Is your bookshelf too vanilla? 10 fun ways to bring multicultural literacy home

My very vanilla bookshelf at age 11.

I've expanded my horizons!

Want to raise kids who are curious about the world—and navigate it with good relational skills? Here are ten easy ways to nurture multicultural reading at home.

1. Stock a diverse book collection. Choose stories starring characters from all walks of life and places near and far. Find ones that highlight different customs, traditions, and perspectives.

2. Pair stories with real-life adventures. Just read a book about ancient Egypt? Head to a museum exhibit with sarcophagi. After exploring a cultural festival, find a story set in that same country. That book–life combo makes it all stick!

3. Taste the culture. If 'foreign food' means fast-food tacos, you’re missing out! Explore authentic restaurants, hit up Asian or Latin markets for unusual snacks, and try cooking dishes from your child’s latest story setting. Food + book=recipe for learning.

4. Collect the world. Encourage hobbies that spark international curiosity: dolls in traditional dress, coins with different languages, stamps from far away. Tiny treasures can lead to big questions!

5.Find a pen pal. Old-school or virtual . . . connecting with another child across the globe is unforgettable. It turns reading about “some kid in another country” into knowing someone with that life.

6. Learn a new language. Even a few phrases learned through an app can open a child’s mind. Language is more than words; it’s how culture breathes, jokes are made, and stories are told.

7. Chat about world news. Introduce age-appropriate global updates, and talk through what’s happening from different perspectives.

8. Pray for the world. Help your child understand both hardship and hope. Praying for kids who live in war zones or disaster areas opens up empathy—and shows we’re all connected.

9. Give globally. Choose a meaningful international cause to support. Whether it’s sponsoring a student’s education or helping with clean water, giving globally helps kids think beyond their own circumstances.

10. Let the map be a guide. Hang a world map and mark it up: countries visited in books, places prayed for, food tried, languages learned. Your walls can become a colorful chronicle of multicultural discovery. —————————— 🗺️'Armchair traveler' is a real thing! Pick one or two ways to help your young reader log in frequent flyer miles!