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anywhere in the world, and we'll take you there.Have you read a book that takes you to a different time, place, or culture? Share your experience with other students by submitting a short book review to the librarian for our web site.
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anywhere in the world, and we'll take you there.
| Africa | Antarctica |
| Asia | Australia |
| Canada | Europe |
| Mexico and Central America | South America |
| Middle East | |
Africa Is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove. Enter into the daily life of children in the many countries of modern Africa. Countering stereotypes, Africa Is Not A Country celebrates the extraordinary diversity of this vibrant continent as experienced by children at home, at school, at work, and at play. (From back cover) (Millbrook Press, 2000)
Amos Fortune: Free Man by Elizabeth Yates. "It does a man no good to be free until he learns how to live." These were the words of Amos Fortune, born the son of a king in the At-mun-shi tribe in Africa. When Amos was only fifteen years old, he was captured by slave traders and brought to Massachusetts, where he was sold at auction. Although his freedom had been taken, Amos never lost his dignity and courage. He dreamed of being free, and of buying the freedom of his closest friends. (From back cover.) (Puffin Newberry Library, 1950)
Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book by Muriel Feelings. An introduction to Swahili words. (Dial Books, 1974)
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales. Nobel Laureate for Peace, Nelson Mandela, selected these thirty-two tales with the specific hope that Africa's oldest stories, as well as a few new ones, be perpetuated by future generations and be appreciated by children throughout the world. (From cover) (W.W. Norton & Company, 2002)
The Kidnapped Prince: The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano (adapted by Ann Cameron). In 1755, a young African boy was kidnapped, hidden in an enormous sack, and carried off into slavery. SO began a series of journeys that would take him halfway around the world - and a struggle for freedom that would make him famous. Leter, when he wrote his autobiography, it became a best-seller. He described for the world the evils of slavery - and in doing so, helped to end it. The boy's name was Oladah Equiano. This is his story. (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1995)
Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton. Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton is a Maasai tribesman brought up in the nomadic way of life. The only child in his family to go to school, Lemasolai is torn between the traditional ways of his family and the western ways taught by his teachers. In his struggle to balance two cultures, he learns to apply lessons learned in each of his world to the problems of the other. (National Geographic, 2003)
This Our Dark Country: The American Settlers of Liberia by Catherine Reef. Liberia was born in the early nineteenth century when a group of prominent white Americans calling themselves the American Colonization Society set about establishing a colony for free blacks and former slaves. Both blacks and whites took passionate stands either for or against such a colony. In 1820, even as the arguments rages, the first settlers arrived on the west coast of Africa. This is the tale of their struggle to build a nation in the land of their ancestors. (From cover) (Clarion Books, 2002)
See The Secret Journey by Peg Ehret (England).
Song of Be by Lesley Beake. Years agoa Be and her mother left the peaceful world of their people - the Namibian Bushmen - to work on a white man's plantation. Spending time with her grandfather and learning how to read helped her forget how much she missed her clan. But now that Namibia is on the verge of freedom, Be is beginning to remember - and ask questions. Why does her grandfather refuse the chance to speak for their people? Of what or whom is her mother so afriad? And what is Be's own part in it all? (Puffin Books, 1993)
The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo. When Nigeria's corrupt military government kills their mother, twelve-year-old Sade and her brother Femi think their lives are over. Out of fear for their safety, their father, an outspoken journalist, decides to smuggle the children out of Nigeria and into London, where their uncle lives. But when they get to the cold and massive city, they find themselves lost and along, with no one to trust and no idea when - or if - they will ever see their father again. (From back cover) (Harper Trophy, 2000)
The Lost Boys of Natinga: A School for Sudan's Young Refugees by Judy Walgren. In the remote foothills of southern Sudan thousands of boys live together in a place called Natinga. It is a temporary refuge for boys ranging in age from 8 to 18, from many different tribes. Learn about the lives of these boys as they struggle to survive and get an education. (Houghton Mifflin, 1998)
A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer. While journeying to Zimbabwe, eleven-year-old Nhamo struggles to escape drowning and starvation and in so doing comes close to the luminous world of the African spirits.
Cambodian Folk Stories from the Gatiloke retold by Muriel Paskin Carrison. These tales from the Gatiloke, a collection of ancient Cambodian folk stories, have their origin in the gentle teachings of Buddhist monks. The settings are usually towns, villages, farms, or forests where people live and work - people with ordinary strengths and weaknesses, people who face life's usual problems as they go about their daily business. (Tuttle Publishing, 1987)
Ancient China by Arthur Cotterell. Discover the history of imperial China - from the building of the Great Wall to the days of the last emperor. (DK Books, 1994)
Confucius: The Golden Rule by Russell Freedman. "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself." Confucius conveyed this wisdom to his followers five centuries before Jesus taught the Golden Rule with similar words. The ideals of our own democratic government owe much to the innovations Confucius proposed thousands of years earlier. And yet, today in the western world, the great Chinese thinker is still jokingly portrayed as a comic sage, a loony philosopher whose remarks always begin "Confucius say." (From book jacket) (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2002)
Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz. Looking at her father's globe, Jean knew she was on the wrong side of the world. Instead of roller skating in America, ten-year-old Jean Fritz was in China trying to get out of singing "God Save the King" at her British school and worrying about the cook she suspected of trying to poison her. This was a period of turmoil in China when foreigners were becoming more and more unpopular, and kids like Jean might be evacuated at a moment's notice. Although Jean loved having picnics on the Great Wall and visiting the beautiful mountains in the countryside, she longed to be in the United States where she really belonged. (Paperstar, 1982)
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean. The great Miao, master of the Jade Circus, offers twelve-year-old Haoyou the amazing chance to change his life - to escape from his family's poverty and the pain of his father's recent death - by becoming a kite rider! Strapped onto a beautiful scarlet-and-gold kite, Haoyou is sent into the sky to soar perilously among the clouds and entertain the awestruck crowds below in thirteenth-century China. (From book jacket) (Harper Collins, 2001)
Spring Pearl: The Last Flower by Laurence Yep. Living in Canton in 1857, twelve-year-old Chou Spring Pearl's life is changing. Her parents have died, and she must leave her home to live with the wealthy family of Master Sung. While the city of Canton struggles to survive an attack by the British, Spring Pearl must learn to survive in Master Sung's hostile household. (From book cover) (Pleasant Company, 2002)
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis. Young Fu is bound for seven years to be an apprentice to Tang the coppersmith, and his new life in the Chinese city Chungking is both exciting and terrifying. Young Fu endures the taunts of his coworkers, and must live by his wits on the streets, where restless soldiers will shoot a man if he does not carry a load for them, and beggars steal from those who pass by. (Yearling Book, 1932)
Gandhi by Demi. In beautiful language and exquisite illustrations inspired by Gandhi's own belief in the simplicity and truth of life, Demi captures the spirit that was Mahatma Gandhi and pays homage to this great man. (Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster, 2001)
Homeless Bird by: Gloria Whelan.Thirteen-year-old Koly is getting married, not uncommon for girls her age in India. Although apprehensive, she knows this will lessen the financial burden on her family, and hopes for the best. Unfortunately, her husband is younger than promised, and sickly. Soon she is a homeless widow, deprived of her pension and abandoned by her selfish mother-in-law. She finds unexpected support in a widow's home, self-sufficiency in her gift of embroidery, and, ultimately, love and a new, rewarding life. (From Booklist)
Jahanara: Princess of Princesses by Kathryn Lasky. From her diary in India in 1627: "My father has four wives, but I am the daughter of the one he loves most, Arjumand Banu Begum. I, too, am Begum, a princess. My name is Jahanara, great-granddaughter of Akbar, the greatest Moghul ruler of India.. I have diamonds the size of beetles, and I have thirty servants and eight elephants trained specially for me. I have everything except freedom. We are all of us imprisoned: my mother, my father, my younger brothers, and my younger sister. In tents hung with gold cloth, we drink from emerald-studded chalices and yet we are prisoners." (Scholastic, 2002)
Mother Teresa: Sister to the Poor by Patricia Reilly Giff. Mother Teresa is known as the "Saint of Calcutta," the nun who has cared for the starving and homeless, and nursed the sick and dying, when others would not help them. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. (Puffin Book, 1986)
Neela: Victory Song by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Neela lives in Bengal in 1939. Now that her older sister is married, twelve-year-old Neela Sen knows their mother will be looking for a husband for Neela. But Neela's heart is stirred more by the fiery talk she overhears about India's freedom struggle than it is by talk of marriage. (From cover) (Pleasant Company, 2002)
Shiva's Fire by Suzanne Fisher Staples. From her childhood, Parvati is known in her village for the extraordinary events that seem to spring from her dancing feet, and which set her and her family apart. One day a great guru, a master of Indian classical dance, comes to see Parvati. He invites her to study with him, and she commits herself to a rigorous program of dance, study, and devotion. Then she meets a gentle-eyed boy who turns her life upside down, and she learns that destinay can be an elusive thing. (From back cover) (Harper Collins, 2000)
The Story of Divaali retold by Jatinder Verma. The is the retelling of an age-old Indian epic, They Ramayana. Prince Rama and Princess Sita must defeat the Demon King Ravana, but huge challenges await them! It is only with the help of the great gods taht they are able to overcome the forces of darkness. (Barefoot Books, 2002)
The Boy and the Samurai by Erik Christian Haugaard. On his own in the teeming city, the boy, Saru, soon learned to make his way. Sometimes the woman who ran the tavern would give him ricecakes; sometimes he begged, but in these days of war almost everyone else was poor, too; sometimes, risking a beating, he stole... But all this changed when Saru met the Samurai and agreed to help in the rescue of his lady wife, held hostage in the castle. How could a stree urchin and one warrior prevail against a mighty warlord? Now some of Saru's hard-won skills must come to his aid. (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991)
The Friends by Kazumi Yumoto. Kiyama and his friends Kawabe and Yamashita become curious about death when Yamashita's grandmother dies. They wonder what a dead body looks like and whether the dead person becomes a ghost. They hope to see death firsthand by spying on an old man who looks as if he will die soon. But while they watch the old man, he watches them. Soon this mutual fascination turns into a friendship that will change their lives forever. (From back cover) (Yearling, 1996)
The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. Fourteen-year-old Seikei dreams of being one of the legendary warriors, a samurai - but samurai are born, not made, and Seikei is a tea merchant's son. Then a priceless ruby intended for the shogun - the military governor of Japan - is stolen by a ghost, and Seikei finds himself having to display all the courage of a samurai. He is the only person to have seen the thief, and now the famous samurai magistrate, Judge Ooka, needs Seikei's help to solve the mystery. Soon the two are hot on the train of the ruby. (From back cover) (Puffin Books, 1999)
Hiroshima by Laurence Yep. Describes the dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, particularly as it affects Sachi, who becomes one of the Hiroshima Maidens.
The Little Yokozuna by Wayne Shorey. When a group of children is mysteriously transported from a museum gardent into a fantastic world where the myths, magic, and spirits of traditional Japan have come to life, they find that escape isn't as simple as a phone call home. The dramatic adventures they share with their new Japanese friend Kiyoshi-chan - set in a fantastic world of sumo wrestling, baseball, and temple gardens - offer a fascinating introduction to the magical aspects of Japanese culture. (From back cover) (Tuttle Publishing, 2003)
The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson. Who is the man called Sauro, the mysterious bandit who robs the rich and helps the poor? And what is the connection with Yoshida, the harsh and ill-tempered master of feudal Japan's most famous puppet theater? Young Jiro, an apprentice to Yoshida, is determined to find out, even at risk to his own life. Meanwhile, Jiro devotes himself to learning puppetry. Kinshi, the puppet master's son, tutors him. When his sheltered life at the theater is shattered by mobs of hungry, rioting peasants, Jiro becomes aware of responsibilities greater than his craft. As he schemes to help his friend Kinshi and to find his own parents, Jiro stumbles into a dangerous and powerful secret. (Harper Trophy, 1979)
Pacific Crossings by Gary Soto. Lincoln Mendoza doesn't know jack about Japan. During a six-week visit, he and his best friend, Tony Contreras, study the martial art of kempo, and have strange, hilarious, and even sometimes perilous adventures with their new Japanese brother, Mitsuo. (From back cover) (Harcourt, 1992)
Samurai: An Illustrated History by Mitsuo Kure. The Samurai fought for property, lands, and money - and sometimes even for honor. The long bloody era of the samurai - when sons killed their fathers, brothers attacked their brothers, wives betrayed their husbands and hosts their guests, and the forces of the samurai rulers destroyed those of the emperors and the monasteries - is depicted here in illustrations, in photos from the weapons collections of major museums, and in pohtos of meticulous reenactments of famous battles. (Tuttle Publishing, 2002)
Shipwrecked! The true adventures of a Japanese boy by Rhoda Blumberg. "Any person who leaves the country to go to another and later returns will be put to death." This was the law in Japan in the early 1800s. When fourteen-year-old Manjiro, working on a fishing boat to help support his family, was shipwrecked three hundred miles away from his homeland, he was heartbroken to think that he would never again be able to go home. So when an American whaling boat rescued him, Manjiro decided to do what no other Japanese person had ever done: He went to America, where he received an education and took part in events that eventually made him a hero in the Land of the Rising Sun. (From back cover) (Harper Collins, 2001)
Shizuko's Daughter by: Kyoko Mori. After her mother's suicide when she is twelve years old, Yuki spends years living with her distant father and his resentful new wife, cut off from her mother's family, and relying on her own inner strength to cope with the tragedy.
So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins. Though Japanese, eleven-year-old Yoko has lived with her family in northern Korea near the border with China all her life. But when the Second World War comes to an end, Japanese on the Korean peninsula are suddenly in terrible danger; the Korean people want control of their homeland and they want to punish the Japanese, who have occupied their nation for many years. Yoko, her mother, and sister are forced to flee from their beautiful house with its peaceful bamboo grove. (From cover) (Birch Tree Books, 1986)
Echoes of the White Giraffe by Sook Nyui Choi. In this sequel to "Year of Impossible Good-byes", Sookan, now 15, is again a refugee. After finding her first love, she makes a dangerous escape to freedom in South Korea.
(Yearling Books, 1993)The Kite Fighters by Linda Sue Park. In Seoul, Korea, in 1473, Young-sup and his older brother, Kee-sup, are excited about the New Year kit competition. Young-sup is an expert at kite flying. He knows just what his kite wants him to do. Kee-sup has trouble handling his kite but can build and design a kite fit for a king. Each brother knows his own talents as they practice together for the New Year kite-fighting competition. But according to tradition, Kee-sup, the firstborn son, must represent the family. Young-sup knows he must help his older brother and stay in second place. But that doesn't stop him from hoping for the chance to show his great skill as a kite fighter. (From back cover) (Dell Yearling, 2000)
The Khan's Daughter by Laurence Yep. In this retelling of a Mongolian folktale a simple shepherd must pass three tests in order to marry the Khan's beautiful daughter.
Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples. When eleven-year old Shabanu, the daughter of a nomad in the Cholistan Desert of present-day Pakistan, is pledged in marriage to an older man whose money will bring prestige to the family, she must either accept the decision, as is the custom, or risk the consequences of defying her father's wishes.
Haveli by Suzanne Fisher Staples. A sequel to Shabanu, read about the challenges that Shabanu faces as the youngest and fourth wife of Rahim.
Rice Without Rain by Minfong Ho. Seventeen-year-old Jinda eagerly follows the advice from university students about modernization when her family's rice crop is threatened by a drought. Then, she learns the students are radical revolutionaries and quietly and heroically survives a harsh political awakening.
(Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1990)
Tibet Through the Red Box by Peter Sis. When a boy's father, a filmmaker, goes off on an expedition, he becomes separated from his crew and gets lost for a long time. When he finally returns, he tells of his magical and enchanting experiences in Tibet, which he has recorded in a travel journal. He keeps the journal in a red box that he forbids his family from touching, and the box remains a mystery of magical proportions to the son for years until he finally reads his father's journal. (Frances Foster Books, 1998)
Uzbekistan Then & Now prepared by the Geography Department of Lerner Publications. Uzbekistan lies in central Asia along ancient trade routes between southern Europe and eastern Asia. The country has been conquered many times, and was part of the Soviet Union beginning in 1918. Learn about Uzbekistan before and after its independence in 1991.
Sing for Your Father, Su Phan by: Fay Tang and Stella Pevsner. Recalls the events in a North Vietnamese village that forever changed the lives of the youngest daughter of a prosperous trader and her family.
The Land I Lost by:Huynh Quang Nhuong. A collection of personal reminiscences of the author's youth in a hamlet on the central highlands of Vietnam.
Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam by Huynh Quang Nhuong. Huynh Quang Nhuong's boyhood days were full of adventure - thanks to Tank, the family's water buffalo. Tank was a fierce protector who fought off the attacks of tigers, wild hogs, and panthers. He was intelligent and learned quickly how to lead - and guard - the other buffaloes. His senses were so keen he could detect crocodiles lurking in the river. And he was gentle, allowing crowds of village children to ride him, and even adopting a lonely puppy. (Harper Trophy, 1997)
The Kings Are Already Here by Garret Freymann-Weyr. Phebe Knight is training to become a ballerina. Nikolai Kotalev is a sixteen-year-old chess champion who has been befriended by Phebe's father. They travel across Europe with Phebe's father and his girlfriend, hunting for Stas (a legendary chess teacher). (From cover) (Houghton Mifflin, 2003)
The Boys from St. Petri by Bjarne Reuter. German soldiers have invaded St. Petri - but Lars and his friends are fighting back. Lars is finally a member of the St. Petri group. Sworn to oppose the German occupation of Denmark, the boys steal German license plates, deface Nazi posters, and deflate German Tires. But when Lars discovers a stolen German Luger, the gun changes everything. It brings them Otto, a young brickyard worker, whose ruthlessness and daring urge the group into heightened risks. Freedom is all that matters, and suddenly it is worth everything - even their lives. (From back cover) (Puffin Books, 1991)
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. The thirteen-year-old daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.
The Copper Treasure by Melvin Burgess. Jamie, Davies, and Ten Tons are mudlarks, boys who stay alive in 1850's London by finding and selling coal in the banks along the Thames River. Their dream is to find adventure by going to sea, but they'll never get a place on a seagoing ship without the money to buy an apprenticeship. Then they spot a potential treasure - a half-ton of copper. All they have to do is rescue it from the depths of the river... (HarperTrophy, 1998)
In the Stone Circle by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel. How boring! Cristyn Stone does not want to spend her summer in some small, foggy town in Wales while her father does research. But from the moment they arrive, Cristyn knows she is there for a reason. The sixteenth-century stone house they're staying in holds a haunting secret. Strange noises, weird dreams, a girl ghost, and a mysterious connection to her late mother pull Cristyn deeper into the mystery. When she discovers a secret staircase leading from her room, Cristyn knows it's only a matter of time until the house reveals its past. (From back cover) (Scholastic, 1998)
Isabel: Taking Wing by Annie Dalton. In London in 1592, twelve-year-old Isabel Campion dreams of freedom and adventure, especially now that her older sister is to be married. When her father sends her away to live with her aunt, Isabel is attacked by brigands. They leave her alive, but completely lost and alone. (From cover) (Pleasant Company, 2002)
The Secret Journey by Peg Kehret. Twelve-year-old Emma can be headstrong. Therefore, it doesn't come as too much of a surprise when she decides to stow away on the ship taking her parents to France. Unfortunately, Emma's innocence makes her an easy mark along the 1834 Liverpool waterfront. Wickedly led astray, she mistakenly stows away aboard a slave trading ship bound for Africa. Once discovered, Emma crops off her hair, fools the crew, and works hard as the ship's boy. When a storm destroys the ship along the coast of Liberia, Emma washes ashore, the sole survivor. Until her rescue four months later, the plucky young girl survives in the jungle, observing and learning from the chimps. (From Booklist) (Pocket Books, 1999)
Thames Doesn't Rhyme with James by Paula Danziger. Kendra Kaye is on her way - to London! This is her first chance to see Frank since he visited New York last summer. It's also her first chance to kiss Frank - that is, if her parents get out of the way. (Berkley Books, 1994)
Cecile: Gates of Gold by Mary Casanova. When twelve-year-old Cecile Revel is given the unexpected chance to serve at King Louis XIV's court, she is unprepared for what she finds there. She has long dreamed of life at court - of elegance and beauty, fine dresses, and an end to her constant hunger - but she never imagined how complicated - and dangerous - life at court would be. (From book cover) (Pleasant Company, 2002)
A Pocket Full of Seeds by Marilyn Sachs. Nicole Neiman has never really thought about being Jewish. Now, with the Nazis occupying France, it is the only thing on her mind. An almost endless stream of refugees comes to stay at their house, and her parents wonder if they too ought to escape over the border to Switzerland or take the chance and wait it out. Then one awful day Nicole comes home from school to find her parents and sister gone. The Nazis who have taken them are still looking for her. Where can Nicole hide? And will she ever see her family again? (From back cover) (Puffin Books, 1973)
Greek Myths and Legends by Cheryl Evans and Anne Millard. Presents over two-hundred Greek myths and legends, personalities, gods and goddesses, heroes, and monsters.
Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. In 1845, a disaster struck Ireland. Overnight, a mysterious blight attacked the potato crops, turning the potatoes black and destroying the staple food of the Irish people. Some blamed the fairies, whom they believed lived in he Irish countryside. Other people called it "the will of God." Still others blamed the British government and landlords, who held power over Ireland and the Irish people. (From book jacket) (Houghton Mifflin, 2001)
Sophie's World by Justine Gander. Sophie, a Norwegian schoolgirl, is anticipating her fifteenth birthday when a card arrives in the mail asking the question: Who are you? With her unorthodox and mysterious mentor Alberto Knox, Sophie ponders the great questions of Western philosophy (ranging from the pre-Socratic Greeks to Jean-Paul Sartre) in this fascinating, humorous work. (From Midwest Book Review)
Ghots, Vampires, and Werewolves: Eerie Tales from Transylvania by Mihai I. Spariosu and Dezso Benedek. This book of authentick Translyvanian folktales will take you to the home turn of werewolves, to the real Translyvania, a province of Romania, where not too long ago people believed in and told tales about the evil deeds of jealous vampires, vengeful ogres, and (of course) greedy people. (From book flap)
Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse. Rifka and her family have fled Russia's brutal treatment of the Jews for a new life in America. But the path to freedom is full of terrible obstacles - the humiliating scrutiny of doctors and soldiers, and deadly typhus that strikes the entire family. Finally, when it seems that they have triumphed over every possible hardship, the doctors refuse to let Rifka board the ship to America - and her family must leave without her. (From back cover) (Puffin Books, 1993)
My Sergei by Ekaterina Gordeeva. In the former Soviet Union, the sports establishment, charged with producing winners for the greater glory of the empire, had almost unlimited power over the athletically gifted. Children as young as five or six were identified, sent to special schools and given rigorous training in the sports in which they were expected to excel. Two such youngsters were Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, paired as skaters by their teachers when they were 11 and 14, respectively. (Publishers Weekly) (Warner Books, 1997)
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Barton de Treviño. Juan is the slave of the great Spanish painter Diego Velázquez and helps his master in his studio by preparing paints and stretching canvases. But Juan is an artist, too; he has taught himself by watching his master's technique. Although such work is forbidden to slaves, Juan cannot keep his secret any longer. What will happen when the truth is known? (From book cover) (Newberry Medal Book, 1965)
Grace in the Wilderness by Aranka Siegal. In the aftermath of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, fifteen-year-old Piri wants to return to her home in Hungary. But the Swedish Red Cross has taken in Piri and her sister, and they must travel from place to place, satying wherever they can. (Puffin, 1994)
Morning Girl by Michael Dorris. In alternating chapters, Morning Girl, a twelve-year-old Taino, and her younger brother, Star Boy, vividly recreate life on a Bahamian island in 1492 - a life that is rich, complex, and soon to be threatened. (Hyperion, 1999)
Che Guevara by David Downing. The image of revolutionary leader Che Guevara stares at us from posters, T-shirts, and books throughout the Western world. His face has become a symbol of youthful protest, of saying "no" to the way things are fun. So who was Ernesto "Che" Guevara and what were the events that led to his untimely and violent death? This book offers a fascinating account of the man behind the myth and of the impact he had on Latin-American history. (From cover) (Heinemann Library, 2003)
Tanilí: An Afrocuban Folktale adapted by María Luisa Retana (bilingual). Tanilí is a magical story based on an Afrocuban folktale. The tale tells of how Domitila and her grandson, Tanilí, use the enchanting song of a lizard to summon the neighbors to assist in the harvest of their cotton. Even the rich but reluctant Antionio cannon resist the charming influence of the lizard's song.
Under the Royal Palms by Alma Flor Ada. Stories and reminiscences drawn from the author's childhood in Cuba, a companion volume to Where the Flame Trees Bloom. (Antheneum Books, 1998)
The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph. Twelve-year-old Ana Rosa is a blossoming writer growing up in the Dominican Republic, a country where words are feared. Yet, there is so much inspiration all around her - watching her brother search for a future, learning to dance and to love, and finding out what it means to be part of a community - that Ana Rosa must write it all down. As she struggles to find her own voice and a way to make it heard, Ana Rosa realizes the power of her words to transform the world around her - and to transcend the most unthinkable of tragedies. (From back cover) (Joanna Cotler Books, Harper Trophy, 2002)
Grab Hands and Run by Frances Temple. Felipe shouldn't be listening, but he hears his father, Jacinto, say to Mama one night, "If they come for me, you and the children - grab hands and run. Go north, all the way to Canada. If ever I get free, I'll come there." Soon after, Jacinto's motorbike is found, abaondoned. During their time on the refugee trail, Felipe, his younger sister Romy, and their mother must face together the dangers of fire and flood, of snakes, of bullets and red tape. (A Richard Jackson Book, 1993)
Colibrí by Ann Cameron. She was little and quick and pretty. He mother nicknamed her Colibrí, Spanish for "Hummingbird." At age four she was kidnapped, torn from her parents on a crowded bus in Guatemala City. Since then, she's traveled from town to town in the highlands of Guatemala with "Uncle," the ex-soldier and wandering beggar who renamed her Rosa. Is there any chance she will ever find her parents again? (Frances Foster Books, 2003)
Behind the Mountains by Edwidge Danticat. It is election time in Haiti, and bombs are going off in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. During a visit from her home in rural Haiti, Celiane Espérance and her mother are nearly killed. Looking at her country with new eyes, Celiane gains a fresh resolve to be reunited with her father in Brooklyn, New York. (From book jacket) (Orchard Books, 2002)
Angela Weaves a Dream: The Story of a Young Maya Artist by Michèle Solá. In the villages in the Chiapas mountains of southern Mexico, the women and girls card and spin cotten and wool, then dye and weave cloth on their handmade looms. This book presents a portrait of this art through the eyes and hands of a young Maya girl. (Hyperion, 1997)
The Aztec News by Philip Steele. What if the Aztecs had a newspaper? This book contains some of the feature articles that might have been, such as "Life at the Top! Palace Official Reveals Secrets of the Royal Family," and "Fighting Fit? Is It Time to Change our Battle Tactics?" (Candlewick Press, 1997)
Growing Up in Aztec Times by Marion Wood. What was the Aztec empire, and who were the Aztecs? What was everyday life like for young people in Aztec times? Where did the Aztecs live and what did they eat? Did children go to school? How did they become warriors? (From book cover) (Troll Associates, 2002)
How Would You Survive as an Aztec? by Fiona Macdonald. Why did the Aztecs treat war as a ritual? Why were Aztec babies welcomed into the world with poetry and sacrificed to bring rain? How do we know about the Aztecs? (From book cover) (Franklin Watts, 1995)
The Sad Night: The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss by Sally Schofer Mathews. In the year 1519, the Spanish marched into Mexico, looking for treasure and land. This book traces the Aztec presence in Mexico from the mythic origins of the Aztec Empire to the recent discovery of gold lost by the Spaniards on that fateful night. (Clarion Books, 1994)
The Two Mountains: An Aztec Legend retold by Eric A. Kimmel. High in the Third Heaven sat the splendid jade palace of the sun god, Tonatiuh. Only within its walls was his son, Ixcocauqui, permitted to roam. There must be something beyond the garden that me father does not want me to see, thought Ixcocauqui. (From cover) (Holiday House, 2000)
19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East by Naomi Shihab Nye. Fowzi, who beats everyone at dominoes; Ibtisam, who wanted to be a doctor; Abu Mahmoud, who knows every eggplant and peach in his West Bank garden; mysterious Uncle Mohammed, who moved to the mountain; a girl in a red sweater dangling a book bag; children in velvet dresses who haunt the candy bowl at the party... Naomi Shihab Nye has been writing about being Arab-American, about Jerusalem, about the West Bank, about family all her life. (From cover) (Greenwillow Books, 2002)
The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle by Claudia Logan. It is 1924. Two years ago the discovery of King Tut's tomb with its amazing treasures made headlines all over the world. Now teams of archaeologists are racing to Egypt, looking for the next big find. Follow Will Hunt as he and his family join Dr. George Reisner, a world-famous Egyptologist, and become part of a team exploring a real archaeological site - Giza 7000X. (From book cover) (Melanie Kroupa Books, 2002)
The Magnificent Mummy Maker by Elvira Woodruff. What do you do when it seems like everyone in your family has done something magnificent - everyone, that is, except you? That's Andy's problem. He just wants to do something special. So when his class visits an Egyptian exhibit, he figures it'll be just another field trip. But he's wrong, because somehow a mummy's spirit seems to have given him a weird magic power. Suddenly, Andy's magnificent - all he has to do is wish for whatever he wants! (Scholastic, 1994)
One More River by Lynne Reid Banks. Lesley Shelby has it all: good grades, popularity, rich parents, gorgeous clothes. Then, one September afternoon, her life changes forever. Her father announces that the family is leaving Canada and moving to Israel. Lesley is stunned. Give up all this? How can she bear it? And there's worse to come. They are not just going to Israel, but to a kibbutz - a communal settlement - on the dangerous border with Jordan! (From book jacket) (Morrow Junior Books, 1973)
A Place in the Sun by Jill Rubalcaba. It was just an accident. But when Senmut's sculpting chisel slips from his fingers, striking and killing a dove, Egyptian priests exile the nine-year-old to a lifetime of hard labor in the gold mines of Nuba. Armed with nothing more than his sculptor's skills and his will to endure, Senmut must test the core strength of his creativity if he wants to survive (From book jacket) (Clarion Books, 1997)
The Road to Home: A True Story of Courage, Survival, and Hope by David Kherdian. David Kherdian re-creates his mother's voice in telling the true story of a childhood interrupted by one of the most devastating holocausts of our century. Veron Dumehjian Kherdian was born into a loving and prosperous family. Then, in the year 1915, the Turkish government began the systematic destruction of its Armenian population. (Breech Tree Books, 1979)
Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam by Diane Stanley. Forty years before the boy was born, a horde of bloodthirsty barbarians thundered out of the west and conquered his native land. They had succeeded because his people, ever at war with one another, had not fought together to defend their cities. In time the boy was destined to become the very leader that was needed, a man with the courage and vision to unite his people and face the most fearsome and brilliant warrior of the age. The time was the twelfth century; the barbarian horde was the armies of the First Crusade; the great warrior was Richard the Lionhearted; and the leader was Saladin. This is more than the other side of a familiar Western story, the Crusades. It is the tale of an extraordinary man, remarkable for his generous and chivalrous ways, a warrior who longed for peace. (Harper Collins, 2002)
Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi. In an Israeli hospital ward with five beds lies Samir, a Palestinian boy. Nothing could be more frightening for Samir than to be trapped among the very people he blames for his brother's death. Yet amid this explosive atmosphere Samir begins to learn the personal stories of the four other children, Israeli children - their hurts, and their conflicts. There, even in a language not his own, confronted with feelings of guilt, Samir finds a new world and place for himself. (From book jacket) (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2000)
Jaguar by Roland Smith. When Jacob Lansa joined his father in Brazil, his biggest worry was whether Doc would let him stay or send him back to Poughkeepsie. But he soon realizes he has bigger problems. His father's expedition to create a jagaur preserve is beset with violence - a massive explosion destroys their boat, and Jake is viciously attacked before their journey even begins. (Hyperion, 1997)
Isabel Allende: Memories for a Story by Raquel Benatar (bilingual). A short biography of the Chilean author Isabel Allende. (Piñata Books, 2003)
Anthropologist: Scientist of the People by Mary Batten. Imagine making your living by hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants and insects. Imagine having to worry about being attacked by a jaguar or some other wild animal. This is how our ancestors lived for hundreds of thousands of years, but only a few peoples carry on this ancient lifestyle today. One of the few are the Aché, hunter-gatherers living in Paraguay. Magdalena Hurtado, an anthropologist, has spent years in the field living with Aché: learning their language, observing their traditions, and recording their history. (From book cover) (Houghton Mifflin 2001)
Go and Come Back by Joan Abelove. Late one day, just before dinnertime in the Peruvian jungle village of Poincushmana, two old white ladies from New York arrive in a boat. Everyone hurries down to the riverbank to greet them - everyone but Alicia. She doesn't understand why the rest of her tribe, the Isabo, are making such a fuss. But as the days pass, she too is drawn in - because the old ladies (who are really in their twenties and anthropologists) are stingy, stupid, and fun to watch. They don't understand the Isabo. Someone needs to set the straight. And that someone, surprisingly enough, is Alicia. (From back cover)
Discovering the Inca Ice Maiden: My Adventure on Ampato by Johan Reinhard. On Sept. 8, 1995, John Reinhard made the discovery of a lifetime. While climbing Ampato, a snow-covered volcano in Peru, he and his Peruvian assistant, Miguel Zárate, came across a frozen mummy, incredibly preserved from the time of the Inca Empire. (National Geographic Society, 1998)
A Gift for Ampato by Sasan Vande Griek. Timta sat up on her mat, her breath coming fast and shallow. A dream had woken her, a dream in which she had been walking, walking always upward, growing dizzy, finding it harder and harder to breathe. She got up and stepped quickly until she reached the courtyard and the fresh air. The night was still and cool. There was some faint light from a shadowy moon. Timta took in deep gulps of air and tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. Why me? The thought hammered again in her head. Timta has been selected for the greatest honor of all - a chance to serve her gods and her people. Yet to her same, she cannot feel joy at the prospect. But what can be done? In the Peru of the Inca, you are chosen. You do not get to choose... (Groundwood Book, 1999)
History's Villains: Francisco Pizarro by Scott Ingram. A two-sided look at one of history's most influential villains - Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire, consisting of 4 million people, with only 200 men and 60 horses. With a combination of trickery, treachery, and brutality, he then went on to plunder the Inca's riches and exploit the people for his own gain. (From back cover) (Blackbirch Press, 2002)
Into a New Country: Eight Remarkable Women of the West by Liza Ketchum. Here are the stories of eight extraordinary women who contributed to the fascinating history of westward expansion: Susan Magoffin, Lotta Crabtree, Bridget "Biddy" Mason, Susette LaFlesche Tibbles, Susan LaFlesche Picotte, Bethenia Owens-Adair, Mary McGladery Tape, and Katherine Ryan.
Kids on Strike! by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. From a "turn-out" in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1836 led by eleven-year-old Harriet Hanson to the dramatic strike of 1912 in Lawrence, Kids on Strike! tells the story of children who stood up for their rights against powerful company owners. By the early 1900s in the United States, nearly two million children were in the workforce. (From book jacket) (Houghton Mifflin,1999)
Slumps, Grunts, and Snickerdoodles: What Colonial America Ate and Why by Lila Perl. History books often represent the colonial era as a series of political events, legal proclamations, and battle dates. Yet it was also a time of intense cultural change for the early settles, change that was often reflected in the foods they ate. (From book jacket) (Clarion Books, 1975)
We the People, Poems by Bobbi Katz.
What Are You? Voices of Mixed-Race Young People compiled by Pearl Fuyo Gaskins. In essay, interview, and poetry, 45 mixed-race young people speak about their growing up. "My body and mentality is not split down the middle where half is black and the other half is Japanese. I have taken aspects of both worlds to creat my own worldview and identity. I am Blackanese." (Henry Holt and Company, 1999)
Jason's Gold by Will Hobbs. "Gold!" Jason shouted at the top of his lungs. "Read all about it! Gold discovered in Alaska!" Within hours of hearing the thrilling news, fifteen-year-old Jason Hawthron jumps a train for Seattle, stows away on a ship bound for the goldfields, and joins thousands of fellow prospectors attempting the difficult journey to the Klondike. The Dead Horse Trail, the infamous Chilkoot Pass, and a five-hundred-mile trip by canoe down the Yukon River lie ahead. With help from a young writer named Jack London, Jason and his dog face moose, bears, and the errors of a subarctic winter in this bone-chilling survival story. (From back cover) (Harper Trophy, 1999)
Minuk: Ashes in the Pathway by Kirkpatrick Hill. Twelve-year-old Minuk is intrigued by the Hoffs, the American missionary family that has moved into her village. It soon becomes clear that although the Hoffs can speak the Yup'ik language, the don't understand Yup'ik ways. (From cover) (Pleasant Company Publications, 2002)
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. At fifteen, Cole Matthews has been fighting and stealing for years. The punishment for smashing Peter Driscal's skull into the sidewall - his most recent crime -is harsh. This time, COle will have to choose between prison and Native American Circle Justice. He will live either behind bars or in isolation for one year. Cole chooses Circle Justice. But in the first days of his banishment to a remote Alaskan island, he is mauled by a mysterious white bear and nearly dies. Will the attack of the spirit bear destroy Cole's life or save his soul? (From back cover) (Harper Trophy, 2001)
The Blues Singes: Ten Who Rocked the World by Julies Lester. The BLues. It's that low-down felling that makes you ache from your soul to the soles of your shoes. The author introduces you to ten of the most beloved black blues singers. (Hyperion Books, 2001)
One More Valley, One More Hill: The Story of Aunt Clara Brown by Linda Lowery. Aunt Clara Brown was a pioneer, crossing tthe country on foot to join the frontier communities of Colorado in the 1850s. She was an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mother searching for her lost daughter. What makes her even more remarkable is that Aunt Clara was born a slave and wasn't free to undertake these things until she was fifty-six years old. (Landmark Books, 2002)
Osceola: Memories of a Sharecropper's Daughter collected and edited by Alan Govenar. Osceola Mays was born in East Texas in 1909, the daughter of a sharecropper and the granddaughter of slaves. She survives fear, porverty, and the loss of loved ones by recalling memories of her childhood, and the stories, songs, and poems she learned from her mother and grandmother. (From book jacket)
Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Caleman by Nikki Grimes. Elizabeth "Bessie" Caleman was always being told what she could and couldn't do. Growing up in a time when segregation was a way of life, it was not easy to survive. Bessie didn't let that stop her. Although she was only eleven when the Wright brothers took their historic flight, she vowed to become the first African-American female pilot. (From book jacket) (Orchard Books, 2002)
Beacon Hill Boys by Ken Mochizuki. In 1972 in Seattle, sixteen-year-old Dan Inagaki, a teenager in a Japanese-American family, struggles for his own identity, along with a group of three friends who share his anger and confusion. (Scholastic Press, 2002)
The Case of the Lion Dance by Laurence Yep. When $2000 is stolen during the opening of a restaurant, Lily and her aunt, a Chinese American movie actress, search for the thief throughout San Francisco's Chinatown.
The Cook's Family by Laurence Yep. Robin Lee can't stand her parents' constant fighting, so she's glad to spend time with her grandmother in Chinatown. They've befriended a lonely cook and pretend to be his long-lost family. At Cook's restaurant, Robin's a star and a whole new world opens up to her. In her make-believe father she finally discovers a sense of her Chinese heritage, and she sees a new and exciting side to her grandmother. The thing is, once Robin starts pretending, she doesn't want to stop. (Penguin, 1998)
Coolies by Yin. Shek marvels at the new world as he and his younger brother Little Wong step off the ship that has brought them to California. Along with hundreds of other Chinese workers, the brothers are going to help build a great railroad across the West. (Puffin, 2001)
Encyclopedia of Japanese American History. On June 19, 1868, a ship carrying 148 Japanese men, women, and children sailed into Honolulu harbor. These passenbers were the first Japanese immigrants to settle in the United States. Today, hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans populate all 50 states. Surprisingly, their past went practically unrecorded until recently. After the mass internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, however, historians and scholars, focusing on the experiences of Japanese Americans particularly, began to unearth a rich and illuminating history.
Finding My Hat by John Son. John Son chronicles Jin-Han's and the Park family's travels from city to city, through triumph, humor, and tragedy, as they search for a better life and a little more money. In a series of fluid, memorable vignettes laces with Korean words and timeless themes, Son builds a rich canvas, revealing a life at once unique and indistinguishable from any other. (Orchard Books, 2003)
Half and Half by Lensey Namioka. Fiona Cheng is half and half: Her father is Chinese and her mother is Scottish. But her appearance isn't so neatly divided. Fiona looks more like her father than her mother, so people always expect her to more interested in her Chinese half than her Scottish half. Lately, even Fiona is confused about who she really is. (Delacorte Press, 2003)
The Invisible Thread by Yoshiko Uchida. Growing up in California, Yoshi knew her family looked different from their neighbors. Still, she felt like an American. But everything changed when America went to war against Japan. Along with all the other Japanese-Americans on the West Coast, Yoshi's family were rounded up and imprisoned in a crowded, badly built camp in the desert because the "looked like the enemy." (Beech Tree Books, 1991)
The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559, Mirror Lake Internment Camp by Barry Denenberg. This is the story of a twelve-year-old prisoner in one of America's Japanese internment camps of World War II in California in 1942. (Scholastic, 1999)
The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung: A Chinese Miner by Laurence Yep. It is 1852, and 10-year-old Wong Ming-Chung, or Bright Intelligence--or Runt, as he is most commonly called--has arrived at the gold mines of California after a dangerous journey from China. Exchanging the famine and war of his native country for the brutal bullies and grueling labor in America, Runt joins his uncle and countless others in the effort to strike it rich on the great "Golden Mountain." Unfortunately, he, and most of the rest of the dreamers, soon discover that there's no such thing as a Golden Mountain, only dirt, mud, and tiny, occasional flecks of gold dust--flecks that are to be turned over to the owners of the mines, in return for barely livable wages. However, someone as clever and resourceful as Runt can still find true opportunity in this land. He and his uncle team up to find ingenious new ways of making money, and to defend themselves against the bitter, racist white Americans. Along the way, Runt develops lasting friendships with many people from all over the world, learning ways to communicate with them in spite of cultural and language differences. (From Amazon.com) (Scholastic, 2000)
A Step from Heaven by An Na. While going up and up into the sky on the flight from Korea to California, four-year-old Young Ju concludes that they are on their way to heaven - America is heaven! After they arrive, however, Young Ju and her parents and little brother struggle in their new world, weighed down by the difficulty of learning English, their insular family life, and the traditions of the country they left behind. (From cover) (Front Street, 2001)
Walk Across the Sea by Susan Fletcher. In this story set in 1886, a young girl named Eliza Jane defies the conventional attitudes of her small California town when she befriends a Chinese immigrant--a boy named Wah Chung who saved her goat from drowning. Most of the other people in her town, including her father, consider Chinese people "heathens" and vow to force all the Chinese residents out of their town. Will Eliza Jane be brave enough to speak out against blind hatred and prejudice?
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath. Just before Melissa, Amanda, and Fran (Pee Wee) Anderson's parents leave for Paris, the babysitter comes down with "a mild case of bubonic plague," and they reluctantly call on Mr. Anderson's sister Sally from Canada to watch the nieces and nephew she has never met. Aunt Sally lets the children play with her makeup and jewelry, eats their green beans as well as her own, and regales them with tales of their relatives and growing up on Vancouver Island. (From book jacket) (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2001)
The Root Cellar by Jane Lunn. Rose is unhappy living with her relatives in Canada until she discovers an old root cellar and is transported back in time to 1860. Now facing life during the Civil War, Rose encounters many adventures and unexpected dangers. (Viking Penguin, 1985)
To Seek a Better World: The Haitian Minority in America by Brent Ashabranner. Who are the people who make up the Haitian ethnic minority of about half a million in the United States today? Where do they live? What do they do? What special problems to they have? (Cobblehill/Dutton, 1997)
Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 by Kathryn Lasky. In the early 1900s, immigrants, young and old, are flocking to the "golden country" of America to escape poverty and persecution in Europe. Zipporah Feldman, better known as Zippy, her sister, Tovah, and her mother come to the United States from Russia to join their father who has acclimated himself to the American way much to his wife's dismay. Both Tovah and Zippy begin to understand the workings of America and try to find their place in this strange new land. (Scholastic, 1998)
The Journal of Otto Peltonen: A Finnish Immigrant by William Durbin. After his family emigrates from Finland to Minnesota, Otto Peltonen and his father work in the dangerous iron ore mines of the Mesabi Range. There, in the face of discrimination from the foremen, who accept brides for the prime mining spots, Otto and his father take part in the beginnings of the labor unionization. (Scholastic, 2000)
West to a Land of Plenty: The Diary of Teresa Angelino Viscardi (New York to Idaho Territory, 1883) by Jim Murphy. While traveling in 1883 with her Italian American family (including a meddlesome little sister) and other immigrant pioneers to a utopian community in Idaho, fourteen-year-old Teresa keeps a diary of her experiences along the way. (Scholastic, 1998)
And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold. Miguel Chavez lives near Taos, New Mexico, where his family has lived on a sheep-raising farm for many generations. Miguel faces danger as he takes on the job of the men of the family. (Harper Collins, 1953)
Any Small Goodness by Tony Johnston. Los Angeles is a place of movie stars and fast cars and people who are too rich and people who are too poor. An area of freeway chases and drive-bys and death. But there's another L.A., one where warmth and humor and humanity pervade. Where a taquería sign declares: "One cause, one pople, one taco." This L.A. is a place of strong family bonds, where random acts of generosity and goodwill improve the lives of the community. As Arturo Rodriguez's father tells his son, "In life there is bueno and there is malo. If you do not find enough of the good, you must yourself create it.... Remember this thing - any small goodness is of value." (Scholastic Signature, 2001)
Call me María by Judith Ortiz Cofer. María is a girl caught between two worlds: Puerto Rico, where she was born, and New York, where she now lives in a basement apartment in the barrio. While her mother remains on the island, María lives with her father, the super of the building. As she struggles to lose her island accent, María does her best to find er place within the unfamiliar culture of the barrio. Finally, with the Spanglish of the barrio people ringing in her ears, she finds the poet within herself. (Orchard Books, 2004)
Jessie de la Cruz: A Profile of a United Farm Worker by Gary Soto.Jessie De La Cruz, the UFW's first female organizer, became a member of the fledgling union in 1966, and at Chavez's request, went from field to field recruiting workers as members. (From book cover) (Persea Books, 2000)
The Jumping Tree by René Saldaña, Jr. These stories follow Rey Castañeda from sixth through eighth grade in Nuevo Peñitas, Texas. One half of Rey's family lives nearby in Mexico, the other half in Texas, and he fits in on both sides of the border.
The King's Fifth by Scott O'Dell. Seven people left the summer camp of Coronado's army and struck out into the unknown land now the Southwest of the United States. This is the story of Esteban de Sandoval, whose job it is to draw maps, but who must also survive the hardships of mountains and desert and the evil of ruthless men. (Houghton Mifflin, 1966)
My Diary from Here to There by Amada Irma Pérez (bilingual). One night Amada overhears her parents whisper about leaving Juárez, Mexico for "the other side." Her five brothers burst with excitement at the news, but Amada is both terrified and intrigued. As her family makes its way north to Los Angeles, California, Amad confides her hopes, fears, and dreams to her diary. (Children's Book Press, 2002)
Quinceañera Means Sweet 15 by Veronica Chambers. Marisol and Magdalena are making plans for their quinceañera parties, the fifteenth birthday celebration that they've been waiting for their entire lives. They've promised each other that they will be the dama de honor - maid-of-honor - at each other's quince. But quinceañeras are expensive, and Marisonl's mother doesn't know if she can afford a party at all, especially not one as extravagant as the party Magdalena's parents are throwing. And, during Marisol's year away in Panama, Magdalena has become best friend with Marisa and Elizabeth, two grilds Mariosn can't stand. (Hyperion, 2001)
Standing Tall: The Stories of Ten Hispanic Americans by Argentina Palacios. Includes biographies of David G. Farragut, Severo Ochoa, Jaime Escalante, Roberto Clemente, Vilma S. Martinez, Antonia C. Novello, Franklin R. Chang-Díaz, Fernando Bujones, Miriam Santos, and Gloria Estefan. (Scholastic, 1994)
Valley of the Moon: The Diary of María Rosalia de Milagros, Sonoma Valley, Alta California, 1846 by Sherry Garland. Maria Rosalia de Milagros, a 13-year-old orphan working on a California rancho in 1846, picks up a discarded diary that changes her life forever. She writes in secret--no one knows she can read and write--and the journal becomes a "refuge in a sea of work" and a powerful tool that helps her make sense of her life. (Scholastic, 2001)
Give Me My Father's Body by Kenn Harper. In 1897 polar explorer Robert Peary sailed into New York habor with six Eskimos as his "cargo." He deposited them with museum scientists as "living specimans" and then abandoned them. Four Eskimos died within a year. One returned to Greenland. Only Minik, a boy of six or seven, remained. During his twelve years in New York, Minik learned English, played sports, went to church, and acquired a tates for big-city life. But all that ended abruptly when he found his father's skeleton on display at the museum. (Pocket Books, 2000)
Second Bend in the River by Ann Rinaldi. Rebecca Galloway is afraid of Indians. But then she meets Tecumseh, the powerful Shawnee leader. Slowly, they strike up a friendship. Whenever he comes to visit, Rebecca teaches him English grammar and helps him with his speeches. Tecumseh, in turn, teaches her about the ways of his people - and about his efforts to make peace with the settlers on their land. (Scholastic, 1997)
Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac. Molly's parents have vanished, and Social Services has turned her over to the care of a great-uncle. Then Molly starts having dreams about the Skeleton Man from a spooky old Mohawk tale her father used to tell her. (Harper Collins, 2001)
Truth is a Bright Star: A Hopi Adventure by Joan Price. This is a fictional account of an actual event. In December, 1832, a rogue band of Spanish soldiers kidnapped fourteen Hopi children and brought them to Santa Fe where they were sold at auction into servitude. This is the story of Loma, who was one of those children. (Tricycle Press, 1982)
Children from Australia to Zimbabwe: A Photographic Journey around the World by Maya Ajmera & Anna Rhesa Versola. Read about the following countries and the children who live in them: Western Samoa, United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Brazil, Lithuaia, Hungary, France, Turkey, Senegal, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Turkey, Qatar, Yemen, Oman, India, China, Russia, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and Australia. (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2001)
Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley. Original photography and the children's own worls bring to life many of the world's major religious and local celebrations: Halloween (Canada), Hanukkah and Thanksgiving (US), Day of the Dead (Mexico), Carnival (Brazil), Purim, Mother's Day, and May Day (England), Fete des Meres (France), Epiphany (Spain), Cocuk Bayrami (Turkey), Eid ul-FItr (Jordon), Fassika (Ethiopia), N'ewala (Zambia), St. Lucia's Day (Sweden), Christmas (Germany), Raksha Bandhan, Holi, and Diwali (India), Esala Perahera (Sri Lanka), St. Nicholas Day (Slovakia), Hina Matsuri and Kodomono-hi (Japan), Chinese New Year (Hong Kong), and Trung Thu (Vietnam).
Code Breakers: From Hieroglyphs to Hackers by Simon Adams. Did you know that during World War II, the Navajo language was used as a secret code by the U.S. military, or that Julius Caesar used coded writing to keep his battle strategies under wrap? Hackers love to break codes, but can do serious damage in the process. (Dorling Kindersley, 2002)
Cornhusk, Silk, and Wishbones: A Book of Dolls from around the World by Michelle Markel. They are fashioned out of material as varied as themselves - wishbones, apple heads, clay, break ivory, palm leaves, and sealskil. They are from the tropics and the tundra, the desert and the mountains, from times of war and times of peace. What they wear silently tells us of their homes. (From book cover) (Houghton Mifflin, 2000)
Dance by Dr. Andree Grau. Discover the many kinds of dance around the world - from the magic of ballet to the drama of flamenco.(DK Books, 1998)
Dr. Art's Guide to Planet Earth: For Earthlings Ages 12 to 120 by Art Sussman. Learn how the earth works in terms of cycles of matter, flows of energy and the web of life. Then apply your new knowledge to environmental issues that we face globally and locally. (Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2000)
Dr. Jenner and the Speckled Monster by Albert Marrin. From Egyptian mummies to Spanish conquistadors, from a crucial discovery in tenth-century China to the sinister threat of a "frozen monster" lurking in the vials of ultramodern laboratories, the story of smallpox is a tale fraught with dirty wars, social injustice, and catastrophic loss. (From book cover) (Dutton Children's Books, 2002)
How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World by Faith McNulty. Find a soft place. Take a shovel and start to dig a hole. So begins your trip through the center of the earth. You will have to dig about 8,000 miles to get to the other side of the world, and you'll need the latest equipment. As you dig, you may find fossils, or diamonds and emeralds, or even strike oil. There will be problems, too - underground geysers and volcanoes and white-hot heat. But what a wild adventure! (From back cover) (Harper Collins, 1979)
A Life Like Mine: How Children Live around the World in association with UNICEF. Every child has the right to a good life - one of peace, health, and dignity. But have you every thought about what this really means? This book explores how these rights are met in many different countries. Through encounters with diverse children we learn not only about the fforts the world is making to look after every child, but also about the optimism and excitement with which children the world over pursue a good life for themselves. (DK Publishing, 2002)
Looking for Life in the Universe: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Ellen Jackson. Twice a year, Jill Tarter and her team travel to the mountains of Puerto Rico, where they use the world's largest radio telescope to examine nearby stars. They search the sky, listening for radio signals that, if found and verified, would provide strong evidence that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe. (Houghton Mifflin, 2002)
Material World: A Global Family Portrait by Peter Menzel. Sixteen of the world's foremost photographers traveled to 30 nations around the globe to live for a week with families that are statistically average for that nation. At the end of each visit, photographer and family collaborated on a remarkable portrait of the family outside of their home, surrounded by all of their possessions - a few jars and jugs for some, an explosion of electronic gadgetry for others. (From book cover)
What Have You Lost? poems selected by Naomi Shihab Nye. Naomi Nye has brought together over 100 selections from well-known adult poets as well as from those who are new or not widely published, from around the world.
World Religions
Islam by Philip Wilkinson. Explore the communities and cultures that make up Islam in this unique guide to the faith, history, and traditions of the Islamic world, past and present. (DK Publishing, 2002)
Judaism by Douglas Charing. Discover the history, faith, and culture that have shaped the modern Jewish world. (DK Publishing, 2003)