Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

Helping Children and Strengthening Families by Equipping Dads

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San Bernardino Fatherhood mission is: “To eliminate fatherlessness in San Bernardino by promoting a culture of father inclusion and responsible fatherhood in our communities. This mission will be accomplished in collaboration with local schools, community partners, faith-based organizations and public and private agencies.”

San Bernardino Fatherhood vision is: “A society where children thrive, families are stronger, and communities are safer as a result of responsible fathering.”

About Real Dads Read

San Bernardino Fatherhood has worked in the field of responsible fatherhood for the past three (3) years, recognizing that fathers are more engaged today than ever.

Real Dads Read (RDR) is aimed at elementary and middle school-aged children (K-8) and their fathers/male caregivers with the goals of:

  1. Encouraging children to develop a love for reading.
  2. Improving children’s literacy skills and educational outcomes.
  3. Strengthening bonds between fathers/male caregivers and their children.

Real Dads Read is a two-generation approach to engaging and improving outcomes for both men and their children for which they are responsible.

NOTE: Kenneth Braswell and Read Dads Read is a returning Author Sponsor for MCBD2020. Get the scoop HERE.

Fathers Incorporated

Helping Children and Strengthening Families by Equipping Dads

Research shows that fathers are involved in the lives of their children, especially their education, children learn more, perform better in school, and exhibit healthier behaviors.  Even when fathers do not share a home with their children, their active involvement can have a lasting and positive impact.  The program has four engagement levels.

  1. Implementation of book drives in barbershops throughout the city of San Bernardino.
  2. Creating small children libraries in barbershops.
  3. Creating school-based community groups to meet once a month in reading activities.
  4. Creating a social media platform to impact the current narrative of “Black and Brown” men/fathers and their children.

“San Bernardino Fatherhood believes that Real Dads Read will be a great project to assist with the images of narrative change for ‘Black and Brown’ Men/Fathers, their children and families,” shared Ryan Berryman, MSW, the Executive Director of San Bernardino Fatherhood. “The project is a perfect opportunity to help elevate a counter-narrative by providing a great two-generational approach to services for parents and children.”

San Bernardino Fatherhood is seeking to establish at least fifty (50) “children reading centers” or children libraries in barbershops in the cities of San Bernardino and Highland.

How You Can Help

The objective of San Bernardino Father’s initiative is to partner with barbershops to encourage children to read and (most importantly) fathers/male caregivers to read to and with their children while waiting in barbershops.

San Bernardino Fatherhood will do the “work” in locating, promoting, educating, setting up and monitoring the children reading centers in barbershops for their success.  We are seeking a donation of books for each of our partnering barbershop locations.  Our goal is to have fifty (50) barbershops well established with a “Children’s Library” by June 2020.

Ways to help this timely and much-needed project is via donations of children books that are engaging, relevant and promotes positive images of “Black and Brown” children and families in our communities.  The children targeted should be from ages zero (0) to eleven (11) years.  Research evidence stresses the importance of early childhood literacy and children reading at “grade level” by the third grade to increase outcomes for future success.

Go here to learn how and where you can donate books.

It is suggested that the donated books depict positive role models and promote positive character-building traits (e.g., responsibility, honesty, respectful, safe, kind, courage, grit, social justice, discipline, etc.).  Again, it is suggested that the characters in the children’s books are reflective of the diversity of the “Black and Brown” members in our communities.

San Bernardino Fatherhood is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, charitable organization. Learn more about them via their website and Facebook.

 

Bilingual Personalized Children’s Books that Reflect Today’s Families

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“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”~Toni Morrison

That was the sentiment that author and mom, Jill Barletti, kept in mind when she took a leap of faith and created her flourishing publishing company, Snowflake Stories. “Just like a snowflake…every child’s story is unique,” has been the mantra and mission of her books; books that are created to be Bilingual Personalized Children’s Books.

Snowflake Stories

“I just didn’t wake up one day and decide to start a personalized book company,” Barletti shared. “It all began a few years ago when I was working as a translator, and I made the off-handed comment to my parents that I enjoyed writing posts for my blog more than I liked doing the actual translations. They responded by encouraging me to pursue writing, as I have always had strong writing skills. I agreed to give it some thought and began pondering what kind of book I might write.”

A few months later, as her extended family gathered for a reunion, Barletti experienced another “ah-HA” moment. At bedtime, her niece, Ava, and nephew, Aidan, requested a bedtime story. Not finding one that they were happy with, Barletti made up a tale about Prince Aidan and Princess Ava who fought the fire-breathing dragon. As the youngsters became more enthralled with the tale that included them in the storyline, Barletti I knew she had to write personalized children’s books.

Since that moment in 2013, this ambitious mompreneur, with help from her kids, has spent the past few years quietly building a line of award-winning, personalized children’s books that are a reflection of what today’s families truly look like.

With four books that can be highly customized in the Snowflake Stories catalog, parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators are appreciating the uniqueness and relevancy of Snowflake’s line of bilingual personalized children’s books; books that help to reinforce that it shouldn’t matter if a child speaks Spanish or English, has brown eyes or blue, or has a single mom or two.

Bilingual personalized Children's books

Bilingual Personalized Children’s Books

“Initially, my mission was to write bilingual stories because I struggled to find books written in Spanish for my two half-Peruvian children when they were young,” Barletti recalled. “But we soon learned that it’s not just bilingual families who have to seek out books featuring families like their own — biracial, LGBTQ, single-parent, blended, adoptive, and multi-generational families do, too. And we realized that if we invested a little more time and effort, we could help lots of families find a few more books that look and sound like they do.”

The idea of creating customizable characters that reflected modern families became even more prevalent as Barletti researched other personalized book competitors. She noted that other personalized book companies relied on characters with raspberry-colored hair, disguises, and awkward angles to make the characters in their books relatable to more kids.

“To us, it was really important that young readers truly see themselves reflected on the pages of their custom storybook. To make this a reality, we worked closely with illustrator Jelena Brezovec in selecting a variety of skin colors, hair colors, hairstyles, eye colors, eye shapes, and a few other features for each character. Our books can feature other types of families often overlooked by traditional publishers – not just bilingual and single-parent families – but also biracial, LGBT, blended, and multi-generational families as well.”

Barletti also worked tirelessly to build a platform for parents, educators, and young readers that allowed them to select their book’s “cast” while tailoring the appearance of each character.

Customizing Books with Snowflake Stories

Bilingual personalized Children's books

► Choose your cast of characters:

1 special child + (up to) 5 loved ones

► Customize the appearance of each character:
Pick skin color, hairstyle, eye color & more

Bilingual personalized Children's books

► Select any 1 – 2 of 5 languages:
English, Spanish, Portuguese, French & Italian

Bilingual personalized Children's books

“The end result is books that look and sound just like your child!,” Barletti added. “I’m proud to say that each book is multi-award-winning; the books have won awards from the International Latino Book Awards, Foreword Review’s Foreword INDIES, the National Indie Excellence Awards, and the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.”

Bilingual personalized Children's books

The Inspiration for Snowflake Stories

When asked what the inspiration was for naming her growing company Snowflake Stories, Barletti had this to say;

“The funny thing is, none of us remembers who came up with the name Snowflake Stories! But we liked the alliteration. It was important that the name rolls off the tongue and just sound good. It also had to be memorable. We felt that Snowflake Stories checked both of those boxes. We also liked that the uniqueness of a snowflake reinforces the uniqueness of each book we create. We offer so many customization options that kids really can see themselves and their families in their book – even books for twins are different. And the tagline wrote itself: Just like a snowflake … every child’s story is unique!”

With four award-winning, personalized books, as well as forthcoming non-personalized books (adapted from their personalized books), Snowflake Stories has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Books from Snowflake Stories Include:

Dance Recital  

The Big Soccer Game (for girls) 

The Big Soccer Game (for boys) 

At Bat 

Beautiful Ballerinas 

Bilingual personalized Children's books

The team at MCBD not only loves the fact that these diverse picture books will encourage kids to hone their love of reading, but also that these personalized books also become so much more than a story–they become a keepsake filled with valuable lessons that will stay with kids their whole life.

To learn more about Jill Barletti and Snowflake Stories, visit them on the web at https://www.snowflakestories.com/

Or Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @Snowflake_Story // @JillBarletti | Facebook: @SnowflakeStories | Instagram: @snowflakestories

Creators Empowering STEM Diversity in Multicultural Books

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Guest Post By: Erin Twamley

From the #ownvoices to #readyourworld to specific trends like #WomeninSTEM, book creators and readers are hungry for the production and consumption of diverse literature.

As an author and an educator myself of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math or STEM publications, I have found that especially in the nonfiction children’s book world our biggest challenge may be us as creatives. We shape not only the words, illustrations but the accolades around diverse literature.  We have the power to do so much more in driving that diversity, especially in the creation of STEM works. I am sharing four observations for creators of books, whether you are a writer, illustrator, reviewer or publisher, and even a reader to consider. 

STEM Diversity in Multicultural Books

  • Diversity is NOT monolithic. Look up or ask a reader, publisher or another author how they define diversity and you will be surprised at the spectrum of answers. In the book world, research, readers and creators have focused on what the characters look like, #representation matters. We as creators need to ensure that our characters embody the cultural nuances, from language, beliefs, abilities, gender, and age, beyond just how they appear. All of these shape experiences and connections with our readers. My point, it is not enough to just have a diverse character on the page, but we must authentically tell or share their story. 
  • Not all scientists are dead or old. It may seem obvious and don’t get me wrong, I love all the recognition and push for nonfiction children’s books autobiographies (I have written one myself). But I keep asking who are the scientists of today?  We forget about #ActualLivingScientists. As a young reader, don’t you want to know who is leading efforts to revitalize our coral reefs or creating the spacesuits that will fit our women astronauts? Our readers need to see that it is not always just “ancient” scientists making discoveries and shaping our future. 

Some Superheroes wear white lab coats and capes

  • Think about how you depict and write about technology!
    Many of our readers (children’s book) are digital natives. Our readers use technology and don’t know a world without it from videogames to cell phones to artificial intelligence. Instead of using illustrations that depict magic or sentences that overlook the function of technology — share about it! WiFi or computers, for example, don’t just STOP working! Share a plot twist, a fact or an illustration that explains how or why the WiFI might have been interrupted (e.g., a power outage from a storm) or where the satellite actually flies (e.g. Outerspace or near-Earth?) You can help readers see and learn about the technology they and the characters you write about using. 
  • Out of the lab! Where do stories happen? A house, a school, a library, a yard or a nearby forest. If talking about science, we see characters in a lab or dreaming of outer space. So much of our science happens in everyday scenes. Use renewable energy (e.g., solar panels on a house), a doctor’s office with the latest equipment (e.g., a robotic surgery machine) or the inside of a rocket ship to show where STEM happens. Kids need to imagine and SEE where science happens, most of it is outside of a lab and not in a white lab coat.

A drawing by a student at Orchard Knob Elementary

About Erin Twamley

Erin Twamley

Author Erin Twamley

Erin Twamley is working to create a new generation of Everyday STEM Superheroes. As an author and educator, her hands-on STEM encounters, nonfiction children’s books, and related publications engage the next generation of learners in protecting and creating a sustainable planet. In 2018 she established ErinEDU, an educational consulting group with a mission to cultivate curiosity and asking questions by sharing the adventures of diverse professionals in STEM Careers and their STEM Superpowers. 

Ms. Twamley loves to travel the world and has lived on three continents. You will find Erin in the European Union hosting interactive author and STEM encounters for US military children and adults of all ages. Learn more about her writings and encounters by visiting her website at www.erinedu.org or join STEM Superheroes on social media!

Social Media:

Facebook link @STEMSuperhero

Twitter Link: @STEMsuperheros  

Instagram Link @everydaystemsuperheroes

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

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

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

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

A new Diverse Picture Book | This is the Earth

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

But it does.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A diverse picture book timeline from Make A Way Media:

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

Make A Way Media

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

Make a Way Media

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

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

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

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

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

Make A Way Media

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

Make a Way Media

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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When Life Comes Full Circle: How a Mobile Library Expanded My World

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Guest post from author Shereen Rahming

I was no more than seven or eight years old growing up in a tiny village in the relatively small country of Belize.  Almost everything I loved and knew existed in that single place.  The elementary school I attended was right next door in the community center grounds.  My classroom was in the main building which had mobile chalkboard walls that could be moved whenever we had our weekly Catholic Church services or any other community gathering.  Three different grades shared the modest open room.

Shereen Rahming

My favorite subjects quickly became any subject that taught and shared the stories of other people.  I wanted to hear, learn, and read more.  The only drawback was that the modesty of our resources meant that we lacked books to have a library.  Nowhere in the village or even neighboring town did a proper library exist.  My appetite for books that sparked my imagination and taught me about the world outside my little village was satisfied with the occasional delivery of books sent by my mother who was already living in the United States.  My whole young life revolved around life in the village, the school next door, and the few books and toys that my mother sent for me.

Then one day, news started circulating.  We heard that a mobile library would start coming to the village.  Now believe me when I tell you that this was somewhat of a big deal…at least to me, it was.  In a village where school resources were scarce, hearing that we would soon have a truck making a stop in the community center grounds once a month to offer books to the children was nothing short of receiving an early birthday or Christmas present, especially to one little girl.  Having never been to a library, I had no idea what to expect when my grandmother explained to me what a mobile library was.  It sounded great so I waited with anticipation.

The day came when the mobile library finally arrived.  I was so excited to get to the little truck that instead of running through the gates of our property, I crawled through an opening in the fence that separated our yard from the community center grounds.  I ran to get in line and waited patiently to get my very first library card.  When the nice lady handed it to me and I saw my name on it, I flashed a smile and ascended the steps of the truck. I stood there peering inside at all the books that filled the walls.  I walked in and perused the books on each shelf.  I ended up selecting a book about a bunny who had lots of adventures.  I took it home and read it right away.  Every book I ever borrowed was my new adventure, lesson, and doorway to a world far bigger than my own.

Fast forward more than thirty years later and that little girl’s love of books had only grown.  I am now a mom of two living in the United States and I have published my very own storybook.  As an author and publisher, I am blessed enough to encounter some truly amazing people who work in the world of literature.  One of those people is a man named, Stan Tucker, who has started his own mobile library in Georgia called the Leap for Literacy Bookmobile.

Stan Tucker and the Leap for Literacy Bookmobile

Photo credit

As I followed Stan’s story, I could not help but beam with delight.  How could I not when it evokes my precious childhood memories.  I smile every time I see the looks of joy and excitement on the little faces of the children who get to select a book from his library.

Stan Tucker

Photo credit

Eventually, I contacted Stan to tell him how wonderful I think his work is and to offer my book to him.  He accepted and now the little girl whose world opened up thanks to a mobile library, has her very own book in a mobile library where other children can hopefully be inspired in the same way.

I am in no way a great philosopher but I can’t help but look at the pictures that Stan posts including the one of a child holding my own book and I marvel at how life does indeed tend to come full circle.

I am reminded of a quote I once read that said, “Life is an echo.  What you send out, comes back.  What you sow, you reap.  What you give, you get.  What you see in others, exists in you.”

The little girl in that village over thirty years ago sent out love for stories, an imagination full of curiosity, and a wavering belief in herself.  And in the little faces of those children enjoying her story and other stories, she sees the same love, curiosity, and belief in all things possible.  Life has come full circle and it’s a beautiful view from where she now stands.

About Shereen

Author Shereen Rahming

 

Shereen Rahming is the author of Ahni & Her Dancing Secret, a graduate of UC Berkeley, a former teacher, and a current contributing writer for the Parent Voice Magazine. She was born in the small Central American country of Belize and immigrated to Los Angeles, California at the age of ten years old. Due to her Black and Latin heritage, she has a great appreciation for diversity and has become a passionate advocate for multicultural and diverse books.

Inspired by the lack of seeing book characters that looked like her as a child, she wrote Ahni & Her Dancing Secret for her daughter so that she would be able to see a character like herself in literature. She is currently working on a second book for her son. Her ultimate goal is to write and promote motivating stories that depict the true diversity of the world we live in and teach readers to appreciate and respect the beauty in themselves and others.

In Ahni & Her Dancing Secret, Ahni dreams of being a prima ballerina so she joins Madam Sabina’s dance school. But her spirit is soon broken when she discovers that the other students are far more advanced than she is and not as friendly as she expected. This charming story depicts the journey of little Ahni from an unsure hopeful to a confident dancer, by discovering the secret to success with the help of wise Madam Sabina. For ages 3-8.

Connect with Shereen via her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

 

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