(No.32)Culture Through Reading: Three Recommendations

One of the easiest, and most delicious, ways to explore a culture is through its food. Any young reader can enjoy Let’s Eat: Mealtime Around the World by Lynne Marie. This short, easy to read book covers food from thirteen different countries. It also shows some important cultural practices surrounding food. Afterwards, you might have a few new recipes to try at home!

We can also learn about a culture’s history through its famous people. In The Dreamer, Pam Muñoz Ryan explores the early life of the poet Pablo Neruda, the national poet of Chile. Mixing biography, poetry, and magic, along with illustrations by Peter Sís, this book is a great read for someone looking for a longer, and a bit more challenging, reading experience.

There are also times when we only understand our culture after being away from it. Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta tells the story of a Mexican girl whose family has moved to America. She learns to find a balance between adapting to the new culture around her while also staying true to the culture her family came from. The story covers a lot of important topics, like family, friendship, and traditions, as well as the difficulties of being an immigrant in a new place.