Multicultural Reading List

Recommended Books For Grades 5-12

Developed by the Literacy Coalition of the Duval County Public Schools and Jacksonville Public Library to develop the love of reading. Listed in order of the Lexile Reading Level score.

A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting

Published: September 2004

Lexile: 310

In their annual visit to Liberty Island, an Italian-American family tells of their immigration to America, their gratitude at arriving to New York City, and their respect for the freedom represented by the Statue of Liberty.

The Girl Who Spun Gold by Virginia Hamilton

Published: August 2000

Lexile: 360

A West Indian version of "Rumpelstiltskin" told in the rhythmic West Indian dialect and represented by opulent illustrations.

Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

Published: October 1991

Lexile: 470

A Japanese boy's mother folds delicate silver cranes from origami paper to decorate the his very first Christmas tree.

Story of Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe

Published: May 1989

Lexile: 500

A compassionate mouse is given the gift of powerful hind legs from a generous frog. The mouse helps many animals and is rewarded for his goodness and kindness in this Native American legend.

The Desert is Theirs by Byrd Baylor

Published: April 1997

Lexile: 520

Wonderful descriptions of the plants and animals of the desert, the Native Americans who live there and the secrets they know about the desert that no one else knows!

Her Seven Brothers by Paul Goble

Published: September 1993

Lexile: 520

This story is a Native American legend about the origin of the Big Dipper.

Cendrillon by Robert San Souci

Published: January 2002

Lexile: 540

A Caribbean version of Cinderella tale, told with the lyrical cadences of French and Creole words.

Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema

Published: January 1998

Lexile: 560

The Coyote wants to eat the little lamb in this Mexican folk tale. The story shows how the lamb tricks the big coyote using his intellect.

The Boy of the Three Year Nap by Diane Snyder

Published: October 1993

Lexile: 610

A Japanese tale of a wise mother determined to change her son's lazy habits as she uses his own trick to avoid work to her own advantage.

Jambo Means Hello by Muriel Feelings

Published: July 1992

Lexile: 640

This Swahili alphabet book introduces the reader to a different language and culture. Each of the twenty-four letters is represented by a Swahili word. Illustrations are outstanding.

Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic

Published: February 2006

Lexile: 640

Zlata, who begins her diary at the age of eleven, has been described as the Anne Frank of Sarajevo. This diary, written from 1991 to 1993 tells the story of the Bosnian War in Sarajevo.

The Gold Cadillac by Mildred Taylor

Published: February 1998

Lexile: 650

Two black girls living in the North take a trip to the South and encounter racial prejudice for the first time.

Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

Published: January 2002

Lexile: 650

The author, a Japanese American man, tells of his grandfather's journey to America and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries.

Francie by Karen English

Published: October 1999

Lexile: 660

Growing up in Alabama in the 1940's, Francie Weaver is the 12-year-old heroine. She is a black girl in the South encountering obstacles. She tutors a sixteen-year-old boy accused of murder.

Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac

Published: March 1999

Lexile: 680

After moving from a Mohawk reservation to Brooklyn, New York, eight-year-old Danny Bigtree encounters stereotypes about his Native American heritage.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe

Published: March 1987

Lexile: 720

A tale from Zimbabwe, which is a variation of Cinderella. Manyara and Nyasha, the sisters, both vie for the royal crown. The kind sister wins.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Betty Bao Lord

Published: October 1986

Lexile: 730

A young Chinese girl moves to Brooklyn where she becomes Americanized at school, in her apartment building, and by her love for baseball.

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Published: December 2006

Lexile: 740

Set in rural Georgia during the late 1950s and early 1960s, this story tells of two Japanese-American sisters growing up in rural Georgia. Despair darkens the close friendship of these two sisters when one sister becomes terminally ill.

Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie de Paola

Published: April 1996

Lexile: 740

This Indian legend tells how a little girl's sacrifice resulted in the wild flowers of Texas. The bluebonnet became the Texas state flower.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Ryan

Published: June 2002

Lexile: 750

Esperanza is from a Mexican family of wealth and privilege. Her life changes dramatically as she and her mother go to work in Southern California where they encounter great hardships on the eve of the depression.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema

Published: August 1992

Lexile: 770

A West African tale involving a chain of events that upsets all the animals in the jungle. It begins with an outrageous tale and ends with all the animals realizing mosquito is to blame.

Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco

Published: March 1996

Lexile: 780

Babushka rescues an injured goose. The goose, Rechenka, breaks painted eggs prepared for a Ukrainian festival. The goose lays eggs to replace the broken ones and they are miraculously colored eggs.

Winter People by Joseph Bruchac

Published: October 2004

Lexile: 800

As the French and Indian War rages in October of 1759, Saxso, a fourteen-year-old Abenaki boy, pursues the English rangers who have attacked his village and taken his mother and sisters hostage.

One Grain of Rice by Demi

Published: April 1997

Lexile: 830

An Indian tale in which a clever girl tricks a wicked raja into sharing the rice he was hoarding.

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Ryan

Published: October 2005

Lexile: 830

Naomi and little brother, Owen, live with their Gram. Their mother who abandoned them resurfaces after seven years and wants to take them back. The story of Naomi's efforts to avoid her mother and her journey to Mexico in search of her father is very moving.

Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie de Paola

Published: April 1996

Lexile: 840

A young Indian boy, Little Gopher, cannot perform like the other boys. He has a vision of becoming an artist and does in fact paint a master work – the sunset.

Dragonwings by Laurence Yep

Published: August 1975

Lexile: 870

The story of a young Chinese boy who joins his father in San Francisco and helps him realize his dream of making a flying machine.

When Clay Sings by Byrd Baylor

Published: April 1987

Lexile: 880

The daily life and customs of prehistoric southwest Indian tribes are retraced from the designs on the remains of their pottery.

The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland

Published: February 1997

Lexile: 880

A young Vietnamese girl takes a lotus seed from the Imperial Garden. Years later, her grandson plants it in his garden--where it blooms again.

Jesse by Gary Soto

Published: October 2006

Lexile: 900

This young adult novel is about two brothers of Mexican heritage. They hope college will help them get good jobs and escape physical labor.

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco

Published: July 1998

Lexile: 920

A quilt was made from items brought from Russia by Patricia Polacco's great grandmother. The quilt was passed down to future generations and used for many different purposes and celebrations, which are documented in the book. The quilt is a symbol of love and tradition in the family.

Harlem Summer by Walter Dean Myers

Published: March 2007

Lexile: 930

Summer, 1925 and Harlem is hot for sixteen-year-old Mark Purvis. All Mark wants is a chance to wail on his saxophone and impress Fats, Harlem's own piano-playing musical giant. Fats offers Mark another opportunity first, a simple little delivery job for some fast cash. Too bad the cold-blooded gangster Dutch Schultz was in on the deal and wants his money from Mark...or else!

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Published: September 2004

Lexile: 950

Bud is a 10-year-old African-American orphan living in Michigan during the Depression-era. He yearns to find the famed jazz musician, Herman E. Calloway, to determine if Calloway is indeed his long lost father. A story of grim and harsh conditions punctuated with an aura of hope and optimism.

Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope by Jenna Bush

Published: September 2007

Lexile: 970

The story of a seventeen year old young mother who is HIV-positive. Although Ana has lost her mother, father, and youngest sister to AIDS, her life is one of strength and determination as she struggles to make a brighter future for herself and her child. Based on Jenna Bush's UNICEF work in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Gandhi by Demi

Published: September 2001

Lexile: 980

The story of Gandhi, born in India in 1869, who grew up to become one of the most influential and well-respected political and social leaders of the world.

Saladin: Nobel Prince of Islam by Diane Stanley

Published: August 2002

Lexile: 990

This book is for young adults. It is the story of a young boy who becomes a brilliant warrior. This hero longed for peace and became a model for his time.

Confucius by Russell Freedman

Published: September 2002

Lexile: 1080

The story of Confucius who went from poverty to the top of the ruling class is documented. He then quit his post and became a philosopher. It tells of his ideas and influence on the world.

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel

Published: March 1968

Lexile: 1090

In this Chinese folktale a boy falls into a well. Getting the child help took a long time because of the fascination with his name.

In the Days of the Vaqueros by Russell Freedman

Published: October 2001

Lexile: 1180

Mexican vaqueros perfected skills which they taught American cowboys. They rounded up cattle and brought down steers. Cowboys copied their techniques and clothing among other things. Russell Freedman explains their important role.