Many Cultures, Many Stories: Celebrating Our Diverse Community Through Books
When children read and hear stories about all kinds of people, their world gets bigger and brighter. They grow to become more curious, understanding and empathetic people.
Our “Many Cultures, Many Stories” book wall rotates each month, highlighting a curated collection of children’s books focused on various themes throughout the year.
The next time you’re at the museum, stop by the book wall and take a moment to read a new story together with your child. Or, use the book lists below to help your child expand their world from home.
FEBRUARY – Black History Month
Thank you to MN BIPOC Kidlit Creators and Picture Book Parade for curating this month’s book selection.
Board Books
Birds Sing Their Words by Mélina Mangal
Trees Stand Tall by Mélina Mangal
Wind Whirls by Mélina Mangal
Squirrels Scamper by Mélina Mangal
Picture Books for Young Readers
We Miss You, George Floyd by Shannon Gibney
Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight by Shannon Gibney
Everything a Drum by Sarah Warren
When River Stopped Singing to Cloud by Abdullahi Janno*
Saturday Morning at the Shop by Keenan Jones
Looking for Happy by Ty Chapman
James Finds the Beat by Ty Chapman
Sarah Rising by Ty Chapman
Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal
Jayden’s Secret Ingredient by Mélina Mangal
Gumbo Joy by Robert Dixon Jr.*
Wiil Waal: A Somali Folktale by the Somali Bilingual Book Project
The Lion’s Share by the Somali Bilingual Book Project
The Travels of Igal Shidaad by the Somali Bilingual Book Project
Dhegdheer: A Scary Somali Folktale by Marian Hassan/MN Humanities Center
Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie Like Our Mama! by Rose McGee
My Mommy is a School Teacher by Nasra Noor*
Beyoncé: Shine Your Light by Sarah Warren
The Stories from My Grandmother’s Hands by T. Mycheal Rambo*
In Search of the Gingerbread Man by Timi Bliss*
Where We Come From by Shannon Gibney, Sun Yung Shin, John Coy and Diane Wilson
Black Boy, Black Boy by Crown Shepherd*
Black Girl, Black Girl by Crown Shepherd*
Red’s Adventures: The Egg Pie by Donna Gingery*
Picture Books for Older Readers (ages 7-11)
Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice by Sarah Warren
The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just by Mélina Mangal
Stokes: The Brief Career of the NBA’s First Black Superstar by Ty Chapman and John Coy
Justice Makes a Difference by Dr. Artika Tyner*
Revolutions Are Made of Love by Mélina Mangal and Sun Yung Shin
*Independently published titles
MARCH – Women History Month
Thank you to Saint Paul Public Library for curating this month’s book selection. Visit Saint Paul Public Library at sppl.org.
Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by Anika Denise
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Denise
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle
Make A Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins by Traci N.Todd
Beyonce: Shine Your Light by Sarah Warren
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford
The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder by Cree Drummer and Activist by Deidre Havrelock
Maya’s Song by Renée Watson
Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud
Maya Lin: Artist-architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison
Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows
All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson by Carole Boston Weatherford
APRIL – Arab American Heritage Month
Thank you to New Arab American Theater Works for curating this month’s book selection. Visit their website at newarabamericantheaterworks.org to learn more.
Arab Arab All Year Long! by Cathy Camper
Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper
Hilwa’s Gifts by Safa Suleiman
The Arabic Quilt: An Immigration Story by Aya Khalil
Lana Makes Purple Pizza: A Palestinian Food Tale by Amanda Najib
Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Home by Zahra Marwan
Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye
Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadan
The Three Lucys by Hayan Charara
Farah Rocks Fifth Grade by Susan Muaddi Darraj
The Treasure of Maria Mamoun by Michelle Chalfoun
The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye
MAY – Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Thank you to Theater Mu for helping us curate this month’s book selection. Visit Theater Mu at www.theatermu.org.
A Different Pond by Bao Phi
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang
Bindu’s Bindis by Supriya Kelkar
Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore
Drawn Together by Minh Lê
Juna’s Jar by Jane Park
Lolo’s Sari-Sari Store by Sophia N. Lee
My Footprints by Bao Phi
My Ong Ngoai’s Garden by Ann Chau
Our Lunar New Year by Yobe Qiu
Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis
Tala Learns to Siva by Kealani Netane
The Ocean Calls by Tina Cho
The Peace Tree from Hiroshima by Sandra Moore
The Yellow Ao Dai by Hanh Bui
Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein
Watercress by Andrea Wang
What Lolo Wants by Cristina Oxtra
When Everything Was Everything by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay
When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling
JUNE – Immigrant Heritage Month
Thank you to the International Institute of Minnesota for curating this month’s book selection. Visit the International Institute of Minnesota at iimn.org.
Elsie Celebrates Rakhine Thingyan by Lynn-Clara Tun
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
A Different Pond by Bao Phi
You Are Life by Bao Phi
Hello, Mandarin Duck by Bao Phi
Fire and Ashes by Ahmed Hassan and Wes Erwin
Ayeeyo’s Golden Rule by Mariam Mohamed
Bee-bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park
A Map into the World by Kao Kalia Yang
The New Girl: A Graphic Novel by Cassandra Calin
Son de Estos Mares by Pablo Kalaka
La Mochila Morada de Montserrat/Montserrat’s Purple Backpack by Claudia Silva Ramírez
No Eres Tu No Soy Yo Es La Ansiedad by Lisbeth Samaniega and Gabriela Guzmán