Multicultural Stories

Esperanza Ortega possesses all the treasures a young girl could want: fancy dresses; a beautiful home filled with servants in the bountiful region of Aguascalientes...

Island of the Blue Dolphins is the remarkable story of a strange and beautiful Indian girl who lives a serene and courageous life as the solitary survivor on a rocky island off the California coast...

It all started with a birthday present that Omri didn't want: a small plastic Indian that was no use to him at all. But an old wooden cupboard and a special key brought his unusual toy to life...

The bestselling Vanderbeeker family finds love and hope in hard times as they face the challenge of a serious illness with the support of their Harlem community....

Hit the road with Bud in this Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning classic about a boy on a journey to find his father....

When the Watson family—ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron—sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don’t realize that they’re heading toward one of the darkest moments in America’s history.

National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times-bestselling author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi brings an American icon to life in the first major biography of Malcolm X for young people in more than thirty years.

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets. She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, 10-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. Her parents hide immigrants. The mean motel owner can't find out....

In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales....

Two boys - one white, one Indian American - gain strength from each other from afar as they struggle to navigate middle school, family, and friendships....

Elaine Harlowe has manipulated her way into becoming prime minister, using her mind control ability to force the Bureau to take up her vicious grudge against magiciankind.

She was named Omakakiins, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop. Omakakiins and her family live on an island in Lake Superior. Though there are growing numbers of white people encroaching on their land, life continues much as it always has....

But by the time the castaways arrive on a small island, Phillip's head injury has made him blind and dependent on Timothy....

Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team....

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the finale of Kwame Mbalia's trilogy, in which Tristan Strong faces off with his archenemy, King Cotton, once and for all....

After finding her brother and saving the entire supernatural world, Amari Peters is convinced her first full summer as a Junior Agent will be a breeze....

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch-clan family....

At first, beautiful, hardworking Tiana is not impressed when she meets spoiled Prince Naveen. But when the two of them are transformed into frogs, they quickly realize that they will have to learn to like each other, warts and all, if they hope to get out of the Louisiana bayou alive....

From award-winning and bestselling author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin comes a gorgeously full-color illustrated story about a lion cub and a girl who must open a portal for the spirits, based on Chinese folklore.

Mia Tang is at the top of her game! She's spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco's Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it's the place to find a great story-one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune.

This essential book introduces young listeners to the Reign of Terror against the Osage people - one of history's most ruthless and shocking crimes....

A Mexican "Grapes of Wrath," based on a family story, from the award-winning author Pam Muñoz Ryan....

Ghost. Patina. Sunny. Lu. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team....

From America’s Mom—actress, New York Times bestselling author, NAACP Award-winning personality, and Emmy-winning host Tabitha Brown—comes an upbeat, inspiring story about finding your own light.

As Seven and Thorn struggle to find a cure for the stone hex and to stop the Twelve Town's unfair treatment of Spares once and for all, they discover a piece of hidden history that will change everything—if they can get anyone to listen to them.

As a youth, Malcolm endured violence, loss, hunger, foster care, racism, and being incarcerated. He emerged from it all to make a lasting global impact. As a Muslim. As a family man. As a revolutionary. Malcolm’s life story shows the promise of every human being. Of you! To trace Malcolm’s childhood and adult years, Kendi draws on Malcolm’s stirring oratory style, using repetition and rhetoric. Short, swift chapters echo Malcolm’s trademark fast walk.

Jason Yao has a secret . . . actually, lots of secrets! For one thing, it's hard being a professional chef, helping to run a motel, and being a regular kid! And now that Mia Tang is officially his girlfriend, Jason's life has reached a whole new level of exciting—and terrifying! After all, Mia is amazing, and Jason is . . . just Jason. But he's determined to be the best boyfriend ever, and he knows exactly what he needs to do.

Jin is a Stone Lion—one of the guardians of the Old City Gate who is charged to watch over humans and protect the Sacred Sphere. But to Jin, those boring duties feel like a waste of time. What isn’t a waste of time? Perfecting his zuqiu kick, scoring a Golden Goal, and becoming the most legendary player of all the spirit world.

Cypress and Oakley Young are polar opposites and if it weren’t for being identical twins, no one would ever guess they were related. Cy is a budding film director and this summer, he’s filming his latest movie at the abandoned theme park with Oak and their best friend Jaz as his actors. Tired of hearing about his brother’s dreams and alien conspiracy theories, Cy snaps at him. But before he can patch things up, Oak vanishes into Owl Rock, this huge otherworldly granite formation at the center of the park, leaving only his skateboard behind.

I Like You So Much! reminds kids of this core truth: they are good and loved exactly as they are. Using inclusive and engaging language, New York Times bestselling author and disability advocate Heather Avis encourages all kids to confidently remember who they are is absolutely wonderful and oh-so-likeable!

Do You Love Me? is a heartwarming and beautifully illustrated children's book that teaches young readers the power of unconditional love, self-acceptance, and embracing what makes us unique. Through the journey of a lovable one-eared bunny in a magical forest, children will discover that real love isn’t about looking perfect — it’s about being true to who you are. With its touching message and enchanting visuals, this story gently encourages kids to celebrate their individuality, understand their worth, and see the beauty in others who may be different too. Perfect for bedtime, ...

Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García has never considered himself the hero of his own story. He’s an observer, quietly snapshotting landscapes and drawing the creatures he imagines emerging from them. Forced to spend the summer with his estranged grandfather, Alberto William García—the very famous reclusive author—Gonzalo didn’t expect to learn that heroes and monsters are not only the stuff of fantasy.

Esme Sun absolutely does not care about winning shiny trophies or finally receiving some of the praise her mother bestows so lavishly on her three older, brilliant sisters. But, actually... it would be nice to be good at something. So when Esme discovers on the first day of summer, opening day at the community pool, that her growth spurt over the winter has made her a really fast swimmer, she wonders if she just might have found that thing. After Esme has an uncomfortable encounter at the pool with a new girl, Kaya, Esme worries she may have hurt Kaya's feelings.

Acclaimed author-artist Daria Peoples illuminates the life of civil rights icon Angela Davis in this striking biography. This profound exploration of American history, activism, the civil rights movement, and the power of the people is for fans of Maya's Song, Nina, and There Was a Party for Langston.

It’s a hot summer day and New York City is buzzing like a hive of eager honeybees. From Riis Beach to the Flower District, into the West Village and over to the Brooklyn Museum, folks young and old embrace the resolute and love-filled spirit of icon activist Marsha P. Johnson in all that they do.

One small hello can change everything... When Nia spots a new girl in a wheelchair sitting alone at recess, she remembers how scared she felt on her first day. With her mom's special words—"Sometimes the scariest things lead to the best friendships"—Nia takes a deep breath and introduces herself. What begins as a simple "hello" transforms their entire school. As Nia and her friends discover ways to include everyone in games, projects, and the school festival, they learn that "Kindness is like a butterfly. When you give it wings... it transforms everything it touches." This heartwarming ...

On the final night of summer camp, Tasha, Raelynn, Claire, and Billie get busted stuffing themselves with ice cream in the mess hall’s walk-in freezer. But when they slip away without being punished, they’re convinced the pink feather boa Billie put on to stay warm is magic.

Amina loves bananas, science, and all things yellow! Her family recently arrived from Syria to Indiana, and she's starting at a brand-new school in a brand-new country. She’s excited but also nervous, especially about making friends! But she develops the perfect formula to get everything just right: Speak English + wear a perfect outfit + be a good student + eat American food = Make American Friends! When the first few days are harder than Amina imagined, she’s left worrying: why doesn't her formula add up?

On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved African Americans were finally freed in Galveston, Texas. Every year, our community comes together to honor this special day. We play hopscotch, eat spice cake, and listen to music, but what about the first Juneteenth? As family and friends recount their memories and stories of Juneteenths past, a young girl learns about the holiday's longstanding history and traditions.

Third grade is not starting the way Ly-Lan pictured. First, her best friend Cece is put in another class—even after Ly-Lan prayed they would be in the same one. And then Ly-Lan is tasked with showing the new Vietnamese student around. Ly-Lan wants to hang out with Cece, not play translator to the new girl, and she doesn’t understand why her prayers aren’t being answered. If Ly-Lan is going to flourish in third grade, she must learn to trust in God’s plans, especially when it means making some adjustments to her own.

Una conmovedora novela en verso donde, después de un accidente que le cambia la vida, una joven encuentra su camino de vuelta a la pasión de su vida. De la autora de Iveliz lo explica todo, ganadora del Honor Newbery.

This enduring anthem for Black girls celebrates their power, potential, and brilliance—for themselves and for the world.

In A Girl like Me: A Big, Bold and Beautiful Adventure to Loving All of Me, Joy is excited but nervous about starting at a new school. She looks around the classroom, hoping to find someone who looks like her—someone with dark skin, chubby cheeks, and a big round belly like hers. But as the day goes on, she feels left out and even gets teased for being different. Joy starts to wonder if she really belongs.

From multi-award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and Kate Greenaway Medal-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat. Against a backdrop of a changed environment, an Elder leads a child along the waterways, sharing her People’s knowledge and gathering community along the way. This uplifting and inspiring picture book uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honoring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive, and create a more hopeful future.

Black Boy, Rise combines gorgeous, moving text filled with lyrical references to poets and writers whose voices have lifted and defined the Black experience, including Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, W. E. B. Du Bois, and James Weldon Johnson, that powerfully reflect the soul and gloriousness of Black boys in all their brilliance: the rich legacy of their past, the grit and grace of their present, and the divine promise of their future.