11 Multicultural Activity Books for Children

Keeping children busy during these unprecedented times isn’t easy! These colourful multicultural activity books are a good way of engaging children in creative activities and at the same time teaching them about different cultures.

11 Multicultural Activity Books for Children

Young, Black And Gifted Coloring Book
by Kali Jabari

Young, Black And Gifted Coloring Book is an empowering activity book that encourages children to pursue their dreams. On single sided pages to prevent bleed-through, the book is filled with pictures of gifted girls and boys pursuing amazing careers. Includes a set of duplicates in case children make a mistake or want to colour with a friend. ~ African – Preschool

Coloring and Activity Fun Book
by J.D.Wright

On 100 pages the Coloring and Activity Fun Book offers activities that celebrate Black hair as well as some more general ones. From coloring in to mazes to word searches, there is a wide variety of activities that will appeal to most children. ~ African – Elementary School

Ada Twist’s Big Project Book for Stellar Scientists
by Andrea Beaty

A companion book to the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book Ada Twist, Scientist, this activity book contains kid-friendly projects of all kinds. Along the way, Ada help her fellow scientists solve mysteries big and small. With over 40 things to discover, draw and make, Ada Twist’s Big Project Book For Stellar Scientists is the perfect gift for curious young readers. ~ African – Elementary School

Tales Alive!: Ten Multicultural Folktales with Activities
by Susan Milord

Tales Alive! is a colourful activity book that combines folktales from Africa, Turkey, and other countries around the world with hands-on activities related to each story, including recipes, counting or writing activities, and crafts. ~ Diverse – Elementary School

Different Differenter: An Activity Book about Skin Color
by Jyoti Gupta

This beautifully illustrated activity book takes children on a playful and creative discovery of skin colour and bias. Children will make art, cook a yummy dessert, perform a play and much more. Along the way they will be introduced to new words, historical facts and possible solutions to issues like bullying. Different Differenter is a fantastic starting point for conversations about self-awareness, identity, diversity and social justice. ~ Diverse – Elementary School

A Kid’s Guide to Native American History: More than 50 Activities
by Yvonne Wakim Dennis

Highly recommended by indigenous people, A Kid’s Guide to Native American History offers hands-on activities, games, and crafts that respectfully steer clear of items with ceremonial or religious meaning. The activities introduce children to the diversity of Native American cultures and range from making Iroquois corn husk dolls and playing Washoe stone jacks to designing Inupiat sun goggles and creating a Hawaiian Ma’o-hau-hele Bag. Includes time line, glossary, and recommendations for for further resources. ~ Diverse – Elementary School , Middle School

A Kid’s Guide to Asian American History: More than 70 Activities
by Valerie Petrillo

A Kid’s Guide to Asian American History introduces children to the diversity of Asian American cultures, covering descendents from China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and other Asian countries. Kids can paint a calligraphy banner, practice Tai Chi, fold an origami dog or cat, build a Japanese rock garden, construct a Korean kite, cook bibingka, and create a chalk rangoli. Includes the history of immigration from Asian countries, important events in U.S. history, sidebars on famous Asian Americans, language lessons, a time line, glossary, and recommendations for further resources. ~ Asian – Elementary School, Middle School

A Kid’s Guide to Latino History: More than 50 Activities
by Valerie Petrillo

A Kid’s Guide to Latino History features more than 50 hands-on activities, games, and crafts that explore the diversity of Latino culture and teach children about the people, experiences, and events that have shaped Hispanic American history. Kids can learn to dance the merengue from the Dominican Republic, write a short story using “magical realism” from Columbia, build Afro-Cuban Bongos, make Guatemalan worry dolls, and much more. ~ Hispanic – Elementary School, Middle School

A Kid’s Guide to Arab American History: More Than 50 Activities
by Yvonne Wakim Dennis

Arab American Book Award-winning A Kid’s Guide to Arab American History celebrates the people that have shaped Arab American culture, including those of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Iraqi, and Yemeni descent. Over 50 fun activities celebrate their distinct arts, games, clothing, and food. Kids will love dancing the dabke, constructing a derbekke drum, playing a game of senet, making hummus, creating an arabesque design, and crafting an Egyptian-style cuff bracelet. Along the way they will learn to count in Kurdish, pick up a few Syrian words for family, learn a Yemeni saying, and speak a little Iraqi. ~ Asian – Elementary School, Middle School

Rangoli: An Indian Art Activity Book
by Suma O’Farrell

Multi-Award Winning Rangoli: An Indian Art Activity Book introduces kids to the popular Indian art of rangoli. After a few initial step-by-step examples, the book offers a variety of designs with easy-to-follow coloured lines. By using dot grids that can be used in a variety of fun ways, the book encourages children to unleash their creativity. There are over 100 pages of designs and grids including geometric shapes, mazes, optical illusions, 3D images, nature, and more.~ Asian – Elementary School, Middle School

Related: Multicultural Arts & Crafts

Music of Our World: Multicultural Festivals, Songs and Activities
by John Higgins

Music of Our World is a multicultural collection of festivals, songs and activities that celebrates diversity and global awareness. This all-in-one Book/Audio Access provides background on each festival, step-by-step instruction for each song based, piano/vocal accompaniments, lyric translations, song sheets, expanded activities and recordings of each song. The book includes songs and festivals from Japan, Hawaii,India, Sweden, South Africa, Brazil, Laos, and Mexico. ~ Diverse – Elementary School , Middle School