Styling Librarian: International Mindedness Part 2: Traditions

International Mindedness through Traditions:
I enjoyed finding wonderful books that connected to traditions throughout the world. These connected to my first grade teaching team and students exploring all types of traditions around the world and then students inventing their own tradition. This led to deep conversation about culture, accepting differences, and how traditions begin. We used around 50 books with various religious traditions, holiday books, and other books as well- some will be mentioned in International Mindedness Part 3, but the following titles were the ones that stood out as terrific discussion starters…

I wrote four other posts on International Mindedness/World Awareness: 

International Mindedness: Celebrations

International Mindedness: Authors

International Mindedness: Favorite Read Alouds Part 1

International Mindedness: Favorite Read Alouds Part 2

International Mindedness: Rights and Responsibilities

1.Wish – Wishing Traditions Around the World by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Summary: Presents an illustrated guide to wishing traditions from around the world, including Japan, China, Russia, Israel, Italy, Guatemala, the United States, and others, providing insights into the various cultures and highlighting the similarities.
http://www.papertigers.org/reviews/USA/papertigers/Wish.html

2. Throw Your Tooth on the Roof – Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby B. Beeler, Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Experience various tooth traditions from around the world. Summary: Consists of brief statements relating what children from around the world do with a tooth that has fallen out. Includes facts about teeth.http://joytotheheart.org/2009/03/04/throw-your-tooth-on-the-roof/

3. Ten Mice for Tet! by Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill
Great detail/information at the end of a cute counting book about Vietnam’s Celebration of the new year. Summary: A village of mice prepares for Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, as different numbers of mice give gifts, cook food, and celebrate in other traditional ways. Includes an afterword with facts about the holiday.
http://www.pegideitzshea.com/content.asp?contenttype=Books

4. Happy Birthday Everywhere by Arlene Erlbach
Interesting friendly birthday celebration review with non-fiction resources. http://www.illinoisauthors.org/authors/Arlene_Erlbach
Summary: Describes birthday greetings and celebration customs from nineteen countries with complete how-to-do-it descriptions of food, games, and crafts.

5. Moonbeams, Dumplings, and Dragon Boats by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz & The Children’s Museum, Boston
Beautifully illustrated book sharing information about Chinese festivals. Terrific to connect with other books.
Summary: Presents background information, related tales, and activities for celebrating five Chinese festivals–Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Moon Festival. http://www.npr.org/2003/01/31/952341/moonbeams-dumplings-and-dragon-boats

6. I Lost My Tooth In Africa by Penda Diakite, illustrated by Baba Wague Diakite
Story from one culture about tooth fairy traditions.
Summary: While visiting her father’s family in Mali, a young girl loses a tooth, places it under a calabash, and receives a hen and a rooster from the African Tooth Fairy.
http://multiculturallit.wordpress.com/self-selected-collection-of-literature/i-lost-my-tooth-in-africa/

7. Now We Can Have A Wedding by Judy Cox, illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan http://www.judycox.net/ Judy Cox is a fabulous author with numerous early chapter books perfect for read alouds with 1st-3rd (and higher) grade in addition to some wonderful picture books. I’ll be mentioning another brilliant book she wrote tomorrow as well! This is a cute story with community sharing all their wedding traditions with a family.
Summary: Because the guests invited to Sallie’s wedding believe that a proper celebration requires their specific ethnic food, they prepare delicacies from around the world.

8. Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn.
Chinese New Year celebration, great story in addition to celebration of Chinese New Year’s Day. Summary: Sam must decide how to so spend the lucky money he’s received for Chinese New Year.

9. Moon Festival by Ching Yeung Russell, Illustrations by Christopher Zhong-Yuan Zhang http://chingyeung.homestead.com/
Summary: A young Chinese girl celebrates the traditional autumn Moon Festival in honor of the goddess Chang O. Based on the author’s memories of her childhood in China.

10. See this brilliant blog for other wonderful ideas: http://delightfulchildrensbooks.com/read-around-the-world/

–Personal note- every book cover featured links directly to Powells Books. I’m quite passionate about supporting independent book stores, especially my favorite one that takes care of every single book need I have as an educator- my location: Beaverton Powells Books- School and Library Department.

*If anyone has another “perfect” celebrations around the world book like Wish and Throw your tooth on the roof, I’d be ever so grateful if you comment below, I’m always looking!