Books, videos, and websites for Third Culture Kids
The Berenstain Bears decide to move from the mountains and into their beloved tree house down the sunny dirt road. Brother Bear is concerned about leaving his friends, but his parents assure him he can write and maybe visit. The new house is nice, but Brother Bear is worried because he doesn’t see anyone to be his friend – until the neighbors come over to visit with all their cubs.
Reading level: age 3-7 years
A young boy moves out of his old house and into a new one far away. Before he leaves, he walks though the empty rooms saying goodbye. As the car drives through town towards the new home, he takes a last look at familiar places. When he arrives at his new home he begins to make friends and feel more at home as his parents find places for familiar possessions.
Reading level: age 5-8 years
Loosely a sequel to Chinese Children Next Door, this story is a little bit longer and focuses more on the experience of the American child than on teaching about Chinese culture. In this book Mother surprises her children with a Chinese meal, complete with chopsticks. As they eat she tells them a story about when, as a little girl, she found a white stone that she thought might be
magic and her subsequent adventure with two Chinese children and their water buffalo. Also out of print for a long time (published in the 1943), this book is hard to find.
Reading level: age 7-10 years
At bedtime one night four young children learn that their American mother lived in China when she was a little girl. After they beg her to tell them about that faraway place, she agrees to tell one story – the story of the neighbor children and their family. After three daughters the family begins hoping for a son, but their babies continue to be girls until finally, after six lovely daughters, they have a boy. The storyteller explains a lot about the customs and culture of the Chinese family in the process of telling the story. Although this book is small in size, the story is fairly long and better suited to middle elementary kids. The book is hard to locate since it has
been out of print for a long time.
Reading level: age 7-10 years
“We’re moving somewhere else today. I like my house. I want to stay.”
A little boy finds boxes all over the house as his family prepares to move. When he does not want to leave his house, his mother explains that Jesus understands because He left his home to come to a new place, too. At the new house the boy finds his toys in the boxes and settles in. The text in this short book is a rhyme, and the rhythm and repetition of phrases may be as soothing to children as the message.
Reading level: age 5-7 years
This is a story about a young MK’s first days in American school after living in France. Colorful watercolor illustrations and simple sensitive writing make this book a good one for young children, especially those going through reentry.
Reading level: age 5-8 years