#9 Moses- When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

I picked this diverse lovely book by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.  This story is about Harriet Tubman and leading her people to freedom.  She is referenced as the Moses of her people.  This story is beautifully done and represents diversity and multicultural.  This story is the night she finally made her escape to the promise land.  She passes through hard terrain goes through swamps for her freedom.  She was religious and used nature as signs from God to help guide her through her journey.  This story is good for K-3.  I encourage to promote this book when discussing civil rights and black history month too.  If you want to know how the story ends check it out at your local library.

#8 Martin's Big Words The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rapaport

This story is about the boy who grew up to be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  This biography is illustrated by the acclaimed winning illustrator Bryan Collier of "Best Illustrated  Children's Book of 2001" in The New York Times.  This story symbolized the love this mother gave her son who later became the most prestigious preacher, protestor of equal rights.  His mother let him know in the beginning  that he is as good as anyone.  These words alone carried him through his life and helped him become the leader he was.  The illustrator Bryan Collier is amazing he portrayed photos along with collage in his illustrations.    This book celebrates diversity and can be used in the classroom.  This book would go well with activities and lessons for Black History Month in February in the classroom.  I would encourage reading this book in a K-3 setting.

Book7 Anne Frank by Josephine Poole illustrated by Angela Barrett

This story deals with Anne Frank and her life before during and the end of Hitler.  Josephine Poole has a beautiful way of telling the story.  The illustrator Angela Barrett has an emphatic way of imagery. The main theme of the book is the hatred that was of this time.  Your heart will automatically be drawn in and you will be rooting for her and her family immediately.  Below are some illustrations from the book with Baby Anne and sister Margot.  Barrett was awarded the UK Nestle Smarties Award, a prestige award in the UK. (1985-2007) This story is appropriate for 1st-3rd grade level, excluding Kindergarten due to the topic.
This book will bring up discussion and many questions be prepared to answer all questions.

Helen Keller the world in her heart by Lesa Cline-Ransome

This story is about the life of Helen Keller and her adversity she had to endure through her life.  Helen has to use her other senses because she has lost her sight and hearing.  The illustrations are very beautiful and used with paintbrush strokes.  This story is how she deals with learning a new language through touch and signing.  Her teacher is a wonderful, patient loving person who is deeply loved by Helen.  she teaches Helen to see and feel with her heart.  I would read this to K-2 classes and explain about diversity.  If you want to know how this beautiful heart felt story ends go to your local library to check it out.

#5 Lou Gehric The Luckiest Man by David A. Adler illustrated by Terry Widener

This book is about the life of New York Yankee Lou Gehric.  We read about him growing up in New York City and his mother encourages him to study and work hard.  He is motivated to go to college and  he later plays for the New York Yankees.  The author of the book has a love for baseball and admiration toward Lou Gehric.  The illustration also shows the fondness towards baseball and New York and most importantly Lou Gehric.    This book is  historically accurate and would be a great read for both girls and boys or anyone who loves baseball.  I don't want to give away the ending so if you want to know how it ends then you will have to check it out and Read.

Odd Boy Out Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

#4 This book is about the life of young Albert Einstein.  This book celebrates diversity in a way of not singling out the odd one.  I like the fact that Albert was not a genius at a young age.  I also like the illustration by Don Brown the mood was set in late 1800's in Germany where Albert grew up.  If you ever felt like you were the one who was left out because you were the odd one and  like biographies then this book is for you.  This book is perfect for 2nd grade and helps support diversity in the classroom.

The Perfect Wizard Hans Christian Andersen by Jane Yolen Illustrated by Dennis Nolan

The story is a biography on Hans Christian Andersen.  It tells us about him as a boy and how much he loved to act out different stories.  He was never bored and his imagination was running wild with stories such as, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and many many more.  His stories later became an important part of children's literature.  Some of his influences were his grandfather who motivated him to pursue his stories onto paper.  The illustrator Dennis Nolan created a fantasy scene that children of ten and up will enjoy.  The author Jane Yolen portrayed Hans Christian Andersen as a odd fellow who grew up in a time when there was no television.  If you would like to see how the story ends, I suggest you read it.