Multicultural Books for First Graders
at the Elmhurst Public Library

Beginning Readers

The following books are shelved alphabetically by the authors’ last names in the Beginning Reader section of the library.

Chang’s Paper Pony   by Eleanor Coerr   (Chinese American)
In San Francisco during the 1850's gold rush, Chang, the son of Chinese immigrants, wants a pony but cannot afford one until his friend Big Pete finds a solution.   64p.

Bony Legs   by Joanna Cole   (Russian)
When a terrible witch vows to eat her for supper, a little girl escapes with the help of a mirror and comb given to her by the witch's cat and dog.   44p.

Shipwreck Saturday   by Bill Cosby   (African American)
Although his brother's friends make fun of it, Little Bill is very proud of the toy boat he has built and very upset when it is wrecked the first time he puts it in the water.   31p.

Too Many Babas   by Carolyn Croll   (Russian)
Four peasant ladies discover that too many cooks without a plan can spoil the broth.   63p.

Count on Pablo   by Barbara deRubertis   (Hispanic American)
Pablo demonstrates how good he is at counting while helping his grandmother, his "abuela," prepare to sell vegetables at the market.  32p.

Pepe and Papa   by Linda Hayward   (Hispanic)
In this adaptation of a familiar story, a father and son take the advice of different people on how they should carry their chilis to market.   31p.

Go, Stitch, Go!   by Monica Kulling   (Hawaiian)
A Hawaiian girl's new dog is actually an alien, and two strange creatures have come to earth to catch him and take him to jail.   32p.

Hill Of Fire   by Thomas P. Lewis   (Mexican)
An easy-to-read account of the birth of Paricutin volcano in the field of a poor Mexican farmer.   63p.

“I Am Not Afraid”   by Kenny Mann   (Masai)
After a visit from a hungry demon, a boy learns courage from his older brother.  31p.

The Outside Dog   by Charlotte Pomerantz   (Puerto Rican)
Marisol, who lives in Puerto Rico, wants a dog very much but her grandfather will not let her have one, until a skinny mutt wins him over.  62p.

Picture Books

The following books are shelved alphabetically by the authors’ last names in the Picture Book section of the library.

Baby Rattlesnake   by Te Ata   (Chicksaw Indian)
Willful Baby Rattlesnake throws tantrums to get his rattle before he's ready, but he misuses it and learns a lesson.   30p.

Watch Out for the Chicken Feet In Your Soup   by Tomie dePaola   (Italian American)
Embarrassed to introduce his friend to his old-fashioned Italian grandmother, a young boy gains a new appreciation of her when he finds how well she and his friend get along.   32p.

Tonight is Carnaval   by Arthur Dorros   (Peruvian)
A family in South America eagerly prepares for the excitement of Carnaval.   23p.

Nadia’s Hands   by Karen English   (Pakistani-American)
A Pakistani-American girl takes part in her aunt's traditional Pakistani wedding.   32p.

Hush: A Thai Lullaby   by Minfong Ho   (Thai)
A lullaby which asks animals such as a lizard, monkey, and water-buffalo to be quiet and not disturb the sleeping baby.   29p.

The Color of Home   by Mary Hoffman   (Somali Americans)
Hassan, newly-arrived in the United States and feeling homesick, paints a picture at school that shows his old home in Somalia as well as the reason his family had to leave.   24p.

My Chinatown: One Year in Poems   by Kam Mak   (Chinese American)
A boy adjusts to life away from his home in Hong Kong, in the Chinatown of his new American city.   32p.

A Birthday Basket for Tia   by Pat Mora   (Mexican American)
With the help and interference of her cat Chica, Cecilia prepares a surprise gift for her great-aunt's ninetieth birthday.   29p.

Tomas and the Library Lady   by Pat Mora   (Mexican American)
While helping his family in their work as migrant laborers far from their home, Tomás finds an entire world to explore in the books at the local public library.  28p.

Babushka Baba Yaga   by Patricia Polacco          (Russian)
The villagers are afraid of her, so the legendary Baba Yaga disguises herself as an old woman in order to know the joys of being a grandmother.   29p.

Just Plain Fancy   by Patricia Polacco   (Amish)
Naomi, an Amish girl whose elders have impressed upon her the importance of adhering to the simple ways of her people, is horrified when one of her hen eggs hatches into an extremely fancy bird.   28p.

The Keeping Quilt   by Patricia Polacco   (Jewish Russian American)
A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of an immigrant Jewish family, remaining a symbol of their enduring love and faith.   32p.

O Christmas Tree   by Vashanti Rahaman   (Caribbean)
A boy wants an evergreen tree for Christmas in this story set in the West Indies.  26p.

The Bicycle Man   by Allen Say   (Japanese)
The amazing tricks two American soldiers do on a borrowed bicycle are a fitting finale for the school sports day festivities in a small village in occupied Japan.   40p.

Grandfather’s Journey   by Allen Say   (Japanese American)
A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather's journey to America which he later also undertakes, and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries.   32p.

Gugu’s House   by Catherine Stock   (Zimbabwe)
Kukamba loves helping her grandmother decorate her mud home in a dusty Zimbabwe village, but when the annual rains partially destroy all her art work, Kukamba learns to see the goodness of the rains.   31p.

The Tiny Kite of Eddie Wing   by Maxine Trottier    (Chinese American)
Too poor to buy a real kite, Eddie flies an imaginary one that catches the attention of Old Chan, the wealthy patron of the kite festival.   24p.

Yoko   by Rosemary Wells   (Japanese American)
When Yoko brings sushi to school for lunch, her classmates make fun of what she eats--until one of them tries it for himself.   30p.

Non-fiction

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush   by Demi   (Chinese)
A boy longing to paint is given a brush that brings what he pictures to life.   32p.   (J 398.2 Dem)

The Empty Pot   by Demi   (Chinese)
When Ping admits that he is the only child in China unable to grow a flower from the seeds distributed by the Emperor, he is rewarded for his honesty.   32 p.   (J 398.2 Dem)

Screen of Frogs   by Sheila Hamanaka   (Japanese)
A spoiled rich man in Japan discovers a respect for nature in time to turn his life around.   32p.   (J 398.21 Ham)

Two of Everything   by Lily Toy Hong   (Chinese)
A poor old Chinese farmer finds a magic brass pot that doubles or duplicates whatever is placed inside it, but his efforts to make himself wealthy lead to unexpected complications.   30p.   (J 398.21 Hon)

Crocodile and Hen   by Joan M. Lexau   (Bakongo)
Crocodile is so confused by Hen calling him "brother" every time he gets ready to eat her that he goes searching for an explanation of how such a relationship can be.   45p.   (J 398.2096 Lex)

The Three Little Javelinas   by Susan Lowell   (Hispanic American)
A southwestern adaptation of "The Three Little Pigs."   28p.   (J 398.2 Low)

Everybody Cooks Rice   by Norah Dooley   (Multicultural)
A child is sent to find a younger brother at dinnertime and is introduced to a variety of cultures through encountering the many different ways rice is prepared at the different households visited.   30p.   (J 641.6318 Doo)

Martin Luther King, Jr.   by Lola M. Schaefer   (African American)
Photographs and simple text provide an introduction to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.   24 p.   (J 921 King)