The data for the 2019 census shows that the white population decreasing about 9 more percentage points to 60.1% while the Latine or Hispanic and Asian American populations increased (source). The most noteworthy difference here is that more than half of young people, 16 and younger, identify as ethnic or biracial. It’s no wonder then that multicultural books are hitting a chord with so many readers, especially children’s and YA readers. Since more and more people are living between cultures, it makes sense that literature reflects this real life changing trend, since it is many people’s experience. I’ve gathered a list of titles that have either characters, or real people, who have had to live between two or more cultures, people living in the hyphen or the in between. Just like the rise in biracial and multicultural young people in America, there’s been an increase in stories with biracial and multicultural characters. I hope these few titles give you a starting place in exploring multicultural stories. If you’re looking for more multicultural children’s books, check out 50 Children’s Books that Celebrate Our Differences.
