Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

Taking Food Literacy, Literally | Diverse Book Publisher Readers to Eaters

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Article and interview courtesy of Becky Flansburg
One of the co-founders of MCBD, Mia Wenjen, made a comment on a podcast recently that was beautifully accurate. Mia stated that, when it comes to introducing kids to multiculturalism in this world, two of the best ways to do so is through books and food.
The Seattle-based book publisher, Readers to Eaters (R2E) has not only nailed that concept but done so in an urban and modern way. But many of R2E’s children’s book offerings are not just about diversity, they are about having a food dialogue. Their books strive to not only create a heightened awareness as to where our food comes from in its most natural state, but how what we eat is a focal point in bringing people together.
Readers to Eaters
As one for the original co-founders of the largest diverse children’s book publishers in the world, Lee & Low Books, Philip Lee knows books and the importance of getting those books into the hands of young readers. When Lee & Low was founded in 1991 and Philip was the “Lee” in the “Lee & Low” company. After launching this wildly successful company with co-founder Tom Low, Philip left the company in 2004  and later started his own publishing house, Readers to Eaters, with his wife, June Jo Lee, in 2009.
“Good Reads & Good Eats. That’s what we’re about. Whether publishing, organizing events, or bookselling — we promote conversations about growing, cooking and eating food. Dig in.”~Reader to Eaters
Around 2007, Philip and June Jo began noticing that there was a new trend coming to the forefront; the food movement. Books were being published about the U.S’s broken food system and Americans were taking notice. In 2009 Michelle Obama launched the White House Garden Project and that’s when a need for a “food dialogue” became glaringly obvious to the ambitious publisher.

To this day, Philip and June Jo continue to be committed to helping kids and families have a better understanding of what and how they eat. The business started off as a pop-up bookstore that could be found at farmers’ markets and harvest festivals. The Lees also attend many conferences for science and reading teachers, librarians, nutritionists, food activists, and chefs throughout the year.  Together, this dynamic duo also created #FoodHeroes to get kids interested in where food comes from and one of the more prevalent #FoodHeroes is Farmer Will Allen; a former basketball star turned urban farmer and educator.

“Our books are diverse, but diversity is not front-and-center...food is,” Philip shared. “Our kids and adult books are less about how to prepare food and more about the culture of bringing people together, creating an experience around food and knowing where our food comes from.  Many people look at diversity via race, we tend to look at it via culture because, to us, culture is so much more specific. People can be part of many different cultures and it is a truer reflection of who they are.”
 

Another modern #FoodHero is CHEF ROY CHOI AND THE STREET FOOD REMIX ; a Korean American chef who gained prominence as the creator of the gourmet LA Korean taco truck, Kogi. He is a chef who is celebrated for “food that isn’t fancy” and is known as one of the founders of the gourmet food truck movement.

Roy has earned a stellar reputation for giving Korean and Mexican food a culinary “remix” while also creating jobs in communities. This book has appealed to kids from elementary age to high schoolers in a big way and is also the recipient of the Robert F. Seibert Award Honor Book for Most Distinguished Informational Book 2018 by the Association of Library Services for Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association.

“Since the first of the year, we’ve traveled to numerous educational conferences and it was especially gratifying to hear from librarians that children in rural Kentucky, Arkansas, and Texas, which are mostly white, are enjoying CHEF ROY CHOI’s story about a Korean American chef in urban LA serving Korean BBQ on a taco truck,” Philip noted. “I’m so glad that our food story can introduce children to new cultures and the immigrant experience. Last month NPR also mentioned Readers to Eaters in Children’s Publishing House Takes Food Literacy Literally. We’re so glad that our mission to promote food literacy is getting recognized.”

In addition to FARMER WILL ALLEN and CHEF ROY CHOI, Philip added that his company has also published OUR SCHOOL GARDEN! and A MOOSE BOOSH;  two wonderful books that have been well received by kids, parents, and educators.

R2E’s books do include the idea of food prep and harvest, but these unique books embrace immigration, social justice, food literacy, self-identification and exploring the traditions behind food. Food can be so much more than a meal as well. Food supports community building and bringing people together.

“Our mission is to tell the cultural story of American through food and amazing books for readers of all ages.”~ Philip Lee

To learn more about Readers to Eaters, visit their website.

Readers to Eaters

We’re Going Global! Non-USA Diverse Book Reviewers, Authors and Publishers Needed

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Hard to believe that 2018 is speeding along and 2019 is inching closer and closer. As the planning for the next Multicultural Children’s Book Day (1/25/19) starts picking up steam, we are also continuing with our plan to take this diverse literacy-based non-profit global! And for that, we need your help. But first, a quick recap:

Since 2012, MCCBD’s main focus has been to raise awareness on the need for books of a diverse nature to be available in homes and classrooms. We have worked tirelessly for 5+ years to not only shine the spotlight on multicultural children’s book authors and publishers but to get books of this nature on shelves and into the hands of young readers. If you are unfamiliar with our organization, feel free to read about our mission here.

Free Resources for All

We also offer many free resources to parents, teachers, and librarians:

Social Media Leverage: Our 1/27/18 Multicultural Children’s Book Day event garnered over 3 billion social media share impressions over a three-day period.

 3,210,943,767: Total number of social media share impressions for January 25-28, 2018.

We’re Going Global!

A New Goal for 2019: The MCBD team is on a mission to not only duplicate these results on a global level, but to connect with global diverse authors, publishers, and book reviewers to help spread awareness of the amazing kids’ books that are available from non-USA sources.

Global Team

To do this, we need to identify these non-US authors, publishers, and organizations with the help of our Global Team. From book donation for schools, Sponsorship packages, being matched with overseas book reviewers and monetary support for this non-profit, there are many ways to get involved and join this gigantic online celebration and important initiative.

As you can see from our 2018 Medallion Level and Author Sponsor Pages, authors and publishers have all embraced this initiative because they know we have the eyes and ears of their end users.

If you have interest in getting involved in Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019, please sign up via this Google Form and we will loop back around with the necessary information once the event gets closer.  Looking forward to working with you!

Non-USA Diverse Book Reviewers, Authors and Publishers Needed: Sign Up Here

 

Tips for Teaching Tolerance to Your Tots

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 Guest post by author and coach, Kevin Christofora

 

There are some values that are always important to instill in your children, but occasionally, certain ones become even more pertinent than others. One that seems particularly essential these days is tolerance. All over the world, there’s an upswing in people fearing and blaming people who are different from them for various issues, and it’s a disturbing trend. Teaching our children tolerance is the best way to combat this, and establish a reality where the difference isn’t stigmatized, but rather celebrated. Here are some tips for teaching tolerance.

tips for teaching

  • Highlight similarities

It can be like second nature to notice the differences between ourselves and others. As a result, it is essential to put focus the lens on what makes those people just like us. Our shared humanity is the most obvious answer, but for kids, all it can take is a shared favorite animal or TV show to get them engaged with another child— and from there, things like friendship and understanding can grow.

 

  • Make it fun

Learning about other cultures shouldn’t be a chore. While museums certainly have their place, if their experience of other cultures is always through such institutions, they’ll probably get a little bored. So, look for opportunities to make this education fun and exciting. Parades and outdoor fairs for specific ethnic or religious holidays can be a great way to do this, as can children’s film festivals that have international offerings. Engaging with these activities with a focus on learning, respect, and celebration can be a wonderful way to teach children the beauty of other cultures.

 

  • Work it into the everyday

Teaching tolerance can also happen in everyday activities, as well. Maybe the family dinner once a week comes from a culture you’ve been learning about, or certain bedtime stories have themes like acceptance. As an author, I try to help parents with this. My The Hometown All Stars series is about a team of little league players from all different backgrounds, so that readers learn about diversity along with life lessons and healthy habits. The most recent one, Amira Can Catch, focuses on a new teammate who happens to be a Syrian refugee.

  • Acknowledge differences, and celebrate them

Highlighting the things we share with others is important to find common ground; understanding what we don’t share is an amazing way to gain respect for those differences. We don’t have to believe the same things or come from the same place as others to love them and honor their experiences. The more we teach children to see another’s differences as beautiful, the more well-rounded and compassionate they’ll be.

teaching tolerance

Teaching tolerance to children doesn’t have to be droll. It can be a fun, lively, and engaging experience. You’ll enable them to learn so much about the world and other cultures, while also creating wonderful memories. Finally, you’ll be setting your children up to be adults who respect others, work to find common ground with those who are different and find joy in the unknown.

 

 

 

 

Kevin Christofora is the author of a new book, Amira Can Catch. This diverse kidlit book shares the story of Amira, a Syrian refugee who is new in school, as a way to teach children about diversity, tolerance, and inclusion to readers of all ages. Christofora, a father, and little league coach hopes his books will inspire children to play outside more often. A devotee of America’s pastime, he aims to teach young people about baseball and the habits of a healthy lifestyle in the form of a fun and an educational bedtime story. He has appeared on ABC News, ESPN Radio, 660 News Radio, Santa Fe -KVSF 101.5, and WDST-FM Woodstock, and has had articles featured in _About Families Online_, _KidzEdge_, _Mom Blog Society_, and several other publications. For more information, please visit http://thehometownallstars.com/

Lee & Low Books’ Jason Low shares his thoughts on #diversity and the 25th Anniversary of Baseball Saved Us

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(Guest post by Becky Flansburg; Project Manager for MCBD)

Not long ago, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing publisher, Philip Lee. As one of the former founders of Lee & Low Books, Philip left the company in 2004  to create his own publishing house, Readers to Eaters, in 2009. It was Philip that clued me in on a big milestone for Lee & Low Books that I felt really needed to be shouted from the rooftops. Lee & Low Books has always had a passion and commitment to diversity in children’s literature and publishing exec, Jason Low, spent some time with us to share his thoughts on diversity and a very exciting milestone for one particular Lee & Low book.

Lee & Low Book’s connection to Multicultural Children’s Book Day began way back when MCBD first began. Our non-profit has always been in awe of this diverse children’s book publisher’s passion and commitment to children’s literature.

About Lee & Low Books:

Lee & Low Books

Lee & Low Books is the largest multicultural children’s book publisher in the country, and one of the few minority-owned publishing companies in the United States. They offer books for all young readers, from leveled books for beginning readers through middle grade and young adult novels. They also publish several bilingual books, as well as books in other languages. Their books reflect the diversity and richness of the United States. LEE & LOW BOOKS is more than just a publisher: it is a leader in the movement for more diversity in literature.

The Exciting News

The “milestone” that I discovered was impending was the 25th anniversary of Lee & Low’s very first published book, Baseball Saved Us. 

The 25th anniversary of anything is a big deal, but it’s even bigger when it’s a company connected to a shared mission and vision. Thrilled and excited, I reached out to my connection at Lee & Low who in turn put me in touch with exec, Jason Low. Jason generously agreed to share his thoughts on the 25th Anniversary of Baseball Saved Us, some points of pride with his company and also his thoughts on the advancement of diversity in children’s literature. Enjoy!

 

Q & A With Lee & Low Books’ Jason Low

 

Becky: Walk me briefly through Lee & Low’s timeline and what year you came on board.

JL: I joined the company in 1997. I was employee #6. By then, Lee & Low Books had established itself as a promising small publisher of quality multicultural books. At the time, one of Lee & Low’s biggest challenges was finding diverse authors and illustrators and developing stories. Many of the limitations we faced back then mainly had to do with size, or lack thereof. Everyone wore many hats. As a result, we struggled to cover the basics like keeping publication dates and sending out review copies on time. The early years were an exciting time too! The lack of resources forced us to prioritize and innovate. Working with a modest budget required us to come up with creative solutions and guerrilla marketing techniques. There is no better way to learn how to run a business than to work for a startup.

 

Becky: This month is the 25th anniversary of Lee & Low’s release of their very first book, Baseball Saved Us. What does this milestone mean to you personally? To the company? 

JL: Baseball Saved Us will always symbolize for us how it all began. The book broke new ground by making the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II personnel. It is an underdog story set in an era of overt racism, seen through the clear-eyed innocence of a child, with America’s favorite pastime acting as a backdrop. Baseball Saved Us set the bar for us editorially, and as the years advanced, our instincts developed further, telling us what other stories still needed to be told. Our focus on ethnicity eventually widened to include other marginalized groups like LGBT and people with disabilities. “About everyone ~ For everyone” became our motto. As the business matures, we remember everything, from the highs to the lean years we had to endure. These memories give us an appreciation for where we are today. The early years taught us how to get by with less, but now that we have the means to do more for our books, it is an exciting time.

Lee & Low Books

Becky: Was there any specific reason this book was chosen to be Lee & Low’s first offering?

JL: New publishers are typically focused on finding great manuscripts and publishing them as soon as possible. The chicken-and-egg model would apply here—no books = no sales. This hand-to-mouth kind of publishing persisted for a number of years. In the beginning, there was no master plan. Baseball Saved Us was one of three books ready for release in our debut year.

 

Becky: Do you have something special in mind to celebrate/recognize this milestone?

JL: We are working on a 25th Anniversary edition of Baseball Saved Us to commemorate this milestone. It will be released in Fall 2018.

 

Becky: Lee & Low has such an amazing reputation for producing impactful and quality books for readers. This is a tall order, but can you pinpoint 3-5 books that Lee & Low has published that you feel really made an impact on readers?

JL: Aside from Baseball Saved Us? I’d go with:

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

Lee & Low Books

By G. Neri

Illustrated by Randy DuBurke

https://www.leeandlow.com/books/yummy

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match

By Monica Brown

Illustrated by Sara Palacios

https://www.leeandlow.com/books/marisol-mcdonald-doesn-t-match-marisol-mcdonald-no-combina

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace

Lee & Low Books

By Jen Johnson

Illustrated by Sonia Sadler

https://www.leeandlow.com/books/seeds-of-change

Summer of the Mariposas

Lee & Low Books

By Guadalupe Garcia McCall

https://www.leeandlow.com/books/summer-of-the-mariposas

I Am Alfonso Jones*

Lee & Low

By Tony Medina

Illustrated by Stacey Robinson, John Jennings

https://www.leeandlow.com/books/i-am-alfonso-jones

*Note: I Am Alfonso Jones is a new graphic novel, so it remains to be seen what long-term impact this book will have on readers. However, the book has already been included on lists like the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Teens and the Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens from the American Library Association (ALA), so we believe it is destined to go far.

 

Becky: Back in 2015, Lee & Low did a study on the Diversity Gap that showed that, 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. Do you feel these stats have shifted over the last 3 years? 

JL: Yes and no. See our reactions and thoughts here: http://blog.leeandlow.com/2017/03/30/the-diversity-gap-in-childrens-book-publishing-2017/

 

Becky: If you could let readers know ONE THING about Lee & Low, what would that one thing be?

JL: If you are searching for authentic, quality, diverse books with plenty of heart, Lee & Low Books is the publisher for you. Pass it on.

Jason Low

 

Jason Low

 

Jason Low is the publisher and a co-owner of LEE & LOW BOOKS, the largest multicultural children’s book publisher in the United States. Jason has spoken at national conferences like American Library Association and Texas Library Association. He has presented at universities such as Princeton, Pratt, and NYU about the importance of inclusion in children’s books. In addition to publishing award-winning books, the company initiated a series of Diversity Gap Studies, which revealed a lack of representation across industries like film, television, and theater. Lee & Low also spearheaded the first Diversity Baseline Survey to measure diversity in publishing staff, the results of which have become an often referred to benchmark by academics and major media alike. In 2016, the Eric Carle Museum selected Lee & Low as the recipient of its Angel Award for the company’s dedication to artists and authors who offer children both mirrors and windows to the world.

 

On My Desk | More Great Diverse Books for Kids

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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.

Even though MCBD2018 is over I am still getting amazing books every weeBeing 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. In that moment, On My Desk | New Diverse Kids’ Books to Consider 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:

On My Desk | More Great Diverse Books for Kids

Grandfather Thunder and the Night Horses by Christine Almstrom

Grandfather Thunder

When a young girl is frightened of a storm, her grandmother comforts her by telling the story of the Night Horses – a creature Grandfather Thunder made from his own heart to wake the earth and bring the rains to the people. Based on the Lakota legend of the Thunder Horse, “Grandfather Thunder & the Night Horses,” is translated through permission of the tribal elders of the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Thunder Valley Lakota Language Initiative in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Talk With Me: The Big Book of Exclamations 2 by Teri Kaminiski-Peterson, M.S.C.C.C./SLP

The author’s first book, The Big Book of Exclamations, was written with the goal of being an educational children’s book designed to promote speech sound development.  Talk With Me: The Big Book of Exclamations 2  is the second in a series of educational children’s books. Created by a pediatric speech-language pathologist, our books are filled with carefully designed illustrations which immerse infants and toddlers in the rich language that surrounds in their familiar environments and daily routines. The books are designed to promote speech sound development and imitation of gestures, sounds, and words. Unlike most books, it doesn’t have a story to read. Instead, across the bottom of each page, there are prompts which teach parents/educators how to act out the illustrations and interact using gestures, sounds, words, or phrases depending on their child’s ability. The book shows parents how to modify what they say about each illustration in order to maximize their child’s communication potential. It is also filled with information which helps parents understand speech.

Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmann

Lilly Ann learned to read and write from her master’s children in Kentucky. She shared her knowledge with other enslaved people in a hidden spot in the woods on Sundays when the family was away. Later, she was sold to Mississippi, where teaching others carried a punishment of thirty-nine lashes with a whip. To keep from being found out, Lilly Ann taught in a secluded cabin off a back alley from midnight until two in the morning. Over the years she taught hundreds of enslaved people, and they, in turn, shared their knowledge with others. Read the author’s guest post and book review on JumpIntoAbook.com.

Tolerance Tykes by Brooke Aiello

Tolerance Tykes was created to promote to inclusivity of children from all walks of life. This new series will focus on breaking down the walls of intolerance that stand in the way of a more compassionate world for our children to grow in. The purpose of this book is to instill the message that all children are beautiful and important just the way they are.Each book in the series will provide a look into the lives of ten children. Through bright illustrations, fun facts, and poetry the reader will get a sense of what it is like to walk in that person’s shoes for a day. Topics include Gender Identity, Autism, Down syndrome, Hearing Impairment, Blindness, Anxiety, stuttering, Cancer, Adoption and Muscular Dystrophy.

What amazing books have YOU found this week?

On My Desk | More Great Diverse Books for Kids

 

One More Thing- Be sure and check out our robust and extensive Diversity Book Lists & Resources for Teachers and Parents!

Diversity booklists for teachers

Shooting for the Moon | Guest Post by author Christina Matula

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Guest Post by author Christina Matula

Becoming a writer was not something I dreamt about while growing up. My parents guided me into the path of math and science so I could get a good, stable job, which for them was of paramount importance like it was for many immigrants of their generation.  Writing is something I fell into accidentally, but it’s something I cannot imagine not doing now that I’m here.

Growing up in suburban Ottawa, I felt like I was one of the few Asian kids at my school, let alone the only mixed one. Although I had a huge extended family on my Taiwanese side (20+ first cousins!), I spent a lot of my childhood shying away from this part of my heritage.  Perhaps it’s because I wanted to be the same as everyone else.  Perhaps it’s because no one in the books I read looked anything like me. Perhaps it’s because I knew I would never have what it took to be a heroine in a teen novel – blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.  (I’m looking at you Sweet Valley High!).

It wasn’t until I moved to Hong Kong in my 30s that I really started to embrace my heritage.  I had always felt a bit guilty about not speaking Chinese – I refused to attend Chinese Saturday school when I was younger – so when I found an intensive Mandarin program at the local university, I jumped at the chance. In learning the language, I also learned more about Chinese culture and customs. I developed a newfound appreciation of the food, festivals, and folktales.  It was an epiphany for me, a new window into my heritage.

A while back, my daughter was celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival in school.  It’s the second biggest festival in Chinese culture after Lunar New Year.  I tried to find a picture book about the legend behind the festival to read with her, but couldn’t find anything.  So, on a whim, I decided to write one myself!

My writing journey was not typical.  I linked with fantastic illustrator Pearl Law and self-published the book in Hong Kong.  Shortly after, I attended a writing workshop given by visiting author Susan Blumberg-Kason (@Susan_BK).  She was so kind with her encouragement and generously introduced me to her agent, the fabulous Carrie Pestritto (@literarycarrie).  The book was soon picked up by Charlesbridge and my debut picture book will be launched in the US and Canada this summer!

The Shadow in the Moon is about two sisters listening to their grandmother tell them the tale of Hou Yi and Chang’e, the archer and the Lady in the Moon, and how the Mid-Autumn Festival came to be.

View the trailer premiere here!

I love that I’ve been able to share a little piece of myself and my heritage through this book.  I hope that young readers will be able to see themselves and their families in the book, regardless of their background.  And I hope that I can continue to share my passion for writing stories that are a reflection of the people who may read them.

Shadow in the Moon {ISBN: 978-1-58089-746-4} will be available on July 17. Preorder your copy from Charlesbridge Publishing today!

 

Author Christina Matula

Author Christina Matula

Christina Matula is a Canadian author living in Hong Kong with her family.  She is a Board Member of Bring Me A Book HK, which is a non-profit organization that encourages families to read aloud together and provides quality books to under-served communities. 

 She is also the author of two stories that have been set to music composed by Alexis Alrich and turned into chamber music concerts for children,  Both concerts feature western and Chinese classical instruments, and were commissioned by Premiere Performances of Hong Kong.  

You can find Christina on

Website: www.christinamatula.com

Twitter @christinaaa_hk

Instagram:  christinamatula

Facebook:  @christinamatulaauthor

 

 

Examples of Classroom Fun and Celebration for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2018!

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We’ve invited all of our classrooms and supporters to celebrate The Big Day anytime during 1/22 and 1/27 and we’ve already had some educators and organizations share their ReadYourWorld fun here. The buzz around this event is mind-blowing and we felt compelled to share even more fun images and examples of educators using #Readyourworld to educate Global Citizens:

Sarah Fisk from the Orange County (Orlando) Library System reached out to use in September to share their plans for Local Author Festivals in honor of Multicultural Children’s Book Day! The library had a signing-only author festival with 6 Florida authors from 2 to 4 pm. They also had Crystal Sullivan, the library’s lead storyteller, do a mini storytime for children at 2 and 3pm.

Multicultural Children’s Book Authors showed their support during Orange County Library System’s MCBD event.

Awesome Academy and Amaanah Refugee Services {Guest Post from Marisela Martinez }

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Guest Post from Marisela Martinez

A group of University of Houston students formed Amaanah Refugee Services over 10 years ago and we at Amaanah are now celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a non-profit this year. We are a post-resettlement service who focus on single-mothers and children through two different programs.

Amaanah Refugee Services

The Transformed Program accepts about 30 single mothers who have settled in the U.S. within the last 6 months to 5 years through resettlement agencies. This post settlement program focuses on every mother’s needs individually by providing financial literacy, English courses, job seeking, child-care, etc. for a 10 month period. This program has influenced so many lives and many of the mothers we work with grow fond of Amaanah.

The Awesome Academy serves students who have arrived in the United States through the refugee resettlement process. Our program is welcomed by school districts in Houston and Austin, where we work with a variety of campuses both in and after-school programming. The intent of the program is to support children both socially and academically so that they can progress quickly, transition smoothly, and become confident community leaders. In the process, we also support teachers and staff by providing supplemental instruction and individualized student attention. I am the Director of this program and are now servicing 12 campuses in the Houston area and over 400 resettled refugees from all over the world. Most of the languages that are represented Arabic, Spanish, Swahili, and Burmese so one can argue that Houston is truly a diverse city. We are cherished in the campuses we service and have built a very sustainable reputation with administrators, teachers, and above all-students.

My primary focus in the Awesome Academy is providing the best programming and practices I can find that allows their English Language and social developmental skills to flourish so that they contribute positively back to their community in the future. As a child of immigrant parents, I understand these students become the representative/spokesperson for their parents once they start school and their English language proficiency increases.

For Awesome Academy, we try to look for sponsorships, volunteers, and a steady flow of contributions to provide a better service and quality programs for our new neighbors that caters to each campus since the demographics are different. We want to build a stronger literacy campaign for our kids but we also want to make sure that much of what they are being exposed too is also a representation of themselves and their culture. We have created a reading platform we hope we would be able to launch within the next few months that provides a mentor and a reading instructor to individual students and are hoping to get a steady stream of volunteers for that soon!

 

We are an organization that is constantly evolving and growing, but we do not waiver from our own mission statement that started it all– Our mission is to integrate resettled refugees into their new homes and communities.

Bio: Marisela Martinez is the youngest of seven daughters and proud to be a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate from her family. She places all the success and motivation she has on her loving parents and supportive sisters. Marisela is the program director for the Awesome Academy at Amaanah Refugee Services. She is also currently pursuing her doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis on Social Education at the University of Houston.

Site URL: www.refugeelink.com
Social Media Links:
Twitter: @AmaanahRefugees
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmaanahRefugees/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amaanahrs/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Amaanahrefugees

Recap and Summary of Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2018

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Hard to believe it has been almost 30 days since the mind-blowing awesome 1/27/18 MCBD celebration and we can promise all of you that we are still recovering!

The MCBD team was touched and elevated by the overwhelming support and enthusiasm surrounding our diverse children’s literature online celebration. In the days following the crescendo of the event, and our crazy-fun annual Twitter Party,  we all have spent hours sifting through the amazing thoughts, comments, and requests that were offered up during our on and offline global event. Here is the Summary of Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2018.

MCBD will be moving from an “every January 27th” celebration date to a “last Friday in January” focus so we don’t interfere with
International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Just a FYI 🙂

 

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2018 by the Numbers

 3,210,943,767: Total number of social media share impressions for January 25-28, 2018. Yes…that’s BILLION with a “B.” Yes, we triple checked it.

 3,210,943,767: Total number of social media share impressions for January 25-28, 2018.

One Ba-Jillion: The number of hours spent coordinating, navigating, managing, enjoying, connecting, networking, pitching and problem-solving. Just kidding. It was a lot, but we don’t mind. It’s a labor of love!

21: The number of wonderful book-loving CoHosts who acted as ambassadors for this years’ event

2: The number of times #ReadYourWorld trended on Twitter on 1/27/18

 

Over 600: The number of parents, caregivers, teachers, librarians and young readers read diverse kidlit and YA books in honor of the event. These reviews can be seen on our every growing Big Giant Linky for 2018.

Big Giant Linky

591, 592, 593…: The ever-growing number of multicultural children’s book reviews being added to the Big Giant Linky for 2018

75+: Number of diverse kids’ books given away thanks to the Children’s Book Council (CBC) Book Jam Project.

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2018, Eight Picture Books with Diverse Family Constellations

29: Number of powerhouse Medallion Level Sponsors

50: Number of amazing Author Sponsors.

83: Number of generous book donators who sent books for classrooms

1734+: Number of classrooms signed up to receive a free book from MCBD.

Author Sponsors, a boatload of generous book donators and many, many authors, teachers, parents, readers, and librarians showed up to read, visit and enjoy the multicultural book titles, discussions and book-related activities!

2500+: Number of downloads for our FREE Classroom Kindness Kit and FREE Classroom Empathy Kit!

Classroom Kindness Kit

Classroom Kindness Kit

Classroom Empathy Kit

Classroom Empathy Kit

The many people and organizations that made the success of the 2018 event possible.

This year we were again blessed with amazing sponsors, reviewers, book donators, and supporters. We want to share a very special Thank you to Honorary Sponsor- The Junior Library Guild for continuing to send books for our classroom project. To date, roughly 1,000 books have been mailed out to classrooms over the last 5 years.

Honorary Sponsor- The Junior Library Guild

2018 MCBD Medallion Sponsors

HONORARY: Children’s Book Council, Junior Library Guild

PLATINUM:Scholastic Book Clubs

GOLD:Audrey Press, Candlewick Press, Loving Lion Books, Second Story Press, Star Bright Books, Worldwide Buddies

SILVER:Capstone Publishing, Author Charlotte Riggle, Child’s Play USA, KidLit TV, Pack-n-Go Girls, Plum Street Press

BRONZE: Carole P. Roman,  Charlesbridge Publishing, Dr. Crystal Bowe, Gokul! World, Green Kids Club, Gwen Jackson, Jacqueline Woodson, Juan J. Guerra, Language Lizard, Lee & Low Books, RhymeTime Storybooks, Sanya Whittaker Gragg, TimTimTom Books, WaterBrook & Multnomah, Wisdom Tales Press

2018 Author Sponsors

Honorary Author Sponsors: Author/Illustrator Aram Kim and Author/Illustrator Juana Medina

Author Janet Balletta, Author Susan Bernardo,  Author Carmen Bernier-Grand, Author Tasheba Berry-McLaren and Space2Launch, Bollywood Groove Books, Author Anne Broyles,  Author Kathleen Burkinshaw, Author Eugenia Chu, Author Lesa Cline-Ransome, Author Medeia Cohan and Shade 7 Publishing, Desi Babies, Author Dani Dixon and Tumble Creek Press, Author Judy Dodge Cummings, Author D.G. Driver, Author Nicole Fenner and Sister Girl Publishing, Debbi Michiko Florence, Author Josh Funk, Author Maria Gianferrari, Author Daphnie Glenn, Globe Smart Kids, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Author Quentin Holmes, Author Esther Iverem, Jennifer Joseph: Alphabet Oddities, Author Kizzie Jones, Author Faith L Justice , Author P.J. LaRue and MysticPrincesses.com, Author Karen Leggett Abouraya, Author Sylvia Liu, Author Sherri Maret, Author Melissa Martin Ph.D., Author Lesli Mitchell, Pinky Mukhi and We Are One, Author Miranda Paul, Author Carlotta Penn Real Dads Read, Author Sandra L. Richards, RealMVPKids Author Andrea Scott, Alva Sachs and Three Wishes Publishing, Shelly Bean the Sports Queen,  Author Sarah Stevenson, Author Gayle H. Swift Author Elsa Takaoka, Author Christine Taylor-Butler, Nicholette Thomas and  MFL Publishing  Author Andrea Y. Wang, Author Jane Whittingham  Author Natasha Yim

 

2018 Multicultural Children’s Book Day CoHosts


 A Crafty Arab, All Done Monkey, Barefoot Mommy, Biracial Bookworms, Books My Kids Read , Crafty Moms Share , Colours of Us, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes,  The Educators’ Spin On It , Embracing Diversity,Franticmommy, Growing Book by Book , Here Wee Read,   Imagination Soup  Kid World Citizen · Mama Smiles · Multicultural Kid Blogs , Randomly Reading,  Spanish Playground, The Logonauts, Wise Owl Factory

 

2018 Multicultural Children’s Book Day Participating Bloggers

600+ wonderful bloggers stepped forward and agreed to review multicultural children’s books for our special event.

(Link cloud coming soon!)

 

THANK YOU to everyone who helped make our 2018 event a huge success!

*For Multicultural Children’s Book Day, we hand-tabulated the social media shares of most of the individuals listed above, tracking Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest social media shares only. Additional social media shares on Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn and other social media platforms were not included. Social media share impressions by individuals not listed above were also counted.

Support our Mission! Monetary donations that help us continue to get diverse books into the hands of young readers is always appreciated. Click the button below…every little bit helps!

Storytime for Little Worms | Guest Post by Bianca Ksoll of Moonjami Press

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Imagine my delight when I discovered this amazing event that focuses on diversity in children’s literature called, Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Imagine my despair when I discovered I had missed the deadline for the MCBD2018.

BUT, the fine folks at Multicultural Children’s Book Day offered me the opportunity to share my story on the MCBD blog and thrilled to be able to do so.

My name is Bianca and I am a new children’s book author and publisher who is currently based in Lao PDR.

But I wasn’t always an author. In my lifetime I have been a child rights advocate, policy advisor, and researcher with over 15 years of experience in international health and human rights working for the government, large companies, think tanks, media outlets, and non-profit organizations. Currently, I am the President/Founder of Global Content Group, Inc. along with being the CEO of Moonjami Press.

My first children’s book, The Mouse from Laos, is part of a series to stimulate curiosity and tolerance among young readers.  I developed Storytime for Little Worms/Worm Families and story-making workshops at NamChai Community Center as well as Tiny Yogis in Laos. My goal has always been to create books that allow kids to learn lessons while being entertained.

Our first book in an 88+ picture book ‘I am’ series, The Mouse from Laos just arrived in the US. The Mouse from Laos offers a peephole into a lesser-known land with a simple map, a national landmark, Lao greeting, flag and other teachable moments about animals, colors, shapes, patterns… A bit quirky and repetitive, everything children love. Although simple and silly, this series is created to stimulate curiosity and cultivate tolerance. There is an underlying theme of identity.

In April we will be releasing two more books, The Peacock from Bangkok and The Kitty from HoChi Minh City. Each book is created for small hands, soft cover and 36+4 pages. Originally I wrote the book for ages 0-6 but we have found it is ageless…and have facilitated readings with art activities with 10yo.

But I also have an additional mission of giving back to others and 5% of our net proceeds from the book supports Teaching Tolerance program at Southern Poverty Law Center. Our book sets (bag, book, t-shirt, and stickers) support companies run and staffed with youth with disabilities in Lao PDR. As a company founded by a health and human rights advocate (me) we celebrate diversity in all its forms!

Bianca actively supports literacy in Laos and Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance initiative —her products are produced by Lao female-led business and people with disabilities.  Bianca received a Master’s in Anthropology from the Graduate Faculty at New School for Social and Economic Research in New York (2004) and LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Europa-Universität Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany (2018). She currently resides in Vientiane, Lao PDR with her spouse Christian, two children Aidan and Anéli and their dog Kujo.

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