About

Stories and poetry have the power to connect people from all cultures and backgrounds. Read these short stories and poems out loud to children and enjoy engaging discussions with them. See who each author is and read about their backgrounds too. Author bios are included, as well as extended reading ideas to encourage empathy building and discussions across generations.

Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers alike will find this collection to be a go-to read and a valuable multicultural resource.

2020 Contributors:

Cyndy Mountain, I Dance, A short poem about dancing in honor of heritage.

Mayr Boros, ‘Lizabeth and the Dinosaurs, A little girl loses her shoes and meets some big friends along the way.

Renee Hunter, Soul Food Alphabet , This poem will make you hungry!

Lynn Garthwaite, Video Games , Includes all the fun sounds and actions that this activity usually has.

Laura Sulentich Fredrickson, You Stay Still , This is a longer poem about how kids move.

Shontel Booker, Grandma’s Gifts , Grandma’s Gifts is about a little girl’s perspective of learning how to read, enjoying spending time with her grandmother, and being proud to be able to show what she learned.

Namibia Little, I Love My Name , A listing of different and unique names and their meanings, this short story’s message is that readers should be proud of their names.

Susan J. Smith Grier, The Story of the Ogs, Bugs and ogs and trees, oh my! (Illustration by Karen J. Smith)

Pastor Kathleen Abel, A Balagan!, Bridging divides among religions and a brief lesson in history.

Kevin Franklin, Iggy and Chip’s First Adventure, An imp and a cherub make an unlikely pair in this adventure story.

J. Darnell John, Jamal and Me , Two brothers get temporarily placed in a group home and must rely on each other.

Lisa Zhang Wharton, Spies in the Bunker, A little girl spends time exploring with her friend while missing her mother.

Call for Submissions - Writers and Artists for the 2021 Collection

Have you ever dreamed of writing or illustrating for children? Do you have a story, poem, rhyme, or illustrations that you just know children will love? Here is your chance to contribute your work to the Story to Story collaborative book project. Email your ideas to info@strivepublishing.com.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.