Multicultural Children's Book Day

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When Success Sneaks up on You: Maya and the Turtle A Korean Fairy Tale

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{Guest post by John Stickler}

We didn’t know our book was competing for an international prize… and then it won!

Until we were notified by our publisher that we were winners, my wife and I had never heard of the Morning Calm Award for children’s books. It is an annual prize program founded and conducted by the librarians at the 15 international schools in South Korea.

Over the summer the librarians select English-language books in four age categories, elementary through high school, and stock multiple copies in each school. The books are introduced to the students at the beginning of the school year and they are given eight months to read them. In April they vote for their favorite. Most of the authors and publishers around the world have no idea their titles are even in the competition.

Our picture book, Maya and the Turtle: A Korean Fairy Tale, had a bit of an advantage in this race. Although the international schools are taught entirely in English, and these students are being prepared for college in the U.S. and elsewhere, they are mostly of Korean heritage. Maya’s tale is a classic Oriental lesson in filial piety, respect for one’s parents, presented in an engaging Cinderella story. In an effort to save her father’s life a young girl volunteers to face death in the form of a deadly giant centipede. Fortunately, thanks to a magical turtle, all ends well.

Maya and the Turtle: A Korean Folk Tale

The librarians assigned our book to grades 4-6, up against three other new titles by better-known authors. Across all schools, Maya was the most popular in that age group and hundreds of students awarded her the international Morning Calm Medal.

The winning authors and illustrators receive award certificates by mail and the publishers receive artwork for a nifty foil medallion to print and stick on their winning book covers.

 

Then, A Multicultural Audiobook was Born

Although our publisher, Tuttle, produced both hardcover and eBook editions of Maya, they had not considered an audiobook of this title. Given its proven popularity my wife and I negotiated with Tuttle to obtain the audio rights and set out to become audiobook producers. We knew who we wanted to narrate it.

Talulah Shadrick is a talented Californian, age 12, who always knew she would be an actress. At age six she appeared on stage and by eight qualified to join the Screen Actors Guild. Her credits include a Toyota TV commercial, a voiceover for a Nintendo game, and a recurring role on the last season of the popular cable TV program “Veep.”

The first children’s book blogger to review the 11-minute audiobook called Talulah “amazing;” our talented tween.

Soma’s mother, T.M. Song, was a storyteller and this is a tale she used to tell her four daughters when Soma was a little girl. Her mother had told it to her when she was growing up in a small village in Korea. As co-author Soma told me what to write and also did all the lovely watercolor illustrations. She is a fine arts graduate of the California College of the Arts and has illustrated three children’s books. She’s a charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

I reported the news from Seoul for nine years for the CBS radio network and am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

To see a 99-second trailer for the book just visit YouTube and enter Maya and the Turtle.

To hear a one-minute free sample of Talulah, or order an mp3 download of the book, visit:   https://www.libro.fm/audiobooks/9781518916243

Maya and the Turtle: A Korean Folk Tale is available via Libro.fm (audiobook), illustrator Soma Han’s website, Amazon, and Tuttle Publishing.

About The Author and Illustrator

Author John C. Stickler

Author John C. Stickler

As a student at Yale University, John C. Stickler spent most of his time on the Yale Daily News, ending up as a senior editor. Despite the diversion, he graduated as honors major in sociology and returned home to Tucson, Arizona. The U. S. Peace Corps had accepted his application and assigned him to the Philippines, but his draft board felt that as a conscientious objector he was unfit for Peace Corps service.
The battle over his destiny ended up with his assignment to a Military Advisory Group at UN Command Headquarters in South Korea. Taking his discharge in Seoul, he established one of the first advertising agencies in that country, assisting Korean firms with their exports and tourism development. At the same time, he filed regular news reports for the CBS radio network.
After a decade in Seoul, John and his wife, fine artist Soma Han, and their two boys returned to the States, settling in California. Purchasing a national business magazine, he began a career in publishing, editing, journalism, and corporate public relations. During the 1990s he began writing books for Fodor’s, Berlitz, and the Asian Sources Media Group in Hong Kong.
For several years he was editor and publisher of The Mature Traveler, a national newsletter. In 2003 John and Soma joined forces with Shen’s Books to publish Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now. The title was subsequently selected by Skipping Stones Magazine for its annual Honor Award.
They teamed up again to write and illustrate Maya and the Turtle: A Korean Fairy Tale, a story passed down through the Han family by Soma’s grandmother. The picture book was published by Tuttle and in 2014 awarded an international Morning Calm Medal, voted #1 by students at international schools across South Korea. Today they live near the artist colony of Tubac in Southern Arizona.

Illustrator Soma Han

Soma Han was born in the rural southeastern corner of Korea in a house with a roof thatched with rice straw. Moving to Seoul for high school and college, she studied art under Korea’s foremost sculptor and artist Lee Il Young before being accepted at one of the leading art schools in the USA. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California College of the Arts. Her watercolors have been exhibited in galleries from Arizona, New York City, Washington, D.C., and California to Mexico, Hong Kong, and Korea.

In 1999 Soma was commissioned by Shen’s Books to illustrate a collection of Korean proverbs, Tigers, Frogs, and Rice Cakes. The picture book was named by the California Department of Education to its “recommended reading list” for use in schools statewide.

In 2003 she illustrated and co-authored her second book on Korea for young readers, Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now. This nonfiction title was selected by Skipping Stones Magazine for its 2005 Honor Award in the multicultural and international category. When Lee and Low acquired Shen’s in 2013, they introduced a paperback edition and the title began a new life educating youngsters about “The Hermit Kingdom.”

Maya and the Turtle is her third children’s book, a family story told by her grandmother many years ago. The picture book was originally published by Tuttle and, in 2014, it was voted the annual Morning Calm Medal by students at 13 international schools across South Korea. Learn more about Soma’s work via her website, somahan.org

***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.***

For more information about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Becky at Becky@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com .

Being Bilingual by Sonia Kermen

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{by Sonia Kermen}

Before being an author of bilingual children’s books, I a mom.

I was born in France–like my two first children Bélinda, 24 years old and Emilian 20 years old. When we arrived in the United States in 2008, my two children and I had to face the joys and challenges of a bilingual and bicultural life. I was inspired in 2009 to write books that would break down bilingual language barriers and better understand others upon the birth of my third child, Enzo.

My children urged me to open a door that I did not know with the word “bilingual.”

My daughter was 10 when we arrived in the States, she could not speak a word of English. We had to make him repeat his sixth grade.

She had the courage to accept the challenge; to read an English book every week, underlining each misunderstood word. She was continuing to read French books, and as not to forget his mother tongue.

In eighth grade, she surprised us by finishing school with honors in English. After only three years in the country! I have always spoken French to my children, like any expatriate, we want to safeguard our roots and our culture. My children learned English with school, their teacher’s patience, sports-related activities, books, TV, radio, and friends.

My children are open to the world of others without prejudice. They easily understand the children of expatriates and seek to help them. Being bilingual is an opportunity for each of our children, children, in my opinion, are more open-minded, and they easily learn different languages.

 

My first books were written in 2009 and The Adventures of Enzo are a series of 12 bilingual French books translated into English or French and translated into Spanish by teachers. They have helped in learning new languages and teaching children life lessons with simplicity.

With The Adventures of Enzo series, children discovered the simple values – courtesy, respect, sharing, in my opinion, essential to actualize the authenticity that seems easily forgotten in our modern world, and the richness of learning a new language.

As a toddler’s teacher, I discovered the curiosity of parents of my bilingual world, of my language French, and they very quickly accepted my cultural difference and my teaching to their child my language with games of cards, images, and songs. Since the pandemic, I have found myself at home like many parents. I picked up my pen again after a few years.

My new book “Enzo The Little Adventurer” is a great way to access a language with children’s imaginations, education, and the world of animals. Young readers will recognize themselves in Enzo. They will enjoy her adventures because I think they reflect their feelings and their way of being.

Children will follow a whimsical and imaginative boy named Enzo, Irish baby as he discovers the world of the zoo, educative under the watchful eye of his lucky star. The simple pictures and vivid colors of Enzo’s world will naturally attract children and quickly capture their attention. They will help children to focus on the story and to understand it more easily.  Each story ends with a phrase that sums up the story.

Each of Enzo’s adventures allows children to discover the French language while enriching the vocabulary of their mother tongue English. My daughter translated the French language into English and the illustrations are by my friend Kedsunee.

We hope you enjoy the Adventures of Enzo!

About The Author

Sonia Kermen

The author, Sonia Kermen,  wrote French and English/French and Spanish bilingual book 12 series “Les Aventures d´Enzo / The Adventures of Enzo” in 2012 under the name Sonia Colasse available on Amazon. After several years as a blog coordinator, creating slogans, presentation videos, a model of various marketing campaigns and teacher, Sonia Kermen (a writer since the age of nine years old) has devoted herself to her passion for the bilingual children’s book Enzo the Little Adventurer.

Sonia is also the author of the bilingual series Les aventures d’Enzo/The Adventures of Enzo with the name of Sonia Colasse.

Connect with Sonia:

https://authorandmodel.wixsite.com/soniakermen

https://www.instagram.com/authorandmodel/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorandModelSonia/

***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.***

For more information about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Becky at Becky@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com .

Open and Fly with your Imagination: Kidlit with a Sri Lankan twist

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{Guest post By Monica Hernandez and Bilen Haile}

As a couple, we have always had the idea of doing a project together to promote the exploration of the unknown amongst the next generation of children. Being from two completely different backgrounds ourselves, we had lots to learn about each other’s cultures in addition to learning about the place where we met, a tiny island in southeast Asia, which eventually became our home.

The idea for the project did not manifest itself until early this year when an essential lockdown was declared on the island. The more time we had on our hands, the more we found ourselves dreaming, thinking, and researching about how to develop it, until we finally found our path leading towards the world of self-publishing. Once we knew what we wanted, the ideas for the series of books followed shortly.

The first, we named Open your imagination, covering a galactic science fiction adventure series, revolving around two characters which are solely based on our diverse Afro-Latin background. Our first of this series published Origin introduces the reader to its two main characters, an electrical and a sound being and the worlds from which they came. Although we always had the idea to merge and share our two cultures written by our four hands, how to present it to readers was not clear to us until Bilen had a very vivid dream showing him the story we were about to start telling.

We woke up one Sunday morning, had our usual big weekend breakfast, and in the midst of it started discussing the dream and how it would become our book. By the end of our breakfast and while having our traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, we already had the names for our characters, the basic idea of the story, and how we wanted to tell it. After some weeks, we not only had Origin ready but the ideas behind the follow-up books Air & Water as well as Earth & Fire. But even at this point, we really did not have any idea of publishing it until we went into our next book series.

Origin: A Fable by Four Hands

The second series, Fly with your imagination, a fully illustrated and animated discovery of a new land through its people, wildlife, traditions, culture, food, history, legends, and sports, without having to leave your home. It was no accident that we decided to begin this series with Where is Auntie – Sri Lanka, our current home.

The inspiration for this was actually our 6-year-old nephew in Bogota that had never been to Sri Lanka to visit us, so we wanted to show him the place where auntie lived in a fun and interactive way. An only child locked down in an apartment without his daily childhood activities due to the pandemic gave us the motivation to make this book for him even more than ever. We sat down on weeknights and weekends re-discovering the places and culture we had both experienced here over the years. Once we came out with the first custom edition for Simon, we thought of our other nephews in Australia and the UK and decided to make the same for them as well, but the urge to share did not end there. We wanted to make this available for all children.

With haste, we started researching ways to make both book series available for all. We came across different platforms which offered us print-on-demand as well as digital interactive versions. Once we had the print versions ready which provided areas for kids to write, draw and color their responses into, we decided to go further and experiment with sounds, animations then interactivity to keep children, as well as their parents, engaged as they traversed through the different versions of our books.

We hope that our books bring to kids a way to learn and appreciate differences and cultures other than their own. In both a fun and interactive way, we promote flying with the mind as well as opening the mind to explore and understand our ever-expanding world.

Origin is available in both English and Spanish as well as the following formats:

Where is Auntie – Sri Lanka is available in both English and Spanish as well as in the following formats:

***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.***

For more information about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Becky at Becky@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com .

Going Global with the “What’s That?” A Ghanaian bilingual book series

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{guest post by Sandra Amoako}

My name is Sandra Amoako and I am a Ghanaian mother of two, author, and publisher dedicated to creating unique, fun, and educational multicultural children’s books. The inspiration behind writing a bilingual, children’s book in Twi and English started when I was pregnant with my first child. I always had the vision to teach my children Twi and I realized that there was a need to publish bilingual children’s books when the kind of books I was looking for was unavailable in bookstores or online.

Twi, pronounced ‘chwee’ is a dialect of the Akan language spoken in southern and central Ghana mainly of the Akan people, the largest of the major ethnic groups in Ghana, West Africa.  It is the most widely spoken language in Ghana and is one of the three dialects of the Akan language, the others being Akuapem Twi and Fante Twi.

In addition to my Ghanaian cookbook, “Akwaaba:  A Taste of Ghana”, I have written and self-published two bilingual books for early learning in the “What’s That?” book series.

Books in Twi and English

All-encompassing and well rounded, I recommend these books to any family with young children.  They are a wonderful way to spark your child’s curiosity to learn the alphabets and numbers, understand that words convey meanings, and increase vocabulary while at the same time learning another language (Twi).

Wonderful Diverse Books in Twi and English

“My Numbers in Twi and English” is a colorful, illustrated, hardcover book that introduces the concept of numbers, counting, and vocabulary in English and Twi. The layout of the book showcases numbers 1 through 20.  Each page contains a number, unique illustrations in vibrant colors, and descriptions of the illustrations in both English and Twi.

Books in Twi and English

“My Alphabets in Twi and English” is a lively, illustrated, paperback book that introduces the concept of letters and vocabulary in English and Twi. This book features both the Twi and English alphabets and each page showcases each corresponding alphabet with colorful illustrations.

Books in Twi and English

For families with Ghanaian heritage, your children will connect with their heritage and culture and impress those around them! For non-Ghanaians alike, this will be a gateway to instill a love of the Twi language and hopefully travel to Ghana and experience the culture! The “What’s That?” bilingual book series is suitable for children of all ages and even adults! The great thing about these multifaceted books is that even if you cannot read or speak Twi, you will still be able to enjoy the English section with your children.

About Aliko Books

Alikobooks is a publishing company and was launched in 2009. Published works include the “What’s That” bilingual children’s book series which features “My First Numbers in Twi and English” and “My Alphabets in Twi and English”. Alikobooks is also the publisher of the Ghanaian cookbook “Akwaaba: A Taste of Ghana”.

Visit Alikobooks to learn more about ‘My First Numbers in Twi and English” and “ My Alphabets in Twi and English” .

https://www.instagram.com/alikobooks/

https://www.facebook.com/My-First-Numbers-and-Alphabets-in-Twi-and-English-218926474932553/

 

***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.***

For more information about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Becky at Becky@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com .

Prevent Summer Slide! Fun Interactive Sets Encourage Language Learning

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{Guest post from Language Lizard}

Every summer, parents, and teachers find themselves worrying about the dreaded “summer learning slide,” when kids potentially lose some progress they made during the school year. This year, there are even more concerns stemming from lengthy pandemic-related school closures across the country.

A long break from language learning exposure can erode some of a student’s hard-earned achievement gains. For parents and teachers looking for a fun way for kids to continue their language learning over the summer, Language Lizard has 3 fun, interactive language sets: A new Spanish learning set, an English early learning literacy pack, and an English phonics set. 

Each set uses a PENpal Audio Recorder Pen that lets kids tap images and hear the target language spoken. They will love exploring the charts and cards, independently or with an adult, while developing their sound discrimination skills. Kids and adults can make their own custom recordings, too!

Interactive Spanish Learning Set

With these interactive learning charts, kids can tap images to hear words in Spanish. Each chart features its own theme and lets kids practice their knowledge with fun learning games. 

Interactive Spanish Learning Set

This set can be used as a stand-alone resource, or in combination with other teaching materials. Children can play the games independently, in small groups, or with a whole class. This set is ideal for learners 7 to 12 years old.

The Spanish set includes 31 large (11.69 x 16.54 inches) sound-enabled, interactive charts. The charts begin with simple words and build up in skill level. All of the recorded Spanish is spoken by native speakers.

 

Early Learning Literacy Pack

Language Lizard Early Learning Literacy Pack

The Touch, Listen & Learn pack is a unique chart set that helps kids learn critical English words and themes by adding a sound element. 

The set is an ideal resource for early learners (ages 3-6), new arrivals, or special needs students. It’s easy to use, so children can work independently with the set, just by tapping pictures with the PENpal Audio Recorder Pen.

The Touch, Listen & Learn pack
This set features 11 large, interactive charts that reinforce listening, speaking and reading skills. Kids can explore the following themes: Home, Fruit & Vegetables, Animals, Transportation, In the Classroom, Colors, Numbers, Shapes, Parts of the Body, Clothes, and Family.

The interactive audio games challenge children to identify and recall specific words and provide immediate reinforcement. There are also opportunities for self-correction – a vital skill for language learning.

Talking Phonics Set

Language Lizard talking phonics set

The award-winning Talking Phonics Set comes with beautifully illustrated charts, games, and books, all designed to support educators and parents of children who are developing early phonics skills. 

Children can explore the charts and cards with the PENpal Audio Recorder Pen, independently or with an adult while developing their sound discrimination skills. You can also use the included PENpal labels to make your own recordings!

Language Lizard talking phonics set

The Talking Phonics Set includes:

  • 8 Talking Charts
  • 6 Game boards
  • 36 Flash Cards
  • 2 Talking Books
  • 1 Set of Recordable Labels
  • Frog Puppet
  • 16 page Guide Booklet

This set complements existing phonics resources and teaching methods. The packs are designed to support early learners (ages 3-6), new arrivals, or special needs students.

PENpal Audio Recorder Pen

PENpal Audio Recorder Pen

The sets featured here require the use of a PENpal Audio Recorder Pen. If you do not already own one, you can add a PENpal (with over 100 recordable stickers) to your purchase of these sets at a discounted price.

With the PENpal, children can listen to content in many languages by simply touching the pen to interactive books, charts, labels, and other learning resources.  Custom narrative, music, or sound effects can be recorded with the Recordable Labels.

Check out Language Lizard’s videos and other support resources to learn more about the PENpal Audio Recorder Pen, and all of their PENpal products and literacy value sets.

These interactive language sets are a great way to keep the learning going over the long summer break. What are your favorite ways to encourage learning and reading over the summer? Comment below and share your ideas!

***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.***

For more information about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Becky at Becky@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com.

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