It took me almost a year to compile this list since I wanted to use many different countries, my favourite books, a combination of classics, brand-new titles and everything in between. But here, finally, is my 2018 gift to you: 80 books for children from and about countries around the world.
I know there are many more amazing stories. But I hope these will jump start you and help in your library or classroom or home - wherever you are.
I have indicated whether they are picture books, novels, nonfiction or graphic novel.
Wishing much happiness in reading and sharing these books. I hope they will add to your virtual trip around the world and help to create awareness and understanding of other cultures.
Picture Books (PB), YA Novels (N) and Non-Fiction (NF), Graphic Novel (GN):
Afghanistan
The Bread Winner, Deborah Ellis (N)
Africa
Chandra’s Secrets, Allan Stratton (N)
Argentina
Out of the Box, Michelle Mulder (N)
Australia
Possum Magic (PB)
Outback Alphabet, Norah Countout (PB)
Brazil
The Great Kapok Tree, Lynn Cherry (PB)
Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson (N)
Canada
Waiting For The Whales, Sheryl McFarlane (PB)
My Arctic 1, 2, 3, Michael Kusugak (PB)
The Freedom of Jenny, Julie Burtinshaw (N)
Counting on Hope, Sylvia Olsen (N)
Speaking Our Truth, Monique Gray-Smith (NF)
Chile
The Dreamer, Pam Munoz Ryan (PB)
China
The Empty Pot, Demi (PB)
Bejing Through Time, Richard Platt (NF)
Throw-away Daughter, Ting Xing Ye (N)
Cuba
Cuba 15, Nancy Osa (N)
Curacao
The Cay, Theodore Taylor (N)
Dominican Republic
Not A Chance, Michelle Mulder (N)
East Germany
The Wall, Peter Sís (PB)
England
Two Weeks With The Queen, Morris Gleitzman (N)
The London Jungle Book, Bhajju Shyam (NF)
Charles and Emma, The Darwin’s Leap of Faith, Deborah Heiligman (N)
Eritrea
The Mangrove Tree, Susan L. Roth (PB)
Germany
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak (N)
Ghana
One Hen, Katie Smith Milway (NF)
Greece
Adventures in Ancient Greece, Linda Bailey (PB)
India
Mission Mumbai, Mahtab Narsimhan (N)
Follow The Elephant, Beryl Young (N)
A Basket of Bangles, Ginger Howard (PB)
Homeless Bird, Gloria Whelan (N)
Ireland
Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk, Gerald McDermott (PB)
Israel
Something From Nothing, Phoebe Gilman (PB)
The Magic Dreidels, Eric Kimmel (PB)
Jamaica
J Is For Jamaica, Benjamin Zephaniah (PB)
Japan
The Way We Do It In Japan, Geneva Cobb Iijima (PB)
Kenya
14 Cows For America, Carmen Agra Deedy (NF)
Walking Home, Eric Walters (N)
Mama Miti, Donna Jo Napoli (PB)
Korea
The Royal Bee, Frances and Ginger Park (PB)
Bee-bim Bop!, Linda Sue Park (PB)
Mexico
The Corn Grows Ripe, Dorothy Rhoads (N)
Mongolia
Mongolian Folktales, Dashdondog Jamba (N)
Morocco
Mirror, Jeannie Baker (PB)
Namibia
African Acrostics, Avis Harley and Deborah Noyes (PB)
Nigeria
Chicken in the Kitchen, Nnedi Okorafor
The Netherlands
Holland by Charlotte Dematons (PB)
Anne Franks Diary (N)
Pakistan
I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai (NF)
Listen to the Wind, Greg Mortenson (PB)
The Best Eid Ever, Asma Mobin-Uddin (PB)
Palestine
Habibi, Naomi Shihab Nye (N)
Lydia, Queen of Palestina, Uri Orlev (N)
Persia
Alphabet of Dreams, Susan Fletcher (N)
Shadow Spinner, Susan Fletcher (N)
Peru
Go And Come Back, Joan Abelove (N)
Poland
The Devil’s Arithmetic, Jane Yolen (N)
Russia
Anastastia’s Album, Hugh Brewster (PB)
Sierra Leone
The Bite of the Mango, Mariatu Kamara (N)
Solomon Islands
Jungle Islands, Maria Coffey (PB)
South Africa
Nelson Mandela, Kadir Nelson (PB)
Sudan
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Mary Williams (PB)
Syria
Stepping Stones, Margriet Ruurs and Nizar Ali Badr (PB)
Tanzania
Countdown, Ben Mikaelsen (N)
The Orphan Boy, Tololwa Mollel (PB)
The Banana-Leaf Ball, Katie Smith Milway (PB)
Tibet
Tibet, Through The Red Box, Peter Sís (PB)
Turkey
Dare to Disappoint, Ozge Samanci (GN)
USA
Night John, Gary Paulsen (N)
Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse (N)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Alexis Sherman (N)
Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson (N)
Virgin Islands
Rata-Pata-Scata-Fata: A Caribbean Story, Phillis Gershator (PB)
Vietnam
Adrift At Sea, Marsha Skrypuch (NF)
One Step at a Time, Marsha Skrypuch (N)
Zambia
The Elephant Keeper, Margriet Ruurs (NF)
My Favourite Global Books:
Gifts by Jo Ellen Bogart (PB)
What A Party!, Ana Maria Machado (PB)
People, Peter Spier (PB)
The World in Your Lunch Box, Claire Eamer (NF)
