Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

Shining the Spotlight on Asian Pacific American Female Athletes

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Everyone deserves to see themselves in the pages of a book. 

This statement has been one of the founding beliefs of this non-profit children’s literacy initiative for nearly a decade. 

As our mission states, MCBD has been passionate about raising awareness for children’s books that celebrate diversity by getting more of these books into classrooms and libraries since the first day we launched this company. This non-profit also strives to shine the spotlight on the diverse books and authors that mainstream publishing and media often overlook.

That desire and commitment are reflected in everyone who works for, volunteers their time, and supports our non-profit, including our Co-founders Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen. These two Super Mamas are not only brilliant women; they are CEOs, change-makers, and authors themselves. They both are continually seeking and implementing new ways to make reading and diversity a priority. They are tireless!

With that in mind, we are putting Mia Wenjen in the spotlight because she is launching full-force into yet another critical mission: the mission to honor and recognize Asian Pacific American female athletes’ accomplishments!

As everyone knows, Mia has been an enormous part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s success. Her love of books has inspired her to pen THREE diverse picture books, including Sumo Joe (a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year), Asian Pacific American Heroes, Best #OwnVoices Children’s Books: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Aged 1-12 (a compendium of book reviews to find diversity books), and co-author How To Coach Girls (winner of IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award™), and The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide.

Sports and diversity are enormous passions for her and her family, so it was natural for her kids to want to read sports-related books for kids.

“There are so many other great values that kids can learn from sports, such as teamwork, leadership, and being a good follower,” Mia shared. “Like most of the parents in my town, we started our kids in Kindergarten Soccer. My husband coached, and he described it as “herding cats.” My kids tried many other sports from soccer, either joining teams, learning on their own, or taking a clinic. If they loved a sport, they trained more often. If it did not click, they moved on. My husband played golf professionally on the mini-tours, so our kids grew up as toddlers on a putting green!“

As her two daughters grew and became heavily involved in sports, the lack of books that celebrated Asian Pacific American female athletes’ achievements became obvious.

“I asked my middle daughter if she knew the names of any Asian-American female athletes or any books about them. When she laughed and said that there were not any, I was shocked and saddened. Mainly because I knew these athletes did exist; they just were not being talked about.” 

After spending a great deal of time searching online, she was disappointed to find very few books featuring Asian-American female athletes. 

“The few books that I did locate centered on more dance-driven sports, like figure skating and gymnastics. At that moment, I had to ask myself why there were no books with Asian-American female role models for girls available, especially for popular team sports like basketball, soccer, and hockey. Girls of every ethnicity need to see Asian-American females succeeding in sports to know that everyone can dream of stepping up on an Olympic podium. That was my wake-up call to write this book!”

The Kickstarter Campaign for Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes begins on February 15, and Mia shared that she has woven in a very special way for supporters to help her non-profit, Multicultural Children’s Book Day: a children’s literacy initiative that she helped to create.

Backers who would like to support her project and diversity in children’s literature will have the option to use their dollars to get free copies of Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes into classrooms and libraries.

When the MCBD Team enjoyed a sneak peek at this book, we were amazed how all of the 18 women profiled in Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes were not only excelling at their chosen sport, but also that many of them had also overcome tremendous obstacles including poverty, racism, and injury to succeed.

“I would like them to know that Asian Pacific American female athletes are, by and large, hidden figures in the sports world, despite winning Olympic medals and overcoming great barriers, Mia added. “One athlete highlighted in my book earned Olympic gold for swimming but trained in an irrigation ditch because she did not have access to a swimming pool. How inspiring is that?!”

Meet the 18 Asian Pacific American Female Athletes in this book who excel at a range of sports and represent many Asian ethnicities.

Chloe Kim of the United States performs a trick during the women’s snowboard halfpipe final at the freestyle ski and snowboard world championships, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)

  • Eun Jung “EJ” Lee Ok (Korean American) is thought to be one of the greatest point guards ever to play women’s college basketball.
  • Chloe Kim (Korean American) is the youngest snowboarder to win Olympic Gold.
  • Miki Gorman (Japanese American) is the only female marathon runner to win both the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon, twice!
  • Victoria Manalo Draves (Filipino & European American), a diver, is the first woman to win two Gold Medals in both springboard and platform in the same Olympics games, the first Asian-American to medal at an Olympics game, and the first Filipino to win a Gold Medal.
  • Evelyn Tokue Kawamoto-Konno (Japanese American) learned to swim competitively in a ditch through Soichi Sakamoto’s Three-Year Swim Club and is the first Japanese-American female to win an Olympic Medal.
  • Julie Chu (Chinese & Puerto Rican American), a hockey player, is the first Asian-American female to compete for the United States in the Winter Olympics for a sport other than figure skating. She took home three silver medals and one bronze medal from five Olympics.
  • Natasha “Tasha” Kai (Filipino, Hawaiian, Chinese & European American) is the first player from Hawaii to make the full U.S. National Women’s Soccer team. In 2008, she helped the team earn an Olympic Gold medal.
  • Michelle Wie (Korean American) is the youngest female to compete on the PGA Tour and the youngest USGA champion in an adult event.
  • Kristi Yamaguchi (Japanese American) is a two-time Olympic Gold Medal ice skating champion, a two-time singles World Champion, and a two-time pairs National Champion.
  • Amy Chow (Chinese American) is the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal in gymnastics.
  • Anona Naone Napoleon (Native Hawaiian) won the International Makaha Surfing Competition.
  • Michelle Waterson (Thai & European American) is a Mixed Martial Arts champion.
  • Liane Lissa Sato (Japanese American) took home a Bronze Medal for the United States Women’s Volleyball Team at the Olympics held in Barcelona.
  • Catherine Mai-Lan Fox (Vietnamese & European American) is a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner for swimming.
  • Megan Khang (Hmong American) is the first Hmong American to play on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
  • Mohini Bhardwaj (Indian & Russian American) is the first Indian-American gymnast to medal at the Olympics.
  • Naomi Osaka (Japanese & Haitian) is the first female Asian player to hold the number one ranking by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

As someone who has spent many decades inspired by the love of books, Mia shared that she finally leaped into penning her diverse books a few short years ago. When asked what advice she could give to emerging authors, Mia had this to say:

 “Think of writing and publishing a book just like learning a language. It may seem daunting at first to become conversational in a foreign language, but “baby steps” will get you there! Just keep at it, and it will happen!”

GO HERE to support this Kickstarter and learn more about Changing The Game!

 

Mia Wenjen blogs on parenting, children’s books, and education at Pragmatic Mom and is the co-creator of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, a non-profit celebrating diversity in children’s books.

She is also the co-founder of Aquent, a creative staffing agency specializing in digital and marketing talent with 37 locations around the world.

Mia’s books include the picture book Sumo Joe (a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year), Asian Pacific American Heroes, Best #OwnVoices Children’s Books: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Aged 1-12 (a compendium of book reviews to find diversity books), How To Coach Girls (winner of IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award™), and The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide.

She lives in Boston with her husband, three kids, and Golden Retriever. Mia can be found online @PragmaticMom on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, and as Mia Wenjen on LinkedIn and YouTube.

 

What Can Kids Learn from these Two Amazing Heroes of History?

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{Guest Post By Jodi Murphy}

Black History Month begins and it’s just one of the many opportunities we can take to talk to kids about the many contributions and achievements of African Americans.

Dorktales Storytime Podcast would like to bring the stories of two trailblazers from two different time periods in American history to your children. These are two men who faced racial injustice—one who was enslaved then freed and one who lived during Jim Crow laws. Through their own talents, hard work, and determination, they had extraordinary accomplishments that changed our world for the better.

George Washington Carver

Listen to Mr. Carver’s story on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast:

Note: This episode includes discussions about slavery and systemic racism. Find links to resources for talking about these topics on the episode web page: https://jonincharacter.com/george-washington-carver/

George Washington Carver is someone you probably learned about in school, but you may not know the entire story of his life—from being enslaved to experiencing segregation and then becoming one of America’s most respected agricultural scientists, botanists, and inventors.

His research was never just about science, but about the impact that it might have on people’s lives—particularly the African American people of the South and areas that relied on agriculture to survive. At the time, cotton was king but it destroyed the land after one harvest. He taught many farmers how to grow other crops to enrich the soil and create hundreds of products.

Did you know that he is credited with discovering over 300 uses for the peanut? Or that he studied many species of fungi—two of which were named after him? Or that he was admired by Henry Ford and Thomas Edison—both who wanted to hire him to work for their companies? These are but a few of the extraordinary facts about his life.

What’s even more admirable, is that he used his celebrity to speak on racial injustice and the importance of racial harmony. He worked towards a future where no one is turned away from getting an education or work based on their race. And he certainly left a legacy for all young scientists and farmers who have followed in his footsteps.

FREE BONUS ALERT: There is an activity guide available for the George Washington Carver episode for free when you sign up for the Dorktales Storytime Podcast email list. Currently, all Hidden Heroes of History episodes come with free activity guides and future guides are in development. SIGN UP HERE: https://bit.ly/DTnewsletter-signup

Louis Armstrong

Listen to Mr. Armstrong’s story on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast:

 

Louis Armstrong had a difficult childhood and grew up in a dangerous neighborhood. He started working when he was very young and that is how he came to afford his first cornet. He kicked off his career on Mississippi riverboats and was eventually mentored by Joe “King” Oliver, the top cornetist in New Orleans. He joined King Oliver’s orchestra in 1922 and, after 3 years, struck out on his own to become one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time.

Mr. Armstrong broke down barriers during a time when there were even more significant obstacles for African American people due to Jim Crow laws. He was the first African American person to write an autobiography, get cast in a major motion picture, and host a nationally sponsored radio show. He also famously spoke out about the Little Rock Nine, an incident where African American students were prevented from attending school.

Most of his life was about a deep passion for music and using it to bring people together. Louis Armstrong built a music legacy and a legacy beyond music.

FREE BONUS ALERT: There is an activity guide available for the Louis Armstrong episode for free when you sign up for the Dorktales Storytime Podcast email list. (You only need to sign up once.) SIGN UP HERE: https://bit.ly/DTnewsletter-signup

Jonathan Cormur

Discover more Hidden Heroes of History podcast episodes and geeky retellings of classic fairy tales on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast. The podcast is a member of Kids Listen, an organization that advocates for high-quality children’s audio. Jodi Murphy is the founder of Geek Club Books autism storytelling nonprofit and a member of the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Board of Advisors.

 

Music Carries Language and Culture for Kids

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{Guest Post by Jesse Lewis, Music Producer, and Sound Director, at TA-DA! Language Productions}

Sound and music is a point of entry for the next generation. Just like food and diverse books, music carries language and culture for kids.

So, I noticed that when music comes on, she stops everything and stares far away.

That thousand-yard stare is usually one I see in our 4-month-old right before the diaper… uh, right before he looks at me and grins…

But for my daughter, almost four years old, this beam tells me she’s experiencing something I can’t see, a complete and vivid scene in her imagination. She is hearing, learning, and internalizing as she listens in delight to EVERYTHING she hears.

So, I had to know – What makes music and stories so mesmerizing and memorable to our littlest learners?

What if music could be used to show our kids sounds of language and music from other places? Could just listening to music plant seeds of awareness and empathy, and give them comfort with people from other cultures and places they haven’t even met? Is there a way to activate a mind’s eye in young kids for a better future, while they listen in delight?

Whoa, I thought… this… could CHANGE the world.

Music gets Kids Going

Music gets kids going, truly, at the core. Much of your child’s biology is rhythmic for instance – the heart, the lungs, their stride, their speech all have a rhythm; so, rhythm is satisfying. When they hear a beat, their bodies can’t help but fall into sync. Take a look at this incredible video by Dr. Laurel Trainor if you need help being convinced:

 

Music Carries Language and Culture for Kids

All music comes from someplace and brings with it the vibe, the culture, and the language. Every culture has a sound; each place its own music, soundscapes, and (needless to say!) language. And the earlier kids hear something, the deeper that memory sets in, and the more readily they’ll recall that information or perspective in the future.

Sound and music is a point of entry for kids – Just like food, a new place, a new language, a person who looks a little different. When young children build familiarity with our diversity, they’ll be more open when they’re older.

From the Grammys to the Kids

I’ve been in music all my life, and never have I found so much purpose as I have in bringing music to kids. We can give the gift of music—and all of the learning benefits, cultural context, language, empathy, math, and science—from the moment they emerge from the womb! I have 4 Grammy Awards and produce commercial albums for some of the most wonderful artists in the world, but now, for me, I cannot think of a more potent use of energy and passion than to turn my focus to kids.

About TA-DA! Language Productions

TA-DA! makes language and culture fun for kids, by weaving it into stories, music, and games.

Our first sound books come out in April (Language Adventures Series) and August (Children’s Talking Dictionary). Kids will learn and grow while they have oodles of fun. My co-founder, Michelle Glorieux, is a quick, smart, fun mom of a trilingual kid, and a globetrotting language teacher currently living in Europe. I’m a cellist and music producer; my wife, Megumi, is an inspiring professional violinist; and we are raising two little bilingual kids in Boston, Massachusetts.

Our whole team is driven by the dream that an entire generation of kids can grow up entirely more nourished, more empathetic, more playful, and better equipped to tackle their futures. Everything we do, we do for our kids, and that’s what TA-DA! is built on.

Visit TA-DA! via our website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube.

 

When a Literature Assignment Becomes A Children’s Picture Book

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Guest Post by Tacardra B. Rountree 

It was my Junior year of high school and I was given an assignment in my Literature Class to write a poem about myself starting with the words, I Am. During that time, I had fallen in love with the poetry of Maya Angelou, especially the poem, “Phenomenal Woman.”I probably thought to myself, if I can be phenomenal, I can also be a Queen. My assignment started with the words, I Am An African Queen. It continued as a poetic affirmation. I published the poem in my first book, Writings From Down Through the Years. 

In graduate school, I came across the book, Honey I Love and Other Love Poems by Eloise Greenfield. When I read the poem,” Honey, I Love,” I was quickly reminded of my childhood. This poem became one of my favorites. It was several years later during my teaching career that I found the picture book Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield. It was at that moment, I decided to turn my poem, “I Am An African Queen,” into a children’s picture book. 

I knew I needed to find an illustrator who could make my words come to life. Little did I know that my illustrator would be someone that I already knew. Audrey “Sala Adenike” Jeter-Allen is known in my hometown for teaching and sharing African dance and culture. One year, we were both vendors at the same event. I was selling my first book and she was selling her artwork. I did not realize she was a visual artist. When I saw her artwork, I knew she would be the perfect illustrator for my book. I shared my ideas with Jeter-Allen and we exchanged contact information. She decided to illustrate my book and capture my vision with beautiful paintings and graphic illustrations. I wanted girls and women to find themselves on the cover and pages of the book. 

When it came to the title, I wanted something short and catchy. In February of 2018, I visited the Mann-Simons Site, one of the historical houses in Columbia, South Carolina. While I was reading one of the informational markers, a gentleman walked by and said, “Hello Queen.” I said, “Hello.”A few days later I said, “That is the title of my book, Hello Queen.” 

Remember, you should always answer to what you want to be called. The gentleman called me a Queen and I answered. He also confirmed what I already knew about myself. Yes, I am a Queen. I represent beauty, intelligence, determination, and more. After reading my book, I want young girls and women to boldly say, “I am a Queen” and realize that Queens are all around them. 

I did not realize the type of impact my 11th-grade assignment would have on my life. Save your writings and even your homework assignments. You may have the next best selling children’s book!

Tacardra B. RountreeTacardra B. Rountree is an author, inspirational speaker, and educator. Rountree has her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Fort Valley State University and her Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota.. 

She is the author of Writings From Down Through the Years and Hello Queen. Writings From Down Through the Years is a compilation of inspirational poetry and readings. Hello Queen is her second book and first children’s picture book. Rountree seeks to encourage and inspire others with her words. She enjoys sharing her books with schools and libraries. 

Website: https://www.authortrountree.com/

 A’s to your Q’s: Answers to some Most Frequently Asked Questions about MCBD

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We know the inner (and outer) workings of Multicultural Children’s Book Day can seem complex sometimes, but we can assure you that there is a method to our madness! So to clarify some of our most commonly asked questions, here is an impromptu Questions and Answers Session with Project Manager, Becky Flansburg.

A’s to your Q’s

Q: My book is about animals on an adventure, but it teaches lessons about inclusion and kindness-could that be included in Multicultural Children’s Book Day?

A: Unfortunately, no. There are occasional exceptions (if the book is bilingual and written by a BIPOC author), but for the most part, we need to follow these guidelines when accepting books/Authors/Sponsors for MCBD. 

Our Criteria for “Multicultural” or “Diverse” Children’s Books

  • Books that contain characters of color as well as main characters that represent a minority point of view.
  • Books that are written by an author of diversity or color from their perspective. Search #ownvoices to discover diverse books written by diverse authors.
  • Books that share ideas, stories, and information about cultures, race, religion, language, and traditions. These books can be non-fiction but still written in a way that kids will find entertaining and informative.
  • Books that embrace special needs or even “hidden disabilities” like ADHD, ADD, and anxiety.
  • Books that show IBPOC readers what is POSSIBLE–like a book that shows an Asian child as an astronaut 👩‍🚀, a child from Sudan as an actress, or a biracial child as a world leader.
Q: I’d like to review a book for MCBD, but I’m not a blogger. Can I still get a free diverse book to review?
A: Yes! It’s not required to be a blogger to participate in book reviewing. All reviewers are required to post their reviews on at least one (as many as possible is appreciated) of these social media channels: a blog, Facebook (Page, not a Profile), Instagram (no private accounts), Twitter (no private accounts) and YouTube. Additional reviews on Goodreads and Amazon are also very appreciated.
Q: Periodically we see FB/IG/Twitter posts from either Pragmatic Mom or MCBD where groups of books (a.k.a. booklists) are featured – usually highlighting diversity.  How can we get one of my books into those posts?   
A: MCBD has no influence over what books are chosen on other people’s sites. I’ve been asked often over the years by other authors how to get included in these lists and the best advice I can give is ASK. They typically include books that have been sent to them because that is what is on their radar. Another way is to create your own booklist on your own site and include one of your own books. Then share like crazy on social media!
Q: We also see FB/IG/Twitter posts from MCBD featuring individual books – how do we get our books considered for these features? Can we post these to your accounts ourselves?
A: MCBD does not review books, so to speak, but we do have different opportunities available for authors to shine the spotlight on their diverse books. One popular way is to do a guest post for us about their writing and publishing journey, what inspired them to write their book, and why they feel the message in this book is important for young readers to be aware of. Those guest posts are then shared on MCBD’s social media. There are examples of recent guest posts HERE and HERE.
Anyone who is interested in doing a guest post on the MCBD blog should send an email to admin@multiculturalchildrensbookday.com
Q: What is the Difference Between a Shout Out and a Multicultural Children’s Book Day Sponsorship?
A: The difference between Social Shout Outs and Sponsorship for MCBD 2021 (1/29/21) is that Shout Outs are a one-time social media push on an author/diverse book’s behalf. Our Social Shout Outs are available 365 days a year and act as a fundraiser for our Free Books for Classrooms Project.
Sponsorships, on the other hand, are directly connected to the yearly celebration itself and are a great way to tap into the hundreds-of-thousands of views our social media channels get from November to February 1.
MCBD also offers a magazine-quality interview blog post with accompanying social media called a Sponsored Post. We only do them in the “off-season” which is February-September. But it would be a great way to share a giveaway, one of your YouTube videos, and any other info about the company and the books. 
Q: How else can I promote my diverse books for kids?
A: I’m going to put on my marketing coach hat here and encourage you to really tap into online marketing opportunities that are occurring right now. Because of COVID-19 shopping and discovering new titles to read will largely happen online. Be active in book-related Facebook Groups and by “be active” I mean really engage with members as opposed to dumping your links and disappearing. 
Like I mentioned above, guest posting is a great way to gain readership and visibility and MCBD welcomes guest posts. Leverage social media by using vibrant pictures/images related to your books and even share excerpts from the pages. Check out this 10-point checklist on Leveraging the Social Buzz! MCBD’s Marketing Tips Authors & Publishers.
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