Reading books with your children will open up their world in a variety of new ways. The following

list will literally open up their world as they read of different continents and cultures while enjoying

some great literature and being introduced to many well known and loved authors.

This Website is a blog that contains lists of books from all subject areas. This link specifically lists

story books that will expose your child to the cultures found around the world.

http://delightfulchildrensbooks.com/read-around-the-world/

AFRICA

I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakite and Baba Wague Diakite. The

story of a young girl from the United States who loses her tooth while visiting her family in

Mali. In exchange for her tooth, the girl receives two chickens from the African tooth fairy. I

Lost my Tooth in Africa is one of my four-year-old daughter’s very favorite books. Ages 3+

My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me by Maya Angelou and

Margaret Courtney-Clarke. Via Maya Angelou’s playful and poetic prose, a girl Thandi from

the Ndebele tribe in South Africa introduces herself to readers. Margaret Courtney-Clarke’s

photographs make Thandi’s world come alive; they include wonderful portraits of Thandi and

other Ndebele women and children in traditional beads and bracelets as well as striking

photographs of colorful painted houses. Ages 3+

Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams and Catherine Stock.A young Malawi boy

goes to great lengths to collect enough wire to make a galimoto, a toy vehicle. With

industriousness and creativity, the young boy creates an impressive toy. Ages 4+

The Butter Man by Elizabeth Alalou, Ali Alalou, and Julie Klear

Essakalli. As Nora waits for dinner to finish cooking, Nora’s grandfather tells her a story from

his childhood in Morocco. One year when the rains did not come, grandfather tells her, his

family had very little food. Each day, he would sit and wait for the butter man to come, hoping

for a little butter to dip his bread into. When grandfather’s story and dinner are finished, Nora

sits down to a delicious Moraccan meal with a new sense of gratitude. Ages 4+

Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary Chamberlin, Rich Chamberlain, and

Julia Cairns. In this playful story, Mama Panya and her son set off to the market to purchase

flour and a pepper to make pancakes for dinner. Along the way, the son invites one friend after

another to join them for pancakes, ignoring Mama Panya’s warnings that there will not be

enough food to feed everyone. The endnotes to this story contain information about village life in

Kenya, an introduction to Kiswahili, and a recipe for Mama Panya’s pancakes. Ages 4+

Boundless Grace by Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch.Grace is a wonderful

character — creative, adventurous, and thoughtful. In Boundless Grace, Grace is invited to visit

her father, who she has not seen for years, in The Gambia. Boundless Grace is a compelling story

about Grace trying to make sense of her family after meeting her father’s new wife and children.

It includes memorable descriptions and illustrations of an African airport, compound,

marketplace and more. Ages 4+

My Father’s Shop by Satomi Ichikawa. A humorous story about a young boy

Mustafa whose father is teaching him to help sell beautiful Moraccan carpets to tourists. When

Mustafa discovers a carpet with a hole in it, he convinces his father to let him keep it. Mustafa

proudly throws the carpet over his head and heads to the market to show it to his friends. On his

excursion through the marketplace, Mustafa unexpectedly attracts customers to his father’s

shop. Ages 4+

What’s Cooking, Jamela? by Niki Daly. Jamela’s mother and grandma are

preparing for Christmas dinner and give Jamela responsibility for caring for the Christmas

chicken. However, while caring for the chicken, Jamela grows attached and decides to save the

chicken from being eaten for Christmas dinner.What’s Cooking, Jamela? is an energetic and

engaging story. Ages 4+

Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter. A true story about a

young girl from a Ugandan village who longs to go to school. When Beatrice’s family receives a

goat, Beatrice begins earning money and eventually earns enough money to pay for school. My

children enjoy reading about Beatrice caring for her goat, earning money, and attending school

for the first time. Ages 4+

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire

Nivola. One of four picture books recently written about the inspirational Nobel Peace Prize

winner Wangari Maathai. Wangari Maathai led efforts to reforest Kenya and was the founder of

the Green Belt Movement. In Planting the Trees of Kenya, author Claire Nivola clearly and

engagingly tells the story of Wangari’s life and explains the value of planting trees. For readers

who would like more details about Wangari Maathai’s life, I would also recommend Seeds of

Change by Jen Johnson and Sonia Sadler. Ages 4+

My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa Mollel and E. B. Lewis. A boy Saruni

saves coins to purchase a new bicycle. While saving coins, Saruni practices riding his father’s

bicycle and dreams of helping his mother carry goods to market on his new bicycle. My Rows

and Piles of Coins describes how one Tanzanian family makes money by raising crops and

selling them at the market. Ages 5+

Nii Kwei’s Day: From Dawn to Dusk in a Ghanaian City by Francis

Provencal and Catherine McNamara. In a straightforward way, Nii Kwei’s Day describes Nii

Kwei eating breakfast, going to school, watching marching band practice, playing soccer and

board games, visiting the market, eating dinner and going to bed. Readers will notice the

similarities between Nii Kwei’s life and their own. The photographs of Nii Kwei are very

valuable for helping children imagine life in an African city. Ages 5+

EUROPE PARIS

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully

Eloise in Paris (Eloise Series) by Kay Thompson

The Cat Who Walked Across France by Kate Banks and Georg

Hallensleben. Describes a cat’s journey across France to return to his seaside home. This book

features richly colored paintings of a variety of scenes in France, from the countryside, through

Paris, ending at a house by the Mediterranean Sea. Consider pairing with This is Paris by

Miroslav Sasek or, for younger children, Everybody Bonjours by Leslie Kimmelman and Sarah

McMenemy. Ages 3+

Starting School by Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg. My children have long

enjoyed this fun, detailed account of eight children attending school in England. Starting School

begins with the children’s first day of school and ends with the children performing a nativity

play before school lets out for holiday vacation. Readers will discover that school in England is

very similar to school in the United States. Ages 3+

Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer. A humorous story about the spirited

Olivia and her family taking a trip to Venice. Olivia is an entertaining guide to the major sites in

Venice. Olivia Goes to Venice! is best read with gelato! Ages 3+

Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco. An engaging tale about an old woman

who witnesses two miracles while decorating eggs for an Easter festival. While not a realistic

portrayal of modern Russia, Rechenka’s Eggs is a wonderful story that depicts the beauty of

traditional Ukranian eggs. If you enjoy Rechenka’s Eggs, look for others by Patricia

Polacco. Ages 4+

Gabriella’s Song by Candace Fleming and Giselle Potter. The story of a

Venetian girl named Gabriella. To Gabriella, Venice is the city of music. Gabriella incorporates

the sounds she hears on Venice’s streets into a song that inspires a composer. Ages 4+

Market Day by Eve Bunting and Holly Berry. Inspired by memories of

growing up in Ireland, author Eve Bunting wrote this story of a girl and her friend enjoying the

fantastic sights at a village market. Ages 4+

Polina’s Day: From Dawn to Dusk in a Russian City by Andrey

Ilyin. Describes a day in the life of a young girl Polina in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Polina eats

breakfast, goes to school, explores downtown Saint Petersburg, rehearses a play, and enjoys tea

with her family before going to bed. The photographs of Polina and her family are very valuable

for helping children imagine life in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Ages 5+

This is London by Miroslav Sasek. Written in 1959, This is London describes

London’s people, parks, black cabs, and underground, as well as London’s historic sites.

Miroslav Sasek has written a series of books which includes This is Greece, This is Ireland, This

is Rome, This is Edinburgh, This is Munich, and This is Venice. All are worth seeking out for

their phenomenal illustrations. Sasek’s best books, including This is London and This is Paris,

are witty as well as informative. Ages 5+

The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands by

Louise Borden and Niki Daly. A suspenseful story set during World War II about a young boy

who must skate along frozen canals to guide two neighborhood children from Belgium to the

Netherlands. The children’s father has been taken by German soldiers, and the children are no

longer safe in Belgium. As he skates, the young boy is inspired by thoughts of the skater Pim

Mulier. Pim Mulier was the first person to ever skate the Elfstedentocht — a very challenging

skating tour and a national event in the Netherlands. Endnotes explain the history of skating in

the Netherlands. Ages 6+

Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Cristina Bjork and Lena Anderson. A

delightful story of a girl Linnea who visits Paris with her neighbor Mr. Bloom. Linnea and Mr.

Bloom have a wonderful adventure, which includes staying in an old hotel with a view of Notre-

Dame Cathedral, drawing and photographing flowers at Monet’s garden, meeting Monet’s step-

great-grandson, picnicking by the River Ru, and waking up early to watch the sunrise on the

Seine. Readers will learn about Monet, impressionism, and Paris, and enjoy imaging themselves

traveling to Paris. Ages 6+

AUSTRALIA

Big Rain Coming by Katrina Germein and Bronwyn Bancroft. ”On Sunday

afternoon Old Stephen nodded to the dark clouds spreading in the south. ‘Big rain coming,’ he

said.” In Big Rain Coming, children and animals wait for rain to come. It seems like the rain will

never come. The beautiful bold illustrations and simple plot make this book a great choice to

read aloud to a group of children. Ages 3+

Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas. A story about two possoms, Hush

and Grandma Poss. Grandma Poss uses her magic to make Hush invisible. When Hush wants to

be visible again, the two go on a trek around Australia in search of something to make Hush

visible. Along the way, they eat many traditional Australian foods. Ages 3+

Home by Jeannie Baker. A wordless picture book that depicts the

transformation of an urban neighborhood when people plant greenery and care for the space. If

you enjoy Home, look for Jeannie Baker’s other wordless picture books, including Belonging

and Hidden Forest. Ages 3+

Why I Love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft. Why I Love Australia depicts a

variety of Australian scenes: boab trees on the plains, a coral reef, the rooftops of suburban

homes, and more. This book features Bronwyn Bancroft’s beautiful Aboriginal artwork. Each of

Bancroft’s paintings is accompanied by a simple caption (e.g. “Boab tree families, bountiful in

shape, standing on the plains.”) Ages 4+

Are We There Yet?: A Journey Around Australia by Alison Lester. Alison

Lester is a fun tour guide as she describes a family trip around Australia. Are We There

Yet? introduced kids to the variety of things to see and do in Australia and at the same time

maintains the feel of a story about a family vacation. In this story, eight-year-old Grace and her

family visit the pinnacles at Perth, squeeze into a camper, snorkel at Turquoise Bay, entertain

themselves as they drive, hike between round red domes in the Outback, stop for a picnic lunch,

and have many more adventures. Ages 5+

My Farm by Alison Lester. A delightful memoir about the adventures author

Alison Lester had as a child growing up on a Australian farm. Ages 6+

ARCTIC

Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara Josse. A dialog between mother and

daughter that describes the love a parent has for a child. The conversation could take place

between a mother and daughter in any country. The beautiful illustrations depict Inuit culture.

Ages 2+

Kumak’s Fish by Michael Bania. A tall tale about a man Kumak and his family

who go ice fishing, with a hilarious ending. See also Kumak’s House by Michael Bania. Ages 3+

Berry Magic by Teri Sloat and Betty Huffmon. A magical story about how

tasty salmonberries, raspberries, cranberries and blueberries came to grow on the tundra. The

story ends with a recipe for akutaq (Eskimo ice cream) served each year with berries at the fall

festival. Ages 3+

The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale by Lydia Dabcovich. An Inuit folktale

about an old woman who takes in an orphan polar bear. The polar bear provides meat and fish

for the women. When men in the village decide to kill the polar bear, the woman must send the

polar bear away. Ages 3+

Whale Snow by Annie Patterson. The story of a successful whaling trip told

from the point of view of a six-year-old Inupiaq boy named Amiqqaq. When Amiqqaq’a father, a

whaling captain, returns home and announces that a whale has given itself to their village,

Amiqqaq asks to go with his father to help prepare the whale and celebrate. Amiqqaq learns

about the customs and spiritual significance of whaling to the Inupiat people. Ages 4+

Building an Igloo by Ulli Steltzer. A fascinating book about an Inuit father and

son building an igloo. Building an Igloo explains that while the Inuit no longer live in igloos, the

father and son in this book build igloos when they go hunting. Ages 4+

Ookpik by Bruce Hiscock. The story of a snowy owl’s first year. The snowy old

travels from Northern Canada to the United States in the fall and returns to Northern Canada in

the spring. Ookpik describes the topography of the Arctic tundra and the transitions from Arctic

tundra to taiga to the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, United States, that the snowy

owl observes during his flight. Ages 4+

Sled Dogs Run by Jonathan London. Set in Alaska, Sled Dogs Run describes a

young girl’s first solo run as a musher. Ages 4+

Arctic Son by Jean Craighead George and Wendell Minor. Written by the

author of My Side of the Mountain, Arctic Son describes the adventures of a young boy growing

up in an Inupiat village. Jean Craighead George has written another story of Arctic life entitled

Snow Bear. Ages 4+

North Pole, South Pole by Nancy Smiler Levinson and Diane Dawson Hearn. An excellent non-fiction book about the North and South Poles that provides kids with a clear

introduction to the Arctic’s climate, seasons, animals, plants, and people. Ages 4+

SOUTH AMERICA

Up and Down the Andes by Laurie Krebs and Aurelia Fronty. In rhyming

verse, Up and Down the Andes describes children from various parts of Peru traveling to the city

of Cusco, Peru, to participate in Inti Raymi, a traditional Inca festival. The endnotes contain

excellent information about Inti Raymi and other Peruvian festivals, Peru’s history, the Andes

Mountains, and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Ages 3+

For the Love of Soccer! by Pele. A autobiography of Brazilian soccer phenomenon Pele. Pele is

widely considered the greatest soccer player in the world. Post-Pele, Brazil continues to be an

international soccer powerhouse, and soccer continues to be a significant part of Brazilian

culture. Frank Morrison’s illustrations are colorful and dynamic. Ages 3+

The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan Mitchell and Connie McLellan. Introduces kids

to the Amazon Rainforest via an adaptation of the song The Green Grass Grew All Around. A

Rainforest Grew All Around is a cumulative rhyme that is fun to read aloud. This book contains a

recipe for rainforest cookies made with ingredients that initially came from rainforests. Ages 3+

A Pen Pal for Max by Gloria Rand and Ted Rand. In this fictional story, Max, a boy from

Chile, and Maggie, a girl from the United States, become pen pals. When an earthquake hits

Max’s home, Maggie and her classmates in the United States send supplies to Max and his

classmates in Chile. A Pen Pal for Max would be a good starting point for a conversation about

the fact that many of the agricultural products we consume here in the United States come from

South America. Ages 4+

Me llamo Gabriela by Monica Brown and John Parra. A very nice introduction to Chilean

poet Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel Price in Literature. Me

llamo Gabriela is well written with lovely illustrations by John Parra. Ages 4+

The Magic Bean Tree: A Legend from Argentina by Nancy Van Laan and

Beatriz Vidal. This Argentine legend conveys the importance of rain to the people of the

Argentine pampas. The Magic Bean Tree is beautifully illustrated by Beatriz Vidal who also

illustrated the prize winning Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. Ages 5+

On the Pampas by Maria Cristina Brusca. The story of a child who spends the summer on her

grandparents’ ranch in the Argentine pampas. On the Pampas is a series of vignettes about the

girl’s adventures, learning to ride a horse, lasso a calf, bake a cake with a giant nandu egg and

more. Ages 5+

Cassio’s Day: From Dusk to Dawn in a Brazilian Village by Maria de

Fatima Campos. In a straightforward manner, Cassio’s Day describes six-year-old Cassio

eating breakfast, going to school, playing with friends, celebrating his father’s birthday, and

going to bed. Cassio has a full day, which includes stops to watch a woman in his village make

cheese and to watch a man in his village make a basket. Ages 5+

Victoria Goes to Brazil by Maria de Fatima Campos.Describes a girl

Victoria’s travels in Brazil, the country where her mother was born. Victoria Goes to

Brazil reads like an informal travel log. The highlights of this book are the book’s intimate feel

and the variety of photographs from around Brazil. Ages 6+

To Go Singing through the World: The Childhood of Pablo Neruda by

Deborah Kogan Ray. Introduces children to Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. To Go Singing through

the World focuses on Pablo Neruda’s early influences: the Chilean rainforests, books, and

encouragement from poet Gabriela Minstral. Author Deborah Kogan Ray has incorporated

excerpts from Pablo Neruda’s poetry and prose into this biography. Ages 6+

ASIA

Peek!: A Thai Hide-and-Seek by Minfong Ho and Holly Meade. A father and

daughter engage in a playful game of jut-ay (Thai hide-and-seek). This is one of my children’s

favorite books; they enjoy searching for the daughter hidden on each page. Illustrator Holly

Meade received a Caldecott Honor for Hush!: A Thai Lullaby, and Meade’s illustrations

in Peek!: A Thai Hide-and-Seek are equally impressive — colorful and textured, with unusual

perspectives. Ages 2+

My Cat Copies Me by Yoon-duck Kwon. A young Korean girl describes

playing with her cat. Cat-loving children everywhere will be able to relate to the girl’s love for

her cat. Ages 2+

What Should I Make? by Nandini Nayar and Proiti Roy. A young Indian boy forms a ball of

dough into a snake, a mouse, a cat, and a lion before rolling it flat and baking a big round

chapati. Ages 3+

Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Dietz Shea, Cynthia Weill, To Ngoc Trang, and

Pham Viet Dinh. A counting book that describes preparing for and celebrating Tet, the

Vietnamese new year. The highlight of this book is To Ngoc Trang’s illustrations — colorful,

intricate, embroidered scenes of mice preparing for Tet. Ages 3+

Bee-bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park and Ho Baek Lee. A young girl

enthusiastically helps her mother prepare bee-bim bop, a popular Korean dish, for dinner. Bee-

bim Bop! is sure to get kids excited about trying this dish, and thankfully the foresighted author

includes a bee-bim bop recipe in the endnotes. Ages 3+

Silly Chicken by Rukhsana Khan and Yunmee Kyong. An entertaining story

of sibling rivalry with a twist — the sibling is a chicken! A young Pakistani girl is jealous when

her mother seemingly pays more attention to a chicken than to her. Ages 4+

I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi. Describes the big events and

celebrations that occur in a year in the life of seven-year-old Mimiko. I love the detail included

in the lovely, watercolor illustrations (e.g. illustrations of Mimiko’s top ten favorite meals). Ages

4+

Cherry Tree by Ruskin Bond and Allan Eitzen. A deceptively simple, well-

written story of a girl who plants a cherry tree and cares for the tree as she grows up. Cherry

Tree is set in the Himalayan foothills of northern India where, according to the story, there are

not many fruit trees. My children both love this book…perhaps because of the lovely

illustrations, perhaps because they enjoy imagining themselves growing older. Ages 4+

Rice is Life by Rita Golden Gelman and Yangsook Choi.In rhyming

verse, Rice is Life describes scenes in an Indonesian sawah (a wet rice field) throughout the

growing season. Sidenotes provide quite a bit of information about how rice is grown in

Indonesia. Ages 4+

The Trip Back Home by Janet Wong and Bo Jia. A carefully crafted story

about a young girl who visits her mother’s family in Korea. The Trip Back Home describes the

daily routines the girl shares with her Korean relatives during her stay: helping her grandfather

stoke a fire each morning, feeding her relative’s pigs, accompanying her grandmother on trips to

the market, etc. Ages 4+

Monsoon by Uma Krishnaswami and Jamel Akib. Told from the perspective a

young girl, Monsoon describes the anticipation of waiting for a monsoon to arrive near the end

of a long dry season in India. I also like Monsoon Afternoon by Kashmira Sheth and Yoshiko

Jaeggi which describes a young boy and his grandfather joyfully playing together in the

rain. Ages 4+

Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges and Sophie Blackall.A wonderful,

moving story about a girl Ruby who lived in old China at a time when girls were expected to get

married rather than attend university. While Ruby’s Wish does not describe modern China, I

include it on the list because it is an outstanding book with beautiful illustrations, excellent

writing, and a remarkable story. Author Shirin Yim Bridges clearly explains that this book is set

in the past. Ages 5+

The White Nights of Ramadan by Maha Addasi and Ned Gannon. This story

of three siblings and their family observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan conveys the

excitement of children as Eid approaches. The White Nights of Ramadan includes engaging

dialog and information about the customs and meaning of Ramadan. Ages 5+

Geeta’s Day: From Dawn to Dusk in an Indian Village by Prodeepta

Das. Describes a day in the life of a young girl Geeta in an Indian village. Geeta watches her

grandmother do her morning puja (worship), eats breakfast, goes to school, plays games and eats

lunch with classmates, visits vendors on her way home from school, eats dinner, and goes to bed.

Photographs help children imagine life in India. Prodeepta Das has also written Prita Goes to

India, a travelog of a young girl Prita’s trip to visit relatives in India. Ages 5+

Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihah Nye and Nancy Carpenter. A lovely portrayal

of the connection between a grandmother and granddaughter despite the miles and language

barrier between them. When the granddaughter visits her grandmother (Sitti) in Palestine, the

two learn to communicate without words and enjoy baking flat bread, drinking lemonade with

mint leaves, and brushing Sitti’s hair together. Ages 5+

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed, and

Doug Chayka. The story of two girls who meet in a refugee camp in Pakistan and become

friends. Ages 5+

Shanyi Goes to China by Sungwan So. Readers are invited to accompany

Shanyi on her trip to China to explore the country where Shanyi’s parents were born. Shanyi

visits relatives throughout China and has the opportunity to explore a fishing village, eat dim

sum, learn to write her name in calligraphy and much, much more. Ages 6+

Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein and Ed Young. According to author Mark

Reibstein, “Wabi sabi is a way of seeing the world that is at the heart of Japanese culture. It finds

beauty and harmony in what is simple, imperfect, natural, modest, and mysterious.” Wabi

Sabi describes this concept to kids via the story of a curious cat named Wabi Sabi who searches

for the meaning of his name. Wabi Sabi is an excellent introduction to haiku, a short form of

Japanese poetry. Ages 6+The