Just like food, stories from around the world have a special flavor. They introduce us to culture, celebrations, festivities, and some wisdom. They introduce us to humor, fun, and most of all to the human experience that unites us. We present stories for all ages from a spectrum of experiences mirrored by fellow beings.  Join the International Reading Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) for a week of globetrotting as we gather books and stories from around the world.

Grade K-2 readers

Bebe, Katy. (2014). Brother Hugo and the Bear. Illus. by S. D. Schindler. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Set in Medieval times, the story recounts the adventures of Brother Hugo, who lives in a monastery and has just lost a library book—to a bear. The precious book with the letters of St. Augustine has to be replaced. The abbot assigns Brother Hugo the task of going to another monastery where there is another copy. When he has the book in hand, Hugo starts for home again, just to be chased by the bear again! Brother Hugo speeds through the fields, orchards, gardens, and buildings. Back home, Brother Hugo thinks it would be impossible to copy the entire book all by himself, but his fellow brothers help him to make the parchment, ink, and light. Every day, Brother Hugo sits for long hours copying the book—line by line, page by page. Hugo knows the bear will chase him again when he returns the book, but his brothers in the Abbey have a trick up their sleeve. Who will win, the bear or brother Hugo? This is an excellent book to discuss history, humor, and talk about how people live different lives even today.

—Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

Dumont, Jean-Francois. (2014). The Geese March in Step. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

This charming picture book from French author Jean-Francois reassures young readers about the importance of being oneself. Led by fellow goose Igor, the geese on the farm march down to the pond every day in great precision. One-two, one-two, one-two, they march in perfect time. Nobody remembers why they do this anymore, not even the geese, but they do it anyway. One day, Igor hear the rhythm of the perfect march ruined by tap…tap. Igor stops the marching geese and spots Zita, a goose who cannot march in synch with the parade. Zita has to go. But Zita’s sniffles and tears make a great rhythm. Woodpecker picks up the tune and joins Zita. The rooster, donkey, cow, and sheep all follow Zita, adding to the tune. When Zita returns to the pond, the geese are stunned to see the unusual parade behind her. Everyone stops following Igor, waiting instead for Zita to lead the march to the pond. This heartwarming tale is perfect for read-aloud and for young readers to join the marching song, each student or group making their own tunes. Teachers can build many class activities around this book.

—Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

Lo, Rich. (2014). Father’s Chinese Opera. New York, NY: Sky Pony Press.

As the son of a bandleader and composer of the Chinese Opera, a little boy usually goes to the theater with his father for the opera rehearsals and performances.  Mesmerized by various well-executed acrobatic moves, such as martial arts feats, flips, and somersaults, the boy asks a master of acrobatics, Gai Chui, to teach him all the moves and promises to be a hard-working student. Gai Chui consents, and the boy’s training starts. The more the boy practices, the more he feels he could be part of the opera. As the boy proposes the idea of performing on the stage to Gai Chui, he receives nothing but ridicule from his teacher and other performers. Feeling hurt by the mocking at first, the boy finally realizes it takes many efforts and repeated practice for an actor to perform onstage. Based on his personal experience, Rich Lo has told this story to embody an old Chinese proverb that is still used frequently today:  One minute’s performance on the stage takes 10 years of practicing off the stage. The colorful watercolor illustrations correspond to the multiple hues in costumes and make-up Chinese Opera actors wear. This is an introductory book for everyone to get to know a Chinese work of art.

—Ying-Hsuan Lee, Washington State University Pullman

Senior, Olive. (2014). Anna Carries Water. Illus. by Laura James. Vancouver, Canada: Tradewind Books.

The simple, yet heartwarming story is set in Caribbean islands. Anna’s family gets water from the nearby river for drinking and cooking. Children walk through Farmer Johnson’s fields, amidst the cows, to fetch the water. Anna is scared of the cows and she cannot balance the coffee can on her head, spilling water and drenching herself. Doris, her sister, helps her dry up and assures her that one day she will carry the pot on her head. Like any other day, Anna fills her can, but is slow to follow her siblings. When she crosses the farmer’s field, she is alone. The cows look at her and Anna runs all the way home. Her delighted family celebrates Anna’s trip without spilling a drop of water. This is a good book to introduce how children live across the world. It is also a great book to start the conversation about how children have overcome their own limitations successfully.

—Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

Grades 3-5

Jiang, Emily. (2014). Summoning the Phoenix: Poems and Prose about Chinese Musical Instruments. Illus. by April Chu. New York, NY: Shen’s Books.

 

Composed of several poems and prose, this book introduces readers to Chinese musical instruments and Chinese orchestras. As readers turn the page, they read how each child learns and practices to play a Chinese musical instrument as well as rehearses for an upcoming concert. Being a part of a Chinese orchestra, these children relate their enjoyment and frustration with mastering their instrument. On each double-spread page, there is a brief explanation of an instrument and within the explanation is a comparison to Western instruments (e.g. Erhu to the violin and Dizi to the bamboo flute) to help readers imagine the sound of each instrument. The illustrations provide not only more details about how Chinese instruments look, but also some objects prominent in Chinese culture, such as Chinese knots, lotuses, cranes, and cheongsams. Be sure to read the author’s note on the last page to learn more about Chinese music!

 

—Ying-Hsuan Lee, Washington State University Pullman

Raschka, Chris. (2014). The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra: The Sound of Joy is Enlightening. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Sun Ra always believes he is from Saturn. Since his landing on Earth in 1910s, his curiosity has driven him to explore everything, including nature, human beings, philosophy, food, etc. But music is his favorite. As a talented musician, Sun Ra masters the piano at the age of 11 and becomes a professional pianist before leaving high school.  Besides his love for music, Sun Ra is also a keen observer who is aware of what is happening around him and in the world at large. He notices people separate one from another due to skin colors, and people fight with each other in great wars. To cope with such harshness in reality, Sun Ra decides to use music to bring people together. As a pioneer of using electric devices, Sun Ra forms a band, tours and performs in different cities and countries, meeting many talented musicians along the way. Until the day he returns to Saturn, Sun Ra still believes music can hold everyone together! Chris Raschka tells a story of an extraordinary African-American musician with his distinguished watercolor illustrations. The use of colors, strokes, and lines add a feel of flowing music. This is a biography to introducing readers to an outstanding musician who devoted his life to music and peace.

—Ying-Hsuan Lee, Washington State University Pullman

Grades 6-8

Jones, Kari. (2014). So Much for Democracy. Custer, WA: Orca Book Publishers.