Multicultural Chapter Books: Yasmin, Kayla, and Mindy Kim

Yasmin, King and Kayla, and Mindy Kim are great multicultural early chapter books for young readers.

Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi and illustrated by Hatem Aly. Picture Window Books, 2018. 96 pages.

Reading Level: Early Readers, ages 6-10

Recommended For: Ages 6-10

Yasmin is an explorer, painter, builder, and fashionista! She explores with maps, wins an art prize for her painting project, builds sidewalks and bridges (for a school project), and dresses up with her Nani. She’s Pakistani American, and her stories reflect her mixed culture (in language, customs, and illustrations). This book is actually a compilation of four smaller books (each of which has short chapters), making it a nice option for newly independent readers. Meet Yasmin! makes a great library checkout, but the stories don’t “sing” the way the King and Kayla stories (below) do. Still, a Pakistani American heroine in an early reader is a terrific addition to the typical lineup!

This review is only for the Meet Yasmin! compilation pictured (and the corresponding four short books included); we cannot speak to the rest of the series and its content.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 3.75 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 3.5 out of 5

King and Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats by Dori Hillestad Butler and illustrated by Nancy Meyers. Peachtree Publishing, 2018. 48 pages.

Reading Level: Early Readers, ages 6-10

Recommended For: Ages 6-10

King LOVES peanut butter treats. They’re his favorite food! But when he tries to tell Kayla he wants some dough, she asks, “‘Do you want to go outside, King?'” He doesn’t, but since King is a dog (and, incidentally, the narrator of the story), he can’t always communicate precisely with his beloved owner, Kayla. When the peanut butter dog treats go missing, King is blamed. But he knows there’s been an intruder in the house! Kayla makes a list of the things she knows, and King mentally adds his own fact to the list. When King and Kayla solve the mystery, Kayla rewards King with a piece of cheese. Oh boy! It’s one of his favorite foods!

All dog lovers (and owners) will enjoy this terrific little mystery series, just right for new readers. Illustrations complement the text perfectly, adding just enough information to keep the text humorously moving along. King’s narration is pitch perfect for what we dog lovers imagine our dogs to be thinking and saying. Kayla is a likable heroine in her own right. Pair this series with Cynthia Rylant’s Henry and Mudge books for easy reader perfection. Also recommended: King and Kayla and the Case the Lost Tooth, King and Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor.

Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4.25 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee and illustrated by Dung Ho. Aladdin, 2020. 96 pages

Reading Level: Early Readers, ages 7-10

Recommended For: Ages 8-10

Mindy Kim isn’t too sure about her new school (not to mention her new state of Florida). She’s the only Korean in her new classroom, and her teacher can’t pronounce her name (“Mindy” is a nickname). Her school in California had more diversity in it, and there were more people who looked like her. When Mindy brings in her favorite seaweed snacks to school, her classmates are certainly curious! They’ve never seen anything like them. Mindy’s new friend Sally encourages her to start selling the snacks; unknowingly, the girls violate a school rule and get in trouble! Now Mindy is really unhappy.

Mindy’s mother died recently, and both she and her father are coping with grief in addition to their cross-country move. Their relationship is a sweet one (even if Mindy is a bit snarky and disrespectful at times), and together they begin to carve out a new life. In the process, Mindy is able to teach her classmates more about Korea. This is a longer chapter book, bordering on middle grades reading level. The second volume, Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade, is even better. Mindy Kim’s character is a touch more mature in the second volume, and the Lunar New Year traditions are fascinating to read about. (Note: we haven’t read/reviewed the remainder of the series; as always, read with discretion!)

Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 3.5 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 3.75 out of 5

Read more about our ratings here.

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Review: The Ling and Ting series by Grace Lin is another delightful easy reader series featuring multicultural girls.
• A Resource: More Early Readers! (Browse our collection of easy reader reviews)
• A Resource: More multicultural titles (browse reviews tagged “multicultural”)

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