Helping children learn to become more resilient and be able to overcoming any obstacles or challenges that might come their way is an important job for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers. The book list below will help you add multicultural, inspiring books to your classroom library and read alouds.
Written by guest blogger Amanda Bletsh
From a very early age, children are faced with obstacles such as tying their shoes, making friends, and dealing with emotions. Conversations surrounding these topics, especially through the use of children’s literature that addresses these and many other obstacles, are important for children to participate in consistently.
Furthermore, the literature that allows children to explore and discuss obstacles should include characters of diverse backgrounds. As Susan A. Colby and Anna F. Lyon stated, “Multicultural literature helps children identify with their own culture, exposes children to other cultures, and opens the dialogue on issues regarding diversity” (Colby & Lyon, 2004).
The use of multicultural literature in the classroom has increased over the last two decades. As populations and communities have shifted and evolved, the need for literature that mirrors this and the obstacles that are present becomes even more evident.
As discussed previously, children are faced with obstacles very early on. Some are fairly universal, while others are more specific due to familial experiences, extenuating circumstances, and personal challenges or tragedies.
Exposing children to how various characters, who may or may not look like them, overcome obstacles such as these is an important part of the social-emotional learning that takes place in classrooms. “When teachers gain awareness that multicultural literature may be used as a stimulus for creating classrooms where all students are valued, then children can celebrate their own cultures and explore the uniqueness of others” (Colby & Lyon, 2004).
This is essential for developing a culture of kindness in your classroom.
A collection of multicultural literature that does just that, as well as teaches children how to overcome obstacles, will be highlighted and discussed further.
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9 Multicultural Books about Overcoming Adversity and Challenges
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
by Laurie Ann Thompson
This is and will continue to be one of those read-alouds that I am always eager to take off my bookshelf and share with my students. Each year I read it, I am amazed by the rich discussions that we are able to have about culture, disabilities, resilience, and perseverance.
In Emmanuel’s Dream, the title character learns to adapt to and conquer everyday tasks, not allowing a physical disability to hinder him in any way. This book allows students to explore how positivity and creativity, as well as not giving up, can go a long way.
Extension Activity: 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students can create a “My Dream” poster detailing something that they would like to learn how to do, despite any challenges that they foresee.
Where Are You From?
by Yamile Saied Méndez
This beautifully written book addresses questions of self-identity and belonging, topics that can be at the forefront of children’s minds earlier than we may think.
Where Are You From?
This book teaches children that self-identity and cultural diversity can be celebrated in many ways.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by William Kamkwamba
In this read-aloud, William is experiencing struggles that some children can relate to: hunger and food insecurity. Malawi is enduring a drought and crops can not be grown.
William decides to take matters into his own hands and uses resources from the library to learn about windmills and electricity production. With the help of a few friends and some scrap materials, William successfully builds his first windmill.
This book teaches children to tune out feelings of doubt, either in our own minds or from others around us, and to try new things.
Extension Activity: Create a model depicting an activity or project that you successfully completed, even when doubt was present.
Save time and stress this school year with these no prep reading response activities - that can be used with ANY book, fiction or nonfiction.
The activities ask students to respond through reading, writing, - including writing poetry - speaking, listening, drawing, interviewing, and more.
You can use them over and over again throughout the school year - just print and go!
The Very Last Castle
by Travis Jonker
The Very Last Castle
This book teaches children that sometimes taking a chance, no matter how small, can lead to great experiences.
My Name Is Sangoel
by Karen Williams and Khadra Mohammed
by Karen Williams and Khadra MohammedThis is a powerful read-aloud that explores the pride and importance behind a name. The main character, Sangoel, has experienced trauma and personal tragedy in his home country of Sudan and is adjusting to his new life in America. He ensures that his Dinka culture is still celebrated and valued as proudly as it was before.
This book teaches children about having pride in one’s own culture and shows how much we can learn from different cultures.
Extension Activity: Create a class name mural in which each upper elementary student depicts what their name means to them.
I'm Gonna Push Through!
by Jasmyn Wright
various examples of obstacles for children are discussed. The author uses a powerful and repetitive message to encourage children to overcome obstacles and challenges that they face. Through this book, children can learn about positive self talk and perseverance. 
La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa / My Journey with Papa 
by Deborah Mills
This book tells the story of the arduous journey that a boy and his father make from Mexico to Texas. La Frontera,
Much like My Name is Sangoel, children can learn about the physical and emotional obstacles that people have faced in order to start their life somewhere new.
The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai
by Hiba Noor Khan
I felt that this collection of books would be incomplete without including this read-aloud. After reading and reflecting on I Am Malala,
This book includes biographical information, quotes, and other inspiring examples from Malala’s life. Overcoming obstacles is evident throughout, but most importantly her courage, bravery, and passion for education shine through.
You might also like these other biographies for upper elementary students.
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
by Jeanette Winter
Alia overcomes several obstacles in order to save the thirty thousand books from the town library that war would soon destroy. This book teaches children to stand up for what they believe in and to find solutions for what matters most to us.
References: Colby, S. A., & Lyon, A. F. (2004). Heightening Awareness about the Importance of Using sing Multicultural Literature. Multicultural Education, (Spring), 24–28. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ783082.pdf
Author’s Note: My name is Amanda Bletsh and I am a third grade teacher in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. One of my passions since completing my thesis work in graduate school has been exploring and incorporating multicultural literature in the classroom.
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