Multicultural Books for Kids You Won’t Want to Miss

Looking for multicultural books to share with your students or children? Check out these three new releases from Second Story Press. Let’s fill our libraries with books from different voices!

The Case of the Missing Auntie

By Michael Hutchinson, Second Story Press, March 2020, 168 pages 

The Mighty Muskrats head to the city to spend a week with their Aunt and cousins. Otter and Chickadee have never visited a city before. Their cousins Samuel and Atim have spent time there, and everyone looks to Samuel, the eldest, to look after the others as they visit the Exhibition Fair and explore the big city. 

Each has a mission in mind as they near their destination—Sam and Atim can’t wait to see the Ex, Otter wants to get a ticket to Wavoka’s Wail. Chickadee wants to help their grandpa find his missing sister. When Chickadee shares her mission with the boys, they agree that all of them should use their talents to help their Elder—but after they first help Otter get tickets to see his dream band and favorite artist, Lolly Leach. 

As the four cousins settle in to explore and carry out their missions, they discover treachery, disappointment, and new ways of thinking about the world. They also uncover clues to their missing great aunt.

Why You’ll Love This Book

If you loved the Boxcar Children books, you’ll love this series about the Mighty Muskrats, four self-reliant cousins from the Windy Lake First Nation’s preserve in Canada. In the first book, they helped find a lost archeologist by putting their knowledge of tracking and human nature to work. 

The second book sets them in the urban wilderness, where danger lurks around every corner. Along the way, they learn more about the residential school system that separated hundreds of thousands of First Native children from their families. The author shows readers how the harmful system hurt everyone. 

Hutchinson uses sensitive strokes to explain that Canadians (and all of us) can do better in our attempts to reconcile the past with the present. Like the Mighty Muskrats, I too, have visited a truth and reconciliation museum. The stories I experienced there caused me to weep. At the same time, they sparked hope within me that we can learn from our past mistakes and create a better future. 

Parents, teachers, librarians, and history professors need to read these books and share them liberally with the young people in their lives. We all need to remember Grandpa’s words, “‘It’s good to build a better life for your children. But you must always respect others’ rights to build a better life for their children. To do that they must have their own languages, laws, and lands.’”

I loved the Boxcar Children, and @Mike_Hutchins0n has created today's version of the sibling detectives–the Mighty Muskrats. Don't miss the release of #TheCaseoftheMissingAuntie. It might be a #MGNovel, but everyone will enjoy it!… Click To Tweet

My Name is Konisola 

By Alisa Siegel, Second Story Press, March 2020, 152 pages.

Konisola and her mother leave Nigeria to find refuge in Toronto, Canada. Upon arrival, they ask for asylum. A kind stranger in the airport offers to let them spend a few nights at her home, and the immigration officer allows them to enter Canada. 

Konisola, only nine years old, speaks some English, but she doesn’t understand why they had to leave home and all her friends to come to a new country. Maybe it has something to do with her mother’s disappearance. 

Shortly after arriving, Konisola’s mother faints while in a drugstore. From there, life spins out of control for a lost and lonely little girl.

This true story of one immigrant girl’s experience will open the reader’s eyes to the hurdles one must overcome in order to immigrate to Canada. Language, new customs, boredom, and living in limbo all plague Konisola. When the unthinkable happens, kind strangers step in and help Konisola navigate life in a new country.

Who Should Read this Book

Teachers, students, and parents will all benefit from reading Konisola’s story of immigration. Without good-hearted people, the immigrant experience would terrify even the most brave-hearted person. The story makes an excellent discussion starter on refugees, immigrants, and legislation.

A touching story of immigration and acceptance you'll want to read aloud to your students or children. Another beautiful book from @_secondstory Click To Tweet

Nibi is Water

Joanne Robertson, Second Story Press, April 2020, 28 pages (board book)

A great picture book to introduce another language (even if you don’t speak it, the book has a pronunciation guide in the back) and a different way of seeing to young children. The perfect introduction to water conservation and respect for the Earth told from a multicultural perspective.

The illustrations include a wide variety of children from different cultures.

I receive free electronic advanced reader copies of these books through an arrangement between the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion on NetGalley’s website. I only review books on my blog that I really love.