Gaining Crosscultural and International Perspectives:A Book Review

Gaining Crosscultural and International Perspectives:A Book Review
    Each of the books I review here today relates in some way to an international or multicultural theme. The content of the books ranges from retelling of folk tales to reflections about family experiences to information about lifestyles and traditions. Their settings range with their contents— from Mexico, South Africa, Russia, and North Korea to New Orleans and San Francisco. Some of the books present a gritty look at life and are more appropriate for adolescents and mature readers; others use a style that is sure to appeal to kindergarten and elementary children. Whatever the content or the setting, each book provides rich opportunities for readers to gain crosscultural and international perspectives.
    The books that I’ll review in detail are as follows:
    A Gift for Albert by Nancy Luenn
    A Walk in My World edited by Anne Mazer
    Celebrating Chinese New Year by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith
    Israel: The People created by Bobbie D. Kalman
    A Gift for Albert is the first book I’ll review today. This book, filled with an abundance of interesting written and visual details, relates a genuinely heartwarming story that should appeal particularly to children dealing with a grandparent’s death. Of special interest are the cultural insights provided as the main character, a little girl named Rosita, grapples with how to honor the memory of her grandmother on the Day of the Dead. Each year Mexican families remember and welcome the spirits of loved ones by making offerings. By the close of the celebration described in the book, Rosita has come to understand that her warm memories of her grandmother provide the greatest solace of all as she copes with her sadness. Robert Chapman’s distinctive and dazzling illustrations—created through an intricate process involving casting paper in hand-crafted molds, painting, and photographing the results against tiled backgrounds—furnish an appropriately textured backdrop. The story, which appears in English at the top of each page and Spanish at the bottom, is supplemented by author’s and illustrator’s notes and a glossary that includes pronunciations and definitions.
    The second book, i.e. A Walk in My World:International Short Stories about Youth, is a collection of 16 short stories that invite readers to enter the worlds of young people from many cultures. A cast of talented and well-known authors weave themes of courage, coming of age, anger, rivalry and reconciliation, freedom, sacrifice, love won and lost, and the joys of growing up. Yasunazi Kawabata’s "The Jay," for example, is the poignant tale of a Japanese girl’s fascination with a small drama that unfolds in her backyard. As Yoshiko observes a mother bird searching for her lost chick, she ponders her troubled family circumstances. Anita Desai’s "Games at Twilight" offers a slice-of-life story that follows a young boy whose game of hide-and-seek evolves into a bitter life lesson. In this collection readers also encounter intriguing characters from Ghana, Norway, China, Chile, Italy, Russia, Germany, Egypt, Indonesia, Australia, Ireland, England, Antigua, and the United States. The stories, told with grit and realism, do not always offer happy endings, but they do guarantee an arresting literary experience.
    Celebrating Chinese New Year.
    Ryan and his family have a growing sense of excitement as they prepare for Chinese New Year in San Francisco, California. Historical and cultural details about the celebration flow through this information book, with sections titled Getting Ready for the New Year, Honoring Ancestors, At Chinese School, and so forth. One especially poignant series of photographs shows Ryan working with his father to clean his grandparents’ headstone. Nestled alongside is a portrait of the couple and a passage about their lives in the United States. Ryan’s grandfather was the first Asian American to be given a Purple Heart during World War I. Children will be fascinated by Ryan’s family’s New Year’s menu and accompanying pictures of the food being prepared and enjoyed around a large round table. After the meal, the family go out to enjoy parades and a Lion Dance. A glossary and index contribute information that should enhance children’s enjoyment of the book.
    Israel: The People (Lands, Peoples, and Cultures series). The customs, history, education system, and various aspects of daily life in Israel are introduced in this information book. Kalman has cleverly combined text, illustrations, and historical and modern photographs to help readers get a sense of the many ethnic and cultural groups that live in this fascinating area of the world. As with any well-written informational text, this book is best used as a resource from which students can learn about selected aspects of the topic. The table of contents guides information-seekers to chapters on life in the military, future challenges faced by the nation, a typical day, food, Jewish and Muslim family traditions, Bedouin life, school experiences, history, kibbutz life, and a glossary and index. The up-to-date photographs should help to dispel any stereotypical notions readers may have about the people who live in Israel. For example, teenage boys are shown wearing comfortable T-shirts as they study the Torah. A photograph of school crossing guards depicts them chatting on a street corner with their friends, just as they might do in other parts of the world. The book ends with a statement of hope that peace and security will one day become a reality in this troubled part of the world. Other books in the Lands, People, and Cultures series explore life in Japan, China, India, Peru, Canada, Mexico, Tibet, Vietnam, and Greece.