Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Mission & History
    • Our Partner Organizations
    • What is a Multicultural Book?
    • Co-Founders
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Advisors
    • Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts
    • Team
    • MCBD Timelines
    • Make a Donation: #GivingTuesday 2022
    • Media Partners
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Us
  • FREE Diverse Books
    • FREE Diverse Books for Classrooms Program
    • FREE Diversity Book For Reviewers!
    • Authors & Publishers: Book Donations
    • Donate
  • Sponsorship
    • MCBD2023 Medallion Level Sponsors
    • MCBD2023 Author Sponsors
    • Fundraisers & Marketing Services
      • Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs!
      • Sponsor of the Week/Month
      • Fundraising/ Sponsored Post Services
      • Multicultural Children’s Book Day ebook
    • Medallion and Author Level Sponsorships for MCBD2023 are OPEN!
  • Reading Resources
    • Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
    • Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Kit 2022 Mental Health Support for Stressful Times
    • Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit
    • Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
    • Gallery of Our Free Posters
    • Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources
    • IG Live Interview Series
    • 2021 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2020 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2019 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2018 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2017 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2016 Big Giant LInky!
    • 2015 Big Giant Linky!
  • Press Kit & Stats
    • Press Kit
    • Social Proof & Media Mentions
    • 2016 Recap and Stats
    • 2015 Recap and Stats
  • Blog
  • Sign Up for Free Updates

MCBD2018 Poster Reveal! | Author/illustrator, Aram Kim

September 14, 2017 by Valarie Budayr

Guest post from author/illustrator, Aram Kim

I sometimes sit on the park bench in the big playground in my neighborhood. In the afternoon, the playground is dynamic with children playing, running, screaming, laughing and talking. Though it is a natural scene for me by now, I am still amazed by the wonderful diversity of the children who play there. They all have different skin colors, languages and outfits, but none of that seems to be a problem for them. I live in Queens, where it is reportedly said hundreds of languages are spoken. Even in the same neighborhood, the entire ethnic scene changes when you just cross the road. I am so in love with it. I also like to visit libraries and bookstores.  I spend most of my time in the children’s book section. Sadly, what I love about my neighborhood is not always reflected in children’s books.

We need so much more diversity in children’s books so that any child can see themselves and see others in the books they read. They should be able to naturally learn that everyone’s voice matters. There have been wonderful campaigns and movements to bring more diversity into these books and increase the diversity of creators and publishing industry employees. I admire the passion, perseverance, resilience and effort of the people who organize these campaigns.

I’ve always thought I could contribute to increasing diversity in children’s books, even a tiny bit, by telling the stories I know and creating stories only I could tell. However, I was very eager to be more actively involved in the effort to increase diversity in children’s literature.  That explains why I was dancing around at 3 o’clock in the morning in my mom’s kitchen in South Korea. In March of this year, after submitting all the revisions for my new book No Kimchi for Me!, I went back to South Korea for a month to visit my family.

One day during this trip while I was still jet-lagged and working at 3 a.m with a client in New York, I got an email from Multi-cultural Children’s Book Day committee. They asked if I would be interested in creating next year’s poster. Everyone in my family was sleeping at that time, so I pantomimed a scream, popped out of the dining room chair I was sitting at, and spent the next few minutes jumping and dancing around. The only time I could remember doing this before was when I got the contract for my debut picture book Cat on the Bus in 2015.

Aram Kim

So that’s how I got to spend part of my summer creating the Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2018 poster with much support from wonderful people at MCBD committee. I thank them so dearly to have given me the chance to be a part of this amazing campaign. As a children’s book author/illustrator, the most gratifying part of the job is when I meet kids at school who are delighted to see me, excited to listen to my story, and eager to tell their stories to me. Their vibrant energy motivates me.

MCBD2018 Read Your World Poster

Creating this poster gave me a little more assurance that I am getting one step closer to serving these readers right. They all deserve to see more diversity in the books they read and they love.

**Click the above poster image to download your copy

Aram Kim was born in Cincinnati, raised in South Korea, and currently lives in New York City. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, Aram is the author and illustrator of Cat on the Bus, called a “beautifully designed visual work” by School Library Journal and included in the ILA Children’s Choices 2017. Aram Kim’s new picture book, No Kimchi For Me!, about family, food, and a six-year-old “coming of age” has universal themes, and at the same time celebrates Korean culture. A Junior Library Guild selection.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Filed Under: 2018 MCBD, Author Visits, diversity in children’s books, Guest Posts, MCCBD News, MCCBD Updates Tagged With: Author Sponsors, MCBD2018, multicultural children's book author, Multicultural Children's Book Illustrator

Comments

  1. Perri Zepeda says

    September 19, 2017 at 10:53 am

    You remind me of a precious So. Korean student I had in San Francisco, Min Im, many years ago. Positive, inclusive, generous, wise, kind to all. Thank you for writing this beautiful book. I love the poster, too. I will promote your books by buying them and recommending them. What important, relevant messages for now and always.

Help us get diverse Kidlit into schools!

Join our Read Your World
Newsletter and Blog List
Be the first to know about the latest Read Your World news, new children's books, exclusive offers, and special events.
Thanks for subscribing to our newsletter!

Make a Way Media Super Platinum Sponsor

Language Lizard Platinum Sponsor

Mia Wenjen Founders Circle

Audrey Press Founders Circle

Publisher Spotlight Gold Sponsor

Publisher Spotlight 2023

Interlink Publishing Gold Sponsor

Interlink 2023

Cardinal Rule Press Silver Sponsor

Barefoot Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low 2023

Kimberly Gordon Biddle Silver Sponsor

Vivian Kirkfield Bronze Sponsor

Patrice McLaurin Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

The Quarto Group Bronze Sponsor

Carole P. Roman Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Redfin Canada Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Rent.com Bronze Sponsor

Bay Equity Home Loans Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward 2023

Brunella Costagliola Bronze Sponsor

Brunella Costagliola 2023

Stay in the loop with all MCBD Happenings!

MCBD is included in the Top 100 Children’s Book Blogs!

Children’s Book Blogs

Copyright © 2023 · Multicultural Childrens Book Day on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cleantalk Pixel