Multi-cultural children’s books open doors.

Multi-cultural children’s books help kids see themselves, meet new friends across cultures, and say “yes” to curiosity. As a children’s author, I’ve watched a quiet classroom brighten the moment a story offers a new word—¡hola! or bonjour!—and a new way to belong. That’s why my work and author visits lean into language, diversity, and joyful learning.

Why multi-cultural children’s books matter

• Belonging and representation: Kids light up when they recognize their home language, foods, or traditions in a story.
• Vocabulary growth: Bilingual and multilingual text introduces new sounds and meanings organically.
• Curiosity for the world: Travel-themed stories invite geography, culture, and social-emotional learning into the reading circle.
• Compassion and perspective: Meeting characters from different backgrounds builds empathy and respect.

How schools find me—and why language access matters

Many schools discover my books because some of my most popular titles are available in English, Spanish, and French. When a campus can read in multiple languages, more students and families can join the experience of literacy time.

Whether I’m leading a song, storytime, or a creative writing mini-workshop, language access helps every child feel invited. Teachers tell me they see shy students participate more when a character greets them with a familiar word or when a page celebrates a tradition they recognize.

Spotlight on The Flying Taco

Say hello to The Flying Taco—a whimsical friend who takes readers on feel-good adventures across cities, parks, and places to explore. It’s playful, music-friendly, and suited to call-and-response reading. At its heart are adventure, culture, and traveling the world—even through pages and classroom teaching.

We weave in greetings like “Hello! ¡Hola! Bonjour!” and model how language invites friendships. Kids point to maps, try new words, and imagine meeting new friends. We learn, laugh, and grow together.

Introducing Show, Go, Grow™

Show • Go • Grow™ is the heartbeat of my author visits:

• Show your voice: Storytelling, music, puppets, and art help kids express who they are.
• Go explore: Practice new words, try ideas, and travel through books to cultures near and far.
• Grow together: Reflect, journal, and build kindness as a classroom community.

The Flying Taco creates opportunities for a colorful literacy celebration that teachers can connect to ELA, SEL, and social studies goals.

Classroom ideas & activities

• Hello Map: Mark three places on a class map and practice “Hello,” “¡Hola!,” and “Bonjour!”
• Food & Culture Brainstorm: Invite students to share a favorite food and one tradition tied to it.
• Kindness Postcards: Write a postcard from a place in the story describing one kind thing to do there.
• Sing & Share: Use a simple chorus from the reading to practice rhythm and new vocabulary.
• Journal prompt: “A new friend taught me this word…” with a drawing and sentence starter.

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Invite Lisa to your school

Bring Show, Go, Grow™ to students through assemblies, classroom visits, or family literacy nights. Presentations are delivered in English. With advance planning, Lisa can partner with your teachers to weave in your school’s dual languages through live translation and bilingual moments.

Questions about multi-cultural books

What makes a children’s book multi-cultural?

Stories that highlight diverse characters, languages, foods, celebrations, and perspectives invite kids to see both themselves and others with curiosity and respect.

How do bilingual or trilingual titles help?

They expand vocabulary, support language learners, and invite families into literacy time. English, Spanish, and French editions also let teachers differentiate with one shared story.

Is The Flying Taco good for assemblies?

Yes. Its interactive, call-and-response format invites greetings, conversations about travel, and connections to SEL and cultural appreciation.

About Lisa Caprelli

Lisa Caprelli, B.S. in Social Psychology, is an award-winning Latina author, speaker, and TV show director. She brings the Unicorn Jazz™ social-emotional collection to elementary schools through multimedia presentations exploring empathy, kindness, love, and belonging.

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