Articles by Meera Sriram

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Best Asian-American Children’s Books

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Best Asian-American Children’s Books
May is Asian-Pacific American heritage month. It is the perfect time to showcase some of the truly amazing authors in Asian-American children’s literature, who have consistently produced works that bridge cultures.   The reading list includes authors and books that highlight Asian heritage through great stories. This kind of literary exposure can be very enriching as it helps children develop a deeper understanding of cultures and hence an appreciation for the diverse communities in which we live.  Read more »

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Your Kids

April 22 every year is observed as Earth Day in many countries to inspire awareness and activism towards protecting our fast depleting planet.  Read more »

Five Great Children’s Books for Easter

THE EASTER EGG FARM written and illustrated by Mary Jane Auch   Both charming and funny, this is our most favorite book this spring.  Read more »

A Children’s Book for Holi

If Diwali is the festival of lights, then Holi is the festival of colors! March 27, 2013 was Holi, a holiday celebrated in India, more gloriously in the western and northern parts, and by Hindus all over the globe.  Read more »

Happy Birthday Ezra Jack Keats!

“Then began an experience that turned my life around — working on a book with a black kid as hero. None of the manuscripts I'd been illustrating featured any black kids — except for token blacks in the background. My book would have him there simply because he should have been there all along.” ~ Erza Jack Keats.     We love him just for that, for his creation of Peter, the black protagonist.  Read more »

A Multicultural Book for Mixed Race Kids

Review of I am Flippish By Leslie V. Ryan; illustrated by Adolph Soliz   “Why don’t I look like you?” is a question every parent, especially mixed families, must have encountered (or will encounter) at some point in time. “I am Flippish,” a story set in a very practical context, addresses this for all of us.   The author, Leslie Ryan, sent me a copy of this book.  Read more »

Favorite Multicultural Children’s Books of 2012 – Old and New

Another year passes by. Weekly trips to the library, gifts and several visits to our local used bookstores...books flowed in from everywhere. Huddling up for a read-aloud still seems to be the most favorite thing to do in our family. I sometimes think I should keep track of every book we read together. But that would almost be impossible.  I usually end up reviewing the ones that make an immediate impact or the ones we keep going back to.  Read more »

7 Perfect Children’s Books for Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage month.  In our family, our eight-year-old daughter has developed a deep fascination for the culture, primarily through books.  Besides the several stories of Squanto and Sacagawea we’ve read together, the books based on “Kaya” of the American Girl series helped sustain her adoration. She is currently reading Scott O’Dell’s “Sing Down the Moon” and I am curious to hear what she thinks of it.  Read more »

Raising Globally-Minded Children—What? How? And Why?

One day, while driving around in our car, my four-year-old son complained from behind, “Ma, I wish all of us were not Indians. It is boring. You or Appa could have been Mexican or Italian.” I smiled at his wish for our family to be biracial. I was also proud because the global mindset that we have tried to infuse in our children early on, was presenting itself in little ways—like how he thought a third language or a piñata could spice up our lives.  Read more »

Children’s Books that Travel to Africa

  A passport to the second-largest and second-most-populous continent, these picture books will transport children to the landscapes and lifestyles of Africa through enjoyable stories and delightful art.     Catch That Goat! By Polly Alakija Ages: 3+   Catch That Goat! takes us to a vibrant street market in Nigeria where little Ayoka is fretting about the family goat that has just absconded from her care  Read more »

5 Board Games from Around the World

Growing up in India, we played a lot of board games in our family. The tradition is now carried over and my kids are very excited on game nights. Lately, I’ve been curious about the origin and cultural orientation of board games. And how, with the fundamentals intact, the games have evolved over time and crossed borders and cultures. Here is a list of games and related facts that truly fascinate me.  Read more »

Best Children’s Books on Going to School Around the World

Every summer my kids and I spend at least six weeks in Chennai, a metropolis in Southern India where I was born and raised.  Even though the chaos and noise of a hot, crowded city has grown on them over the years, there are certain things that continue to fascinate them. For instance, I’ve noticed how they stand on the verandah and catch the action on the street with undivided attention every morning.  Read more »

Ten Reasons Parents Should Read Multicultural Books to Kids

I was in the children’s section of a big, chain bookstore last week. I ambled around browsing picture book covers and flipping through the ones that were colorful or artistic. At first, I didn’t notice anything strange—there were many books on vehicles and animals; there were the seasonal ones (spring and summer themed books) and the timeless classics like “Goodnight Moon” and “Where the Wild Things Are.  Read more »

A Multicultural Children’s Book Where Less is More

“The Chalk Doll” by Charlotte Pomerantz and pictures by Frané Lessac Ages: 4+ Don’t we all love talking to our kids about our past, beginning a story with “When I was your age, there was no…” or “In those days, we did not…?”  Often, reminiscing is very gratifying. Sometimes I even win the sympathy and admiration of my kids, considering our starkly contrasting childhoods.  Read more »

An Adoption Story for Kids: Goyangi Means Cat

Goyangi Means Cat By Christine McDonnell; Illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher Ages: 4+ It is Soo Min’s first week in America. She is trying to adjust to a new country, a different culture and a new set of parents.  Soo Min only speaks Korean; English is still foreign to her.  She survives the first few days with the limited Korean her Omah (Mom) and Apah (Dad) know.  Read more »

A Swahili Alphabet Book

Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book By Muriel Feelings (author) and Tom Feelings (illustrator) Ages: 3 and Up With no Q and X sounds, there are only 24 letters in the Swahili alphabet (unlike the English language). And 45 million people speak it. These facts in the author’s introductory note get my kids excited almost immediately. However, I keep returning to the image of the African girl on the front cover with a big smile and wide open arms towards the sky.  Read more »

Best Asian-American Children’s Books

May is Asian-Pacific American heritage month. It is the perfect time to showcase some of the truly amazing authors in Asian-American children’s literature, who have consistently produced works that bridge cultures.   The reading list includes authors and books that highlight Asian heritage through great stories.  This kind of literary exposure can be very enriching as it helps children develop a deeper understanding of cultures and hence an appreciation for the diverse communities in which we live.  Read more »

Multicultural Book Review: I Have an Olive Tree

By Eve Bunting; Illustrated by Karen Barbour Ages:  4+   Sophia’s grandfather “gifts” her with an olive tree on her seventh birthday. But the tree is on a small island in Greece where Sophia’s mother was born.  A year later, her dying grandfather also entrusts her with her grandmother’s beads, urging her to hang them on her olive tree.  Read more »

A Multicultural Easter Story: Chicken Sunday

“Chicken Sunday” by Patricia Polacco Ages: 4+ Author-artist, Patricia Polacco’s books are among the best loved ones in our home. We read and re-read her stories with unabated interest.  “Chicken Sunday” is our most recent favorite. And pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs), featured in the story and showcased beautifully in Polacco’s artwork, make it a great read for Easter.  Read more »

A Multicultural Feast: 7 Fun Children’s Books on Food

Foods embody cultures. And food-themed books are a great way to sample and savor cultures.  Here are seven wonderful picks from around the world that we’ve enjoyed in our family.     PINO AND THE SIGNORA’S PASTA by Janet Pedersen Ages: 4-8 Set in the bustling streets of Rome, the story starts off with a feline bunch waiting to lap up some pasta that Signora lovingly serves every day  Read more »

Arranged Marriage 101

I’ve realized the term “love marriage” is absent in the West. In India and a few other countries in South Asia, it would denote one of the two possible ways leading to a union, the other being arranged marriage. Love is probably the last thing on the checklist when two people are arranged to live together for the rest of their lives. Strange but true.  Read more »

Invisible Interpreter: The Grandmother – Child Language Divide

Paati (grandma) joined us this past summer from India. It was her first visit to our home in the U.S since the kids. Paati can understand, read and write elementary English, while our six-something-year-old daughter can handle only minimal Tamil (the regional Indian language we speak). With no clairvoyance, my husband and I concluded that the lack of a medium of communication was going to deter and procrastinate the bonding between Paati and our children.  Read more »

Bringing Diwali to Life for Children

Diwali: A Festival of Lights and Fun (Diwali: Kushiyon Ka Tyohaar) By Manisha Kumar & Monica Kumar (Authors), Sona & Jacob (Illustrators) Reviewed by Meera Sriram   (Reprinted with permission from Saffrontree.org)   This bilingual book on Diwali is from Meera Masi, a Bay Area based cross-cultural publishing house with a mission to pass on the heritage of India to immigrant children, through books and other products on Indian languages and culture.  Read more »
Red Tricyle Winner!

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Ecuadorian Pan de Yuca Recipe

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Make a traditional craft from Papua New Guinea with everyday household materials!

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It doesn't get any more adorable than this.

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Thailand Solo with Two Kids: Where Homesickness Set In

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Kids love these songs and games!

Is My Daughter Singing in Korean?

Someone tell me, is this really Korean?

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Real Intercultural Family: Carmen and Whitney

This trilingual family offers some truly awesome advice we all can benefit from.

Best Asian-American Children’s Books

Celebrate Asian-American heritage month with our top book picks

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Traveling to Ecuador for Two Months of Immersion

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Cross-Cultural Parenting in Guatemala: Rethinking Cultural Norms

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I couldn’t wait to see how my kids would do with their new Spanish when we got to Mexico.

Preparing our Children for Racism — Part 1

Important tips for parents and kids of all colors

Speak Up for the Animals, Mama! A Vegetarian in Africa

Foregoing meat in a land where no one does

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What to do when your child doesn't love travel like you do.

The Sleep Habits of Orphans

This mom never knows how she'll find her kids in the morning

Korean Children's Day: May 5

A holiday just to celebrate children-how cool!

My Native Son’s Search for Identity

How he began to find his heritage

Kids Playing Around the World

See the magic and universality of play
[...] From Inculture Parent What do you think? Read the answer here [.....
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[...] via InCultureParent | How Many Languages Are Too Many for a Child?. [.....
From How Many Languages Are Too Many for a Child?
I already copy the recipe and soon I will cook the yuca bread. Very very nice artic...
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I am from India, but live in the US and we have a similar culture like the moon-month. When my MIL was here for about 5 months during my sons birth, I had the same problem (or excellent service, if ...
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[...] have previously written about how I would rather my daughter only say thank you and please from the heart, rather than because of societal enforced politeness. Well, I lost that battle and I h...
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Thanks for sharing this experience. I have lived something similar to this maybe my experience can bring up some new elements. My father is from Bahrain and my mother is originally from Morocco, ...
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[...] I have a little obsession with maps and globes. This was my latest find I loved from a seller on etsy! Here’s a bunch of others maps that would be fun in a child’s room: http://...
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hello Jan, I am living in Germany since last 4 years now and i feel sorry to say that i cant agree with you more.... there are so many nice and positive sides of Germany that i absolutely love.. ho...
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Can you please recommend some Hindi children's books or a resource list of Hindi books? Thank yo...
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Great article. Thanks. Check out these guys http://grassrootsplay.com/ They're a British company and do some really inspiring natural stuf...
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[...] children to speak the minority language isn’t always easy. You may encounter resistance or face kids who understand the minority language but prefer to speak in the majority language. To boo...
From How Bilingualism Can Fail in Multilingual Families
[...] your children to speak the minority language isn’t always easy. You may encounter resistance or face kids who understand the minority language but prefer to speak in the majority language. T...
From Help! My Bilingual Child Won’t Speak My Language
This is great! I would love to give my son a third language. I may just have to work on that... :) Je...
From Real Intercultural Family: Carmen and Whitney
What a journey! My kids really miss their dad when we aren't with him, even when we are doing something fun and exoti...
From Thailand Solo with Two Kids: Where Homesickness Set In
[...] them courage by trying something new.  If your child has already been exposed to another language, immersion travel – and particularly connecting with other kids – can give a trem...
From How Immersion Travel Helped My Kids Progress in Spanish
Hi Jeffrey! Mexico is such a fantastic country. That's great your parents were able to go and realize their stereotype wasn't valid. I have to work on getting mine to go to Morocco :) Un saludo, S...
From Our Trip to Mexico: Drugs, Cartels and Violence?
Great article! My wife is from Mexico and we just went there for a week and took my parents from North Dakota. They were expecting drug cartels, violence, and decapitations however they were pleasan...
From Our Trip to Mexico: Drugs, Cartels and Violence?
[...] up in my newsfeed, reposted from like ALL the parenting pages I was following. It was called “Why African Babies Don’t Cry“. I read the article, thinking it might give me som...
From Why African Babies Don’t Cry
Thanks so much for both of your comments. Let me know if any of those work out on the plane and for how many minutes Cordelia! The plane is always a game of how many minutes an activity can last, ri...
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Love these. And of course have my head in hands on how what took me an entire post to write, you managed to include in a couple of perfectly succinct sentences. LOL. Definitely going on my list of p...
From 5 Games to Get Your Bilingual Child Talking
Great, thoughtful article! Thank you for sharing your family's experienc...
From “Mom I Think I’m Gay:” Are You as Prepared as You Think?
Wow Carmen, I so needed to read this today. I do battle daily living in North America and trying to connect my kids to their Moroccan father's culture. As we prepare to relocate to Morocco in a fe...
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From Traveling to Ecuador for Two Months of Immersion
It sounds like she jumbled up some words and its hard to make out what she is saying but it is definitely suppose to be Korea...
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Hi, I love your blog posts and can't thank you enough for sharing your sharp insights in such warm and elegantly written posts. As a first-time mom, I read much about the benefits of African tra...
From Why African Toddlers Don’t Have Tantrums
What a great resource! This is already bookmarked and I'm definitely going to come back to it again. I'm soon moving back to the UK where I'll need every trick, tip and game up my sleeve to keep Chi...
From 5 Games to Get Your Bilingual Child Talking
Thank you so much for this! It is a rare perspective. We too try hard to bring our son's culture into our home - art, food, Amharic classes, friends, etc. - but I am constantly reminded that so mu...
From Is it Possible to be Too Multicultural?
Hola! I've been following your site for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the good job! I enjoyed th...
From Why African Babies Don’t Cry
[...] Try this delicious curry red lentil soup to introduce your kids to bursts of [.....
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It sure isn't easy but it is worth it if it's a good fit. We actually live in Berkeley, CA. Good luc...
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