diversity in children’s books Archives - Multicultural Children's Book Day

5 Women of History Who Model Strength and Resilience

June 12, 2021 by Rebecca Flansburg

Guest Post By Jodi Murphy

So many women trailblazers who made ground-breaking societal contributions have been written out of history. Half of humanity ignored! The vital roles of women have often been misrepresented, downplayed, or hidden from our history books.

We’d like to highlight the stories of 5 resilient women of history who achieved success despite overwhelming obstacles. Each faced a form of misogyny, prejudice, discrimination, and injustice only to rise above societal setbacks and make huge impacts in science, art, sports, technology, and human rights!

FREE BONUS ALERT: There are activity guides available for free when you sign up for the Dorktales Storytime Podcast email list. SIGN UP HERE:

Mary Golda Ross

Listen to Ms. Ross’ story on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast:

Mary Golda Ross was not only one of the first women to have a prestigious career in engineering, she was also one of the first Native Americans in the field. She rose through the ranks at Lockheed and was the only female engineer of 40 employees selected to be a part of Skunk Works – a top-secret division of the company. Ms. Ross accomplished incredible engineering feats throughout her career, including major contributions that would eventually help put humans into space. She became a mentor to young women and Native Americans, encouraging them to follow their passions.

Wilma Rudolph

Listen to Ms. Rudolph’s story on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast:

Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field in the same year, earning her the title of “fastest woman in the world.” But Wilma Rudolph accomplished something even more precious than gold medals. When she was running in 1960, it was at the height of the Civil Rights movement. Black women and men were beginning the first, powerful wave of fights for equal rights and justice across the country. Ms. Rudolph was one of the most visible Black women and athletes in America after her performance at the Olympics. She used that platform to make a difference and was an outspoken champion for civil justice and women’s rights.

Maria Tallchief

Listen to Ms. Tallchief’s story on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast:

Maria Tallchief was a trailblazing dancer who leaped into fame to become America’s first Prima Ballerina. Her technical precision and unique style of dance—full of energy, speed, and passion—put American ballet on the map. She paved the way for dancers who didn’t seem to fit the mold or expectations of what a dancer should be. Ms. Tallchief was a member of the Osage Nation, and she always remembered her roots, remaining closely tied to her Osage history and speaking out against stereotypes and misconceptions about Native Americans.

Ruth Asawa

Listen to Ms. Asawa’s story on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast:

Ruth Asawa is one of California’s most beloved sculptors and was an influential advocate for arts education. She persisted through extreme prejudice and the injustice of Japanese internment camps to become a master at her craft. Ms. Asawa believed teaching the arts in school was a vital part of empowering young people, and felt hands-on learning was an invaluable experience. She championed these principles throughout her entire career. Today, her remarkable work lives on—from installations in famous museums to monuments in city parks, to The Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.

Hedy Lamarr

Listen to Ms. Lamarr’s story on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast:

Hedy Lamarr was a famous MGM Hollywood film actress, producer, and, off-screen, a brilliant inventor. She was known by the public as the “most beautiful woman in the world” and was adored for her performances on screen. But in between takes, she could be found in her trailer conducting scientific experiments. Ms. Lamarr’s most influential invention was called frequency-hopping, a technology to help the Navy protect their radio signals during World War II.

It took two decades for frequency-hopping to be taken seriously by the engineering community, but today it’s widely believed that her invention is what makes modern communication systems possible. Yes, we have Hedy Lamarr to thank for all of our cell phones, Bluetooth devices, GPS, and wi-fi networks!

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.

Moms on a Mission to Bring Diversity to Party Time

May 1, 2021 by Rebecca Flansburg

{Guest post from Jackie Bunn and Lois Petren}

Co-founders of The Five Enchanted Mermaids, Jackie Bunn and Lois Petren, have been friends for over 35 years.

This dynamic duo met in Princeton, N.J. back in the early 1980s. In spite of their different backgrounds, the two women hit it off and soon discovered that they had quite a few things in common. Besides a shared love of cooking, travel, working in New York City, and exercise, they were both married, had careers, and each had a couple of children. As the years progressed, Lois and Jackie’s life experiences and geographic locations changed, but the thread of friendship always connected the two across the miles.

After deciding to leave her job in a major financial services firm to be more available to her kids during their elementary school days, Jackie shared that she started a small business in 2017 selling party supply products online. It was during that time that she noticed a glaring gap in what was available to families of color when it came to party supplies.

“As my business grew, I noticed the lack of diversity in children’s party products. The images on party products simply did not reflect the real world. I saw this both as an opportunity but also as something that was important to address. Why shouldn’t children be able to celebrate their birthdays with characters that looked like them with similar skin colors? My research had shown that children loved mermaids and unicorns and so I decided to commission a unique design – a racially diverse group of five mermaids who were best friends. This was the birth of the “Five Enchanted Mermaids.”

Seeing the potential and need for this innovative line of products, Jackie reached out to her long-time friend, Lois, for help bringing The Five Enchanted Mermaid to life. Lois had recently retired from a career in IT with a major company and had been busying herself writing children’s books and had six published titles under the “Lulu and Lainey” series to her credit.

“Jackie had the idea to develop the personalities and character of each mermaid and she contacted me to see if I would be interested in a collaboration to write books featuring the group,” Lois recalled. “I enthusiastically said ‘yes’ and with that we worked together to ‘personalize’ each of the Five Enchanted Mermaids, naming them and building their personalities, likes and dislikes and especially important to the books, their unique superpower, which they could use to help children ages 3-7 at this important socio-emotional development stage.

Jackie and Lois shared that they live their values and commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion and they continue to believe that when children see a world where all people are accepted they will grow into adults who believe the same. The goal of the Five Enchanted Mermaids series is to model inclusiveness and create a world where everyone is heard, accepted, and respected.

When asked what they were most proud of with their vibrant books, dolls, and party supplies, this is what the two businesswomen had to say:

Jackie:

Jackie Bunn

I love – and am most proud of – the fact that our customers are drawn to our unique message on diversity and living in today’s real multiethnic world. The books and products based on the Five Enchanted Mermaids promote values of inclusion and self-esteem, which the world certainly needs today more than ever. In fact, our motto is: “We believe that every child deserves a mermaid that looks like them!” We even have a hashtag we use in marketing which is “#mermaidlikeme as well as #fiveenchantedmermaids. Our customers have thanked us for offering products that reflect the race of their child, or their child’s friends or family members.

In addition to loving the very cute mermaid characters and their underwater friends, adult readers of our books appreciate that we present age-appropriate valuable lessons for their children that are gentle conversation starters. In one of our recent books, Meet the Mermaids: Hi, I’m Sofia!, readers are introduced to Sofia, a Hispanic mermaid who teaches children about the benefits of honesty (her superpower!) and conversely the consequences of lying. Other books teach about courage, kindness, confidence, and independence.

Lois:

Lois Petren

We started with a Coloring/Activity book, which was quickly followed by the first series of three picture books addressing three aspects of “growing up” for 3-7-year-olds – overcoming obstacles, having a birthday party, and experiencing a first day at school. The second series Meet the Mermaids focuses on each mermaid, her personality, and her “super skill.” As Jackie mentioned this teaches the child in a fun way and through the power of example.

Developing and creating these stories is like painting with ideas. As I write a book, I am envisioning the best way for the images to portray the story I’ve written. To connect our overarching philosophy of inclusiveness with the storyline and childhood development, it’s key to portray human children of many races and colors doing things together. We want the child reader to see themselves in our books. Successfully translating these ideas onto the page provides a lot of satisfaction, especially when we get feedback from customers and readers that shows our message resonates with them.

The Five Enchanted Mermaids Promoting Diversity in Children’s Books, Party Supplies and Gifts

Jackie and Lois also shared that another favorite element in the world of the Five Enchanted Mermaids is the artwork used on the products and in the books. The jewel-tone colors of the mermaids’ tails and tops against all their different skin tones, set in the gorgeous turquoise of the undersea world and creatures of Atargatis, work together to create an enchanting story and feel.

As the Five Enchanted Mermaid brand has grown, the two friends have expanded their product line to compliment the books. Included in their catalog are gorgeous look-alike mermaid plush dolls that encourage role-playing and imagination for all ages.

The books and dolls can be purchased together, or sold separately and have been very well received by gift-buyers and parents.

Also included is a wide variety of delightful party supplies for all ages and budgets.

All products are available via the Five Enchanted Mermaid online Amazon store www.amazon.com/fiveenchantedmermaids

“It has been a great journey so far and makes us so happy when our mermaids bring joy to a child! Stay tuned for more books, gifts, and party products featuring the beautiful Five Enchanted Mermaids!”

Five Enchanted Mermaid Freebies

Parents, Caregivers, and Educators can sign up to receive updates on new product and book releases as well as special promotions and coupons at www.fiveenchantedmermaids.com/freebies

Connect with Lois, Jackie, and the Five Enchanted Mermaids via their website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.

Shining the Spotlight on Asian Pacific American Female Athletes

March 8, 2021 by Rebecca Flansburg

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?

February 11, 2021 by Rebecca Flansburg

{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

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.

When a Literature Assignment Becomes A Children’s Picture Book

January 23, 2021 by Rebecca Flansburg

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. 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/