Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 with Eric Smith

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#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 Banner

Please welcome Eric Smith today for our #ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 with the Children’s Book Council. He has created a wonderful list of Finding Books for Kids Like Him, and by this he means Middle Eastern Characters, Biracial characters, Gaming, and Bullying. We are grateful for a resource like this!

We are giving away one copy of Don’t Read the Comments. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Divya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she’s playing Reclaim the Sun, the year’s hottest online game. Divya—better known as popular streaming gamer D1V—regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game’s vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for Divya, this is more than just a game. Out in the real world, she’s trading her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mom pay the rent.

Gaming is basically Aaron Jericho’s entire life. Much to his mother’s frustration, Aaron has zero interest in becoming a doctor like her, and spends his free time writing games for a local developer. At least he can escape into Reclaim the Sun—and with a trillion worlds to explore, disappearing should be easy. But to his surprise, he somehow ends up on the same remote planet as celebrity gamer D1V.

At home, Divya and Aaron grapple with their problems alone, but in the game, they have each other to face infinite new worlds…and the growing legion of trolls populating them. Soon the virtual harassment seeps into reality when a group called the Vox Populi begin launching real-world doxxing campaigns, threatening Aaron’s dreams and Divya’s actual life. The online trolls think they can drive her out of the game, but everything and everyone Divya cares about is on the line…

And she isn’t going down without a fight. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 INSTAGRAM

Seeing yourself in a book can be one of those wild, life changing moments for a young reader. As someone who works in publishing and also writes, it’s one of those things I’ve seen first-hand, with stories posted on social media and tearfully retold in-person at festivals.

Growing up, this really wasn’t a thing for me. The book about the Middle Eastern / Hispanic teen didn’t quite exist, or at least, no one ever gave me that book. So, I’ve made it a point to write about teens that were a bit like me… mixed, but not mixed up (like Aaron in Don’t Read the Comments), and in some cases, adopted, but not quite sure what to make of their identity (my story in Sangu Mandanna’s Color Outside the Lines is all about that).

Once upon a time, I think a lot of my writing was about making things up to that childhood version of myself, who seldom saw that mixed kid in stories and was tired of always checking the “other” box on questionnaires. But these days, as a father to a beautiful boy who’s mixed like me, I think about him when I write and work on books.

I hope he sees himself in the words I write, the stories I champion, and the books I keep on my shelf. And if no checkbox can define him, that’s okay, sweet boy. You’re Black, Honduran, Palestinian, Sicilian, Ukrainian, and so very perfect. And there are plenty of novels out there that will echo that sentiment.

Let’s talk about a few.

 

Finding Books for Kids Like Him

 

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Whenever I think about novels about family and identity, Heidi Heilig’s beautiful debut fantasy springs to mind almost immediately. A teen girl named Nix sails… well, everywhere. Quite literally everywhere. Her father’s ship is a magical one, going through worlds real and imaged. But unfortunately, at the heart of all their magical adventures is a quest that her father is obsessed with, one that can potentially reunite him with Nix’s mother. But the problem here, is if her father saves her mother, it could erase her from existence entirely.

Heilig’s novel digs into identity, as Nix is biracial, and throughout the book she’s quite literally being pulled in two different directions, again and again. The past, the future. Her father, her mother. Her life, and maybe not existing anymore? It’s a layered exploration of identity, and tied into all of it, is time travel, pirates, a magic ship… goodness, there’s just a lot to love here. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

See No Color by Shannon Gibney

This is the book I end up recommending the most, when friends or family or strangers on the Internet ask me for novels about adoption. After-all, I’m the adopted one, I should know, right?

Gibney’s debut novel is about Alex, a biracial teen girl in a white family, who has never really made a big fuss over any of that. Until she finds some letters from her biological father, and a guy who wants to get to know her a little better. Suddenly she’s questioning what it means to be Black, her entire family, what her biological parents were like…

It’s a story about trying to come to terms with who you are, when you’ve never really questioned that before. It’s the kind of eye opening and stunning book I wish someone would have handed me as a teen, and I’ll continue to give it to people as long as I can. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Oh Maddy. You are too good for this world, and you and Olly are so perfect. If you’ve somehow missed out on the blockbuster that is Everything, Everything, in Yoon’s beautiful debut readers meet Maddy, a biracial teen girl who is allergic to… well, everything. She can’t go outside.

In fact, Maddy lives inside of an airtight house, where her only interaction is with her mother and nurse. That is, until a boy moves next door, and starts holding up notes for her in the window.

And starts emailing her and opening up the world. He inspires her to take chances, and maybe risk coming out of her home, and risk it all for… well, everything. Hence the title. It’s one of my favorite YA novels, and also, one of my favorite novel-to-movie adaptations.
Treat yourself to both in a single weekend. Yoon’s prose is fast and devourable, and the novel is structured with fun illustrations and emails, making for such a breezy read. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

This story about a biracial teen wrestling with identity, anxiety, and her complicated, toxic family was my favorite novel of 2017. There’s a reason this gorgeous book was nominated for the Morris, my friends. It’s stunning and hard hitting, and just left me reeling.

In it, we meet Kiko, who daydreams of attending a prestigious art school that will, she hopes, solve all her problems. Life can really get started there. But all that comes crumbling down when she’s rejected, and she finds herself having to choose the life she wants to lead… one in a new city with a childhood friend, touring art schools… or stuck at home with toxic family.

Somehow, Bowman has kept the emotional hits coming, with Summer Bird Blue and the
upcoming Harley in the Sky. I’ll read every word she writes. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna

So, I’m in this book. So maybe this is cheating as a recommendation. But it’s an anthology literally about interracial relationships, with so many wonderful, brilliant stars of YA, writing from their hearts. Don’t sleep on it. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

Giveaway: 1 copy of Don’t Read the Comments

We are giving away one copy of Don’t Read the Comments. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eric Smith

Eric Smith is a Young Adult author and literary agent with P.S. Literary living in Philadelphia.

His next novel, Don’t Read the Comments, will be published by Inkyard Press in January 2020. Pre-order it for very cute pins and bookplates, here!

His new anthology, Battle of the Bands co-edited with Lauren Gibaldi, is due out in 2021 with Candlewick.

He has short stories forthcoming in the anthologies Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna (Soho Teen) and Body Talk by Kelly Jensen (Algonquin).

His other books include the IndieBound bestseller The Geek’s Guide to Dating (Quirk), Inked (Bloomsbury), the adoption-themed anthology Welcome Home, and the novel The Girl and the Grove (Flux).

You can listen to him on Book Riot’s HEY YA podcast with Kelly Jensen. His writing is represented by Dawn Frederick of Red Sofa Literary.

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 Pinterest

Finding Books for Kids Like Him

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 with Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker

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#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 Banner

Please welcome Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker today for our #ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 with the Children’s Book Council. They have created a book list on LGBTQ+ Representation in YA Fiction.

We are giving away 2 ARCS of Mooncakes. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

Mooncakes by Wendy Xu, illustrated by Suzanne Walker

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her
grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery. [young adult, ages 13 and up]

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 INSTAGRAM

LGBTQ+ Representation in YA Fiction

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

Maia Kobabe’s autobiographical graphic novel is both an intensely personal story, detailing eir journey of self-discovery and identity, and a guidepost for gender identities existing beyond the binary. Filled with touching and deeply relatable stories of adolescent crushes, coming out to family and the wider world, and the joys of queer fanfiction, it is an opportunity for other queer and nonbinary teens to see themselves on the page, in more ways than one. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

A story of two best friends: Meil, a girl with roses that grow from her wrists, and Sam, a transgender boy who paints moons and hangs them in trees. Though they are both outsiders, they especially avoid the Bonner sisters, who want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin. Their friendship blossoms into romance as they care for each other and guard each other’s secrets. McLemore’s poetic and luminous prose invites the reader to enter a lush, beautiful world of magical realism. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

As the Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman

A story for any teen exploring their own identity, but especially those queer POC teens who suffered the indignities of sleepaway camp. Charlie Lamonte is a queer, black 13-year-old who winds up at an all-white Christian youth backpacking camp, even as she begins questioning her belief in God. The hypocrisy and microaggressions of her fellow campers and counselors purported commitment to feminism wear thin, and she finds solace in her bond with Sydney, the other outsider in their group. Together, they grow into themselves and the wider world. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

Huntress by Malinda Lo

Huntress is a high stakes adventure story starring two girls, one with magic and one without, who have to save their world– and just happen to fall in love in the process. On very a personal note, this was one of the first queer books AND one of the first Asian-American YA books I read as a teenager, so it is a double whammy of representation. Queer Asian teens looking for fantasy fare that they can see themselves fully humanized in can find solace and empowerment in the pages of this book. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

A beautifully rendered, surreal space fantasy, ON A SUNBEAM stars a young woman who joins the motley crew of a fish-shaped starship, where she finds time to reflect on a lost first love from her school days. The expansive starscapes and cathedral-like architecture mirror the loneliness and longing in the heart of the main protagonist, matched in tone only by the warmth, coziness and kindness found aboard the starship. ON A SUNBEAM is a masterclass in narrative storytelling and anyone of any age looking to read and appreciate comics must lose themselves in this one. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Rosemary Valero O’Connell and Mariko
Tamaki

Love is not always sunshine and roses. Freddy struggles to be a good friend while her on-again, off-again girlfriend Laura Dean waltzes in and out of her life as she pleases. When a crisis affects her best friend’s life, Freddy has to make the ultimate choice of whether to show up for her or for Laura Dean. The art is layered and subtle, with emphasis on backgrounds and negative space to depict emotion as much as character expression. While there is no shortage of books that deal with falling in love, there are fewer books that show the complicated and ugly side of teen relationships in as real and raw way as O’Connell and Tamaki have done. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

2 ARC Giveaway of Mooncakes!

We are giving away 2 ARCS of Mooncakes. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wendy Xu

Wendy Xu is a Brooklyn-based illustrator and comics artist. She is co-creator of “Mooncakes”, a graphic novel released in 2019 from Lion Forge Comics. Her work has been featured on Catapult, Barnes & Noble Sci-fi/Fantasy Blog, and Tor.com, among other places. You can find her on twitter @angrygirlcomics or on Instagram as @artofwendyxu.

Suzanne Walker

Suzanne Walker is a Chicago-based writer and editor. She is co-creator of the graphic novel Mooncakes (Lion Forge, October 2019) with artist Wendy Xu. Her short fiction has been published in Clarkesworld, and she has published nonfiction articles with Uncanny Magazine, StarTrek.com, Women Write About Comics, and the anthology Barriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of Disability. She has spoken at numerous conventions on a variety of topics ranging from disability representation in sci-fi/fantasy to the importance of fair compensation for marginalized SF/F creators. You can find her posting pictures of her cat and occasionally yelling about baseball on Twitter: @suzusaur.

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LGBTQ+ Representation in YA Fiction

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 with Nikki Grimes!

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We are so excited to present our #ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 in conjunction with Children’s Book Council! This year we have 10 amazing authors with unique book lists to share. Each author is also doing a book giveaway!

We are thrilled to have Nikki Grimes today to kick off our #ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2019 with the Children’s Book Council. She’s a pioneer in children’s book publishing as a diverse voice across a wide range of genres.

We are giving away 3 copies of Nikki Grime’s newest picture book, Bedtime for Sweet Creatures. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 INSTAGRAM

Here are five of my favorite picture books featuring characters of color in light, everyday situations, with universal themes. What connects them all, for me, is joy, familial love, and a distinct counter to the often joyless, single-story tropes about the lives of people of color.

1. Saturday by Oge Mora

This picture book, overflowing with dynamic language, tells the story of a mother and daughter’s Saturday afternoon that doesn’t quite go according to plan. Mora captures the universal energy and excitement of a young child looking forward to spending precious time with the parent who is most often too busy for outings or play. I love how space was left in the telling for readers to figure out elements of the story on their own, guided by visual clues, especially at the end. (I won’t give it away, here!). [picture book, ages 4 and up]

2. Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Everyone can attest to the mystery and magic of a grandmother’s purse. Countless grandmas have come for a visit bearing treats for a favorite grandchild, as the grandmother called “Mimi”; does in this story. But what else does the purse hold that speaks to who Mimi is? As the answers are revealed, we see a grandchild intent on mimicking her Mimi’s unique style and beauty. I love the book’s bright colors and patterns that invite a closer look, the special bond between grandmother and granddaughter evident throughout, and the joy apparent on every page.

3. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

A welcome counter to the single-story that Black people don’t swim, this black protagonist prepares for his first leap off the city pool’s diving board. Most children will relate to Jabari’s trepidation at the prospect, but the story is less about fear than the process of overcoming it. Step by step, Jabari works through his sense of dread, showing the reader that a small child can overcome a big fear, and reap joy in the accomplishment. Jabari’s success comes with ample encouragement from his father, who is fully present and fully engaged. I love how the story gently, yet powerfully, mirrors a close, loving relationship between father and son. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

4. A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

In the world of the child, there’s something irresistible about breaking the rules of bedtime. For me, it was the secret joy of reading under the covers, with a flashlight, long after I was supposed to close my eyes and go to sleep. In the world of Little Snow, it was jumping up and down on the bed his mother specifically told him not to! Each night, he would promise to obey, and each night he’d wait until he thought his mom was out of earshot so that he could slip out of bed and jump, jump, jump up and down as hard as he could! Readers won’t be able to resist giggling any more than Little Snow can resist his nightly antics. There’s more to the story than that, but I won’t give away the delicious twist at the end. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

5. The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vaness Brantley-Newton

What could be more universal, or momentous, than a child’s first day in kindergarten? But is the little one ready for the big day? Any young reader will be after spending time with “the king.” Armed with encouragement from Mom and Dad, and bubbling with enthusiasm about what the day might have in store, our young hero puts the “h” in happy and the “K” in kindness. I love the book’s diverse cast of characters, reflective of the real world, the strong familial bonds, and the black teacher (how often do you see them in picture books?) The sheer joy, woven into both language and art, make this book shine. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

3 Book Giveaway of picture book Bedtime for Sweet Creatures

We are giving away 3 copies of Nikki Grime’s newest picture book, Bedtime for Sweet Creatures, to 3 winners. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses.

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Nikki Grimes

New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2017 Children’s Literature Legacy Award, the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include the much-honored books Garvey’s Choice, ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, and Coretta Scott King Author Honor books Jazmin’s Notebook, Talkin’ About Bessie, Dark Sons, Words with Wings, and The Road to Paris. Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 Pinterest

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 with Nikki Grimes!

Building Culturally Responsive Classrooms that Celebrate Diversity

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Guest post from Anneke Forzani, CEO of Language Lizard, LLC

Are you a teacher or homeschooling parent looking for ways to incorporate diverse cultures and languages in your teaching? A new book helps educators build culturally responsive classrooms that embrace multiculturalism through lesson plans, games, and fun activities from around the world. These resources help students develop a greater understanding of, and respect for, diverse cultures and perspectives. 

 

Building a Culturally Responsive Classroom

Building culturally responsive classrooms

Building Bridges with Bilingual Books and Multicultural Resources: A Practical Manual of Lesson Plans, Literacy Games, and Fun Activities from Around the World to Celebrate Diversity in the Classroom and at Home helps teachers and homeschoolers incorporate cultural diversity into their teaching.

This timely and practical manual saves educators significant time by providing numerous ready-to-use lessons and activities to:

  • Build culturally responsive classrooms
  • Create positive connections with dual language students & families
  • Teach children about other languages & cultures
  • Support literacy development among English language learners
  • Foster a welcoming and inclusive learning environment

Multicultural Lesson Plans
Building Bridges includes numerous multicultural lesson plans that use bilingual books and diversity activities to support literacy development and build culturally inclusive classrooms. 

The lessons meet Common Core State Standards and include detailed procedures, assessments, cross-curricular extension activities, and vocabulary-building flashcards. Each lesson incorporates optional ESL activities, accommodations for language learners, and suggestions for involving dual language families.

Multicultural Lesson Plans

Multicultural Games, Foods & Crafts

Also included in the book are foods and crafts from around the world, as well as both physical and literacy-related games and diversity activities.

Cultural Diversity Classroom Crafts

In addition, this manual includes:

  • Diverse language profiles
  • Handouts to build community in the classroom
  • Unique multicultural holidays and events to celebrate diversity
  • Useful links and resources
  • Special bonus offers

The lessons and activities in the book will help educators support dual-language children and incorporate diversity in their teaching. 

About the Author

Author Anneke Vanmarcke Forzani is the President and Founder of Language Lizard LLC, which provides multicultural resources in over 50 languages to schools, libraries, and literacy organizations. She has presented workshops about using multicultural resources in diverse classrooms at educational conferences.

Building Bridges was written with assistance from Dr. Heather Leaman, coordinator of the Master’s of Education program in Applied Studies and Teaching at West Chester University, and elementary school teachers Edmond Gubbins and Ellen O’Regan.

Building Bridges with Bilingual Books and Multicultural Resources: A Practical Manual of Lesson Plans, Literacy Games, and Fun Activities from Around the World to Celebrate Diversity in the Classroom and at Home is available now.

We’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions for building culturally inclusive classrooms. Comment and share your thoughts below!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~ Classroom or Home Activities

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

~HelpfulPhysical and Developmental Challenge Talking Points for Teachers

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

Download our FREE 2019/2020 Classroom Kit!

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

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

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

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

 

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

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2020 Pinterest

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

One more thing:

BOOK REVIEWERS—We Need YOU!

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

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

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

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

As always, #ReadYourWorld!

 

 

 

Christmas Around The World (plus a free Christmas activity download!)

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Guest post from Pack-n-Go Girls

Ever wonder what holiday celebrations look like in other countries?

Then let’s take your kids on a tour of the world this Christmas with Pack-n-Go Girls Christmas around the World Adventure!

Travel to different countries and learn about holiday celebrations in Austria, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and Thailand. Print out the provided passport read about how each country celebrates and then do the country activity. When complete, add a stamp to your passport.

Pack-n-Go Girls Christmas around the world

For a special Christmas treat, don’t miss Mystery at the Christmas Market. And if you need some more activities to keep everyone entertained during your holiday vacation, make sure you also check out our Country Exploration Kits for more fun and learning about the different countries. We’ve extended the learning with 45+ pages of educational activities for your children and students. You’ll find lots of cross-curriculum activities in reading, writing, math, science, art, and social studies. In the spirit of traveling, our Country Exploration Kit also includes a crossword puzzle, word search, maze, secret decoder, some coloring pages, and recipes for cooking some treats for your next trip.

Happy Holidays!

About Pack-N-Go Girls

Dreaming of true-blue friends, mysterious adventures, and faraway places? Pack-n-Go Girls take you there!

2017 Literary Classics Winner – Best Series – Young Reader
2017 Moonbeam Children’s Book Winner – Best Chapter Book Series
2014 Moonbeam Children’s Book Winner – Best Chapter Book Series
Readers tour haunted castles in Austria, catch thieves in Mexico, save dolphins and turtles in Brazil, search for lost golden temples in Thailand, and chase aliens in Australia. AND at the same time, they’re inspired to embrace adventure, be curious, value what unites us, and celebrate the differences that make us unique. Kids discover the diversity of cultures and the richness each one contributes to the world.
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, Pack-n-Go Girls specializes in creating innovative stories for girls that deliver positive messages around independence, adventure, and global awareness.
PNGG’s newest offering is Mystery of the Rusty Key, the second book in the Australian adventures. Here’s a bit about both books:
Mystery of the Min Min Lights – Australia 1
Journey into the dusty, windswept Australian outback, land of bounding kangaroos and dazzling sunsets. Wendy Lee arrives from California. She’s lucky to meet Chloe and Jacko Taylor, who invite Wendy to their sheep station. It sounds like fun except that someone is stealing the sheep. And the thief just might be something as crazy as a UFO.
Mystery of the Rusty Key – Australia 2
Wendy, Chloe, and Jacko travel to Sydney and dive straight into another mystery where they must unravel four spooky clues: an ancient letter, a rusty key, a missing box, and a curse. The kids race against time to solve the mystery before the clock strikes midnight.
Learn more about the Pack-n-Go Girls® books and related products HERE.
Follow the Pack-n-Go Girls® on Twitter:@packngogirls , Instagram, Pinterest, and on Facebook: facebook.com/packngogirls

BOOK REVIEWERS, WE.Need.YOU.

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

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

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

(Signup deadline is 12/15/19)

Mindfulness Activities and Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

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Guest post by Monetta Wilson

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

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

Yoga with Aunty Mo

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

Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

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

Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

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

Yoga Moves for Anxious Kids

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

About The Book

Yoga with Aunty Mo

Yoga with Aunty Mo is available on Amazon.

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

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

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

Click here to download the journal and instructions.

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

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

About Monetta Wilson

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

literacy empathy discovery action

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

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

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

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

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

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

Literacy

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

SUMMARY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY EVENT

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

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

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

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

FIFTH, a year-long literacy-based initiative-

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

Empathy

Now more than ever…

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

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

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

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

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

Discovery

Imagine children without a single book to call their own.

Imagine no one reading to a child.

Imagine parents unable to read to a child

Reality is today childhood literacy is in crisis.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Action:

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

FREE RESOURCES

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

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

 

How Authors and Publishers can get Involved in MCBD

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

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

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

Becky Flansburg

MCBD

PO BOX 2814, Baxter MN 56425

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

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

 

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

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

– Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay

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

-Reminder: The hashtag for this event is #ReadYourWorld

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

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

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

    (Signup deadline is 12/15/19)

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

Follow us on Pinterest!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friends of Multicultural Children's Book Day Social Shout Out

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

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

BOOK REVIEWERS, WE.Need. YOU.

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

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

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

(Signup deadline is 12/15/19)

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

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Back by popular demand! (kinda).

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

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

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

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

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

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

EARTHWAVES By Michael Smith; Illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski



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

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

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

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

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

The Yeti and the Jolly Lama: A Tale of Friendship

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

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

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

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

What great diverse books have YOU discovered this week?

 

BOOK REVIEWERS, WE.Need. YOU.

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

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

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

(Signup deadline is 12/15/19)

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