who are different in some ways and same in others.
We have co-compiled this list of books for pre-kindergarteners to high schoolers in collaboration with educators from across the country and speaks to the skills and perspectives needed for an inclusive and pluralist world. Some books might already be familiar such as ‘To kill a mocking bird’, but the goal is to introduce new books as well, dealing with the old topics of exclusion, belonging, acceptance and activism, in contemporary contexts.
Pre-K Reading List
Sulwe
A little girl with the skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
Author and actress @lupitanyongo creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty. For ages 0–3
All Are Welcome
This book is a celebration of the diverse world we live in. Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms — wearing patkas, hijabs, and yarmulkes. A school where students grow and learn from each other’s traditions and the whole community gathers to celebrate the Lunar New Year. It tells young children no matter who they are and where they come from, they are welcome in their school. For ages 4–8
Written by @bklynbrownie and Illustrated by @suzannekaufman.
Hair Love
An animation short film turned book. Zuri’s full head of naturally textured hair has a mind of its own, but today is a very special occasion and she needs it to look just right! At first, she tries to do it herself, but when Daddy wakes up to see her searching for hairstyles on her tablet, he says he’ll help. It’s not quite as simple as he expects it to be, but for his little girl, he’s determined to do better — and with a little help from a tutorial, Zuri and Daddy style the perfect “funky puff buns” just in time for Mommy’s return home! This tender and loving book empowers girls to love their hair — and dads to believe that they can handle whatever their daughters need. For ages Ages 4–8. Written by @matthewacherry, and illustrated by vashtiharrison.
Kindergarten Reading List
The Name Jar
In its simplest form the book communicates how to be yourself and how to accept others that seem unlike us. A story about a girl who had just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it — Yoon-Hey. Author and illustrator Yangsook Choi. For Ages 3–7 years.
Nappy Hair
At a family picnic, everyone is amazed by Brenda’s nappy hair — hair that inspires her Uncle Mordecai to step up and tell a story, full of fascinating twists and turns, about why her hair is “the nappiest, the curliest, the twistiest hair in the family.” When the story is done, it’s clear that, however it came to be, Brenda’s hair is very, very special! Told in a traditional call-and-response style, and full of vivid, colorful expressions, this excellent read-aloud that shows that hair can be a point of pride. Recommended Age: 4–8. Written by Carolivia Herron and illustrated by Joe Cepeda.
The Sandwich Swap
A story of two best friends, Lily and Salma. They like doing all the same things, and they always eat lunch together. And one day they both find out they are disgusted by the others food. Before they know it, a food fight breaks out. Can Lily and Salma put aside their differences? Or will a sandwich come between them? A story of how small things can pull us apart-until we learn that friendship is far more powerful than differences.
For ages 3–7. Written by Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Kellydi Pucchio. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa.
Same, Same But Different
Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school.
Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Through an inviting point-of-view and colorful, vivid illustrations, this story shows how two boys living oceans apart can be the best of friends. For ages Age 4–7. Written and illustrated by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw.
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez
Every morning, Abuelo walks Sofia to school . . . until one day, when Abuelo hurts his ankle at a local landfill and he can no longer do so. Sofia (aka Sofi) misses her Abuelo and wonders what she can do about the dangerous Mount Trashmore. Then she gets an idea — the town can turn the slimy mess into a park! She brainstorms and plans and finally works up the courage to go to City Hall — only to be told by a clerk that she can’t build a park because she’s just a kid! Sofia is down but not out, and she sets out to prove what one kid can do. Written by Andrea Beaty, and David Roberts
A BOY & IN THE BINDI
A celebration of gender and cultural difference.
This book is about a five-year-old South Asian boy who becomes fascinated with his mother’s bindi, the red dot commonly worn by Hindu women. He wishes to have one of his own. Rather than chastising her son, the mother agrees to it, and teaches him about its cultural significance, allowing the boy to discover the magic of the bindi, which in turn gives him permission to be fully himself. Beautifully illustrated by Rajni Perera written by Vivek Shraya. For ages 4–8.
The Day You Begin
There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it’s how you look or talk, or where you’re from; maybe it’s what you eat, or something just as random. It’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. Written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustration by Rafael López this book reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway. For ages 5–8.
Elementary School Reading List
Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey
Story of Rama and her family, who are forced to flee their once-peaceful village to escape the ravages of the civil war raging ever closer to their home. With only what they can carry on their backs, Rama and her mother, father, grandfather and brother, Sami, set out to walk to freedom in Europe. For ages 6–8 years. Written by Margriet Ruurs based on the existing work of Nizar Ali Badr.
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation
When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school. But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend the Mexican school instead. Sylvia could not understand why — she was an American citizen who spoke perfect English. Why were the children of Mexican families forced to attend a separate school? Unable to get a satisfactory answer from the school board, the Mendez family decided to take matters into its own hands and organize a lawsuit. In the end, the Mendez family’s efforts helped bring an end to segregated schooling in California in 1947, seven years before the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education ended segregation in schools across America. For ages Ages 6–9. Written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
Life in Amira’s peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when Janjaweed attackers arrive, unleashing unspeakable horrors.
After losing nearly everything, Amira needs to find the strength to make the long journey on foot to safety at a refugee camp. She begins to lose hope, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind — and all kinds of possibilities. Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney, and illustration by Shane W. Evans. For ages 9+
An unforgettable story about a simple event — a long-ago fishing trip. Graphic novelist Thi Bui and acclaimed poet Bao Phi deliver a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son — and between cultures, old and new. As a young boy, Bao and his father awoke early, hours before his father’s long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao’s father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam. Written by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui.
Middle school
Gifts from the Enemy
Gifts from the Enemy is the powerful and moving story based on From a Name to a Number: A Holocaust Survivor’s Autobiography by Alter Wiener, in which Alter recalls his loss of family at the hands of the Nazis and his internment in five prison camps during World War II. This picture book tells one moving episode during Alter’s imprisonment, when an unexpected person demonstrates moral courage in repeated acts of kindness to young Alter during his imprisonment. For ages 8–12 years. Written by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Craig Orback.
This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality
In 1956, one year before federal troops escorted the Little Rock 9 into Central High School, 14-year old Jo Ann Allen was one of twelve African-American students who broke the color barrier and integrated Clinton High School in Tennessee. At first things went smoothly for the Clinton 12, but then outside agitators interfered, pitting the townspeople against one another. Uneasiness turned into anger, and even the Clinton Twelve themselves wondered if the easier thing to do would be to go back to their old school. Jo Ann — clear-eyed, practical, tolerant, and popular among both black and white students—found herself called on as the spokesperson of the group. But what about just being a regular teen? This is the heartbreaking and relatable story of her four months thrust into the national spotlight and as a trailblazer in history. Based on original research, interviews and with archival materials and notes from the authors on the co-writing process. For ages 10–12. Written by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy.
Amina’s Voice
A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family’s vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after tragedy strikes her community.Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more “American.” Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized. Written by Hena Khan. For ages 8–12 years.
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices
In this beautiful, full-color keepsake collection, fifty of the foremost diverse children’s authors and illustrators share answers to the question, what do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? For ages 8–12.
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
This deeply researched and fast-moving narrative chronicles the entire story of anti-black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. He uses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to drive this history: Puritan minister Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and legendary activist Angela Davis. The book shows, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. They were created to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation’s racial inequities. For ages 13–17. Authored by Ibram X. Kendis.
Junior High — High School
To Kill a mocking bird
The American classic and widely read in the class rooms across the country. The primary themes of To Kill a Mockingbird involve racial injustice and the destruction of innocence. Scholars have noted that Lee also addresses issues of class, courage, compassion, and gender roles in the Deep South. The book is widely taught in schools in the United States with lessons that emphasize tolerance and decry prejudice. Authored by Harper Lee
Dear Martin
A gripping story of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent social injustice. Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend — but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up — way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack. Written by Nic Stone
Your Black Friend
A 16 page comic book by Ben Passmore is a simple yet impactful contribution to the dialogue around race in the United States, Your Black Friend is an open letter from your black friend to you about race, racism, friendship and alienation.
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. At 15 she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she became a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize. Autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, co-written by Christina Lamb
American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures
America Ferrera relays about her experience of growing up feeling wholly American, and yet, her identity is inextricably linked to her parents’ homeland and Honduran culture. Written by indigenous people, immigrants, first-generation Americans, all of the thirty-one stories are themed around a yearning to see their identity reflected in the larger American narrative, and a life between cultures. The authors are celebrated actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers. Each of them struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen. Their stories shine a light on a quintessential American experience not widely seen or read.
The Girl from Aleppo: Nujeen’s Escape from War to Freedom
A story of triumph, grit and hope of a 16-year-old girl Nujeen. Confined to a wheelchair because of her cerebral palsy and denied formal schooling in Syria because of her illness. She taught herself English by watching American soap operas. When her small town became the epicenter of the brutal fight between ISIS militants and US-backed Kurdish troops in 2014, she and her family were forced to flee. Despite her physical limitations, Nujeen embarked on the grueling sixteen-month odyssey by foot, boat, and bus. That took her across Turkey and the Mediterranean to Greece, through Macedonia to Serbia and Hungary, and finally, to Germany. A unique and powerful memoir that gives voice to the Syrian refugee crisis, helping us to understand that the world must change. Co-authored by Nujeen Mustafa and Christina Lamb.
The Best We Could Do
This illustrated memoir is about the search for a better future and a longing for the past. Exploring the anguish of immigration and the lasting effects that displacement has on a child and her family, Bui documents the story of her family’s daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, and the difficulties they faced building new lives for themselves. At the heart of the story is a universal struggle: While adjusting to life as a first-time mother, she ultimately discovers what it means to be a parent — the endless sacrifices, the unnoticed gestures, and the depths of unspoken love. Written and illustrated by Thi Bui.
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