This index of books, describing things to make and do to celebrate festivals, cultures and holidays around the world, is the kind of useful reference tool that only US publishers, with their large home market of school and public libraries, can afford to produce. The main body of the work consists of books arranged under subject headings and subheadings, A–Z. There is a list of the subject headings at the beginning, while at the end there is a numerical list of the titles indexed (these numbers are used to refer to relevant books under the subject headings) and there is also an index to authors of the books indexed, therefore, it is easy to use.
To get the full benefit of the Multicultural Projects Index, the user needs to have access to a fair proportion of the 630 books indexed (all American publications), which seems something of a challenge for any library.However, the subject headings range so widely that teachers, parents or other adults might be inspired.
Adults based elsewhere, however, might well find inspiration from the subject headings and subheadings. For example, although St. Valentine's Day may not be celebrated to the extent that it is the US, the headings alone would inspire the least imaginative adult with ideas about what might be made or done. Headings such as England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, Celts, Saxons, Romans, Vikings and Shakespeare reflect the continuing importance of the Anglo‐Saxon heritage of the US.
Mary Anne Pilger was, of course, limited to indexing available resources so that any limitations are not her doing. Looking at this index in November, I found several references to Guy Fawkes to make puppets, jewellery, masks and models, cook appropriate recipes, introduce dances and games and find suitable stories with the help of other resources already at hand. The index recognises the melting pot of nations represented in the US but the majority of the headings – whether States, prominent people, festivals, special days or historical events – reflects the fact that it is intended for an American market: e.g. “Night”, which led to a recipe for gingerbread and plenty of advice on creating guys.
Coming from Yorkshire, I was entertained to see that all the entries listed under “England – Yorkshire” are recipes, although no mention of Yorkshire Pudding, probably the most famous of all. Living in Wales, I thought that American children might get a rather strange impression of the principality – recipes are limited to lava bread, which I've tasted but once, and lamb roast, there are seven games that can be played and there are references to “Welch” numbers, words and phrases. (In only a very few contexts does Welsh appear as Welch).
Elsewhere the heading “Secret Garden” caught my eye. The entries show that the indexer had in mind the development of a project linked to Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic book. There is information about making your own secret garden, including a bird‐bath, a Robin's picnic basket and Mary's skipping rope, but there is nothing that links the book to Yorkshire, where it is set. This is a pity as the book still says much that is true about the Yorkshire landscape and about England at the turn of the century. However, 60 American dollars are a lot to pay just for inspiration and entertainment and I feel that the market for this undoubtedly useful reference tool must be restricted to the US.
