Eight Children's Books to Help Your Kids Learn About Other Cultures
Reading books is an excellent way to expose your children to new cultures or deepen their understanding of the ones they already know about. With recent social shifts paving the way for improved cultural diversity in our every day lives, a number of authors and publishers have happily stepped up to the plate and started putting out compelling, meaningful children's books designed to improve cultural awareness.
Those who are interested in a more immersive learning experience for their little ones may even want to consider reading books in the language (or languages) their children are learning. While this can prove difficult, particularly if you aren't bilingual yourself, the benefits of reading a language you're trying to learn are well-known. If your language skills are shaky, consider leaving out board books for little ones to gain exposure to the written language and letting older kids head off on their own with age-appropriate chapter books.
We know that figuring out what's best for your kids can be tough; that's why we've taken the initiative to round up the best children's books to help your kids learn about other cultures. Whether the messages are overt or not, each of these books carries a special meaning designed to build kids' understandings of cultures outside their own.
Eight Children's Books to Help Your Kids Learn About Other Cultures
Global Babies, Global Baby Girls, and Global Baby Boys by the Global Fund for Children
1 - 3 years
Too literal? We don't think so! Learning at this age is all about sight; so what better way to start teaching your little one about cultures around the world than by showing them pictures of children who look just like them, only different? These three books all give our tots the opportunity to meet other babies from around the world. Whether it's a little girl in Guatemala or a young boy in Bhutan, your baby will be making friends with kiddos thousands of miles away.
I Love My Mommy Because... by Laurel Porter Gaylord
1 - 3 years
While not explicitly a cultural undertaking, I Love My Mommy Because... is a fantastic book to introduce to toddlers and little ones. You may not be reading aloud about life in other countries, but you will be teaching your kiddo about empathy and the fact that we all communicate the same things a little differently. This book is a great chance to introduce the concept that not everybody's life or language looks like yours-- and that's okay!
Ramadan Moon by Na'ima B. Robert
4 - 7 years
Ramadan Moon offers children a peek into the festival of Ramadan and the way it's celebrated around the globe. This thoughtful, slow-paced book helps explain to children how faith and religion play into the lives of other kids regardless of where they are or where they come from. Lyrical, inspiring, and full of gorgeous illustrations, this book manages to capture the delight of an incredibly sacred annual event in the Muslim community.
Fly, Eagle, Fly: An African Tale by Christopher Gregorowski
5 - 8 years
This book presents a dramatic story in a simple, intuitive way. Children will have the opportunity to learn about freedom, fulfillment, and African culture as they read the story of a baby eagle raised amongst chickens. One forward, written by Archbishop Tutu, proclaims that the piece will delight and encourage children to "lift off and soar."
Handa's Surprise: Read and Share by Eileen Browne
5 - 9 years
Most of us are familiar with the tale of the very hungry caterpillar. Handa's Surprise is yet another mouthwatering children's book that focuses on food and counting, but this tale brings in a little cultural twist. The books centers around Handa, a young Kenyan girl, who sets out to visit her friend. She brings along a basket of seven different fruits to offer as a gift, but hungry critters along the way foil her plans.
Fruits: A Caribbean Counting Poem by Valerie Bloom
5 - 6 years
It must be the fact that summer is just around the corner-- we can't get fruit out of our minds! Much like Handa's Surprise, this short book reminds us of the tale of a hungry little caterpillar munching his way through a smorgasbord of delicious foods. The book is essentially one long rhythmic counting poem. Your kiddo will get the opportunity to learn about the beautiful variety of Caribbean fruits that help enrich local cuisine and culture.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
8 and up
While perhaps not an easy read for the more sensitive among us, Esperanza Rising serves as a sobering reminder of what happens when you're separated from the culture that you love. Children will follow along with the story as Esperanza goes from a beautiful life on her family's ranch in Mexico to the struggle to survive a Mexican farm labor camp in California. The novel teaches us that culture can help us rise above difficult circumstances and find our way home-- literally and figuratively.
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
10 and up
The Breadwinner is certainly a book best left to children with a little more age and maturity to their names, but it's worth the wait. The novel explores how a young girl, Parvana, and her mother and sisters struggle to make life work following Parvana's father's arrest. The catch? The women are house-bound under the Taliban's law stating girls and women aren't to enter public on their own. Tweens and teens will be faced head-on with the ugly truth that sometimes, other cultures look different from ours in ways that aren't so pleasant.
Teaching your kids about cultures other than their own doesn't need to be difficult. Bringing these cultures into your reading routine is an excellent way to make learning about other people and countries a fun, easy, and natural experience. Tell your kids that you're excited to hear about any questions or comments they have once they've set their books down-- you may just be surprised by what you hear.
Reading books is an excellent way to expose your children to new cultures or deepen their understanding of the ones they already know about. With recent social shifts paving the way for improved cultural diversity in our every day lives, a number of authors and publishers have happily stepped up to the plate and started putting out compelling, meaningful children's books designed to improve cultural awareness.
Photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash
