Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

Becky F. Project Manager for MCBD

Becky Flansburg has been the Project Manager for the MCBD initiative since Day One and she can honestly say that she loves her job. As the mom to two beautiful kids, she is the voice of “invisible disabilities” like ADHD, severe anxiety, and childhood eating issues. Her oldest son is also adopted, and she is as proud as proud could be to be an adoptive mommy. Connect with Becky at Becky (at) Multiculturalchildrensbookday.com

5 things to look forward to for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020

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As the 7th annual MCBD approaches on January 31, 2020, we have been eyeball deep in all-things-Multicultural Children’s Book Day and loving every second of it!

Here are some reasons why we know for a FACT, that the 2020 Multicultural Children’s Book Day will be the best EVER.

5 things to look forward to for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020

Mind-blowing Sponsors and Diverse books: Multicultural Children’s Book Day is ion its 7th year and is gaining momentum more and more every day!  Currently, the 2020 lineup includes a ton of and impressive Medallion Level Sponsors and Author Sponsors with more being added daily. Currently, we have over 600+ reviewers signed up (pass the word if you know of anyone who’d like to receive a book to reviews!) to review books on Amazon, a blog, Facebook (Pages only-no profiles), Instagram or YouTube. Our 26 CoHosts and Global CoHosts are working hard to spread the work and countless authors and publishers donating multicultural children’s books. Good stuff!

FREE STUFF!: Throughout the months leading up to the celebratory day, educators, librarians, and parents can start planning and preparing with FREE activities available today at www.multiculturalchildrensbookday.com like these:

The free Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit: This free and downloadable Classroom Kit includes book recommendations that will help Readers Understand Physical and Developmental Challenges for ages 4 -12. Also included:

~ Classroom or Home Activities

~ “Physical and Developmental Challenges” Classroom Poster thanks to the talents of award-winning illustrator, SKlakina

~HelpfulPhysical and Developmental Challenge Talking Points for Teachers

~Links, resources and services that are available to families facing the challenges of coping with Physical and Developmental Challenges in the U.S.A.

Download our FREE 2019/2020 Classroom Kit!

FREE Classroom “Empathy” Kit:  The free Classroom Empathy Kit focuses on empathy and compassion through shared booklists and special home or classroom activities. The kit includes 18 book recommends on the topic of Understanding Immigration and Refugees, Classroom Empathy Activities, and a very special custom printable Empathy Poster courtesy of author/illustrator Juana Medina. Educators, parents, and librarians can sign-up to receive the free classroom kit here: http://bit.ly/2BGu4uQ

FREE Poverty Doesn’t Discriminate: Understanding Poverty in America Classroom Kit: Created in 2018, this free classroom kit includes over 2 dozen poverty in the U.S.-themed book recommends for ages 4-12, two classroom or home activities, and a copy of the official “Poverty Doesn’t Discriminate” Classroom Poster thanks to the talents of award-winning illustrator, Mehrdokht Amini. http://bit.ly/2P6cXWE

Free Diversity Book Lists and Activities for Teachers and Parents: Curated lists of books about diverse topics including: countries, religions, holidays, ethnicities, in addition to special needs and LGBTQ. http://bit.ly/1kGZrta

Share a Classroom Celebration: Teachers who host a celebration in the classroom can send in a picture of their party to receive 3 free diverse books and a swag pack as a thank you.  Teachers and librarians can enter their event info HERE (https://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/category/offline-classroomlibrary-event-project/)

 

The CBC/MCBD Annual Book Jam Giveaway Party: We have joined forces with the Children’s Book Council (CBC) for many years now and this year will be extra special.

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 Pinterest

Starting on January 3rd, we will be presenting our SIXTH #ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 in conjunction with Children’s Book Council. This year we have 10 amazing authors with unique book lists to share. Each author is also doing a book giveaway!

HINT: Watch for reviews and giveaways from some of your favorite authors like Nikki Grimes, Nic Stone, David Bowles, and more!

 

The Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 Music Video: In late 2018 Annie Lynn and Walt Wilcezewski from Annie Bird Music created the most wonderful music video for our 2019 event. You can view our first official Read Your World Music Video here and you may see some familiar faces and books! For MCBD2020, Annie and Walt are busy in the studio creating the new version and we are dying of anticipation! So stay tuned for the final video debut on social media!

Twitter Party! We have announced the date and time for this year’s crazy-fun Twitter party hosted by Super-Platinum Sponsor, Deedee Cummings from Make A Way Media! As always, we will not only have some great questions to ask but we will also have tons of multicultural children’s books and swag to give away. I predict, during our MCBD2020 Twitter Party (8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Central on 1/31/20) we will likely be giving away over 100 diverse picture, chapter, and YA books! Stay tuned for more details.

From the MCBD Team: As our seventh Multicultural Children’s Book Day holiday approaches on January 31, 2020, we are thrilled to have you as part of our amazing community of supporters! With enthusiasm, optimism, and hope, we prepare for MCBD 2020 and would be honored if you join our celebration of diversity through children’s books.

Thank you for cultivating understanding, kindness, inclusion, and exploration of this beautiful world in your classroom.

Don’t forget to connect with Multicultural Children’s Book Day on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.

One more thing:

BOOK REVIEWERS—We Need YOU!

If you love diverse books for kids and have a social media platform to share a review on, we want to give you a FREE diversity book to review!

January 31, 2020, will mark the 7th year of Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s (MCBD) quest to get culturally diverse books into the hands of children, parents, teachers, and librarians. As you may know, Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) is a non-profit that works with authors to get their books reviewed during our online event and also works to get free diversity children’s books into the hands of young readers.

In a nutshell; you don’t have to be a blogger to review multicultural children’s books for our MCBD2020 (1/31/20) online event. You just need to have a love of diversity in children’s literature and be willing to share on your social media platforms such as Facebook (Pages only-no Facebook profiles), Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube. We encourage honest Amazon reviews of assigned books whenever possible as well.

SIGN UP HERE to be an MCBD2020 book reviewer or go here to get the full scoop before you sign up via our Google form.

As always, #ReadYourWorld!

 

 

 

Mindfulness Activities and Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

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Guest post by Monetta Wilson

The ancient practice of yoga has a variety of physical, emotional and psychological benefits. It can build strength and flexibility, promote mind-body connection, and relieve stress and anxiety. All over the world yoga is being recognized for the many benefits it can provide. Yoga and mindfulness are being incorporated into millions of lives on a daily basis.

Children of all ages can enjoy these and other benefits by practicing yoga. Yoga can help children build body awareness as well as an early appreciation for physical activity. Yoga also helps children develop an appreciation for mindfulness that can help relieve stress and anxiety. It is a myth that children do not experience stress and anxiety. Outside of traumatic events, daily events can be a source of anxiety for children. Simple activities such as going to the bathroom, eating lunch, or traveling on the bus can be a source of anxiety. Yoga and mindfulness can help.

Yoga with Aunty Mo

There are many activities that children can do to help them calm down when they feel anxious. They can breathe, chant, meditate, move or any combination of these items. The simplest of these is breathing. Teaching children to take big belly breaths can be very powerful. Ask the child to breathe and push their belly out as far as it can go. Then watch it deflate as they breathe out. Let them do this a few more times. This causes them to focus on the breath instead of the source of the anxiety and causes them to calm down.

Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

A mantra is a word or phrase that can be repeated on its own or during a meditation or breathing practice. You can let the child choose their own or help them choose one. Examples of mantras for children are “Love”, “I am, love”, “I am calm”, “I can do this”. They can repeat the mantra quietly when they feel anxious or while practicing their breathing.

Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

For some children simply moving can help them relax. When I taught high school before I was a yoga teacher, I would send my students outside to run around if they needed to calm down and were having trouble focusing. They loved it! They would be calm and relaxed and focused afterward, and would sometimes request this. Of course running outside is easier in the Caribbean where we have no winter, however, the point remains that simply moving through poses can help children relax.

Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

As you can probably guess yoga is most effective against stress and anxiety when you combine a few of these activities, in my book Yoga with Aunty Mo, I combine movement, breathing, mantra, and meditation. I take the children through movements and encourage them to breathe, relax and go to their happy place. I kept the words simple and rhyming so that children could easily memorize and repeat them. My goal in writing the book was to give parents and teachers a short activity that they can use to help children calm down. Parents and teachers in my village love it but most importantly the children love it.

About The Book

Yoga with Aunty Mo

Yoga with Aunty Mo is available on Amazon.

Yoga is fun for the entire family. Follow along to this exciting book that teaches the joy of yoga in a simple and easy to understand the story. This book is a love letter to children set in the village of Mon Repos on the island of Saint Lucia. It takes the child on a journey through a simple yoga routine that can be practiced daily. It is appropriate for children of all ages and a great bedtime read.

An important part of yoga that is often neglected is self-reflection. Self-reflection is important for self-acceptance, self-improvement, and growth. Children can practice self-reflection using journaling. It helps them look back on their day, celebrate their successes and learn from any mistakes. It is also an opportunity for the caregiver to bond with the child and provide guidance.

Based on these principles I have created a simple printable mindfulness journal for children.

Click here to download the journal and instructions.

Feel free to share with other parents, teachers, and caregivers. I hope your little ones enjoy yoga as much as mine do and that it helps them lead rich and fulfilling lives. Yoga is amazing and can give children skills that will last a lifetime.

Have your children tried yoga? What is their favorite mindful activity?

About Monetta Wilson

 

In 2018, Monetta released her first yoga book for children, Yoga with Aunty Mo is a delightful little book for children of all ages. Monetta wrote the book as a love letter to the children in her community who love to practice yoga with her. The book is set in the village of Mon Repos on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. It features colorful images of the children practicing yoga and enjoying nature. In Yoga with Aunty Mo, Monetta takes the reader through a simple routine that can be practiced daily to leave them feeling calm and relaxed. Monetta is proud to share this book where black and brown children can experience the joy of yoga as well as the joy of representation in literature. Yoga with Aunty Mo is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format. Monetta also blogs at www.yogawithmo.com

 

Literacy, Empathy, Discovery, Action | The Mission of MCBD2020

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As the calendar prepares to flip to a new month, and MCBD2020 is a little over 60 days away, all of us at this non-profit continue to be amazed by the love, passion, and dedication of everyone who has supported us for the last 7 years.

It’s our 7th year, and the next MCBD is in 2020…there has to be some divine message in there somewhere!

And as we plan and implement Lucky #7,  approaches, the 4 main elements that drive this non-profit forward is Literacy, Empathy, Discovery, and Action.

literacy empathy discovery action

Multicultural Children’s Book Day‘s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in home and school bookshelves while also working diligently to get more of these types of books into the hands of young readers, parents, and educators.

Despite census data that shows 37% of the US population consists of people of color, only 10% of children’s books published have diversity content. Using the Multicultural Children’s Book Day holiday, the MCBD Team is on a mission to change all of that.

Here’s some information from the CCBC about diversity in kidlit. In their analysis of picture books published in 2017:

Of the approximately 3,700 books received at the CCBC in 2017, most from U.S. publishers, here’s the breakdown:
  • 340 had significant African or African American content/characters.
    • 100 of these were by Black authors and/or illustrators. (29.41% #OwnVoices)
  • 72 had significant American Indian/First Nations content/characters.
    • 38 of these were by American Indian/First Nations authors and/or illustrators. (52.78% #OwnVoices)
  • 310 had significant Asian/Pacific or Asian/Pacific American content/characters.
    • 122 of these were by authors and/or illustrators of Asian/Pacific heritage. (39.35% #OwnVoices)
  • 216 had significant Latinx content/characters.
    • 73 of these were by Latinx authors and/or illustrators. (33.8% #OwnVoices)
(The numbers will change slightly as they continue to receive a stray title or two. Check their website for up-to-date statistics, including the numbers for books from U.S. publishers only, and more on what and how they count.)

These are the facts that drive us forward. If we drill it down to FOUR main things Multicultural Children’s Book Day strives for, it comes down to Literacy, Empathy, Discovery, and Action.

  • Literacy: We believe that if children can see themselves in books, particularly at that crucial period of time when they are learning to read independently, they will be more motivated to read.
  • Empathy: On the opposite note, children are the most open to new ideas. Kids need to learn about others who are not like them and books provide that window into different experiences and minority points of view.
  • Discovery: The biggest hurdle for teachers and parents, we found, is finding those great multicultural and diverse books and sharing the less-know (yet amazing) those titles.
  • Action: We are committed to doing more than creating conversations that showcase books, literacy, reading, and creating visibility of for multicultural books and authors…we are also taking action. Our holiday is about bridging that knowledge gap by creating and offering free resources to find that perfect diversity children’s book, we also give FREE diverse children’s books to teachers and parents, and building a literacy initiative that is active 365 days a year.

Literacy

Having access to books, specifically books that allow young readers to “see themselves” in the pages, is still a work-in-progress. Though the publishing industry has made huge strides in the right direction (publishing more diverse books and diverse authors), there is still a long way to go. We created this online/offline yearly celebration to raise awareness for the need

SUMMARY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY EVENT

FIRST, a unique opportunity to shine the spotlight on diverse/multicultural books, authors and publishers.

SECOND, a giant online book reviewing event —
Book appreciators, readers, parents, teachers, librarians, and caregivers have the opportunity to explore lots of children’s and YA books with diversity content via online marketing that provides robust visibility for authors and publishers, book reviews, classroom kits, classroom book bundles, contests, giveaways, book lists, activity suggestions, and links.

THIRD, a giant networking event —
An ongoing mission to connect organizers, sponsors, co-hosts, bloggers, and others interested in expanding awareness of, and promotion of multicultural children’s books via our Twitter Party and very active MCBD Facebook Group.

FOURTH, an offline classroom, library or gathering place celebration —
A chance for students, educators, and parents to celebrate diversity and multicultural books in the months leading up to, and during, the Multicultural Children’s Book Day celebration that is held on the last Friday in January.

FIFTH, a year-long literacy-based initiative-

And together, all facets work tirelessly to provide books to classrooms, organizations and under-served kids all year long.

Empathy

Now more than ever…

Now more than ever, a message of hope, compassion, empathy, and understanding is needed.

Now more than ever, children need to see themselves reflected in the pages of the books they read. Readers of all ages need to be able to “read their world” to both see themselves, and those are who different, whether by culture, religion, sexual orientation, special needs or ethnicity.

Now more than ever, we need to come together as a nation of beautifully diverse people.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day is proud to offer an initiative and holiday that encourages discovery, hope, acceptance, and exploration through the pages of diverse children’s literature.

As our 7th Multicultural Children’s Book Day holiday approaches on January 31, 2020, we are thrilled to have you as part of our amazing community of supporters! With enthusiasm, optimism, and hope, we are preparing for MCBD2020 and hope you will, again, join our celebration of diversity through children’s books.

Discovery

Imagine children without a single book to call their own.

Imagine no one reading to a child.

Imagine parents unable to read to a child

Reality is today childhood literacy is in crisis.

Reality is that three out of four, fourth graders, fail to read at grade level.

Reality by reinforcing a child’s sense of self-worth, confidence, and exposing them to stories about children who look like them, share similar families, encourages them to develop the love of reading.

(excerpt from Alva Sachs, President of Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California. Read the article in its entirety here.)

MCBD is all about creating and identifying free divers book resources for parents, teachers, caregivers, and librarians. In 2017, we created our own published ebook that is packed with multicultural booklists from 20 children’s book bloggers and 2 children’s book authors in an effort to create a more definitive and easy-to-access guide. This ebook also works as a fundraiser for our FREE DIVERSE BOOKS FOR CLASSROOMS initiative. Every time an ebook is sold, the money is used to purchase a book to donate to a classroom in need. Check out our Read Your World: A Guide to Multicultural Children’s Books for Parents and Educators, on Amazon.

One hundred percent of proceeds go to fund our Classroom Book Program where we gift free diversity children’s books to teachers for their classroom libraries.

Read Your World: A Guide to Multicultural Children's Books for Parents and Educators

Action:

To date, MCBD has donated over 8,000 diverse children and Ya books to deserving readers, organizations, and schools via our free resources and fundraising.

FREE RESOURCES

During the months and weeks leading up to the online celebration, readers, parents, grandparents, teachers, caregivers, and librarians are encouraged to follow along via book reviews, author visits, event details, children’s book giveaways and more on the MCBD website. They are also encouraged to have their own reading and discussion time in the classroom or at home. Participants and supporters can also stay in the loop with the festivities via the event’s hashtag #ReadYourWorld on Twitter and other social media.

With the support of hundreds of book reviewers, dozens of sponsors, classrooms and other non-profit agencies like the Junior Library Guild and the Children’s Book Council, the MCBD team hopes to be able to continue to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature.

 

How Authors and Publishers can get Involved in MCBD

As you know, our online event/holiday takes the last Friday of every January so this year it will fall on 1/31/20 and this will be our SEVENTH Multicultural Children’s Book Day celebration! We would love to have you participate in our upcoming event and here are a few ways you can do so:

  1. Donate Books: For our next online event, we will have hundreds of book reviewers signed up to review diverse children’s books on their blogs or on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Authors and publishers have the option of offering copies of their multicultural children’s books to our reviewers to review and write a social media review about. There are no guarantees that we will be able to match your book to a reviewer(s), but if this interests you, let me know. We will provide you with names and addresses and you mail your book directly to the reviewer.

Go here to sign up as a book donator and send a copy diverse book to the below address. The book you send will then be donated to a classroom.

Becky Flansburg

MCBD

PO BOX 2814, Baxter MN 56425

**NOTE: We do not limit book reviewers to just bloggers. There are many book-lovers and educators who have vibrant social media channels we have opened up review options to include social media to give those who are not bloggers a chance to share books with their followers.

  1. Multiple options for Sponsorship: Sponsorship is not only a great way to support this event; it is an excellent way to get your name (and your books) in front of thousands of readers. All of our Sponsors get a name mention within the hundreds of reviews that get posted from December through to the end of January and also on the sites of our 20+ CoHosts sites. First consideration for matching books to reviewers always goes to our paid Sponsors first as well. Go here to learn more: https://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/sponsorship/sponsorship-info/

 

  1. Connect with us on social media and share, share, share! Our official hashtag is #ReadYourWorld

– Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay

– Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/readyourworldmcbd/

-Reminder: The hashtag for this event is #ReadYourWorld

  1. Review Books for Us: BOOK REVIEWERS, WE.Need. YOU.
    If you love diverse books for kids and have a social media platform to share a review on, we want to give you a FREE diversity book to review!

    AND…you don’t have to be a blogger to review multicultural children’s books for our MCBD2020 (1/31/20) online event. You just need to have a love of diversity in children’s literature and be willing to share on your social media platforms such as Facebook (Pages only-no Facebook profiles), Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube. We encourage honest Amazon reviews of assigned books whenever possible as well.

    SIGN UP HERE to be an MCBD2020 book reviewer ASAP and go HERE for the detailed explanation of what it means to be a valued book reviewer for our MCBD2020 celebration

    (Signup deadline is 12/15/19)

  2. Join our private Facebook Group: This group has grown and evolved into something very special. Feel free to join and connect with like-minded folks!

Follow us on Pinterest!

 

Social Media Shout-Outs for Diverse Children’s Book Authors

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We all have family favorites when it comes to books for kids. The ironic thing is that oftentimes some of our favorite books are from authors that are not household names or even have been published traditionally.

Hidden gems in the genre of multicultural children’s books lurk on every home’s bookshelves, but because many of these favorite authors don’t have huge marketing budgets, they remain a “best-kept secret” despite the fact they produce amazing diverse books for kids.

But Multicultural Children’s Book Day has come up with a fun and clever way to use our vibrant social media channels to shine the spotlight on diverse, multicultural, #OWNVOICES, and global-themed children’s books and authors. Our Friends of MCBD Social Shout-Out feature has been around for years, but sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of our other features, resources, and offerings.

Social Media Shout-Outs for Diverse Children’s Book Authors

Our Friends of MCBD Social Shout-Out feature is also a fundraiser that helps us continue our initiative of getting books into the hands of underserved readers and classrooms all.year.long. So, if you’d like to show some online love while also raising funds to support our cause, this $25 option is a unique and effective way to give a “shout-out” to your own books, or your favorite author’s.

The $25 Friends of Multicultural Children’s Book Day Social Shout Out

Anyone with a PayPal account can gift an online “shout-out” to an author friend who has a book with diversity themes. MCBD will then acknowledge the Social Shout-Out shout-out on their Twitter feed (over 13.5K followers), Instagram (over 9K followers) and Facebook as well.

Nominate and Donate HERE to support the cause and purchase a Friends of Multicultural Children’s Book Day Social Shout Out!

Friends of Multicultural Children's Book Day Social Shout Out

After checkout, contact Project Manager Becky to share who your shout-out should go out to. Becky (at) multiculturalchildrensbookday (dot) com.

Go HERE to support the cause and purchase your Friends of Multicultural Children’s Book Day Social Shout Out

BOOK REVIEWERS, WE.Need. YOU.

If you love diverse books for kids and have a social media platform to share a review on, we want to give you a FREE diversity book to review!

AND…you don’t have to be a blogger to review multicultural children’s books for our MCBD2020 (1/31/20) online event. You just need to have a love of diversity in children’s literature and be willing to share on your social media platforms such as Facebook (Pages only-no Facebook profiles), Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube. We encourage honest Amazon reviews of assigned books whenever possible as well.

SIGN UP HERE to be an MCBD2020 book reviewer ASAP and go HERE for the detailed explanation of what it means to be a valued book reviewer for our MCBD2020 celebration

(Signup deadline is 12/15/19)

On My Desk | More Great Diverse Books for Kids (the 2020 Version!)

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Back by popular demand! (kinda).

Actually, I’m not sure there’s demand at all…I just like sharing all the amazing diversity books that cross my (Becky) desk during the months leading up to Multicultural Children’s Book Day.

So, as we prepare for MCBD2020 (1/31/20), I am once again having many *mind, blown* moments as a steady stream of gorgeous multicultural books for kids and YA enter my workday.

SO..what in the world is “On My Desk” anyway?

This series got started because, with my role as Project Manager, I get to enjoy the avalanche of amazing multicultural books for kids that are donated to our project.  A good chunk of the year my office looks like a small bookstore and I love every second of it.

Being appreciative of every book that crosses my desk, I wanted to find a fun way to share those books with the loyal folks who show up here to read every week and support this non-profit. At that moment, On My Desk | #ReadYourWorld Kidlit Books was born! It’s my way of sharing some amazing titles that don’t always get the attention they deserve.

Here’s what the Mailman Book Fairy brought me this week:

EARTHWAVES By Michael Smith; Illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski



Akela is excited to embark on his first sailing canoe voyage with his wise Grandfather so they can trade with faraway neighboring islands. But their long journey across the open Pacific Ocean is risky, facing storms and sharks and fearing hunger or getting lost. Grandfather teaches young Akela how to pilot a trackless sea by using ancient methods of navigation based on observing natural signs—the stars, the sun, the ocean swells, and the birds.

Set in the 1500s, Earthwaves reveals the fascinating and little-known culture of the Pacific Islander seafarers, whose wayfinding techniques began thousands of years ago. It takes more than bravery to stay alive without compasses and charts. It takes knowledge and wisdom passed down from generation to generation.

¡TODOS A CELEBRAR! A Hispanic Customs & Traditions Alphabet Book

The second in Del Alma Press’ popular alphabet series, this bilingual children’s alphabet book showcases some of the most widely known Hispanic customs and traditions popular in both the US and Latin America. It helps children of all nationalities learn more about these customs and traditions that are so deeply rooted in the Hispanic way of life.

This book may be used as a read-aloud and shared reading, or for paired or independent reading in the upper elementary grades. Its purpose is twofold: to build background about Hispanic customs and traditions and to provide further discussion or extension of learning. Click here for more details.

The Yeti and the Jolly Lama: A Tale of Friendship

Gather around, children, and hear a tale from far-off Tibet, the fabled Land of Snows. Surely you have heard of it, the mountain home of the legendary Abominable Snowman.

How can we soothe the savage beasts of fear, aggression, and intolerance? “We do it together,” teaches American Buddhist teacher Lama Surya Das, in an authentic teaching tale from the high Himalayas. When the legendary yeti terrorizes a small Tibetan village, the local lama―a cave-dwelling, meditating hermit―shows us how generosity, patience, and a sense of belonging can turn an Abominable Snowman into an adorable one. With themes of resilience, interconnection, acceptance, and a subtle introduction to lovingkindness meditation, this story of spiritual friendship will awaken the hearts of children young and old.

Book of Ju’Anne Over the High Sea by Joan Ruffins

Ju’Anne’s dream has come to pass. She finally embraces her mother, but two days later has to kiss her goodbye as she boards the airplane for her new country. Trading one parent for the other is not an easy task. Book two is filled with adventures, excitement, and an appreciation for the simple things in life. Ju’Anne moves from a remote village in the countryside of Jamaica to one of the largest metropolitan cities in North America. Toronto, Canada opens her eyes, mind, and way of thinking. Celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and witnessing snow for the first time reminds Ju’Anne that anything is possible. She’s a dreamer and will continue to dream until all of her dreams come through. Come along as Ju’Anne continues on her journey from nothingness to nothing less.

What great diverse books have YOU discovered this week?

 

BOOK REVIEWERS, WE.Need. YOU.

If you love diverse books for kids and have a social media platform to share a review on, we want to give you a FREE diversity book to review!

AND…you don’t have to be a blogger to review multicultural children’s books for our MCBD2020 (1/31/20) online event. You just need to have a love of diversity in children’s literature and be willing to share on your social media platforms such as Facebook (Pages only-no Facebook profiles), Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube. We encourage honest Amazon reviews of assigned books whenever possible as well.

SIGN UP HERE to be an MCBD2020 book reviewer ASAP and go HERE for the detailed explanation of what it means to be a valued book reviewer for our MCBD2020 celebration

(Signup deadline is 12/15/19)

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