Featured Archives - Multicultural Children's Book Day

Hidden Heroes in History: Dorktales Storytime Podcast

October 15, 2020 by Valarie Budayr Leave a Comment

{guest post from Becky Flansburg}

As Project Manager for MCBD, I am blessed with the opportunity to meet emerging authors and work with some pretty impressive peeps on a daily basis. I am also a mom and homeschooler so I am also always on the lookout for innovative and unique offerings that inspire readers and shines the spotlight on extraordinary talent.

I’m like the Research Lady for all educator friends, fellow parents, and other homeschooling families!

That’s why I am GIDDY about Dorktales Storytime Podcast

Dorktales Storytime Podcast is not only a breath of fresh air, but it is also a super-fun way to keep young learners engaged, entertained, and learning during challenging times.

Jonathan Cormur is the host (and storyteller) of this fun podcast for kids that features:

1) Dorktales–geeky retellings of classic fairy tales with pop culture easter eggs in every story.

2) Hidden Heroes of History–real stories about people you probably never learned about in school but who have changed history in ways we could have never imagined.

Think Fractured Fairy Tales meets Big Bang Theory and the History Detectives!

In Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Jonathan is joined by his plucky puppet sidekick, Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog (or “Mr. Redge,” if you prefer) to tell goofier versions of tales that have delighted kids for generations. The shows are suitable for preschool and early elementary school ages and are an excellent way to keep kids engaged and learning while having loads of giggles and entertainment.

Dorktales Storytime PODCAST is AVAILABLE ON:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3kSUJZQ

Overcast: https://bit.ly/dorktales-overcast

Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/dorktales-amazon-music

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3iNgKHA

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/Dorktales-stitcher

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/dorktales-google

Find more on Podcast website: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales/

You may recognize Jonathan from his work with his mom, Jodi, from Geek Club Books and Zoom Autism Magazine. His new podcast for kids, Dorktales Storytime Podcast, showcases his career as a successful voice actor who also happens to be on the spectrum.

I especially love Jonathan’s Diverse Hidden Heroes of History.

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP8: Louis Armstrong
Hidden Heroes of History
By Molly Murphy

A tale of Mississippi riverboats, parasol parades, and breaking racial barriers! A man that built a music legacy and a legacy beyond music—Louis Armstrong transformed jazz music and became the beloved “Ambassador Satch” who performed all over the world! So much of his life was about a deep passion for music and using it to bring people together.

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP5: Mary Golda Ross
Hidden Heroes of History
By Molly Murphy

The true tale of a woman who reached for the stars! Mary Golda Ross was one of the first women to rise in the ranks of engineering and one of the first Native Americans in the field. Her work in the early days of spaceflight was very important and is still to this day.

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/mary-golda-ross/

Here’s How You Can Support Dorktales Storytime Podcast

We are exceptionally proud of Jonathan because he is a young man who has not let being on the spectrum define him…or hold him back!

Help us help Jonathan excel even more in his flourishing career path as a voice actor and storyteller. Here’s how YOU can support him!

SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW IN APPLE PODCASTS

1. Mr. Redge thinks it would be “utterly absurd” if you miss even one episode. So, CLICK on over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe today.

2. Listen to several (or all!) of the Dorktales Storytime Podcast episodes and leave a review! Reviews are like applause to a voice actor!

3. Share this link with another family who might be looking for fun and educational ways to share fairy tales and teach about some of the unsung Hidden Heroes in History.

4. Connect with Jonathan on social media!

CURRENT EPISODES:

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP1: What are Dorktales?

Jonathan Cormur introduces himself as the host and storyteller of the Dorktales Storytime Podcast and answers the question you may be pondering, “What ARE Dorktales?”

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-podcast-introduction/

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP2: Three Little Hogs?!
By Karen Simpson Gardiner

The Three Little…HOGS? Who’s heard of that? According to Mr. Redge, our Dorktales sidekick, it’s a classic tale from the fairy tale cannon! Come hear our storyteller recount the story of hedgehogs Porky, Percy, and Peregrin, and their ultimate triumph over the dastardly wolf using a glue pot, rapier, and a wheelbarrow. According to Percy, “It’s epic, man!”

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-three-little-hogs/

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP3: Little Red
By Karen Simpson Gardiner

La, la, la, la-la! Have you heard the tale of Little Red Riding Hood? You know, the one about the sweet, innocent little girl in the beautiful red cloak who outfoxes the big bad wolf? Well forget that one and think ninja granny with a stealthy rescue plan and fierce tranquilizer dart skills.

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-little-red/

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP4: RumpleTaleSpin
By Amy Thompson

“Rump, who?” asks Mr. Redge as Jonathan spins the tall tale of Daphne, the Miller’s daughter, who must spin thread into gold for a greedy king. It’s an epic yarn involving a magical lawn gnome, a clever guessing game, and a Wizard of Oz ending!

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-rumpletalespin/

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP6: The Prickly Duckling
By Amy Thompson

After the quacks and croaks of laughter from his siblings and bullying bullfrog, the poor little duckling waddles off through the marshes to find someone who will accept and love him. What about the gaggle of goslings? Or the brood of chicks? “No one understands me! I’ll never fit in,” he cries until he bumps into the best version of himself.

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/prickly-duckling/

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP7: The Emperor’s New Quills
By Amy Thompson

Is the fancy fabric for the emperor’s new clothes really invisible to those who are not worthy? Or is this a case of double-dealing dupery by two wily weavers? As the emperor struts his stylish self through the streets of his kingdom, it will take one forthright boy to blurt out the naked truth.

Episode webpage (will publish when episode drops):
https://jonincharacter.com/the-emperors-new-quills/

Coming Soon!

Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP9: The Boy Who Cried Hedgewolf
Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP10: Ready, Set, Slow!
Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP11: Tenzing Norgay Hidden Heroes of History

Be sure and CLICK on over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe today.

Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

3 screen-free ways to help kids feel connected during COVID

September 26, 2020 by Valarie Budayr Leave a Comment

{Guest post from the Barefoot Books Team}

There’s no replacement for kids getting together in person. But anything that gets kids actively thinking about their friends can help them feel less lonely.

For the families whose kids are socially isolating, this has been one long summer . . . and it looks like the autumn could be more of the same. The loneliness many kids are feeling is top of mind for parents as we face the potential of remote schooling and many more months of separation from friends and family.

Video chat is an obvious solution that many families have been turning to, and it certainly has its place. But, as you’ve probably noticed, kids don’t engage in play as fully or meaningfully over video as they do when they can do hands-on activities without the distraction of a screen. Creating new opportunities for children to think about others is one of the key ways we can help them through this difficult time. Fortunately, the simplest activities can sometimes be the most meaningful!

Here are three screen-free activities that can help kids feel more connected when they are physically apart.

1. Kids’ Book Swap

Creating your own “lending library” system with one or more partner families is an easy way to help friends interact with one another from a distance. Plus, it’s an economical way to mix up your home book collection. This activity is great because you can keep it simple or you can weave in lots of creative side projects as you prepare your swap.

You Will Need:

Several picture books (or chapter books for independent readers)
Tote bag or box
Reading log (FREE printable!)
Paper, glue, and colored pencils or markers
Printed “Book Review” forms (FREE printable!) (optional)

Activity Steps:

Reach out to another family to invite them to do a book exchange. (Send them the link to this blog post!)
Ask your child to select a few books that they would like to lend to a friend.
Label the inside of each book with your child or family’s name so that the recipient family can keep track of which books they’re borrowing. This can be an activity in itself if your kids use the paper and colored pencils or markers to create decorative nameplates to glue inside the front cover of each book.
Place all the labeled books in a tote bag or box for delivering to the other family.
Insert a book list that inventories all the books you’ve included. To make this piece extra engaging, print out and fill in this Book Log so that the recipient children can quickly indicate whether they liked each book.
Optional: Print out and send along “Book Review” forms so that the kids receiving these books can create book reviews to send back to your children!
Arrange to safely exchange book collections with your lending partner.

After you’ve done a first round of swapping books back and forth, try again with the same family and a different set of books, or invite a new family to participate!

2. Ubuntu Collage

With this activity from the bestselling Global Kids activity deck, your child can create a visual reminder of how they are connected with others.

Ubuntu is an important idea in South Africa: it refers to the bond that connects all people and is often translated as “I am because we are.” The practice of Ubuntu means caring about the needs of others by being kind, helpful, and generous.

You Will Need:

Paper
Posterboard
Scissors
Crayons
Photographs or printouts of photos (optional)
Glue (optional)

Activity Steps:

Help your child make a list of all the important people in their life— family, friends, teachers, helpers — and why they are grateful for them. Write the names on your paper.
Next, your child should draw a self-portrait or glue a photo of themselves in the middle of the poster board.
Around the drawing or photo, they can draw pictures or glue photos of all the people who are on their list.
Next to each person, help your child write down why they are grateful for them. Make sure to leave empty spaces on the Ubuntu college so that they can add people when they make new friends or remember more people who make a difference in their life.
Hang the collage where they can look at it every day. Help them notice all the people they’re connected to!

3. Pen Pals

This classic activity is probably going to see a major resurgence if it hasn’t already. Letter “writing” is a wonderful way for children to connect with one another, whether they’re reading and writing independently or not. Feel free to have them draw a picture or even color in a coloring sheet for a friend and write down any words they want to say.

You’ll Need:

Paper OR “Sending Love” pen pals template (FREE printable!)
Stamp
Envelope
Pen, pencil or drawing supplies

Activity Steps:

Talk about who your child could write a letter to— is there a friend they are really missing? Or maybe they have a grandparent they haven’t seen for a long time?
This is an opportunity to work in a little literacy lesson. Show how they can start the letter with “Dear . . . ” or “To . . . ”
Help your child think about what their pen pal might be interested in reading. (This is practice with perspective-taking, an essential aspect of developing empathy.) Recent activities likes and dislikes and favorite books are good topics. Then consider some questions to ask the pen pal.
Remind them to sign their name at the end.
Show them how to address the envelope. Add a stamp and take it to the mailbox together!

Barefoot Books has a New Website!

We have launched a new website where you’ll enjoy many new features such as a revamped Living Barefoot Blog, detailed product descriptions, and an easier way to browse and find the perfect books and gifts for the children in your life. Our Autumn/Winter catalogue is also here and has information about our new titles as well as our backlist favorites in easy to navigate categories.

Browse their catalog of beautiful and diverse books HERE.

It’s September and we are OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

September 23, 2020 by Rebecca Flansburg

It’s time! We are throwing open the hypothetical doors and kicking off the beginning of the adventure known as the 8^th Annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD)!

As of 9/1, the MCBD2021 book reviewer sign-up is open, all Sponsorship Levels are open, and Book Donator sign-up is open as well.

January 29, 2021, will mark the 8th year of Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s quest to get culturally diverse books into the hands of children, parents, teachers, and librarians. Let the book love begin!

Here’s The Breakdown of How you can get involved in Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021

Sponsorships for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 Event are OPEN!

Sponsorship is a great way to support our non-profit initiative while tapping into some amazing visibility and exposure for authors and publishers of diverse board books, picture books, chapter books, and YA. Learn more here: https://wp.me/P5tVud-1A

Multicultural Children’s Book Day Book Reviewers-We Need YOU!

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

Book reviewers need at least one non-private social media account, plus the ability to leave a review on Amazon, to be able to qualify for a free book.

Acceptable social media platforms include Facebook (Pages only-no Profiles), and non-private Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube accounts.

Get the full scoop HERE: https://wp.me/P5tVud-hm

Book Donator Sign-up for MCBD2021 is OPEN!

Publishers/Authors-if you have multicultural books for kids that you would like to get into the hands of deserving teachers, librarians, parents, and young readers, we could use your help!

Diverse board books, picture books, chapter books, and YA books that are donated to this non-profit initiative help us to continue to raise awareness on the importance of kids being able to “see themselves” in the pages of the books they read. Multicultural books also help readers learn about new traditions, cultures, religions, and ethnicities within the pages of a book.

If you’d like to help do your part and make a difference. GO HERE and to see who you can help: https://wp.me/P5tVud-MR

Questions? Email MCBD Admin Kristi at Admin (at) MulticulturalChildrensBookDay (dot)

Read to Them®: Creating a Culture of Literacy in Every Home

September 13, 2020 by Rebecca Flansburg

With fall approaching we’re typically caught up in the chaos of school supply shopping, fall sports tryouts, and the excitement of the upcoming school year. We all know this year is different, and it’s a lot. Finding downtime among the chaos has become essential, and keeping your family safe and healthy has never been more important. With many kiddos learning from the living room, we’re all figuring out what this school year is going to look like. We also can’t help but imagine everything that could go wrong.

COVID-19 has rendered our 2020 plans virtually useless, but not all hope is lost. Mark your calendars, because Read to Them is hosting a nationwide reading initiative, Read Aloud to a Child Week, and everyone can participate. The program runs from October 25th – October 31st, and it’s a no-stress way to engage with the literacy community.

It’s as easy as picking up a book and reading aloud as a family. While you can read any title, Read to Them curates tons of content, including book lists for picture and chapter books that follow the selected theme. It’s important to remember to go back to the basics. This is a simple way to spend quality time with your family, take a break from the screen, and ensure your kiddo is still getting their educational fix – reading aloud to your child.

There is a large pool of research that both documents and confirms how reading aloud to children may be the most important activity parents share with their children. Not only can reading aloud aid in developing a child’s literacy and reading comprehension skills, but it can also help nourish and maintain a lifelong bond between parent and child.

Read Aloud to a Child Week: Reading Aloud as a Distance Tool

I know what you’re thinking: with a busy schedule AND distance learning, how do I find the time to read aloud with my child? Try adding 10-15 minutes of reading into your existing schedule gradually. Take advantage of the time you have with your child: bath time, getting ready for bed, or even at the dinner table. Surrounding your kiddo with reading materials is likely to lay the seeds for an avid bookworm, especially if they see Mom and Dad with a book, too!

Reading together is an excellent practice to bring into your home. Read to Them, a non-profit based in Richmond, Virginia can help get you started and provide the support you need. Their programs offer schools and families the tools, resources, and guidance necessary to create a culture of literacy in every home.

Save the date, because this is an event to look forward to. Driven by social media, the week will be filled with live readings, activities for your family to participate in, engagement from the literacy community, and much more.

Read to Them will announce the theme in September, so be on the lookout for an announcement. This year’s theme is definitely one to be excited about.

Read to Them Monthly Digital Reading Program

However, you don’t have to wait to start. Read to Them offers a monthly digital reading program called #OneBookConnects. Created to meet the needs of social distancing, it’s a new way of presenting a community reading program! Rather than having students join together at school during the day and at home in the evening, #OneBookConnects is a one-hundred percent online initiative. Read to Them handles all the logistics and provides any and all materials you may need for the read. All you have to do is get the book and follow along on their social media pages.

I know this school year is already overwhelming, and it hasn’t even started yet. But organizations like Read to Them® are ready to support us through our distance learning journey. So, save the date for Read Aloud to a Child Week, lean on your fellow distance learning families for support, and don’t overcomplicate it. When in doubt, pick up a book and read aloud to your child.

Creating a Culture of Literacy | About Read to Them®

Creating a Culture of Literacy

Read to Them® is a 501 C (3) non-profit organization promoting family literacy. Our mission is to create a culture of literacy in every home.

We do this by helping schools implement our One School, One Book®, and One District, One Book® programs. Our programs encourage and enable reading together at home by providing every school with tools, resources, guidance, and support.

Read to Them educates families and schools on the benefits and importance of reading aloud at home. A growing body of research describes the complex and permanent effects of reading aloud. Children who are read to learn to read more easily and become better readers. Literacy skills provide the basis for a lifetime of learning and productivity.

To further discover why we do what we do, check out the video of our story – How We Built Read to Them, One Book at a Time.

KidLit TV Launches Free Homeschooling Resource: KidLit At Home

June 8, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

On June 9, 2020, long-time MCBD supporter and Sponsor, KidLitTV, launched a brand new free, online homeschooling resource that brings together the best video content from around the web created for kids by diverse children’s book authors and illustrators.

New York, NY: In response to widespread school and library closures, KidLit TV today announced KidLit At Home, a free online learning resource created to support parents and educators during a time of increased need for learning enrichment, entertainment, and comfort.

KidLit At Home is styled as a “Netflix for Kid Lit.” It offers a new way for parents, educators, and young readers to access the myriad online storytime, drawing and writing tutorials, STEM and STEAM video content being offered across the web by the biggest names in children’s literature, all curated in one easy to use, convenient online location: https://kidlit.tv/KidLitAtHome.

Superstar children’s book author Mac Barnett and author/illustrator Christian Robinson will kick off the launch of KidLit At Home on June 8 at 8:00 am ET. Mac will read his picture book PAOLO, EMPEROR OF ROME in the first episode of Read Out Loud At Home. PAOLO is illustrated by Claire Keane and published by Abrams. Christian will show us how we can use art to help us see anger differently in Making Space with Christian Robinson. This episode is inspired by LITTLE PENGUINS, written by Cynthia Rylant, published by Schwartz & Wade.

“KidLit TV has lead the children’s publishing industry in creating fun, informative videos and podcasts that celebrate kid-lit authors and illustrators. As parents keep up their child’s learning at home, we have created new resources that champion diversity and embrace technology as driving forces in kid lit’s new era”, says Julie Gribble, author and founder of KidLit TV.

Here’s what people have to say about KidLit TV and KidLit At Home:

The kid lit community’s response to kids’ and parents’ needs as we find our way through both homeschooling and the broader public health crisis has been overwhelming. Many authors and illustrators have volunteered their talents to help keep kids who are home from school engaged and entertained while maintaining their literacy skills. Up until this point, I have struggled to use these valuable resources because they are spread around the internet on different websites and platforms, streaming at different times in different time zones. KidLit at Home solves these issues by bringing all these wonderful treasures to one easy to use page.

—Stephanie Cummings, Two in a Tepee

KidLit At Home is both a relevant resource for those currently with kids home from school as well as an ongoing learn-at-home resource that will continue to be suitable for kids, parents, and educators no matter what the future brings.

—Bethany Edwards, Biracial Bookworms

KidLit TV is an exciting and informative destination for authors, illustrators, teachers, publishers, and anyone with a passion for children’s literature.

—Children’s Book Council

Features of KidLit At Home include:

One-stop location for over 500 kid lit creator videos, updated weekly
Easy to use “Netflix style” carousel navigation
A diverse, kid-friendly collection curated by the KidLit TV team

KidLit At Home will be available starting June 8, 2020, and is free. For more information on KidLit at HOME, visit https://kidlit.tv/KidLitAtHome.

The KidLit At Home logo is designed by children’s book illustrator, Kristen Balouch.

Find Media Kit Assets here: https://kidlit.tv/KidLitAtHOMEAssets.

Authors, illustrators, and publishers can submit videos to KidLit At Home here:

https://kidlit.tv/EntryFormKidLitAtHOME

About KidLit TV: KidLit TV is an award-winning website available in over 700,000 schools worldwide via our website and video distribution partners. We’re a diverse group of parents, educators, librarians, kid lit creators, and award-winning filmmakers working together to create fun new ways to reinforce an appreciation of reading that children will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Meet the KidLit TV Team: https://kidlit.tv/about