Please meet author and illustrator, Sivan Hong! She writes and illustrates the Super Fun Day Book series about neurodiverse kids. Avery G. and the Scary End of School is her newest book!
Tennessee State Bill to Ban Books and Criminalize Librarians
Guest post by Andrew Maraniss
Last week, Tennessee school librarians held their annual breakfast reception at the state legislature, setting up tables piled with cinnamon rolls, scones, and coffee.
Only a few legislators dropped by. Instead, they sent over assistants to load up paper plates to bring back to their offices.
That wasn’t surprising. If I were a member of Tennessee’s Republican supermajority, I’d be embarrassed to show my face around school librarians, too.
Drunk on power and buzzed on culture-war adrenaline in a mid-term election year, Tennessee Republicans have introduced bills to ban books in K-12 schools that “address” or “normalize” LGBTQ people or issues, to criminalize school librarians for carrying supposedly “obscene” books, and to ban the discussion of “divisive” concepts such as race even at state universities.
IG Live Series for #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth
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 Reflections by Lydia Wayman
What Your Autistic Student Wants You to Know
Picture books featuring diverse moms, dads, and families.
Picture books featuring diverse moms, dads, and families.
Guest post by Carol Gordon Ekster
The story behind Some Daddies is that on 12/17/17 my husband and I were Facetiming with my grandson. He noticed my husband had shaved, said his daddy shaved but has a beard so he’s going to have a beard when he gets older because he’s going to be a daddy. I said…”Some daddies have beards..” I paused, my writing brain ignited, to write down that title and started working on a draft soon after that. Exactly one year to the day, I saw on the submittable that Beaming Books was interested. I had put a pitch on Twitter for #pbpitch on 10/25/18 “SOME DADDIES-a concept PB with heart…” Naomi Krueger from Beaming Books hearted my pitch and the rest is history! It is dedicated to my grandson who planted the idea and to my amazing dad, who passed away before he got to see the final book. With a “windows-to-the-world cover” this rollicking showcase of daddies celebrates the incredible diversity of modern fathers. Every daddy is different–and that makes them even more special! [Read more…]
Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth
{Post written by Jodi Murphy}
Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources
We are in the midst of a paradigm shift when it comes to understanding and learning about autism. It’s happening thanks to the growing numbers of autistic and neurodiverse individuals who are finding their voices, telling the world about their firsthand experiences, and speaking out about: [Read more…]
#OwnVoices Autism book by Adriana White, an Autistic Librarian #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth
15 Books for Kids and Young Adults by Autistic Authors
Guest post by Adriana White
As an autistic librarian, I’m often asked if I can recommend any good books about autism. And I certainly can! I really enjoy sharing book recommendations, because one, I love supporting my favorite authors and their amazing books. And two, I believe that we have to provide kids with a wide variety of books that can serve (as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop wrote) as windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors into the diverse world in which we live. [Read more…]
Sky-Diving to Success Through the Sliding Glass Doors of Picture Books
Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout the whole month and we are thrilled to share with you this guest post by author Vivian Kirkfield.
SKY-DIVING TO SUCCESS
THROUGH THE SLIDING GLASS DOORS OF PICTURE BOOKS
I had a lucky childhood.
I didn’t have to worry about food or shelter or safety. And growing up on the Lower East Side of New York City, I learned early on that people came in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I didn’t need books to introduce me to different cultures – I just played with the neighborhood kids – their family backgrounds spanned the globe. [Read more…]
10th Year Monthly Celebration Giveaway and MCBD Updates
10th Year Monthly Celebration Giveaway
I remember when Multicultural Children’s Book Day started 9 years ago. There was so much excitement because the vision of two amazing book-loving moms Valarie Budayr from Audrey Press Books and Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom was coming to fruition. It was really happening on January 27th, 2012. A day to not only raise awareness around kid’s books that celebrate diversity but also get more of these types of books into classrooms and libraries. [Read more…]
World Folktales and Fables Week: 2022 Edition
{Guest Post by Language Lizard}
World Folktales and Fables Week: 2022 Edition
Every March, Language Lizard celebrates World Folktales and Fables Week in order to highlight the benefits of these straightforward stories. This year, it takes place from March 20th to 26th. This event is dedicated to encouraging children and adults to explore the lessons and cultural background of folktales, fables, myths and legends from around the world.
Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs!
Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs!
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 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 the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Team has come up with a fun and clever way to use our vibrant social media channels to show children’s book authors some online love and while also raising funds to support our Free Diverse Books for Classrooms Project!
MCBD Social Stats
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