6 Multicultural Easy Reader Series

Expand your beginning readers' cultural horizons with these multicultural easy reader series.

Katie Woo

by Fran Manushkin

Katie Woo is a Chinese-American girl based on the author's great-niece, Katherine Anne. Her stories involve everyday activities and adventures, including caring for a class pet, losing a tooth, and dealing with teasing. Each book is illustrated in full color by Tammie Lyon and divided into short chapters for easier reading. The Katie Woo books are listed below: 

• Best Season Ever
• The Big Lie 
• Boo, Katie Woo!
• Boss of the World
• Cartwheel Katie
• Cowgirl Katie
• Don't Be Blue
• Every Day's an Adventure
• Fly High, Katie
• Goodbye to Goldie
• A Happy Day
• It Doesn't Need to Rhyme, Katie
• Katie and the Class Pet
• Katie and the Fancy Substitute
• Katie Finds a Job
• Katie Goes Camping
• Katie in the Kitchen
• Katie Saves Thanksgiving
• Katie Saves the Earth
• Katie Woo and Her Big Ideas
• Katie Woo Celebrates
• Katie Woo Has the Flu
• Katie Woo Loves School
• Katie Woo Rules the School
• Katie Woo Tries Something New
• Katie Woo, Super Scout
• Katie Woo, Where Are You?
• Katie's Happy Mother's Day
• Katie's Lucky Birthday
• Katie's New Shoes
• Katie's Noisy Music
• Keep Dancing, Katie
• Look at You, Katie Woo!
• Make-Believe Class
• Moo, Katie Woo!
• Moving Day
• A Nervous Night
• No More Teasing
• No Valentines for Katie
• Piggy Bank Problems
• Red, White, and Blue and Katie Woo!
• Star of the Show
• Stick to the Facts, Katie
• Too Much Rain
• The Tricky Tooth
• What Do You Think, Katie?
• What Happens Next, Katie?
• What's in Your Heart, Katie?
• Who Needs Glasses?

Little Bill 

by Bill Cosby

Little Bill is an African-American boy who, in each book, learns an important lesson about the difference between right and wrong. There are a dozen books in the series, and the stories deal with everything from bullying to finding valuable treasure.

• The Best Way to Play
• The Day I Saw My Father Cry
• The Day I Was Rich
• Hooray for the Dandelion Warriors!
• The Meanest Thing to Say
• Money Troubles
• My Big Lie
• One Dark and Scary Night
• Shipwreck Saturday
• Super-Fine Valentine
• Treasure Hunt
• The Worst Day of My Life

Robin Hill School 

by Margaret McNamara

A culturally diverse group of children experience each season of the year in their classroom at Robin Hill School. There are over two dozen books in the series, and they cover everyday experiences as well as celebrations like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Earth Day.

• All Year Round 
• The Class Mom
• Counting Race
• Dad Goes to School
• Earth Day
• Election Day
• Fall Leaf Project
• The First Day of School
• First-Grade Bunny
• The Garden Project
• Groundhog Day
• Halloween Fun
• Happy Graduation!
• Happy Thanksgiving
• The Luck of the Irish
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• One Hundred Days (Plus One)
• Picking Apples
• The Playground Problem
• President's Day 
• The Pumpkin Patch
• Smile! It's Picture Day
• Snow Day
• Too Many Valentines
• A Tooth Story
• Wash Your Hands!

Life of Max 

by Adria F. Klein

In this series, Max, a young black boy, celebrates various holidays with his friends, including Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Cinco de Mayo, Martin Luther King Day, and even one friend's Adoption Day. He also has everyday experiences, such as getting his haircut, visiting the doctor, and staying overnight at a friend's house.

• Max and Buddy Go to the Vet
• Max and the Adoption Day Party
• Max Celebrates Chinese New Year
• Max Celebrates Cinco de Mayo
• Max Celebrates Groundhog Day 
• Max Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 
• Max Celebrates Ramadan 
• Max Goes on the Bus
• Max Goes Shopping
• Max Goes to a Cookout
• Max Goes to School
• Max Goes to the Barber
• Max Goes to the Dentist
• Max Goes to the Doctor
• Max Goes to the Farm
• Max Goes to the Farmers' Market
• Max Goes to the Fire Station
• Max Goes to the Grocery Store
• Max Goes to the Nature Center
• Max Goes to the Playground
• Max Goes to the Recycling Center
• Max Goes to the Zoo
• Max Learns Sign Language
• Max Stays Overnight
• Max's Fun Day

Ling and Ting 

by Grace Lin

Chinese-American twins Ling and Ting might look a lot alike, but at heart, they are very different. In three books, these two girls celebrate their differences while also highlighting what makes each girl unique. (The stories are inspired in part by real-life twins Blossom and Fern.) A fourth book is due out in November.

• Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same 
• Ling and Ting Share a Birthday 
• Ling and Ting Twice as Silly 
• Ling and Ting: Together in All Weather 

Ezra Jack Keats Series 

by Anastasia Suen

These books use characters created by Ezra Jack Keats in his popular picture books to tell new stories appropriate for newly independent readers. Peter and his friends deal with a loose tooth, build a clubhouse from a pile of wood, and chase down a runaway hamster in these four books:

• The Clubhouse 
• Hamster Chase 
• Loose Tooth
• Willie's Birthday