Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Mission & History
    • Our Partner Organizations
    • What is a Multicultural Book?
    • Co-Founders
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Advisors
    • Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts
    • Team
    • MCBD Timelines
    • Make a Donation: #GivingTuesday 2022
    • Media Partners
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Us
  • FREE Diverse Books
    • FREE Diverse Books for Classrooms Program
    • FREE Diversity Book For Reviewers!
    • Authors & Publishers: Book Donations
    • Donate
  • Sponsorship
    • MCBD2023 Medallion Level Sponsors
    • MCBD2023 Author Sponsors
    • Fundraisers & Marketing Services
      • Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs!
      • Sponsor of the Week/Month
      • Fundraising/ Sponsored Post Services
      • Multicultural Children’s Book Day ebook
    • Medallion and Author Level Sponsorships for MCBD2023 are OPEN!
  • Reading Resources
    • Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
    • Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Kit 2022 Mental Health Support for Stressful Times
    • Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit
    • Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
    • Gallery of Our Free Posters
    • Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources
    • IG Live Interview Series
    • 2021 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2020 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2019 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2018 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2017 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2016 Big Giant LInky!
    • 2015 Big Giant Linky!
  • Press Kit & Stats
    • Press Kit
    • Social Proof & Media Mentions
    • 2016 Recap and Stats
    • 2015 Recap and Stats
  • Blog
  • Sign Up for Free Updates

Why We Need More Black Santas in Children’s Books

December 16, 2022 by Leanna Mora

Why We Need More Black Santas in Children's Books small

Why We Need More Black Santas in Children’s Books

It’s that magical time of year! For many families, a beloved holiday tradition is snuggling up together to read Christmas stories. Yet too often, those books do not reflect the families that are enjoying them. 

Lack of diversity in children’s books is a problem all year long, but it seems especially pressing during the holidays, when traditional stories and tropes often reign. One area where this is most obvious is the portrayal of Santa Claus. Though based on a real person from modern-day Turkey, Santa is most often portrayed as very fair-skinned.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: diversity in children’s books, Guest Posts Tagged With: #OwnVoices, Black Christmas stories, Black santas, Christmas books, diverse children's books, diverse Christmas books, multicultural Christmas books

IG Live Series for #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth

April 18, 2022 by Leanna Mora

IG Live Series for Autism Acceptance Month

Throughout April, as part of our focus on Autism Acceptance Month, MCBD is highlighting autistic authors and illustrators and allies in our IG live series! Each week, we cover a different genre of children’s literature, from picture books and middle grade novels to graphic novels and YA books. In each interview, an #OwnVoices autistic creator is interviewed by an ally who is also a fellow author. They share the story behind their work, as well as challenges they have faced and insights they have gained. Videos are uploaded to our YouTube channel afterwards for viewing at your leisure!

Becoming an Author

March 30, 2022

Interview with librarian and soon-to-be-published author Adriana L. White.

Adriana White is an autistic librarian, former special education teacher, and writer. She is a staff editor for the website A Novel Mind, and frequently writes and speaks about neurodiversity and mental health in children’s books. You can visit her website adrianalwhite.com to learn more about her work, or follow her on Twitter at @Adriana_Edu.

Picture Books

April 6, 2022

Author/illustrator Sivan Hong interviews author Lindsey Rowe Parker & illustrator Rebecca Burgess

Lindsey Rowe Parker is a mom at the tail-end of toddlerhood, embracing the next phase of parenting while learning to navigate and advocate for her autistic daughter. With a recent adult diagnosis of ADHD, and a new deeper understanding of her own sensory experiences, she has begun to delve into the neurodiversity community learning all she can from neurodivergent voices. Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calms My Jitters Down is her first picture book, and she hopes it connects with everyone who has felt the need for a wiggle, stomp, or squeeze! Find out more on the website.

Rebecca Burgess is a comic artist and illustrator working in the UK, creating award winning published and small press work. Outside of drawing comics and cuddling their cat, Rebecca also loves playing RPGs with friends, going on deep dives into history and growing vegetables in their humble Bristol garden. Find out more on their website.

Sivan Hong authors and illustrates the best-selling children’s book series The Super Fun Day Books, including Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day and Avery G. and the Scary End of School. Her inspiring books focus on neurodiverse children, who overcome their challenges with perseverance and bravery. Sivan also serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the Westport Public Library, the Rita Allen Foundation, Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the ASPCA. Find out more at SivanHong.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram.

Middle Grade

April 13, 2022

Sivan Hong interviews Sally J. Pla

Sally J. Pla is an award-winning author of books about young people whose brains work a bit differently, including the novels The Someday Birds and Stanley Will Probably Be Fine, and the picture book Benji, The Bad Day, And Me. Her newest contemporary middle-grade novel, The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn, will be out in Summer 2023. Sally’s also co-founder and editor of A Novel Mind, a web resource on mental health and neurodiversity representation in children’s lit. Find out lots more about her on linktree, at sallyjpla.com, and on Twitter @sallyjpla.

Sivan Hong authors and illustrates the best-selling children’s book series The Super Fun Day Books, including Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day and Avery G. and the Scary End of School. Her inspiring books focus on neurodiverse children, who overcome their challenges with perseverance and bravery. Sivan also serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the Westport Public Library, the Rita Allen Foundation, Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the ASPCA. Find out more at SivanHong.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram.

Graphic Novels

April 20, 2022

Led Bradshaw of Jet Pulse Comics interviews son & co-creator Jacob Bradshaw

Led Bradshaw is an American comic book illustrator, autism advocate, and graphic artist. He is the creator of Jetpulse Studios and the illustrator for his flagship title “The New Adventures of Jake Jetpulse,” a comic book adventure featuring a superhero team led by a young boy with autism who is gifted with magnificent superpowers. It is an educational comic book series that was inspired by his son Jacob Bradshaw, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of four. Find out more on their website and on Instagram.

Young Adult

April 26, 2022, 3 pm ET

Brian Tashima interviews Meg Eden

Meg Eden Kuyatt is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at Anne Arundel Community College. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children’s novels, most recently “Selah’s Guide to Normal” (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at www.megedenbooks.com or on Twitter at @ConfusedNarwhal and Instagram at @meden_author.

Brian Tashima is an author, screenwriter, musician, and philanthropist. His credits include the award-winning Joel Suzuki series—a set of young adult sci-fi/fantasy novels about a teenage boy who travels to a world where music is magic and autism is a superpower—and the manga-style comic book series Glorified. He also sings and plays guitar for the nerd-punk band Second Player Score and serves on the Board of Directors for Autism Empowerment, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people and families in the autism community. Find out more at joelsuzuki.com.

Our IG live series continues every Wednesday at 3 pm ET, on our Instagram page, where each week we chat with the movers and shakers in the world of diverse children’s literature. Can’t watch the interviews live? Watch them all later on our YouTube channel! 

Geek Club Books Resources

Please click on each title below to download a PDF file for each one:

Autism Glossary 

Autism Myths and Stereotypes

Autism Facts for Kids

Autism Reflections by Lydia Wayman

Children’s Books About Autism

The Friendship Kit

What Your Autistic Student Wants You to Know

Autism and Halloween

 

Filed Under: IG LIVES Tagged With: #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth, author chat, author interviews, Autism, autism acceptance, Autism Acceptance Month, IG Lives

Help us get diverse Kidlit into schools!

Join our Read Your World
Newsletter and Blog List
Be the first to know about the latest Read Your World news, new children's books, exclusive offers, and special events.
Thanks for subscribing to our newsletter!

Make a Way Media Super Platinum Sponsor

Language Lizard Platinum Sponsor

Mia Wenjen Founders Circle

Audrey Press Founders Circle

Publisher Spotlight Gold Sponsor

Publisher Spotlight 2023

Interlink Publishing Gold Sponsor

Interlink 2023

Cardinal Rule Press Silver Sponsor

Barefoot Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low 2023

Kimberly Gordon Biddle Silver Sponsor

Vivian Kirkfield Bronze Sponsor

Patrice McLaurin Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

The Quarto Group Bronze Sponsor

Carole P. Roman Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Redfin Canada Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Rent.com Bronze Sponsor

Bay Equity Home Loans Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward 2023

Brunella Costagliola Bronze Sponsor

Brunella Costagliola 2023

Stay in the loop with all MCBD Happenings!

MCBD is included in the Top 100 Children’s Book Blogs!

Children’s Book Blogs

Copyright © 2023 · Multicultural Childrens Book Day on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cleantalk Pixel