11 Multilingual Learner Children’s Books to Add to Your Classroom Library
Hand-picked books by ML experts to celebrate Children’s Book Week
Join us in celebrating Children’s Book Week November 4-10, 2024! In honor of the occasion, SupportEd and our friends at Colorín Colorado are sharing some of our favorite children’s books for multilingual learners— perfect additions to your classroom library. If you like the below selections, we invite you to explore the Colorín Colorado Book Finder. Using this new tool, you can search for books by categories such as age, language, community, format, award, and theme.
1) Tomatoes in My Lunchbox
Written by Costantia Manoli and illustrated by Magdalena Mora
Shannon’s pick
Multilingual Learner Coach & Technical Assistance Specialist, SupportEd
Tomatoes in My Lunchbox tells the story of a girl who recently immigrated to America. She is having a hard time adjusting to her new home and making friends because she feels so different from her classmates, from her unique name to the tomato in her lunchbox. I love how this story addresses the diversity of our students while sharing how simple connections can foster friendships.
2) Ajooni the Kaurageous: Ajooni Stands Up to the Dragon
Written by Amarpreet Kaur Dhami
Jasmine’s pick
Program Associate, SupportEd
Ajooni the Kaurageous is about Ajooni Kaur who is the bravest girl in the whole neighborhood, but then a ferocious dragon appears in the forest. Will Ajooni be able to rediscover her courage and be the bravest girl in the neighborhood again? With bright, colorful illustrations, Ajooni the Kaurageous is a great way to teach children about confidence and strength! I absolutely love this book and frequently read it to my daughters. It’s incredibly empowering, highlighting the strength and pride we can draw from our Sikh faith and identity.
3) Grandma’s Gift
Written by Eric Velasquez
Lydia’s pick
Director, Colorin Colorado
In this poignant picture book, Eric Velasquez remembers going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with his beloved grandmother, whom many readers will know from his classic picture book, Grandma’s Records. He describes leaving the comfortable streets of Spanish Harlem and his awareness of his grandmother’s increasing nerves and discomfort the farther the bus travels from their neighborhood. He recalls, “I really wasn’t accustomed seeing her out of her element…She (was) such a confident, proud woman.” This reminds me of the courage it takes for multilingual families to enter new schools in new communities where they are out of our element and how young multilingual learners often become “cultural brokers” for their older relatives. During the course of their outing, Eric encounters a painting that opens his eyes to what is possible, showing him that representation truly does matter and setting the stage for his future career as an award-winning illustrator.
4) Tanna’s Owl
Written by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, illustrated by Yong Link Kang
Michele’s pick
Marketing Manager, SupportEd
Tanna’s Owl is based on the real-life experiences of author Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, who was born in a hunting camp in the Artic. Of Inuk, Scottish, and Cree origins, Rachel witnessed the transition in her community from traditional Inuit culture to modern life. I like this book because it simultaneously tackles themes of a child learning about personal responsibility and “ownership” of wild animals. Ultimately, Tanna must reconcile her feelings of caring for the owl with having to release the creature to its natural habitat. I also like supporting Inhabit Books, an Inuit-owned publishing company dedicated to promoting Inuit and Arctic stories.
5) The Proudest Blue
Written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali and art by Hatem Aly
Galen’s pick
Director of Partnerships and Business Development, SupportEd
The Proudest Blue is told from the perspective of Faizah, who is excited for her sister Asiya to wear her hijab to school for the first time. Faizah sees Asiya as a princess and her blue hijab as being like, “the ocean waving to the sky.” But when Faizah witnesses boys at school taunting Asiya for wearing hijab, she learns how to be strong and turn her back on hurtful words. I read this book to my 3-, 5-, and 8-year-old boys and my 5th grader was so proud to learn why his soccer teammate now wears hijab.
6) Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen
Written by Debbi Michiko Florence, Illustrated by Elizabet Vuković
Sydney’s pick
Principal Associate, SupportEd
In Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen, eight-year-old Jasmine is frustrated because she isn’t old enough to help make mochi for her family’s New Year celebration. She’s considered too young to join the women in rolling the mochi into balls after the men and boys have pounded the rice. Jasmine is a strong, feisty character with feelings that a lot of kids will be able to relate to. Woven into the stories are aspects of her Japanese-American culture and how Jasmine navigates cultural expectations. My youngest daughter and I had a great time reading this series together, and we even made the mochi recipe included in the book.
7) When Stars Are Scattered
Written by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohammed
Sydney’s pick
Principal Associate, SupportEd
I had trouble deciding on just one book and our team was gracious enough to let me pick two! When Stars Are Scattered is a graphic novel that is based on the experiences of Omar Mohammad. He and his brother spent their childhood in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Throughout the story, Omar balances going to school, caring for his younger brother, and navigating daily challenges of getting food and supplies. To develop the narrative, graphic novelist Victoria Jamieson listened to the stories that Omar Mohammad shared about his experiences and created a compelling and eye-opening graphic novel about day-to-day life in a Kenyan refugee camp.
8) Kira-Kira
Written by Cynthia Kadohata
Diane Choi’s pick
Program Associate & Online Courses Manager, SupportEd
Kira-Kira means “glittering” in Japanese. This young adult novel, told through the eyes of Katie Takeshima, follows her Japanese American family as they move to Georgia from Iowa during the 1950s. With a more serious tone, the story explores the challenges the family faces, including poverty, discrimination, and the difficult working conditions her parents endure to survive. Throughout the novel, Katie learns to navigate the complexities of growing up as a Japanese American in the South while discovering moments of kira-kira. As a parent of multicultural children, I appreciate Kira-Kira for its themes of family, resilience, and cultural identity, along with its focus on critical social issues.
9) Niño Wrestles the World
Written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Meghan’s pick
Multilingual Learner Coach, SupportEd
I love the book “Niño Wrestles the World” written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales for young learners! It immediately captures children’s imagination with its vibrant illustrations and exploration of Mexican lucha libre culture through the eyes of the main character “Niño”. My own young children cannot get enough of this book! In the classroom, teachers can use this book is so many ways – to teach vocabulary, learn about aspects of Mexican culture, explore the importance of illustrations, and so much more. This book is a must read of PreK through grade 1 classrooms!
10) Solito
Written by Javier Zamora
Diane’s pick
President and Founder, SupportEd
Solito is an unforgettable memoir written by Javier Zamora that describes his arduous journey from El Salvador, crossing through Guatemala and Mexico, to reach the United States. Zamora’s experience mirrors that of many of my former students: he was raised by grandparents in his country only to be reunited in the U.S. with his mother whom he had not seen in several years and a father he barely knew. This moving book, suitable for high school students, provides deep insight into this author’s childhood and underscores his unfaltering resilience in the face of unthinkable challenges.
11) Where Are You From?
Written by Yamile Saied Méndez, Illustrated by Jaime Kim
Mindi’s pick
Multilingual Learner Coach, SupportEd
Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez is a picture book that tells the story of a young girl trying to find the answer to a question she hears over and over again, “Where are you from?” Unsure how to answer, she turns to her abuelo, her grandfather, for help. In his response, rather than describing a specific place, her abuelo paints a beautiful picture of her cultural heritage and identity, connecting her to places, generations of family, and a rich history. In the end the young girl learns that where we are from is often so much more than a place.
SupportEd is a proud champion of Children’s Book Week. To learn more about the annual celebration, explore free resources, and celebration ideas, visit everychildareader.net/cbw.
To explore books on multilingual learner professional development for ML educators by ML educators, visit supported.com/books.
For help building your own culturally responsive library, download our Classroom Library Tool from SupportEd’s bestselling book Culturally Responsive Teaching for Multilingual Learners: Tools for Equity.
About SupportEd
SupportEd is a woman-owned business based in Fairfax, Virginia providing Multilingual Learner (ML) professional development, personalized coaching, technical assistance, and resources for educators across the United States and Canada. Founded in 2011 by Dr. Diane Staehr Fenner, four-time best-selling author and ML expert, SupportEd builds authentic partner relationships and meticulously crafts customized solutions to fit every partner’s strengths and goals. SupportEd equips teachers and administrators with the practical tools and strategies necessary to champion MLs’ success within and beyond the classroom. Visit SupportEd.com or call (202) 660-1444 to learn more.
