Novels and stories by today's authors provide a wealth of cultural diversity. By using these wonderful trade books in the classroom, teachers can promote both understanding and pride among their students. In examining the many children's books that we had read, we found that there was a natural breakdown between books that accurately portrayed the conflict that many groups were forced to endure, and books that celebrate the rich diversity that can be found in America today. These books are terrific tools for helping students explore geography, history, literature, science, and art, but most of all, they help bring students of all backgrounds together. One of the best things that a teacher can do for his or her students is not to ignore differences, but to explore them, to give meaning to them, and to help students to appreciate and celebrate everything that everyone has to offer.

The following categories list stories that will help promote cultural diversity in the classroom. Each book will have a brief plot summary, followed by an idea or two for an activity that teachers might wish to do with the book. Teachers should feel free to explore these pages and find ideas for their classroom, or even better, to come up with new ones to try and share! Please let us know if you have used these books in your classroom successfully, and what activities you have used in conjunction with them.