Culturally Relevant Story Books

*The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad

NSSBB# 1004430

With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.

*Hockey Night in Kenya by Danson Mutinda and Eric Walters

NSSBB# 1004585

Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an image of the Canadian national men's ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat up old roller blades, he teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?

The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds

NSSBB# 1003665

Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him -- short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multisyllable words that sound like little songs. Words that connect, transform, and empower.

The Visual Arabic English Bilingual Dictionary (DK) New York

NSSBB# 1003933

• The quick way to learn more than 6,000 Arabic words and phrases

• Features a complete range of illustrated objects and scenes from everyday life

Cuanda alguien tiene miedo. When Someone is Afraid by Valeri Gorbachev

NSSBB# 1003885

When an ostrich is afraid, it sticks its head in the sand. When a turtle is afraid, it shrinks into its shell. Rabbits run away and cats hide under the bed. Using animals as examples, this book shows that everyone is afraid sometimes.

Islandborn by Junot Diaz

NSSBB# 1003884

So when Lola’s teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can’t remember The Island—she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories—joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening—Lola’s imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family’s story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela’s words: “Just because you don’t remember a place doesn’t mean it’s not in you.”

What do you Celebrate? By Whitney Stewart

NSSBB# 1004423

Across the globe, every country has its special holidays. What Do You Celebrate? presents 14 special occasions where people dance, dress up, eat yummy foods, and enjoy other fun traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Kids can travel the globe and learn about Fastelavn, Purim, the Cherry Blossom Festival, Holi, Eid al-Fitr, Halloween, Day of the Dead, Guy Fawkes Day, the German Lantern Festival, and more. Each spread showcases a different holiday, offering background and cultural context, vocabulary words, photographs, and instructions for festive projects.

*The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden by Heather Smith and Rachel Wada

NSSBB# 1004424

When the tsunami destroyed Makio's village, Makio lost his father . . . and his voice. The entire village is silenced by grief, and the young child's anger at the ocean grows. Then one day his neighbor, Mr. Hirota, begins a mysterious project--building a phone booth in his garden. At first Makio is puzzled; the phone isn't connected to anything. It just sits there, unable to ring. But as more and more villagers are drawn to the phone booth, its purpose becomes clear to Makio: the disconnected phone is connecting people to their lost loved ones. Makio calls to the sea to return what it has taken from him and ultimately finds his voice and solace in a phone that carries words on the wind.

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar

NSSBB# 1004425

Harpreet Singh has a different color for every mood and occasion, from pink for dancing to bhangra beats to red for courage. He especially takes care with his patka—his turban—smoothing it out and making sure it always matches his outfit. But when Harpreet’s mom finds a new job in a snowy city and they have to move, all he wants is to be invisible. Will he ever feel a happy sunny yellow again?

Eid al-Fitr - Festivals Around the World by Grace Jones

NSSBB# 1004344

Eid al-Fitr is a festival celebrated by Muslims on three days of every year. The festival marks the end of another festival called Ramadan. Learn more about the history and traditions of this fascinating celebration in the Festivals around the World series.

Chinese New Year – Festivals Around the World by Grace Jones

NSSBB# 1004343

Learn about Chinese New Year via easy to read text and informative, full color images.

Hanukkah – Festivals Around the World by Grace Jones

NSSBB# 1004342

Covers Hanukkah in easy to read text and informative, full color images.

The Birthday of Guru Nanak – Festivals Around the World by Grace Jones

NSSBB# 1004346

Covers Sikhism, who Guru Nanak is, celebration parades, prayer and worship, festive foods, family and community, and more.

Ramadan – Festivals Around the World by Grace Jones

NSSBB# 1004345

Covers Hanukkah in easy to read text and informative, full color images.

Barefoot Books: Children of the World by Tessa Strickland and Kate Depalma

NSSBB# 1003934

A multifaceted picture book designed to offer young readers a glimpse into the diversity of the human experience. The book promotes thought through questions about how other children live, what they eat, what games they play, and how are they different and alike.

My Bilingual Talking Dictionary: Korean & English

NSSBB# 1003944

This dictionary is a unique resource which introduces over 650 widely used words, arranged thematically and with colourful illustrations.

*Dragon Dancer by Joyce Chng and Jeremy Pailler

NSSBB# 1003931

It is the eve of Chinese New Year. Lanterns are hung in the shopping malls and Yao is preparing to wake the ancient sky dragon, Shen Long, from his year-long sleep. From the moment Shen Long opens his great amber eyes and unfurls his silver-blue tail, Yao will be propelled on a magical journey to battle the bad luck of the previous year and usher in the good. Will he succeed? Will his grandfather watch over him and protect him from harm?

Night of the Moon by Hena Khan

NSSBB# 1003930

Yasmeen, a seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl, celebrates the Muslim holidays of Ramadan, "The Night of the Moon" (Chaand Raat), and Eid.

Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin

NSSBB# 1003929

Is there anything more splendid than a baby’s skin? For families of all stripes comes a sweet celebration of what makes us unique―and what holds us together.

A Refugee’s Journey from Myanmar by Ellen Rodger

NSSBB# 1003928

Syed lives in Myanmar, a country that has experienced many years of violence. As a part of the Rohingya minority group, his family is considered unwelcome in their homeland. When his father perishes during their journey from the country, Syed must reach a refugee camp on his own.

A Refugee’s Journey from Bhutan by Linda Barghoorn

NSSBB# 1003927

After 9 years in a refugee camp in Nepal, Amita remembers very little of her homeland, Bhutan. At two years old, she was forced to flee her country when her family was targeted because of their Nepalese heritage. When the camp becomes an unsafe place for Amita and her family to live, they make the difficult decision to seek a permanent home in a new country. Interspersed with facts about Bhutan and its people, this narrative tells a story common to many refugees fleeing the country.

A Refugee’s Journey from Yemen by Heather Hudak

NSSBB# 1003924

Sahar misses her life in Yemen before the terrible civil war started. When her home is bombed and she loses her baby brother, she and her family make the dangerous boat journey to a refugee camp. Sahar and her family end up journeying to Canada as refugees, where they adjust to a very different life.

A Refugee’s Journey from Colombia by Linda Barghoorn

NSSBB# 1003925

Follows the story of Andres and his family as they flee from threats from rebel groups and find peace in Ecuador, and wonder if they will be able to return now that peace has been declared

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai

NSSBB# 1003886

Malala Yousafzai's first picture book, inspired by her own childhood.

*The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

NSSBB# 1003940

By the door there is an umbrella. It is big. It is so big that when it starts to rain there is room for everyone underneath. Book includes themes of inclusion and tolerance

*Be Who You Are by Todd Parr

NSSBB# 1003409

Todd Parr reminds children that their unique traits are what make them so special. Parr encourages readers to embrace all their unique qualities.

*The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

NSSBB# 1003941

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that 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.

Handa’s Hen by Eileen Browne (English and Arabic)

NSSBB# 1003517

Handa and her friend Akeyo find two fluttery butterflies round the hen house, three stripy mice under the grain store, four little lizards behind the pots…But where is Grandma’s black hen?

Nita Goes to Hospital by Henriette Barkow

Nita breaks her leg and needs to be brave when she is taken to hospital.

Available in the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, Vietnamese and Yoruba.

Grandma's Saturday Soup by Sally Fraser

Mimi misses her grandma. Every day something reminds her grandma’s special Saturday Soup and the tales her grandma tells.

Available in the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Farsi, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Panjabi, Patois, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yoruba.

Lima's Red Hot Chilli by David Mills and Derek Brazell

Take one hungry little girl, six different tempting foods and one shiny delicious red hot chilli.

Available in the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, English, French, Greek, Gujarati, Japanese, Korean, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tami, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yoruba.

The Swirling Hijaab by Na’ima bint Robert

Enter the imaginary world of a little girl playing with her mother’s hijaab.

Available in the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Czech, Farsi, French, German, Italian, Kurdish, Malay, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish and Urdu.

Sahir Goes to the Dentist by Chris Petty

When Sahir loses a tooth, dad decides to take him and Yasmin to the dentist.

Available in the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Cantonese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Kurdish, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

The Giant Turnip by Henriette Barkow and Richard Johnson

The children in Miss Honeywood's class grow the most enormous turnip that anyone has ever seen. But how can they pull it out? Tariq suggests using a crane, Kieran a helicopter. Samira suggests using a rope to pull it out. First the boys and then the girls try but the turnip will not move. They all try together but the turnip still will not budge. Can Larry save the day?

Available in the following languages: English, Romanian, Yoruba, Lithuanian, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, Italian, Czech, Farsi, French, German, Hungarian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bulgarian and Bengali.

The Wibbly Wobbly Tooth by David Mills and Julia Crouth

On Monday morning at two minutes past seven, Li got his first wobbly tooth and his tooth went...Wibble Wobble. Li wibbles his tooth and he wobbles his tooth until... PLOP!! But what should Li do with the tooth?

Available in the following languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Czech, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Samira’s Eid by Nasreen Aktar and Enebor Attard

The Ramadan fast is over and now it is time for prayers and presents. A surprise visitor brings a mysterious present and has an unusual story to tell. Great for teaching children about Islamic holidays and culture.

Available in the following languages: English, Bengali, Farsi, French, Kurdish, Panjabi, Somali, Turkish, and Urdu.

Mei Ling’s Hiccups by David Mills and Derek Brazell

The class party is just finishing when HIC! Mei Ling has hiccups and they will not go away. The children in her class try to help her with different suggestions learned from home. But Mei Ling’s hiccups just keep coming back... What can Mei Ling do? A book that suggests how different communities have different solutions to this common problem.

Available in the following languages: Latvian, Mandarin, Polish, Spanish, French, Czech, and Japanese.

*Stepping Stones - A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs

This unique picture book was inspired by the stone artwork of Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr, discovered by chance by Canadian children's writer Margriet Ruurs. The author was immediately impressed by the strong narrative quality of Mr. Badr's work, and, using many of Mr. Badr's already-created pieces, she set out to create a story about the Syrian refugee crisis. Stepping Stones tells the 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.

Wherever We Go by Mary Wagley Copp

Of all her friends, Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp the longest—seven years, four months, and sixteen days. Papa says that’s too long and they need a forever home. Until then, though, Abia has something important to do. Be a queen.

Sometimes she’s a noisy queen, banging on her drum as she and Mama wait in the long line for rice to cook for dinner. Sometimes she’s a quiet queen, cuddling her baby cousin to sleep while Auntie is away collecting firewood. And sometimes, when Papa talks hopefully of their future, forever home, Abia is a little nervous. Forever homes are in strange and faraway places—will she still be a queen?

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore

Available at Halifax Public Library (out of stock /no reprint date)

Cora loves being in the kitchen, but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, however, when her older sisters and brother head out, Cora finally gets the chance to be Mama's assistant chef. And of all the delicious Filipino dishes that dance through Cora's head, she and Mama decide to make pancit, her favorite noodle dish. With Mama's help, Cora does the grown-up jobs like shredding the chicken and soaking the noodles (perhaps Mama won't notice if she takes a nibble of chicken or sloshes a little water on the floor). Cora even gets to stir the noodles in the pot carefully-- while Mama supervises. When dinner is finally served, her siblings find out that Cora did all their grown-up tasks, and Cora waits anxiously to see what everyone thinks of her cooking.

*The Word For Friend by Aidan Cassie

Kemala the pangolin is sure she's going to make friends at her new school in her new country. After all, Kemala loves to talk. The kids at school like talking, too--but their words are all different. This country speaks a language Kemala doesn't know.

At first, no one understands Kemala either. This realization makes her curl into a little ball, like most pangolins do when they're nervous. But a classmate helps draw her out with an art project that doubles as a vocabulary exchange. Soon, Kemala is learning the most universal language of all: friendship

*Katie Woo Series by Fran Manushkin

The Katie Woo Series is relatable, inclusive, and full of positivity. Follow Katie as she learns to navigate school and friendships all while keeping a positive outlook. This series uses simple, age-appropriate words to model empathy and persistence. A great series for readers that are just starting with chapter books.