Ongoing List of
Multicultural History Books
Want to see me come alive? Start talking multicultural books and my heart swells with excitement! I share more in depth in another post why multicultural books bring me so much joy (Read More) but basically, I grew up feeling invisible because I never saw a reflection of myself in any of the many books I read as a young girl.
It is of utter importance that students of color see themselves in the literature they read. However, it is also important that every child, regardless of ethnicity, read diverse literature because we live in a diverse world. The world becomes a richer place for the student and offers him or her a feast of knowledge as they learn about other cultures, including that of their families.
As a result, I’ve curated this ongoing list to share with you, including many of the multicultural titles from my personal library as well as other recommended books.
Hope this can be a helpful resource for you in diversifying your homeschool history!
Please Note
- Ethnicity/Race/Nationality can be complex topics, especially for those with multi-ethnic backgrounds. In being culturally sensitive without having countless tables, I've categorized the books into 4 main categories, as can be seen above. (Books with asterisks are in multiple categories)
- Every family has different beliefs and values. Please make sure to preview titles to ensure they fit your family standards.
- Many of the books shared here are titles I'd either like to or have used for my own daughter, books that come highly recommended, or books I think would be worth sharing. Therefore, I have not read every book. As mentioned above, please preview titles.
- Some books may use politically incorrect words. Use your own judgment to substitute them with more culturally sensitive terms or leave them as is if they convey the feel and message of the times to your student. (i.e. Indian vs Native American)
- The recommended ages are just that: recommended. You know your child best and whether or not a book may be appropriate for them.
- Picture books are often thought to be just for younger children. However, I can't tell you how many times the powerful words accompanied with beautiful imagery have moved me to tears or lead to rich discussion with my older student. Please don't miss these opportunities just because it's labeled a "picture book".
If you have any book recommendations you would like me to share, please feel free to contact me.
*Living Books- quality, narrative writing that brings a subject to life