Our intention is to acquire and make available ALL picture books featuring indigenous people and people of color published in the U.S. since 2002, including reprints. Inclusion of a title in the collection DOES NOT EQUAL recommendation. See our related readings page for suggested links for evaluating books.
Tucky Jo and Little Heart
A fifteen-year-old soldier in World War II meets a sweet young girl in the Philippines who helps him remember what he is fighting for as he helps her and others of her village avoid starvation, and many years later she returns his kindness
Hand over hand
"Who says girls can't fish? When Nina asks her grandfather to take her fishing with him on his old banca boat, his answer is always the same: "A boat is not the place for a girl." But Nina is determined to go. She knows that if her lolo will show her how to jig the lines, to set the hook, and to pull in a fish, hand over hand, she can prove to everyone in their Filipino fishing village that she deserves her turn in the boat, girl or no!"--|cPublisher's website
Filipino friends
Sam, a Filipino-American boy visiting the Philippines for the first time, learns many new words and customs while playing with his cousins and visiting with other family members
Filipino celebrations
"Brimming with vivid illustrations and rich cultural background, Filipino Celebrations makes major festivals such as Holy Week, Independence Day, Christmas and New Year come alive, together with family celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and a girl's debut into society. Each chapter discusses the history of the holiday; its cultural influences; how certain holidays are celebrated differently in different regions of the Philippines; special customs, foods, key words and phrases associated with the festivals; and more. Each chapter gives children a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of this island nation. Activities such as games, songs, crafts and recipes invite children to participate in the fun. Filipino Celebrations engages the 5-11 age group in a way that is both informative and fun"--Publisher's description
Pan de Sal saves the day
This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents an entertaining story from the Philippines that teaches an important lesson about self-esteem. A heart- warming story of a young Filipino girl who builds self- confidence after spending a day with her classmates, Pan de Sal Saves the Day: A Filipino Children's Story is an award-winning inspiring tale for young children everywhere. It's the story of a young girl named Pan de Sal who lives in the Philippines and thinks she's the unluckiest girl in the whole world. Aside from not liking her own name and finding her appearance strange, she doesn't have all the fancy things her classmates have. She can't even muster the courage to try out for the Glee Club, even though she has a beautiful voice. Things change suddenly when an unexpected event forces her into the limelight. With her innate talent and resourcefulness, Pan de Sal wins admiration of her classmates and finds the confidence she needs to fulfill her dreams. For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or experienced adversity, Pan de Sal Saves the Day teaches children to see the unique qualities in everything and everyone, even themselves
Abadeha
In this version of Cinderella, set in the Philippines, Abadeha endures abuse by her stepmother before being helped by the Spirit of the Forest and becoming the bride of the island chieftain's son