Virtual Travels: Children’s Books That Explore Different Cultures

Introducing kids to different cultures around the world through books can open up a world of learning, empathy, and curiosity. This blog post highlights five wonderful children’s books that explore diverse cultures, each paired with a fun activity to help families engage with each book’s cultural theme at home. We’ll also include discussion prompts and mini “travel challenges” to encourage kids to dive deeper into each culture.

1. *“Bee-bim Bop!” by Linda Sue Park (South Korea)

• About the Book: This delightful story follows a little girl as she helps her mom prepare Bee-bim bop, a popular Korean rice dish. Through rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, readers experience the joy of cooking and sharing food with family.
• Cultural Activity: Make Bee-bim bop together! Gather ingredients like rice, vegetables, and a fried egg, and let kids help with simple tasks like mixing ingredients or plating.
• Discussion Prompt: “What foods do we make together at home that are special to our family? How do they make us feel?”
• Mini Travel Challenge: Explore more about Korean culture by finding and learning simple Korean phrases like “hello” (안녕하세요 – annyeong haseyo) and “thank you” (감사합니다 – kamsahamnida).

2. *“Festival of Colors” by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal (India)

• About the Book: This book introduces young readers to Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, celebrated in India. Two siblings gather flowers to make powders for the festival, celebrating spring and friendship.
• Cultural Activity: Create colorful artwork inspired by Holi! Use watercolor paints or colored chalk to make bright, festive designs that celebrate spring.
• Discussion Prompt: “What are some festivals or holidays we celebrate? How do colors and decorations play a part in them?”
• Mini Travel Challenge: Watch videos or look up images of Holi celebrations in India to see how vibrant the festival is. Try saying “Happy Holi” (होली मुबारक – Holi Mubarak) in Hindi!

3. *“My Wounded Island” by Jacques Pasquet (Indigenous Peoples of Canada)

• About the Book: Set in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic, this book tells the story of a young girl whose island home is threatened by climate change. It introduces children to Inuit culture and the environmental challenges Indigenous peoples face.
• Cultural Activity: Make an Inuit-inspired craft, like an inukshuk using stones. Inukshuks are stone structures traditionally used by the Inuit as landmarks and symbols of survival.
• Discussion Prompt: “What are ways we can take care of our environment and protect the places we live?”
• Mini Travel Challenge: Research Inuit traditions, clothing, or art. Look up images of traditional Inuit clothing or listen to a recording of throat singing, an Inuit musical tradition.

4. *“Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña (United States – Urban Culture)

• About the Book: This heartwarming story follows a young boy, CJ, and his grandmother on a bus ride through their urban neighborhood. Through CJ’s eyes, readers get a glimpse of the beauty in community diversity and urban life.
• Cultural Activity: Take a bus or train ride in your local area. Observe the sights and sounds, and discuss how public transport connects people in the community.
• Discussion Prompt: “What do we love about our community? Who are some people in our neighborhood we see every day?”
• Mini Travel Challenge: Draw a map of your neighborhood and mark your favorite places. Talk about what makes each place special and why it’s important to your family.

5. *“Somewhere in the World Right Now” by Stacey Schuett (Global Cultures)

• About the Book: This book takes children on a global journey, showing what people around the world might be doing at the exact same moment. It highlights the diversity of activities and lifestyles across different cultures and time zones.
• Cultural Activity: Create a “world clock” by drawing a map with different time zones and marking what activities happen at specific times in different countries.
• Discussion Prompt: “What do you think kids in other countries are doing right now? How do you think it might be similar or different from what we do?”
• Mini Travel Challenge: Look up fun facts about different time zones and discuss the concept of “day” and “night” around the world.

Parent-Child Interactive Activity: “Cultural Passport Book”

Materials Needed: Small notebook or paper, colored pencils or markers, glue, and cultural stickers or printed images.

Instructions:

1. Create a Passport: Let children decorate their “cultural passport” with their name and add a “cover” with their own designs.
2. Stamp Each Culture: After reading each book and completing the activity, let kids draw a “stamp” or glue a small image related to the culture. For example, they could draw colorful circles for Holi, a small bus for urban culture, or a bowl of food for Korean cuisine.
3. Cultural Reflections: On each page, encourage kids to write or draw one thing they learned about the culture.
4. Bonus Activity: At the end of the “journey,” look back at all the cultures explored and talk about what was most interesting or surprising.

Goal: This activity allows children to record their “travels” to different cultures, fostering curiosity and empathy for the world around them.

Through these books, activities, and discussions, families can “travel” across cultures from the comfort of home, sparking curiosity and appreciation for our diverse world. Happy reading and exploring!