Multicultural Children's Book Day

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Supporting our LGBTQIA Kids

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Guest post by Afsaneh Moradian

 

Our story 

About two years ago, my child informed us that they are nonbinary. That they don’t identify as either boy or girl and that their pronouns are now they/them.  Of course, this was fine with me. But, it did take a lot of work to stop using she/her in reference to my child. I’d been doing that for so many years, I was on autopilot. I tried and made a lot of mistakes in the beginning. Then I saw my child’s face when someone called them she. My child cringed and felt so uncomfortable. 

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Five No Brainer Tips to Nurture Cultural Identity and Awareness in Early Childhood – and Why it’s a Must-Do! 

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It’s Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month all month long, and we are delighted to share with you this guest post from indigrow, MCBD’s May Sponsor of the Month.

“My kid is too young, I don’t need to think we need to talk about cultural identity so soon, right?”

Wrong!
Parents of young kids often feel conversations involving seemingly heavy topics like how we look, what we wear, what we eat, what we sound like, and how we are named, are conversations that don’t need to be addressed until much later.  But science tells us that kids notice differences as early as 6 months of age. More importantly, the reality is that kids get called out for these obvious differences as early as their preschool and kindergarten years.

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Language Lizard Supports Ukrainian Refugees with Proceeds From Bilingual Book Purchases

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During the month of May, independent publisher Language Lizard will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of their Living in Harmony book sets (available in Ukrainian and 30 additional languages) to support refugee families affected by recent global conflicts. 

The Living in Harmony books: Be Kind, We Can All Be Friends, and Who Are We? use colorful, multicultural illustrations to explore the concepts of diversity, kindness, and friendship. The books come with free teaching resources including lesson plans and extension activities. 

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Meet Author and Illustrator Sivan Hong & Signed Book GIVEAWAY! #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth

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#MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth

 

Please meet author and illustrator, Sivan Hong! She writes and illustrates the Super Fun Day Book series about neurodiverse kids. Avery G. and the Scary End of School is her newest book!

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Tennessee State Bill to Ban Books and Criminalize Librarians

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Guest post by Andrew Maraniss

Last week, Tennessee school librarians held their annual breakfast reception at the state legislature, setting up tables piled with cinnamon rolls, scones, and coffee.

Only a few legislators dropped by. Instead, they sent over assistants to load up paper plates to bring back to their offices.

That wasn’t surprising. If I were a member of Tennessee’s Republican supermajority, I’d be embarrassed to show my face around school librarians, too.

Drunk on power and buzzed on culture-war adrenaline in a mid-term election year, Tennessee Republicans have introduced bills to ban books in K-12 schools that “address” or “normalize” LGBTQ people or issues, to criminalize school librarians for carrying supposedly “obscene” books, and to ban the discussion of “divisive” concepts such as race even at state universities.

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IG Live Series for #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth

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IG Live Series for Autism Acceptance Month

Throughout April, as part of our focus on Autism Acceptance Month, MCBD is highlighting autistic authors and illustrators and allies in our IG live series! Each week, we cover a different genre of children’s literature, from picture books and middle grade novels to graphic novels and YA books. In each interview, an #OwnVoices autistic creator is interviewed by an ally who is also a fellow author. They share the story behind their work, as well as challenges they have faced and insights they have gained. Videos are uploaded to our YouTube channel afterwards for viewing at your leisure!

Becoming an Author

March 30, 2022

Interview with librarian and soon-to-be-published author Adriana L. White.

Adriana White is an autistic librarian, former special education teacher, and writer. She is a staff editor for the website A Novel Mind, and frequently writes and speaks about neurodiversity and mental health in children’s books. You can visit her website adrianalwhite.com to learn more about her work, or follow her on Twitter at @Adriana_Edu.

Picture Books

April 6, 2022

Author/illustrator Sivan Hong interviews author Lindsey Rowe Parker & illustrator Rebecca Burgess

Lindsey Rowe Parker is a mom at the tail-end of toddlerhood, embracing the next phase of parenting while learning to navigate and advocate for her autistic daughter. With a recent adult diagnosis of ADHD, and a new deeper understanding of her own sensory experiences, she has begun to delve into the neurodiversity community learning all she can from neurodivergent voices. Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calms My Jitters Down is her first picture book, and she hopes it connects with everyone who has felt the need for a wiggle, stomp, or squeeze! Find out more on the website.

Rebecca Burgess is a comic artist and illustrator working in the UK, creating award winning published and small press work. Outside of drawing comics and cuddling their cat, Rebecca also loves playing RPGs with friends, going on deep dives into history and growing vegetables in their humble Bristol garden. Find out more on their website.

Sivan Hong authors and illustrates the best-selling children’s book series The Super Fun Day Books, including Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day and Avery G. and the Scary End of School. Her inspiring books focus on neurodiverse children, who overcome their challenges with perseverance and bravery. Sivan also serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the Westport Public Library, the Rita Allen Foundation, Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the ASPCA. Find out more at SivanHong.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram.

Middle Grade

April 13, 2022

Sivan Hong interviews Sally J. Pla

Sally J. Pla is an award-winning author of books about young people whose brains work a bit differently, including the novels The Someday Birds and Stanley Will Probably Be Fine, and the picture book Benji, The Bad Day, And Me. Her newest contemporary middle-grade novel, The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn, will be out in Summer 2023. Sally’s also co-founder and editor of A Novel Mind, a web resource on mental health and neurodiversity representation in children’s lit. Find out lots more about her on linktree, at sallyjpla.com, and on Twitter @sallyjpla.

Sivan Hong authors and illustrates the best-selling children’s book series The Super Fun Day Books, including Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day and Avery G. and the Scary End of School. Her inspiring books focus on neurodiverse children, who overcome their challenges with perseverance and bravery. Sivan also serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the Westport Public Library, the Rita Allen Foundation, Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the ASPCA. Find out more at SivanHong.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram.

Graphic Novels

April 20, 2022

Led Bradshaw of Jet Pulse Comics interviews son & co-creator Jacob Bradshaw

Led Bradshaw is an American comic book illustrator, autism advocate, and graphic artist. He is the creator of Jetpulse Studios and the illustrator for his flagship title “The New Adventures of Jake Jetpulse,” a comic book adventure featuring a superhero team led by a young boy with autism who is gifted with magnificent superpowers. It is an educational comic book series that was inspired by his son Jacob Bradshaw, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of four. Find out more on their website and on Instagram.

Young Adult

April 26, 2022, 3 pm ET

Brian Tashima interviews Meg Eden

Meg Eden Kuyatt is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at Anne Arundel Community College. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children’s novels, most recently “Selah’s Guide to Normal” (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at www.megedenbooks.com or on Twitter at @ConfusedNarwhal and Instagram at @meden_author.

Brian Tashima is an author, screenwriter, musician, and philanthropist. His credits include the award-winning Joel Suzuki series—a set of young adult sci-fi/fantasy novels about a teenage boy who travels to a world where music is magic and autism is a superpower—and the manga-style comic book series Glorified. He also sings and plays guitar for the nerd-punk band Second Player Score and serves on the Board of Directors for Autism Empowerment, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people and families in the autism community. Find out more at joelsuzuki.com.

Our IG live series continues every Wednesday at 3 pm ET, on our Instagram page, where each week we chat with the movers and shakers in the world of diverse children’s literature. Can’t watch the interviews live? Watch them all later on our YouTube channel! 

Geek Club Books Resources

Please click on each title below to download a PDF file for each one:

Autism Glossary 

Autism Myths and Stereotypes

Autism Facts for Kids

Autism Reflections by Lydia Wayman

Children’s Books About Autism

The Friendship Kit

What Your Autistic Student Wants You to Know

Autism and Halloween

 

Picture books featuring diverse moms, dads, and families.  

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Picture books featuring diverse moms, dads, and families.  

Guest post by Carol Gordon Ekster

The story behind Some Daddies is that on 12/17/17 my husband and I were Facetiming with my grandson.  He noticed my husband had shaved, said his daddy shaved but has a beard so he’s going to have a beard when he gets older because he’s going to be a daddy. I said…”Some daddies have beards..” I paused, my writing brain ignited, to write down that title and started working on a draft soon after that.   Exactly one year to the day, I saw on the submittable that Beaming Books was interested. I had put a pitch on Twitter for #pbpitch on 10/25/18 “SOME DADDIES-a concept PB with heart…” Naomi Krueger from Beaming Books hearted my pitch and the rest is history! It is dedicated to my grandson who planted the idea and to my amazing dad, who passed away before he got to see the final book. With a “windows-to-the-world cover” this rollicking showcase of daddies celebrates the incredible diversity of modern fathers. Every daddy is different–and that makes them even more special!  [Read more…]

Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth

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{Post written by Jodi Murphy}
Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources

We are in the midst of a paradigm shift when it comes to understanding and learning about autism. It’s happening thanks to the growing numbers of autistic and neurodiverse individuals who are finding their voices, telling the world about their firsthand experiences, and speaking out about: [Read more…]

#OwnVoices Autism book by Adriana White, an Autistic Librarian #MCBDAutismAcceptanceMonth

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15 Books for Kids and Young Adults by Autistic Authors

Guest post by Adriana White

As an autistic librarian, I’m often asked if I can recommend any good books about autism. And I certainly can! I really enjoy sharing book recommendations, because one, I love supporting my favorite authors and their amazing books. And two, I believe that we have to provide kids with a wide variety of books that can serve (as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop wrote) as windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors into the diverse world in which we live. [Read more…]

Sky-Diving to Success Through the Sliding Glass Doors of Picture Books

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Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout the whole month and we are thrilled to share with you this guest post by author Vivian Kirkfield.

SKY-DIVING TO SUCCESS

THROUGH THE SLIDING GLASS DOORS OF PICTURE BOOKS

I had a lucky childhood.

I didn’t have to worry about food or shelter or safety. And growing up on the Lower East Side of New York City, I learned early on that people came in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I didn’t need books to introduce me to different cultures – I just played with the neighborhood kids – their family backgrounds spanned the globe. [Read more…]