When I was a young student, I enjoyed reading books written by people from my culture. Two of my favorite books were When My Name Was Keoko and A Single Shard, and they were written by a Korean American. Reading about people from my own culture, about characters that looked like me, and went through similar things I did helped me resonate with my reading material and enjoy it more. Reading literature from cultures that were not my own also helped me relate and empathize with other people, worldviews, nations, and cultures. Today, I understand from my own experiences the importance of integrating multicultural literature in the classroom.

Multicultural books span every genre. In a social studies classroom, it could be very helpful to introduce books that offer alternative viewpoints of a certain historical event. For example, a curriculum on World War II could benefit with literature from a variety viewpoints outside that of Europeans and Americans. Consider the experiences of the Japanese, the Chinese, or the Filipinos. 

Books from a diverse range of cultures can help students view members of other cultures as distinct and unique people.  Students can also learn practical things about other cultures and worldviews. However, there are some important things for teachers to consider when they integrate multicultural literature in their classrooms.