📖 A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki. Rebecca Stefoff's young reader's adaptation of Takaki's bestseller shines the spotlight on the country's multicultural heritage. "With illustrations, photographs, poems, letters, and even work songs, A Different Mirror traces the history of the American Indians, Africans, Chinese, Japanese, Irish, Jews, Mexicans, Vietnamese, Puerto Ricans, Filipinos, Afghans, South Asians, and others who have made the United States a beacon of multiculturalism." A great companion to a middle grade study of US History. – Middle • High

📖 Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say. This Caldecott Award-winning picture book beautifully captures an immigrant's love for both the old country (Japan) and the new (America). From the publisher: "At once deeply personal yet expressing universally held emotions, this tale of one man’s love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places captured readers’ attention and hearts." – Preschool • Elementary

📖 Paper Son: Lee's Journey to America by Helen Foster James & Virginia Shin-Mui Loh. It's 1926 and Lee is sent to America as a "paper son." His family has paid a Chinese-American citizen to pretend that he is Lee's father. In order to enter the country, Lee must convince his interrogators at Angel Island that he does in fact belong with his American "father," whom he has never met. – Elementary

📖 Landed by Milly Lee. It’s the early 20th century and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 has made it very difficult for Chinese immigrants to enter the country. 12-year-old Sun arrives at Angel Island near San Francisco and must pass a grueling oral exam in order to be "Landed." – Elementary • Middle

📖 Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain by Russell Freedman. Written by acclaimed nonfiction author Russell Freedman, Angel Island offers a detailed introduction to West Coast immigration from Asia during the mid-19th to early 20th century. Black and white illustrations and photographs accompany the text. – Middle

📖 Dragonwings by Laurence Yep. “Inspired by the story of a Chinese immigrant who created a flying machine in 1909, Dragonwings touches on the struggles and dreams of Chinese immigrants navigating opportunity and prejudice in San Francisco.” This Newbery Honor Book offers an excellent opportunity to discuss issues of racial divisions and cultural respect. Also see the prequel, Dragon’s Gate. Both are highly recommended. – Elementary • Middle

🔗 Content Connection: Modern Asia. Most West Coast immigrants arrived from Asia.

📖 Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Bartone.​​ At the turn of the century, young Peppe becomes a lamplighter in Little Italy to help support his family. This is a classic. – ​Preschool • Elementary

📖 The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman. In this tender story, an old man tells his great-granddaughter of leaving Italy as a boy and making a new life with his family in America. Unable to read or write, the young immigrant collected mementos in a “matchbox diary” as a way to preserve the memories of his journey. It’s a unique concept and a beautiful book. – Elementary

📖 When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest. Jessie is chosen to leave her impoverished Eastern European village—and her beloved grandmother—to come to America. The warm illustrations nicely depict New York City around the turn of the century.​ – Elementary

📖 Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman.​​ In this engaging nonfiction book, Freedman employs wonderful photographs, first-hand accounts, and informative text to document the lives of East Coast urban immigrant kids around the turn of the century. – ​Elementary • Middle

📖 Shutting out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York (1880-1924) by Deborah Hopkinson.​​ This nonfiction book nicely explores what life was like for immigrants living in Lower East Side tenements around the turn of the century. Hopkinson personalizes this account by focusing the narrative around the stories of five immigrants. Great for slightly older students. – Elementary • Middle

🔗 Content Connection: Modern British Isles. The Irish Potato Famine drove a wave of immigration to the Eastern US.

📖 A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting.​​ Each year, Tony's family celebrates Lady Liberty's birthday with an October picnic on Liberty Island. This touching little picture book examines the symbolic importance of the statue to many immigrants, both old and new. – ​Preschool • Elementary

📖 The Story of the Statue of Liberty by Betsy & Gulio Maestro. This is a fine first introduction to the building of the Statue of Liberty. Includes the text of Emma Lazarus' poem, "The New Colossus."​ – ​Preschool • Elementary

📖 Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers. “If you had to name a statue, any statue, odds are good you'd mention the Statue of Liberty. Have you seen her? She's in New York. She's holding a torch. And she's in mid-stride, moving forward. But why?” Eggers’ award-winning picture book explores the history and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. Enjoy the simple language and the construction paper and India ink illustrations. – Elementary

📖 Naming Liberty by Jane Yolen. This charming picture book interweaves the story of Gitl, a young Russian girl emigrating to America, with that of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who dreamed of building the Statue of Liberty as a beacon of freedom. – Elementary

📖 Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport. In this unusual picture book, people from all walks of life tell their stories about what Lady Liberty means to them. In short fictionalized vignettes, we hear from poet Emma Lazarus, sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, publisher Joseph Pulitzer, a construction supervisor on the project, and a farm girl who donates her two pet roosters to help pay for the pedestal. – Elementary • Middle

📖 Statue of Liberty by Elizabeth Mann. If you are looking for a comprehensive account of all aspects of the building of the Statue of Liberty, then this is your book. Another good title in Mann's fantastic Wonders of the World series; perfect for a middle grade student. – Middle