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One of the magic things about books is that they can transport us into other places and other lives. They can introduce anyone into what it’s like to live in someone else’s shoes, and that’s especially important and powerful when it comes to intercultural understanding.
At Booktopia, we offer a range of intercultural communication books that can help students learn more about other cultures in a way that’s both engaging and meaningful. Our selection covers a number of cultures and experiences, which teachers can use to offer insights into other lives around the world.
Popular intercultural understanding books
Anh Do has become a popular face in Australia for his comedy, but before he was a comedian, he was a refugee. His book, The Happiest Refugee, is a multi-award winning memoir that will have readers laughing as they learn about Anh’s plight, and the plight of refugees in general. It covers the life-and-death situations he and his family faced in Vietnam and in escaping the country, before following his challenges once he arrived in Australia.
Another hugely popular book is Morris Gleitzman’s Boy Overboard. This beloved author takes us on a wild journey as we follow two boys who dream of leading Australia to glory in the next soccer World Cup – but first they have to make it to Australia. The release has won numerous children’s book awards, and offers a vibrant insight into other cultures.
Books for teaching intercultural understanding
Young adult fiction can be a great tool for teachers looking to impart better intercultural understanding.
One example is The Best Day of My Life, the fictional story of a young Indian girl growing up in a coal town in India. Her whole life, she fears the lepers who live nearby, but after running away to Kolkata, she learns that she has the affliction herself. It’s an engrossing story that introduces young Australians to a world and a life entirely different from their own, opening them up to different cultures and lifestyles in the process.
Walk in my Shoes offers another take, this time of a young refugee arriving in Australia. In this story, Gulnessa and her family escape from war-torn Afghanistan, and arrive exhausted and traumatised in Australia. And yet, the struggle is not yet over. Gulnessa and her family must now make it through the detention centre for asylum seekers, prove their refugee status, and find a way to make Australia their home at last.
