Kiki Kallira is not a hero. She is not brave, daring, or strong. She is the kind of girl who worries about her mother being murdered by geese if she leaves the door open. But she can do one thing… draw. Drawing takes all of her anxieties away. That is until she unwittingly unleashes mythological creatures from the Hindu legends she draws in her sketchbook and is given no choice but to become a hero, or both her world and the one she has created will be in big trouble…
Kiki has to be one of my favourite main characters that I have read recently. The descriptions of her anxieties and how they affect her life really will resonate with many children. By following Kiki and her journey to discover whether she can be the brave hero that the world needs, children learn that heroes come in all shapes and sizes and everybody has their own strengths.
On this booklist we have picked some of the best books for primary schools to help promote cultural diversity. Books can act as both windows through which to see the world and mirrors for readers to see themselves reflected in the pages. The books on this list are selected to help children to see different cultures represented in the stories they read.
You can see our full range of Diverse and Inclusive booklists here.
This is a wonderful dual language book that tells the story in English and Mandarin, perfect for exposing pupils to Chinese written characters or allowing Mandarin-speaking pupils to share in the narrative. The story is about a boy called Li, who needs to help his family to prepare for their exciting Chinese New Year celebrations as well as to find out about the different zodiac animals in order to decide which character to play in his school assembly. We think that it is hugely important to have dual language books in your classroom library and this one is perfect for the theme of cultural celebrations.
We are big fans of Sleep Well, Siba & Saba, an important book for celebrating diversity. This stunningly illustrated picture book offers a snapshot into life for two sisters growing up in Uganda, with a delightful story that rejoices in the precious details of the sisters’ day to day lives as well as with their hopes and dreams for the future. We love the beautiful and detailed illustrations and the uplifting story with its almost lullaby-like style and poetic sibilance, ready to captivate readers as they peep inside a fascinating window into everyday life in another culture.
This story explores the themes of mutual respect and tolerance in a way that is relatable to young children. When Emily observes how different the girl living next door to her is, she feels unsure of whether they can play together. The girl and her family visit the mosque and sometimes speak in a different language. At the end of the story Emily discovers that feelings of uncertainty can be normal when families are different to each other, but it does not mean the girls cannot be good friends. We like the handy teachers’ notes in the back of the book that suggest related activities and discussion points on the theme of tolerance. This book is a good choice for KS1 and reception.
This picture book is popular in Key Stage 2. It portrays a Romani boy called Jean, who is drawn in by a special character called the Django. The Django is full of fun but always seems to get Jean into trouble. One day the Django disappears and Jean finds a way to feel close to him by playing his own music on the banjo. The illustrations are rich in detail and evocative of the Romani community in which Jean lives.
This is an important addition to your school poetry collections, presenting poems from different celebrations across the globe. Topics include Holi, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Thanksgiving and many more and there is a section at the back of the book with explanations of each festival. We also recommend the poetry anthology My Village, containing rhymes from around the world.
Full of suspense and cliff-hangers, this book is proving very popular in Upper Key Stage 2 classrooms. The story follows Jamal, a boy from a war-torn part of Afghanistan. When the government discovers that Jamal’s mother is illegally running a school, his family is forced to leave home and they try to seek asylum in Australia. The journey is frightening and full of dangers and when Jamal finally reaches Australia, it does not turn out to be quite as welcoming as he expected. A gripping text that tackles difficult issues head on in a sensitive but realistic way. We also recommend the sequel Girl Underground.
This is an intriguing and mesmerising picture book set in the Malaysian jungle. Young Kaya is seeking her ‘heart song’ and journeys deep within the vibrant jungle, which is so beautifully portrayed in the illustrations using a dazzling palette of bright reds, oranges, purples and yellows set against the vegetatious backdrop of countless shades of green. When Kaya finds a mysterious carousel, the captivating music it produces leads Kaya to discover her own heart song. This is a truly unique picture book, grounded in the values of mindfulness, and one that will leave young readers wide-eyed with surprise and wonder.
This important and very topical text uses a comic-book style to portray some of the experiences of some refugee families. Azzi and her family flee their home and find themselves on a frightening and dangerous journey to a new country. In her new home, Azzi is faced with adapting to a foreign way of life, starting a new school and learning to speak English. This is an excellent, thought-provoking text that presents a difficult topic in a way that evokes empathy and understanding in young readers.
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Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
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Curriculum links (if relevant)
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