Our July Flash Sale is Over, but here’s what upcoming at MCBD

August 8, 2019 by Valarie Budayr Leave a Comment

Our much-anticipated July Flash Sale on Author and Platinum Level Sponsorships has just wrapped and we are over-the-moon excited to welcome PLATINUM Sponsors for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020; Language Lizard and Pack-n-Go-Girls!

Both are long-time supporters of MCBD and both offer amazing books for parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians.

If you missed the sale; don’t despair! All Sponsorship levels for MCBD2020 will reopen September 1, 2019, and you can lock in your spot at that time.

Author Sponsors for MCBD2020 (with more to come!)

We’d also give a round of applause to returning, and new, Author Sponsors Audrey R. Bey, Eugina Chu, Fathers Incorporated/Kenneth Braswell, Maritza M. Mejia, Kathy Burkinshaw, Josh Funk, Bollywood Groove, Lauren Muskovitz, The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! by Sharon Chappell, Phe Lang, Afsaneh Moradian, Valerie Williams-Sanchez, TUMBLE CREEK PRESS, Nancy Tupper Ling, Gwendolyn Jackson, Angeliki Pedersen, Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Mia Wenjen and The #OWN VOICES ebook, Susan Bernardo, Ann Morris, Janet Balletta, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, Shoumi Sen, and Sarah Stevenson.

And this is just the beginning! Stay tuned to see what other amazing diverse authors, publishers, and organizations join us in the coming months for the seventh Multicultural Children’s Book Day on January 31, 2020.

New on the Blog

In case you missed it, Part 2 of our Kidlit Books that Share Physical and Developmental Challenges is live on the MCBD blog. Go HERE to read the list and discover new diverse books for your home or classroom bookshelf.

Like we mentioned in the previous post about our new 2019/2020 Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Kit-Understand and Celebrate our Differences, we encountered more amazing books on these topics than we had room for in the final Kit!

PART ONE of this bonus list can be found HERE.

Our Latest FREE Classroom Kit

Creating this downloadable kit has been eye-opening and educational and we’ve done our best to pass the lessons on to those who welcome this kit into their classrooms and homes.

Don’t forget to download your FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit as well.

Our FREE Classroom Kit contains:

~ Classroom Books that will help Readers Understand Physical and Developmental Challenges for ages 4 -12

~ Classroom or Home Activities

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

~Helpful Physical and Developmental Challenge Talking Points for Teachers

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

Kidlit Books that Share Physical and Developmental Challenges {Part 2}

July 17, 2019 by Valarie Budayr

ADHD
Allergies
Anxiety/Separation Anxiety
Asthma
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Cancer
Charcot Marie Tooth
Cerebral Palsy
Cystic Fibrosis
Deaf/Partial Hearing Loss
Degenerative Diseases
Diabetes
Disfiguration
Down Syndrome
Dyslexia
Epilepsy
Glasses
Limb Differences
Mental Illness
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Person with Albinism
Person with Brain Injury
Physical Disabilities involving Walking
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Prosthetic Implants
Sensory Processing
Someone Who Uses a Wheelchair
Someone with an Alcohol Problem
Someone with Dwarfism
Spinal Disorders
Speech and Language Difficulties
Tourette Syndrome
Visual Impairment

So instead of not sharing all of these wonderful book recommends within the already robust kit, we thought we would share them as a bonus Kidlit Books that Share Physical and Developmental Challenges. Below is “Part 2” of this project and “Part 1” can be found here.

Autism

No One Needed to Know by D.G. Driver

Heidi’s older brother, Donald, is 16 and autistic. She has always loved playing with him, but now she’s 11 and her life is changing. She’s embarrassed to have her brother around and doesn’t want her friends to know about him. High school boys bully him. When the kids at her school find out about him, she gets bullied too.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskin

This book is the rare YA book that addresses the subject of autism. Caitlin has Asperger’s. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon was killed in a school shooting, and Caitlin’s dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn’t know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure–and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be so black and white after all.

Chronic Illness

Tiger Livy by Erin Garcia and Betsy Miller

This book is about dealing with a serious, chronic illness as a young child. Tiger Livy” is the story of a brave six-year-old who inspires empathy, patience, and grit in young readers. It was created for children struggling with chronic illness.

Livy is a vibrant, clever little girl who usually loves to play and pounce like a tiger. That is until one day when she unexpectedly gets very sick. Now Livy isn’t able to play the same, she doesn’t feel like herself, and some of her friends treat her differently.

Finding inspiration from her favorite feline, Livy transforms her mindset and takes on the monumental task of mentally and emotionally healing from chronic illness.

Epilepsy

Sometimes I Get the Wiggles — Be an Epilepsy Seizure Hero! by Andee Cooper

Kannon is a little boy with a form of epilepsy that sometimes gives him the wiggles, and when that happens, just like Jell-O, his whole body jiggles. Kannon would very much like to go to school with everyone else his age, but he worries his condition might scare the other children away. After much thought, he comes up with an idea to enlist and train all of his classmates as Seizure Heroes as a way of helping his teacher and his fellow students see him through each school day. Based on a true story and written by Kannon’s mother.

Explaining Mental Illness to Kids

The Face at the Window by Regina Hanson

This is best for mid to upper elementary as it is about lady kids are afraid of and think she is evil until the girl’s mom explains that she has a mental illness and her “mind plays tricks on her.”

“Hidden Disabilities” (food allergies, anxiety, depression)

(depression) The Colour Thief by Andrew Peters and Molly Peters

A child recounts his experience of losing his father to depression in this poignant and beautifully illustrated picture book. The boy’s father disappears into a world without color. As the father seeks help, color begins to reappear and with it hope. An ideal book for parents and caregivers to share with children to help them make sense of the devastating effects that depression can cause.

(anxiety) Please Explain Anxiety to Me! By Laurie Zelinger

This book translates anxiety from the jargon of psychology into concrete experiences that children can relate to. Children and their parents will understand the biological and emotional components of anxiety responsible for the upsetting symptoms they experience. Please Explain Anxiety to Me, 2nd Edition gives accurate physiological information in child-friendly language. A colorful dinosaur story explains the link between brain and body functioning, followed by practical therapeutic techniques that children can use to help themselves.

The Worry Woo Series by Dr. John Irvine

Determining whether your child is frustrated is not as simple as saying If you re frustrated and you know it clap your hands! Often the problem is covered up by temper tantrums, sulkiness, acting out and tears. So what is a parent to do? Wearing his psychological cape “Superhero”, Child-Psychologist, Dr. John Irvine, has come to save the day! With his new book Helping Young Children Manage Frustration & Anger, the respected Australian icon has come to the aid of distraught parents and educators. Dr. John has accomplished this by teaming up with WorryWoo creator, Andi Green, to create their second companion book to her WorryWoo Monster series. This time educator/ psychologist, Irvine , concentrates on Twitch, The Monster of Frustration. He begins by explaining that frustration cannot be pigeonholed into a one size fits all classification. Instead, Dr. Irvine explains how each child may display a different set of behaviors. To find out if your child is frustrated, the author has devised a series of behavioral assessment questions. Once you have completed these and determined which type of Twitch you re dealing with, you ‘re on your way to making use of the given exercises for his/her specific needs. Subtitled A practical guide for parents and educators to help their little Twitches, this book presents delightful drawings, fun exercises and competent information for parents and teachers. It offers an opportunity to see your child in a different light, deal with minor issues before they become problems, and most importantly, creates a positive shared experience!

Physical Disabilities involving Walking

Hip, Hop, Hooray for Brooklynn! by Jill Harold

This book is about having fun working toward movement goals while wearing an orthopedic (clubfoot) brace, This upbeat story is about Brooklynn, a little bunny who loves to hop. Brooklynn wears a brace at night, but she is determined to learn how to hop rope in time for the Hippity Hop Games. Armed with hop rope rhymes and a can-do attitude, Brooklynn shows that persistence pays off and can be a lot of fun.

What book recommends would you like to share?

The Author/Platinum Sponsorship July Flash Sale has BEGUN!

It’s time!

Back by popular demand is our MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship July Flash Sale! And this year, we are throwing in a special deal on Platinum Level Sponsorships as well (limit of 3)!

Planning for MCBD2020 is already underway and we can’t help being in awe as to how far this non-profit initiative has come.

Mission: Raise awareness for children’s books that celebrate diversity by getting more of these books into classrooms and libraries. Multicultural Children’s Book Day is celebrated on the last Friday of January. 2020 will be our 7th year and our much-anticipated Twitter Party on the day of the celebration grows bigger (and more fun!) every year.

From October through February, Multicultural Children’s Book Day is especially active on social media and the buzz surrounding this event gets national even global support and recognition. The whirlwind that is Multicultural Children’s Book Day is a proven way to get books into the hands of young readers while also raising awareness with parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians.

We know Author Sponsorship is an amazing and powerful way for Authors to get visibility and readership for their work. Last year’s July Flash Sale was huge success and authors and publisher appreciated the cost savings.

NOTE: Medallion Level Sponsorship options for MCBD2020 (1/31/20) will be available by September 1, 2019…but in the meantime…

Lock in your MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship during the July Flash Sale!

The differences between MCBD’s Sponsored Posts and Sponsorship Levels

July 13, 2019 by Valarie Budayr

Its no secret that Multicultural Children’s Book Day is committed and passionate about shining the spotlight on diverse and multicultural kids’ and YA books in as many creative ways as possible.

Over the years, we’ve worked hard to fine-tune our paid offerings so that they give our authors, publishers, and organizations the most “bang for their buck.” Spreading the word of diverse books, authors, publishers, and resources in the most effective ways possible is what we strive for on a daily basis.

To date, our two most popular and effective options are our Sponsored Post Program and our yearly Sponsorship Level opportunities. We’d love to spread the word of diversity in children’s literature via either a Sponsored Post or a Sponsorship Level for MCBD2020, but we also know that figuring out the difference between the two can be confusing!

With that in mind, here are some of the differences between the two:

The differences between MCBD’s Sponsored Posts and Sponsorship Levels

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS for MCBD2020:

*Sponsorships are only offered from October to January 1 of any given year and are a unique marketing tool to help authors, publishers, and organizations to tap into the HUGE momentum and buzz that surrounds our on and offline event. MCBD2020 is on 1/31/20, but things really start to get exciting and crazy around November 1.

*As part of your Sponsorship for MCBD2020, you will be matched with as many reviewers as you would like. We have a huge pool of over 800 people who sign up to get a free diverse book (supplied by you) and they, in turn, share their review and thoughts of your book on their own social media channels during the month of January.

*The buzz during our holiday is enormous and our hashtag #ReadYourWorld has historically trended on Twitter during the celebration day.
*If you choose a Medallion level Sponsorship, your logo and 2-3 book cover images become part of our active Pinterest Pinning initiative (Pinterest is a huge traffic driver for us)

*You will have a listing and links on either our Medallion Level Sponsor Page or Author Level (whichever level you choose) and that information will remain on our site for one year.

*If you choose a Medallion Level (Platinum through Bronze) your linked logo will appear on the sidebar of the MCBD site and stay there for one year.

*Your information is promoted and shared via social media from the moment you sign up and the promotion of your book or business will become heavier as the online celebration nears.

*GO HERE to download our Sponsorship Packet so you will have deeper details and rates.

As always, don’t hesitate to email me (Becky (at) MulticulturalChildrensBookDay (dot) com) if you have any questions. We are always available to help our participant SHINE and gain traction in the diverse children and YA book world.

We look forward to working with you!

The Author/Platinum Sponsorship July Flash Sale has BEGUN!

It’s time!

Back by popular demand is our MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship July Flash Sale! And this year, we are throwing in a special deal on Platinum Level Sponsorships as well (limit of 3)!

Planning for MCBD2020 is already underway and we can’t help being in awe as to how far this non-profit initiative has come.

NOTE: Medallion Level Sponsorship options for MCBD2020 (1/31/20) will be available by September 1, 2019…but in the meantime…

Lock in your MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship during the July Flash Sale!

9 Kidlit Books that Share Physical and Developmental Challenges {Part 1}

July 10, 2019 by Rebecca Flansburg

Recently, the MCBD Team has spent considerable time creating our 5th Free Classroom Kit for Teachers, Librarians, and parents to utilize. The theme of the 2019/2020 Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Kit is Understand and Celebrate our Differences. We’ve replaced our previous title, “Understanding and Celebrating People with Disabilities,” after learning that this isn’t correct language.

Creating this downloadable kit has been eye-opening and educational and we’ve done our best to pass the lessons on to those who welcome this kit into their classrooms and homes.

Understand and Celebrate our Differences

Within this free downloadable Classroom Kit, you will find books and resource links for:

ADHD
Allergies
Anxiety/Separation Anxiety
Asthma
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Cancer
Charcot Marie Tooth
Cerebral Palsy
Cystic Fibrosis
Deaf/Partial Hearing Loss
Degenerative Diseases
Diabetes
Disfiguration
Down Syndrome
Dyslexia
Epilepsy
Glasses
Limb Differences
Mental Illness
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Person with Albinism
Person with Brain Injury
Physical Disabilities involving Walking
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Prosthetic Implants
Sensory Processing
Someone Who Uses a Wheelchair
Someone with an Alcohol Problem
Someone with Dwarfism
Spinal Disorders
Speech and Language Difficulties
Tourette Syndrome
Visual Impairment

Since this is a huge topic, we’d appreciate any suggestions you have on rounding out this list!

Go HERE to download your FREE Classroom Kit.

Bonus Special Needs and Disabilities Booklist {PART 1}

As you can imagine, the pool of amazing books to pull from that showcase the above topics was HUGE. There were many hours of discussion and decision-making that took place and the final result was a fine-tuned list of books and resources.

HOWEVER, there are many more books that we simply did not have room for in the kit so we’d like to offer a Bonus Booklist! Enjoy.

Allergies

Avril Knows by Ginny Heenen offers a positive message by showing Avril how she is seen through the eyes of an artist who paints her portrait. Avril loves learning new magic tricks. She also has an uncanny way of noticing details and things that other people don’t, and that makes her good at magic. When her parents decide to have her portrait painted Avril imagines herself as a proud magician. However, Avril learns through the eyes of the artist that her allergies are not a bad thing, but instead make her more powerful and special than she ever imagined.

Autism

Anatomy of Autism: A Pocket Guide for Educators, Parents and Students by Diego Pena.

Diego is a nine-year-old non-verbal author who has written the bestseller book, Anatomy of Autism: A Pocket Guide for Educators, Parents, and Students, with a goal of delivering a message that shatters misconceptions about autism

Cancer

The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! by Sharon Chappell, PhD, Associate Professor of Education, CSUF, and Director, Little Green Monster Project.

What happens when someone you love is diagnosed with cancer? In this inspiring story written by a breast cancer survivor, The Little Green Monster helps Marie and her family survive and thrive through her mother’s treatment. The book includes how to express feelings, cancer vocabulary, as well as family cancer resources and activities. The book explores the questions like: what can you expect while the loved one goes through treatment? While science does its work, what can love and everyday magic do to help? “The Little Green Monster donates free book copies to families impacted by cancer. Copies also available through the website for purchase. Partial proceeds of sales are donated to Susan G. Komen Orange County.

“This book provides a meaningful tool for teachers, daycare providers, counselors, or anyone who works with children whose lives are impacted by cancer or other illnesses. Every day students walk through the doors of our schools bearing enormous burdens. The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! can comfort them and be a source of hope.” -Laurel Estrada, Family Resource Center Coordinator, Rowland Heights School District

Cerebral Palsy

S.M.A.R.T.S. and the 3-D Danger by Melinda Metz

This book is an inclusive story as the protagonist is Jaden, a male middle school student with cerebral palsy. [chapter book, ages 8-11]

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

The Secrets Hidden Beneath the Palm Tree by Angeliki Pedersen

This early childhood book is written from a mother’s point of view with the purpose of helping hard of hearing or deaf children and their families at the critical mainstream stage. When young children get exposed to differences in others, they learn tolerance, empathy and create new ways of learning. [picture books for ages 4 and up]

Ranvir Cannot Hear by Genevieve Yusuf and Shermain Philip

Ranvir Cannot Hear is a magical story set in the plains of India and is about a little elephant that goes on a long journey in search of his hearing. On his travels he meets some wonderful friends along the way who can’t do certain things but tell him about the things that they can! Ranvir even finds out he has a special talent too… This is a beautifully illustrated children’s story with a message of inclusion and empowerment. Learn to find out what you can do and don’t worry about what you can’t. [picture book, ages 5-8]

Waiting for a Sign by Etsy Schachter

Shelly and Ian used to be close, but after Ian leaves home to attend the Hawthorne School for the Deaf, Shelly feels abandoned, and the two drift apart.

When Ian returns home with news that the future of Hawthorne is in jeopardy, Shelly isn’t sure she wants him back. And Ian, who has enjoyed living with students and staff who sign all the time, feels angry when his family forgets to do the same.

An explosive argument that could drive brother and sister further apart actually offers hope for reconciliation—a hope that grows as Shelly’s spirited best friend, Lisa, helps strengthen their bond.

The siblings grow closer still when they find themselves coping with an unexpected tragedy. To fully heal her relationship with Ian, however, Shelly needs to acknowledge and understand why Hawthorne—and access to the Deaf community—is so important to him. To do so, she’ll need to take action and stop waiting for a sign.

Written by clinical social worker Esty Schachter, Waiting for a Sign celebrates the beauty and power of Deaf culture, offering readers an opportunity for insight and understanding. [chapter book, ages 10+]

Down Syndrome

The Colorful Adventures of Pauline and Tiff by Megan Cooper and Nicolette Stearns

Megan is a young adult with Downs Syndrome; she narrated the story to Nicolette Stearns. It is about a girl with Down syndrome and her neurotypical friend.

Culture of Life: 5 Picture Books about Downs Syndrome

Mental Illness/Depression

Meh: A Book About Depression by Deborah Malcolm

Sadness is an emotion that everyone feels at some time or another. But sometimes you might feel a sadness so long and so deep and dark that it seems impossible to find happiness. That kind of sadness is called depression. Meh is a wordless picture book about one boy’s journey through depression. Discussion questions at the back of the book are intended for parents or teachers to discuss depression with children.

OCD

Waiting for Fitz by Spencer Hyde

Fitz is haunted by the voices in his head and often doesn’t know what is real. But he feels if he can convince Addie to help him escape the psych ward and get to San Juan Island, everything will be okay. If not, he risks falling into a downward spiral that may keep him in the hospital indefinitely.

Waiting for Fitz is a story about life and love, forgiveness and courage, and learning what is truly worth waiting for.

Stay tuned for Part Two of this project!

Together the MCBD team hopes to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature We encourage readers, parents, teachers, caregivers and librarians to follow along the fun book reviews, author visits, event details, multicultural children’s book linky and via our hashtag (#ReadYourWorld) on Twitter and other social media.

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

The Author/Platinum Sponsorship July Flash Sale has BEGUN!

It’s time!

Back by popular demand is our MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship July Flash Sale! And this year, we are throwing in a special deal on Platinum Level Sponsorships as well (limit of 3)!

Planning for MCBD2020 is already underway and we can’t help being in awe as to how far this non-profit initiative has come.

NOTE: Medallion Level Sponsorship options for MCBD2020 (1/31/20) will be available by September 1, 2019…but in the meantime…

Lock in your MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship during the July Flash Sale!

The Author/Platinum Sponsorship July Flash Sale has BEGUN!

July 1, 2019 by Valarie Budayr

It’s time!

Back by popular demand is our MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship July Flash Sale! And this year, we are throwing in a special deal on Platinum Level Sponsorships as well (limit of 3)!

Planning for MCBD2020 is already underway and we can’t help being in awe as to how far this non-profit initiative has come.

NOTE: Medallion Level Sponsorship options for MCBD2020 (1/31/20) will be available by September 1, 2019…but in the meantime…

Lock in your MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship during the July Flash Sale!

Join our mailing list and stay in the loop!

Email address:

This Is the Earth: A Diverse Picture Book about Love, Respect, and Inclusion

June 26, 2019 by Rebecca Flansburg

Deirdre “DeeDee” Cummings has been a long-time supporter of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and as the years tick forward, we continue to be blown away by the talent, passion, and tenacity of this multi-book diverse author.

Her business, Make a Way Media, offers everything from workshops to journals to inspire creativity in kids; creativity founded in writing and reading.

When DeeDee was our first ever Super Platinum Sponsor for MCBD2019, she had NINE beautiful, diverse picture, poetry, and coloring books to her credit. As of May of 2019, book #10 has been revealed to the world, and this book shares an ultra-important message that the world needs to hear.

A new Diverse Picture Book | This is the Earth

This is the Earth is a book about peace, love, respect, compassion, and inclusion. This message bears repeating: peace is meant for all of us. Kids and adults will love the lyrical message and thoughtful artwork all about this planet as our home and every human being as our neighbor and family.

When asked what her inspiration for this unique diverse picture book for kids was, DeeDee had this to say:

“I watch a lot of news shows. Many people in my life have told me to give it up- just to walk away from it.,” she recalled. “But I have not been able to do so because I want to hear what is going on and to stay updated and gather facts for myself. However, it does take a toll at times. Some of the stories we hear now can be devastating and can negatively affect your mindset. Some of the stories stay with you, and you can find yourself overwhelmed. One day I turned the TV off, and I was sitting at the end of my bed staring out a window. I was watching trees blow in the wind, and these words came to me like a prayer. I was praying, ‘Please show us how to live on the Earth as the family we were meant to be on this beautiful home we were given.’”

Deedee reflected on a scene in This Is The Earth where a seagull (a species that is typically considered a “pesty” animal) has a six-pack ring around its neck. The seagull is clearly in distress and it seems so simple to walk up and remove the ring. “This is the reality of our world, and how humans treat the Mother Earth and all that inhabits this planet. We see images on the news of whales washing up on beaches filled with trash and sea birds unable to eat because of discarded fishing line wrapped around their beaks.”

“I had these stories churning in my head about school shootings, Black Lives Matter, family separation, and so many others,” she added. “I thought, ‘how hard is it to step in and remove the ring?’ If I tell you I can’t fly with this ring around my neck…why is that threatening to some people? It should not even be threatening to the people who are addicted to soda. But somehow, in our country, it is. Somehow we have grown comfortable with saying, ‘It is my right to drink soda, and if the consequence is, someone, ends up with a six-pack ring around their neck, well that’s for them to handle not me.’

That is the literal argument, and it is frustrating because removing the ring, or preventing the ring from ending up there in the first place is not that hard, but yet, here we are. In polarizing positions where only two arguments are heard: ban soda forever or let the seagulls suffer and die. And everyone on the opposite sides thinks the people on the other side are horrible people. That is where we are.”

She went on to share that the powerful message (one that kids and adults alike can comprehend) is that the care and feeding of Mother Earth is everyone’s duty. Today it seems as though being a steward of protecting and honoring the world in which we live is like the storm that everyone sees in the distance… but isn’t worried about because “it won’t affect me…”

But it does.

How we treat our Earth, and all who inhabit our Earth, does affect us and all of our generations to come.

This is the Earth is the perfect catalyst for opening dialogues with kids, adults, communities, and thought leaders to step up and care about everything around us.

Kids and adults will love the lyrical message and thoughtful artwork all about this planet as our home and every human being as our neighbor and family.

Learn more about This is the Earth on Make A Way Media’s website.

Deirdre “Deedee” Cummings is the founder of Make A Way Media and the author of ten diverse children’s books including, Heart, My Trip to the Beach, If A Caterpillar Can Fly, Why Can’t I, My Dad’s Job, Love Is…,Think of It Like This!, Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess, and I Want To Be a Bennett Belle.

As a therapist, attorney, author, and mom, Deirdre “Deedee” Cummings is passionate about passing down the life lessons that were instilled in her by her beloved mom. All ten of DeeDee’s diverse picture, poetry, and workbooks for kids has threads of her professional knowledge running through them as well. Colorful and vibrant, her books for kids are not only fun to read, but they also work to teach coping skills, reinforce the universal message for love for all, and encourage mindfulness and inclusion. She has spent more than two decades working with families and centers much of her writing around her experience working with kids in therapeutic foster care. Her stories are filled with positive and hopeful messages. DeeDee also uses therapeutic techniques in her stories to teach coping skills and lessen the stigma some people feel about receiving mental health assistance.

A diverse picture book timeline from Make A Way Media:

2014 Love Is…Love Is is a charming children’s book that shares a valuable message: that love is a gift meant to be shared by every being. Filled with beautiful illustrations and a stunning palette, this book is poetry in words and color.

2015 Think of it Like This! A book about reframing bad situations. This book teaches therapeutic skills such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy to demonstrate the essential lessons of self-control and perspective building.

2015 My Trip to the Beach: Just like adults, children can have bad days too. The good news is that, just like adults, children can better cope with stress by learning and practicing mindfulness.

2015 Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess A series about a little brown girl who never let anything get in her way. Children of all backgrounds love this story that follows a mom and daughter as they learn together about life, love, respect, and what matters most.

2016 I Want to be a Bennett Belle In this endearing children’s story, a smart and curious little girl asks her grandmother what she hoped to be when she was growing up. From there, another future Bennett Belle is born. After her grandma begins sharing the story of how she became the woman she was meant to be, the young girl learns all about the mission of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina: to instill each of its students with self-respect, confidence, compassion, pride, and preparation to compete as a professional in an ever-changing world. As the little girl falls in love with the spirit, sisterhood, and legacy of Bennett College, she discovers it is never too early to think about higher education or becoming the best woman she can be.

2016 My Dad’s Job: My Dad’s Job shares a powerful message about the value of parenting with love, direction, purpose, modeling, and consistency.

2016 Heart: Lyrically and visually beautiful, Heart is a book for ALL ages and ALL walks of life. Heart reminds us that when we close our hearts from fear, we close off other emotions like love, peace, joy, and happiness. Heart was inspired by the children the author serves who are in foster care.

2017 If A Caterpillar Can Fly, Why Can’t I: This book is a coloring and an activity book. Kids struggle with screen time and esteem issues at a higher rate than ever before. This book helps parents and caregivers discuss these issues in a way that kids will be more receptive and open to hearing this message. There are many activities to help guide children through an internal dialogue that reinforces how special they are. Many schools have used this book in their girls’ groups as a fun, therapeutic, and creative way to discuss sensitive topics that are facing our children today.

2019 Like Rainwater: A book that is also a coloring and activity book. Like Rain Water is a tribute to Deedee’s mother, Andrea Mast Pecchioni who passed away in 2003 from breast cancer. This is a story all about hope, love, kindness, and compassion- including the compassion you show yourself. Adult and educators will also find here are therapeutic techniques covered in this book that will help kids and adults with issues such as depression, self-defeating behaviors, and emotion regulation.

2019 This is the Earth A book about peace/ love. Respect, compassion, and inclusion

When asked why is diversity in children’s literature important to her, DeeDee had these exceptional thoughts to share.

“I grew up in a time where there were no characters in kid’s books that looked like me and even back then I knew how important it was to see yourself in a book,” DeeDee added. “To be recognized and validated is a way to share with the world the fact that you are no different from us, you are just as special, and your story matters. That is most crucial to me- that little kids see themselves and their story in a book. But also, I believe in the power of diverse books and what they can do to help build esteem in an individual and better relationships among people.

Diverse books are not written for black people. Diverse books are not just about a brown person seeing a brown character, or a character with a disability, or a character who just does not look, think or act like what we think is typical because it is all we know. Diverse books are written for all of us. We all need to see and hear diverse characters and diverse stories because it helps grow an understanding of each other and it builds empathy and compassion for what others go through. Diversity in children’s literature should be important to all of us.”

Connect with DeeDee via her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

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A time to celebrate and support the visibility of LGBTQIA folks

June 22, 2019 by Valarie Budayr

Guest post by Author, Afsaneh Moradian

Happy Pride Month! As people march and hold events about the history and struggles of the LBGTQIA community for equality and civil rights, it’s also a time to celebrate and support the visibility of LGBTQIA folks.

Much of the spirit of Pride this year is to highlight that gender is more complex and open than we think and that dividing people into men and women don’t cut it anymore.

Over the past few years, young people have taken discussions about gender in a whole new direction — declaring themselves gender neutral, gender non-conforming, non-binary, gender fluid, and transgender.

Too many of us adults are lagging behind our kids. We continue to fall back on old definitions of gender and gender stereotypes. There are so many princesses for young girls to emulate, while boys are directed towards superheroes. When we buy presents, store aisles stocked with color-coded boxes tell us to buy that baby doll or craft project for a girl and that action figure or robot for a boy.

I am proud to be the author of Jamie is Jamie: A Book About Being Yourself and Playing Your Own Way. A book that challenges gender stereotypes and gives kids the freedom to be who they are and play whatever they want.

Whenever I give readings, I tend to get similar reactions from the audience. The kids want to know if Jamie is a boy or a girl but think that both boys and girls can play like Jamie (with baby dolls and action figures). Usually, one or two kids will suggest that Jamie is transgender like another child they know. In general, they think Jamie is a fun kid who they would like to have as a friend.

The reactions that stand out to me from the adults are the parents of transgender children who thank me for writing a book that supports their kids and gives them a place to be represented and respected.

I also hear from so many women who relate to Jamie because they were labeled “tomboys” when they were kids for not being interested in “girl” toys. I also see knowing recognition in the faces of many men who tell me they were made fun of as kids for wanting to care for a baby doll or just play with everything in the classroom as Jamie does in the book. And, there are folks who just couldn’t ever feel like they belonged because they didn’t fit into the “girl” or “boy” mold.

I think that during this Pride month we should keep in mind that kids don’t need us to tell them what they should play with or who they should be. Kids today are figuring that out just fine for themselves. What they need from us is to respect, celebrate, and love them so they can be confident in who they are and who they will grow up to be.

About Afsaneh

Author Afsaneh Moradian

Afsaneh Moradian has loved writing stories, poetry, and plays since childhood. After receiving her master’s in education, she took her love of writing into the classroom where she began teaching children how to channel their creativity. Her passion for teaching has lasted for over fifteen years. Afsaneh now guides students and teachers (and her young daughter) in the art of writing.

Connect with Afsaneh via her website or on YouTube and Twitter. Check out the fun Q&A MCBD did with her here.

One more thing…

Through color-coding in stores, kids “learn” which toys are “supposed” to be for girls or boy. Pink and yellow toys are considered “girly” and anything blue or dark green is obviously for boys, right? What about the toys themselves? Can boys play with dolls and girls play with trucks?

Of course, they can! And that’s the open-minded thinking that is captured in my children’s picture book, Jamie is Jamie.

I wrote Jamie is Jamie for my daughter who’d been told that only boys can play a superhero. My daughter and every other child deserve a book that gives them permission to be free to play and explore their own way-not the way everyone “thinks they should.”

I created my book to challenge gender stereotypes and encourage children to make play choices based on their interests. And because playing is fundamental to learning, I’ve created a special section in Jamie is Jamie for teachers, parents, and caregivers where they can find tips on how to make kids’ playtime learning time.

Get the scoop on Jamie is Jamie on Amazon or FreeSpiritPress.com

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The 2020 Platinum Level & Author Sponsor July Flash Sale is COMING

June 15, 2019 by Valarie Budayr

Our much-anticipated July 1^st Flash Sale for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is not far off so…

Mark.Your.Calendars!

During the July Flash Sale, the Author Sponsorship price of $129 will be slashed to $89 for Author sponsorships purchased in July for MCBD2020—that’s a 30% savings!

NEW THIS YEAR-During this popular sale we are also offering our Platinum Level Sponsorship (limit of 3) at a very, very special sale price as well. Between July 1 and July 31, 2019, our usual Platinum Sponsor price is slashed from $1579 to $1105.00. That’s a 30% savings!

PLUS, we’ve added some new perks to our Platinum Level Sponsorship for MCBD2020. You can view those perks and others here.

Remember:

The sale doesn’t begin until July 1^st and it will end July 31, 2019, so watch your Inbox and social media for the announcements.
Your 2020 Platinum or Author Sponsorship info will not be loaded on to the Sponsor Pages and visible to the public until September 1^st, 2019. Sponsors will be added in the order in which they paid (re: early buyers will be towards the TOP of the page!)
There are only THREE Platinum Level Sponsorships available for MCBD2020. First come, first serve!

GO HERE to download our Sponsorship Packet and see what your Platinum or Author Sponsorship for 2020 will include.

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Author Sponsors for MCBD2020 (with more to come!)

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The differences between MCBD’s Sponsored Posts and Sponsorship Levels

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Understand and Celebrate our Differences

Bonus Special Needs and Disabilities Booklist {PART 1}

Allergies

Autism

Cancer

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The Author/Platinum Sponsorship July Flash Sale has BEGUN!

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Go here to see past Medallion Level Sponsors and Author Sponsors(MCBD2019)

Lock in your MCBD 2020 Author Sponsorship during the July Flash Sale!

View the MCBD2020 Sponsorship Packet HERE.

Lock in your MCBD 2020 PLATINUM Sponsorship during the July Flash Sale!

View the MCBD2020 Sponsorship Packet HERE.

A new Diverse Picture Book | This is the Earth

A diverse picture book timeline from Make A Way Media:

About Afsaneh

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Mom/Dad, what is she wearing?

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I don’t know much about Islam.

So, how do I celebrate it?

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