Multicultural Bibliography
South America & West Indies

Related Links:
The Caribbean Booktalk & bibliography.

General Nonfiction


Bateman, Penny. Aztecs and Incas Watts, 1988. 31p Nonfiction. BKLst.
Vivid illustrations and text present details bout these two ancient Indian cultures.

Cullison, Alan. The South Americans New York: Chelsea House, 1991.

Dwyer, Christopher. Dominican Americans New York: Chelsea House, c1991.

George, Jean Craighead. One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest Venezuela

Gernand, Renee. The Cuban Americans New York: Chelsea, c1988.

Greenberg, Melanie. Aunt Lilly's Laundromat Dutton, 1994. Grades K-3, picture book.Rec. by Utah State Library. Aunt Lilly paints pictures of her native Haiti in between doing her laundry.

Malam, John. Indiana Jones Explores--the Incas 47p Arcade, 1993
Written in first person by Indiana, the illustrated work provides information on this culture through modern day scientific discoveries. Includes maps and a time line. Not first purchase but recommended.

Morrison, Marion. Paraguay Children's Press, 1993.Grades 5 & up. See Enchantment of the World Series (10)

Poetry

A Caribbean Dozen: Poems from Caribbean Poets Edited by John Agard and Grace Nichols. Illustrated by Cathie Felstead. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 1994 (first U.S. edition). 93 p. Ages 7-11.
Commended in 1995 Americas Award List. Thirteen poets recount childhood experiences in poetry and prose.

General Fiction & Picture Books

Cherry, Lynne. The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest. 1st ed. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich, c1990. Also available in Spanish El Gran Capoquero: Un Cuento de la Selva Amazonica from Harcourt, Brace, c1994, GR K-4.
An entreaty to help save the rain forest. All the animals visit a sleeping man with reals for preserving the rain forest. Lush and vibrant illustrations are extremely detailed. Recommended by Megan Eddy, JMU Graduate student.

Traditional Literature

Alexander, Ellen. Llama and the Great Flood; A Folktale from Peru. Crowell, 1989. Ages 5-8. Bklst.
The Peruvian version of Noah. Vivid illustrations.

Crespo, George. How Iwariwa the Cayman Learned to Share: A Yanomami Myth retold and illustrated by George Crespo. New York: Clarion, 1995. picture book.
The animals in the Amazon rainforest find a way to trick Iwariwa into sharing fire. Commended book in Americas Award.

Rojany, Lisa. The Magic Feather: A Jamaican Legend retold by Lisa Rojany. Illustrated by Philip Kuznicki. Mahwah, NJ: Troll Associates, 1995. picture book.
Solidae must pull a feather from the dreaded Mancrow to bring color and light back to the island of Jamaica. Commended book in Americas Award.

Metzxas, Eric. Monkey People Ill. by Diana Bryan. Rabbit Ears, 1995.
Colombian folktale for gr. 4-6. People give the monkeys many tasks to fulfill.

San Souci, Robert D. The Faithful Friend Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. picture book.
Re-telling of a traditional French West Indies tale, blended with Afro-French Caribbean culture.

Bibliography prepared by Wendy Lanehart & Inez Ramsey. LSEM 511. Resources for Children. James Madison University.