A Full Moon Is Rising

Singer, M., & Cairns, J. (2011). A full moon is rising: Poems. New York:

Lee & Low Books.

A Full Moon Is Rising is a wonderful collection of multicultural poems. Marilyn Singer’s poems celebrate the magic of a full moon as it is experience around the globe.  There are poems set it the city, the country and across the world from Africa to China to Columbia. Different religious and ethnic traditions are represented, including Sukkot, moon watching in Canada and the Chinese Moon Festival. The end papers even include notes and a map of all the locations that appear throughout the book. In this collection, we visit India, Israel, Morocco, China, Australia and so many more. 

Under the Mesquite

McCall, G. (2011). Under the mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books.

As the oldest of eight siblings, Lupita is used to taking the lead—and staying busy behind the scenes to help keep everyone together. But when she discovers Mami has been diagnosed with cancer, Lupita is terrified by the possibility of losing her mother, the anchor of her close-knit Mexican American family. Suddenly Lupita must face a whole new set of challenges, with new roles to play, and no one is handing her the script.

In My Family

Garza, C., & Schecter, D. (1996). In my family. San Francisco, Calif.:

Children's Book Press.

The author takes the reader to her home town in Texas where she shares memories of her traditional Mexican American community. The story is told from the main character’s point of view, Carmen, who grew up in Kingsville, Texas and uses 13 illustrations that were painted by the author herself. Each painting gives the book the look of a photo album with short, independent stories for each. Painting topics are sharing a night in their local restaurant, a cousin’s wedding day and a visit to abuela Elisa’s house. This book is ideal to expose your kids to topics such as family, history and culture. In My Family has received numerous awards including the Tomás Rivera Children’s Book Award and the Américas Picture Book Award. It also includes a section where the author answers question from her young readers.