Multicultural chapter books are sometimes difficult to find- but so worth it! I have been searching high and low, researching leading authors with diverse voices and from different backgrounds, who tell fascinating stories that are sprinkled with culture.
These multicultural chapter books are geared for kids in upper elementary through middle school. Personally, I would recommend them for strong readers in 4th grade and up, though I have read several of them aloud to my kids as young as 6 years old. These fabulous stories come from a wide variety of perspectives, that allow us a peek into children’s lives from different cultural backgrounds.
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African American Chapter Books for Kids
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill
Junebug by Alice Mead
Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D Taylor
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
American Indian Chapter Books for Kids
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac
Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Asian/Pacific/Asian-American Chapter Books for Kids
The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
Boys without Names by Kashmira Sheth
Kimchi & Calamari by Rose Kent
American Born Chinese by Gene Yang
Latino/Hispanic American Multicultural Chapter Books for Kids
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Taking Sides by Gary Soto
Call Me María by Judith Ortiz Cofer
How Tía Lola Came to (Visit) Stay by Julia Alvarez
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
North African/ Western Asian Chapter Books for Kids
Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Naji and the Mystery of the Dig by Vahid Imani
The Pearl Diver by Julia Johnson
Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird
Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye
Great list. Glad to see so many #OwnVoices titles.
You might want to take a look at some Native reviewers’ critiques of ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-critical-look-at-odells-island-of.html (scroll to the bottom down for other reviews)
As you may be aware, Debbie Reese also has a list of recommended titles by age group (including the other books you list) from which you could choose a replacement.
Thank you so much- I am going to check out the link right now reviewing the Island of the Dolphins. I deeply respect Debbie Reese and am interested to see what she thinks!