Incorporating Cultural Stories and Traditions into Early Literacy

Welcome to the 12th and final blog in our Beyond ABCs series! Over the past months, we have explored various ways to nurture early literacy and build strong foundations for lifelong learning. Thank you for joining us on this journey—we hope you’ve discovered new ideas, activities, and perspectives to share with the young learners in your life. 

Early literacy is about more than teaching letters and sounds—it’s about building a love of stories, expanding perspectives, and nurturing empathy. By incorporating cultural stories and traditions into your child’s early literacy experiences, you can help them develop critical literacy skills and a deeper understanding and respect for the rich diversity of our world. 

Why Cultural Stories Matter in Early Literacy 

Cultural stories and traditions connect children to the broader world while fostering a sense of belonging. Exposure to diverse narratives helps children understand experiences beyond their own, promoting empathy and cultural awareness. These stories also highlight the universal themes of human experience, helping children recognize that while people may come from different backgrounds, we share common emotions, struggles, and joys. 

Including cultural stories in early literacy development can: 

• Build empathy: Reading about characters from different cultures helps children understand and appreciate different perspectives. 
• Enhance storytelling skills: Many cultural traditions emphasize oral storytelling, a practice that boosts imagination and narrative development. 
• Foster pride and connection: Sharing your family’s cultural stories strengthens identity and creates a connection to heritage. 
• Encourage curiosity: Exploring stories from around the world sparks curiosity about different traditions, places, and people.  

Activities to Incorporate Cultural Stories at Home 

Bringing cultural stories into your child’s literacy journey doesn’t have to be complicated.  

Here are some simple, meaningful ways to weave these stories into everyday life: 

1. Read Folktales from Around the World: Visit your local library to find books that showcase folktales and myths from different cultures. Discuss the values or lessons within each story. 
2. Celebrate Cultural Holidays with Storytelling: Many holidays have stories associated with them. For example, during Lunar New Year, share tales about the Chinese zodiac, or during Diwali, explore stories about the triumph of light over darkness. 
3. Create a Family Storybook: Work together to document family traditions, recipes, or memories. Include photographs or drawings to make it more personal. 
4. Listen to Oral Storytelling: Many cultures have a rich tradition of oral storytelling. Look for audio recordings, podcasts, or local events featuring storytellers from different backgrounds. 
5. Explore Multicultural Music and Songs: Songs often carry stories, too! Sing traditional songs or learn nursery rhymes from different cultures to introduce rhythm, rhyme, and cultural context. 
6. Act Out Stories: Turn a cultural folktale into a play or puppet show. Acting out stories makes them more engaging and memorable. 

Culturally Diverse Booklist 

Here are some wonderful books to introduce children to diverse cultures and traditions: 

• Birdsong by Julie Flett – A gentle story about friendship, change, and Cree-Métis traditions.  
• My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith - A warm bilingual (English and Plains Cree) book celebrating Indigenous culture and everyday joy.  
• You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith – A simple and powerful book about kindness, respect, and Indigenous teachings.  
• Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel – An introduction to Anishinaabe totem animals and self-identity.  
• Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know by Brittany Luby – A bilingual English and Anishinaabemowin book about the seasons and the natural world.  
• Malaika’s Costume by Nadia L. Hohn – A vibrant story about a Caribbean-Canadian girl celebrating Carnival.  
• A Likkle Miss Lou by Nadia L. Hohn – A lively introduction to Jamaican-Canadian poet Louise Bennett Coverley and the importance of language.  
• Nibi’s Water Song by Sunshine Tenasco – A hopeful and engaging story about an Indigenous girl advocating for clean water.  
• My Day with Gong Gong by Sennah Yee – A heartwarming story about a Chinese-Canadian girl spending a day with her grandfather in Chinatown.  
• Grandmother School by Rina Singh – A moving story inspired by real events about grandmothers in India learning to read and write.  
• Maribel's Year by Michelle Sterling – A heartfelt story about a young girl adjusting to life in a new country, exploring the changing seasons, and finding comfort in familiar traditions. 
• Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo – A touching tale about a child navigating a new school and culture, discovering belonging through the flavors and memories of home-cooked meals. 

For more recommendations, check out our African and Caribbean Canadian (ACC) Books in Colour resource, From Sea to Sea to Sea booklist, and our Asian History Month Children’s Booklist. 

Closing Thoughts 

By embracing cultural stories and traditions, you’re giving your child more than just a foundation in literacy; you’re opening a door to a world of understanding, empathy, and curiosity. These stories teach children to value diversity while connecting them to the universal human experience. In doing so, you’re helping them grow into compassionate, culturally aware individuals who love learning through stories. 

As we wrap up the Beyond ABCs series, we encourage you to reflect on what you’ve learned. From nurturing phonological awareness to fostering a love of storytelling, each blog has provided tools and ideas to support the children in your life. Let’s continue celebrating the beauty of our diverse world, one story at a time.