This book encourages the use of cultural biographies as a way to understand various cultures. The volume is a collection of stories about the teachers and students in New York (New York) schools who have made family studies central to the curriculum. The book emphasizes the everyday lives of families, their social histories, and cultural biographies as the foundation of every child's school experience. The chapters include: (1) "Getting Started"; (2) "Then and Now"; (3) "News from the Home Front"; (4) "Stories To Grow Up On"; (5) "Home Cooking"; (6) "Coming to America"; (7) "Elders Share Their Lives"; (8) "Family Album"; and (9) "Epilogue." (Contains a list of works cited; a preface to the picture book bibliography, by Gary Zingher; an annotated bibliography of picture books; and resources for teachers.) (EH)