MCBD2022 Honorary Author Sponsors
Charlene Mosley (official MCBD2022 Poster Creator)
Born in Berlin, Charlene Mosley is a fine artist, illustrator, and muralist, who works in oil and watercolor. Charlene has exhibited in both national and international exhibitions.
In 2016, Charlene was one of the contributing artists of Loving Vincent, the first fully painted, Oscar-nominated feature film. Mosley’s current work discusses the 21st- century media-driven society and its relationship to technology and nature. She resides in San Diego.
Illustrator Isabelle Roxas (Class Kit Poster Creator)
Isabel Roxas is an author/illustrator, indie publisher, ceramicist, and avid reader.
She was born in Manila, Philippines, was raised on luscious mangoes, old wives’ tales, and monsoon moons. She is a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship and graduated with a Masters in Communications Design from Pratt Institute. She is now based in NYC where she writes and illustrates stories, designs books, bakes delicious things, and creates small objects out of clay and resin.
Isabel has illustrated several books for young readers, including Our Skin by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, Let Me Finish! by Minh Lê (named an NPR Best Book of 2016), and Day at the Market by May Tobias-Papa (2010 winner of the Philippine National Book Award). Her debut comic book for young readers, The Adventures of Team Pom: SQUID HAPPENS was published by Flying Eye books in June 2021.
Author Alva Sachs
Alva Sachs is the founder of Three Wishes Publishing Company. She is a former elementary school teacher with sixteen years of classroom experience and a Master’s Degree in Education. Her award-winning titles include Circus Fever, Dancing Dreidels, I’m 5, Dear Master Dragon, The Pirate Princess, and On Your Mark, Get Set Go!
Alva writes stories to engage, excite, and empower young children at an early age for the sheer joy of reading.
She serves as President on the Board of Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California, (RIFSoCal) to expand efforts to support literacy by helping to build home libraries in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County areas for underserved children while fostering literacy through the efforts of RIFSoCal’s motivational reading program.
Connect with Alva via her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Author Brianna Carter
Positively Penelope: A Day at the Races: All her life, Penelope has been cheering on her friends from the sidelines. Now, she’s grown tired of being a benchwarmer. All she wants is a chance to compete. With the help of her friends, she devises a plan to get her wheels in a race. When the day of reckoning arrives, will Penny have the courage to put all of her hopes and dreams on the finish line? Or will she continue to be a cheerleader?
Since she was a child, Brianna’s life has revolved around storytelling in many forms, through song, theater, and her writing. With the birth of her son, Brianna took her story ideas to the next level, finally putting ink on paper and bringing her characters to life.
A Baltimore native, Brianna now spends her time strolling the beaches of sunny St. Augustine, Florida with her husband, son, dog, and cat. You can follow her haphazard mom adventures @Mama.Knows.Nada.
Connect with Brianna via her website, Instagram, and Twitter.
Author Ebony Zayzay
Zayzay Literary Co is a small independent publisher of fiction and nonfiction literature authored by and spotlighting the BIPOC community. We recognize the lack of diverse depictions within the literary industry. We aim to publish transformative, lifelong stories that showcase the diverse lives of these underrepresented communities with the understanding that – we all have stories to tell.
Ebony’s newest title, The Adventures of Keva: The Power of the Trees is an energetic story that celebrates nature, adventure, and a deep love of not just one special tree, but all trees. Join ‘fierce’ Keva as she explores the outdoors and studies trees with her parents. One such tree is Keva’s favorite tree, Iya, who is said to hold magical powers. When a threat arrives that threatens to take Iya away, will this magic be enough to save her! Come out of the story with a renewed feeling of wonder for nature and the trees that give us and so many, life. This book is available in ebook form and is for ages 3-9.
Ebony Zayzay is a wife, mother, marketer, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in rural North Carolina, she founded the Zayzay Literary Co. in 2021. As an author, she seeks to write stories that expand mindsets on the BIPOC experience.
Connect with Ebony via her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Author Rita Bhandari
From a young age, Rita Bhandari’s French Canadian and South Asian background fostered in her a deep curiosity about race. Her biracial identity and lived experiences have fueled her curiosity about the science and history of race and inspired her to become an educator and advocate for equity and inclusion. Rita has been teaching for ten years and earned three certificates from the Equity Literacy Institute and a professional Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. Rita lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and three-year-old toddler.
Introducing The Ace Compeers: The Secrets of Skin Colour
Open your eyes! Ready your ears! It’s time to learn with the Ace Compeers! The Ace Compeers are a diverse group of friends committed to learning all about the world and helping others. Join Ang, Basma, Riley, Erika, and Manjeet as they learn about skin color and the ways people are both different and similar.
Using kid-friendly language and an antiracist framework, this first book of Ace Compeers series uses inquiry-based learning techniques to draw connections between skin color, genetics, geography, and history. It sets the foundation upon which children can shift their preconceived ideas of race and adopt an accurate understanding of skin color. This book also features study questions to foster a hunger for learning and guide discussion with young readers, making this book an excellent resource for parents, schools, and educational organizations.
Connect with Rita via Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Author Gwen Jackson
Lump Lump and the Blanket of Dreams
Inspired by Navajo Culture and Folklore*Two ALA reviews*In the library and the bookstore at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian*Winter is coming, but the little black bear, Lump Lump, isn’t ready to go to sleep! With the help of his mother, the wise Bluebird and his forest friends, Lump Lump gathers materials for Spider Woman to weave him a Blanket of Dreams. Inspired by Navajo/Diné culture and folklore, and featuring the blanket of famed Navajo weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas, this beautiful tale of family and friends takes the reader on a journey through the spectacular traditions and landscapes of the Southwest.Gwen Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University with a B.A. in psychology. She won a Ford Foundation and attended the University of Michigan, where she received an M..A. in psychology.Because of Gwen’s background as an educator, she wanted to ensure that her book was accurate. She frequently consulted with Navajo weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas, who allowed Gwen to use her “Child’s Blanket” in the book. Ms. Ornelas wants more people to know about Navajo weaving. Ms. Ornelas’ blankets are in the British Museum and many other galleries.Gwen also received advice (pro bono) from Dr. Paul Apodaca of Chapman University, a past-regional advisor to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. Dr. Apodaca, a Navajo, made many suggestions, including the title of the book.Navajo weaver Lynda Teller Pete, whose work is in many museums and galleries, did a lesson based on the book on SMART Exchange. Western Wildlife Outreach (Washington) generously consulted on the pictures. This book is also in the Nanticoke Indian Museum, which is especially meaningful to Gwen because of family ties.The author’s website has many educational activities.
connect with Gwen on Facebook, Twitter, or at gwenjacksonstories.com
Author Lois Petren/The 5 Enchanted Mermaids
The Five Enchanted Mermaids celebrate diversity in our world and the belief that each child deserves to have a mermaid that looks like them. Through their individual personalities and traits, they weave stories that help teach skills for children in this age group.
The idea for the Five Enchanted Mermaids was born to provide a fun but educational backdrop for girls aged 3 to 7 years. The characters address emotional skills (making friends, resolving conflicts, coping with change, making their own choices, and “being good people”) and educational skills (learning to read, the alphabet, counting, symmetrical shapes, time, the value of monetary coins/notes) that are important at that age in the development of young girls. The stories use each of the diverse mermaids as a role model for behavior and values.
LifeMadeSimple and acclaimed children’s book author, Lois Petren, are collaborating to provide a series of books, party accessories, and other appropriate items to support these goals. Lois, along with business partner, Jackie Bunn, has been working on developing the Five Enchanted Mermaid merchandise line and spreading the word about the mermaids.
Connect with Lois, Jackie, and the Five Enchanted Mermaids via their website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram
Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing
Valerie Williams-Sanchez, Ph.D. is the author/illustrator of the Cocoa Kids Collection™ and principal consultant for Valorena Online, L.L.C., Freelance Multicultural Marketing & Communications. A passionate advocate for multicultural literature, self-published OWN voices narratives, and readers of all ages, Valerie earned her Ph.D. in Literacy which was completed through St. John’s University, New York. She also holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley. Valerie studied Spanish art, history, language, and culture at the Universidad de Salamanca, in Spain, as an undergraduate. A former journalist in the U.S. and Spain, Valerie has written and contributed to articles and essays in publications like the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, Miami Herald, Orange County Business Journal, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Injuve Magazine (Spain), and More Magazine, online. A Black American, Valerie is Mom to her biracial daughter Lorena, 26, Auntie to her biracial nephew Isaiah, 15, and teacher to countless at-risk and special needs kids from all walks of life.
Picture Books from the Cocoa Kids Collection include Isaiah and the Chocolate Mountain© features Isaiah, the precocious 6-year-old who gets the thing he loathes – chocolate – for his birthday. His anger leads to adventure and a lesson of making choices and emotional intelligence.
Eddie and the Hot Cocoa Hot Rod© introduces Eddie whose daydreams of auto-racing get him into trouble in math class. But, his racing heroes and a special math teacher help him make the grade and learn to never give up.
Lorena and the Magic Mocha Mirror©, follow Lorena who spends summers seaside with her family and is body-shamed by beach-bullies until a trio of mermaids teaches her that everybody is beautiful.
Connect with Valerie and the Cocoa Kids on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Author Josh Funk
Josh Funk is a software engineer and the author of books like the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, the It’s Not a Fairy Tale series, the How to Code with Pearl and Pascal series, the A Story of Patience & Fortitude series, Dear Dragon, Pirasaurs!, Albie Newton, and more.
IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD: Little Red likes to play by the rules. So when the narrator comes along and asks her to follow the story set out in her fairy tale, she grabs the basket for Grandma and goes. After all, she loves her grandma. But unfortunately, none of the other characters are quite what they’re expecting.
As Little Red attempts to follow the narrator’s directions (which, frankly, seem kind of dangerous!), she is beset by fill-in characters, confusing instructions, and even a fierce battle! Will Little Red ever make it to Grandma’s house? And who will she find when she gets there? Complete with some unusual “guest appearances,” this laugh-out-loud Little Red Riding Hood retelling will have kids giggling all the way to Grandma’s house! Ding-dong!
Josh also has a plethora of “fun stuff” for kids, parents, and educators including Activity Kits Coloring Pages Book Trailers Character Cards, and Book Songs.
Connect with Josh via his website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
Author Afsaneh Moradian
Afsaneh Moradian has loved writing stories, poetry, and plays since childhood. After receiving her master’s in education, she took her love of writing into the classroom where she began teaching children how to channel their creativity. Her passion for teaching has lasted for over fifteen years. Afsaneh now guides students and teachers (and her young daughter) in the art of writing.
Afsaneh also grew up in a multicultural family and at school, where she felt she was an “other”. This made her aware of how important it is for kids to feel loved and supported both in and out of the home. Afsaneh has carried this belief into her career as an English teacher and author.
Her book, Jamie is Jamie was originally written for her daughter who’d been told that only boys can play a superhero. “My daughter and every other child deserve a book that gives them permission to be free to play and explore their own way-not the way everyone, ‘thinks they should,'” Afsaneh shared. “I created my book to challenge gender stereotypes and encourages children to make play choices based on their interests. And because playing is fundamental to learning, I’ve created a special section in Jamie is Jamie for teachers, parents, and caregivers where they can find tips on how to make kids’ playtime learning time.”
Afsaneh’s second book, Jamie and Bubbie: A Book About Pronouns, was released in October of 2021. Her latest book, Homeschooling Outside the Box: A Child-Centered Approach to Teaching Your Unique Child is an approach to teaching your child rooted in your child’s interests, personality, and building a stronger connection between you and your child. If you are ready to ditch the idea of recreating a traditional school at home, this secular approach will help you create a learning environment, routine, and curriculum that enables your child to excel!
Connect with Afsaneh via her website or on YouTube and Twitter. Check out the fun Q&A MCBD did with her here.
Author Eugenia Chu
Eugenia Chu is an attorney, turned stay-at-home mom, turned writer. She lives on a magical beach in Miami with her husband and son, Brandon, who is the inspiration for her stories. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, yoga, and drinking too much coffee. She has been a presenter at numerous schools, libraries, and book festivals. When her son, Brandon, was very little, she couldn’t find children’s storybooks to read to him which touched upon Chinese culture and which included some Chinese (Mandarin) words to teach and/or reinforce his Chinese vocabulary, so she started writing her own.
As of December 2021, Eugenia has published FOUR beautiful diverse books for young readers.
Her first book, Brandon Makes Jiǎo Zi (餃子) is about a little Chinese-American boy named Brandon who gets a surprise visit from his grandma from China, Pó Po (婆婆). While Brandon and Pó Po (婆婆) are making Chinese dumplings, called jiǎo zi (餃子).
Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) is her second “Brandon” story and first children’s chapter book. In this story, Brandon and his cousins are on a trip to visit their grandparents in Beijing, China! While bonding with family, practicing Chinese, touring historic sites, and feasting on local dishes, Brandon thinks he sees a tiny panda. However, every time he gets close, the panda disappears! Is Brandon imagining this small creature, or is it real? Will Brandon find out before he has to fly back home?
Coming soon! Celebrating Chinese New Year will be released in December of 2021!
Read more of Eugenia’s story on her website and Instagram, or connect with her on Goodreads.
Author Maritza M Mejia
Colombian poet, writer, translator, speaker, and publisher, lives in Florida. Founder of Proyecto de Escritura LuzDelMes, to create bridges of communication and collaboration between authors around the world. Cultural Promoter of “Desayuno Literario Internacional LuzDelMes” and Tri-Anthology LuzDelMes. For her service to the community, she is the recipient of the Crystal Apple Award 2006. Maritza received the Virtues Christian Poetry Award 2015, Latino Book Awards for Best Translation English to Spanish, and Best eBook non-fiction 2016. Nominated to the Carmen Luisa Pinto 2016.
Ten bilingual books published, Vanilla and Chocolate (2012), Grandma’s Treasure (2014), Poems, Thought s and more (2015), Hazel Eyes (2010), Ojos Avellana (2016), Luz del mes (2018), Luz Del Mes Tri-Anthology (2019-2020), In Him, I Rest (2021) and The Purple Shell (2022).
Graduated from Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca in Commerce and Foreign Language, A.S. in Travel Industry Management from Broward State College, Obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities and Certificate in Women’s Studies from Florida Atlantic University. Seeking Master’s degree in Theology at Catholic Distance University.
Member of Florida Writer’s Association, Multicultural Children’s Book Board of Advisor, Delegate Academia Norteaméricana de Literatura Moderna Internacional, FL, and Ambassador Read to Me! Day Maritza writes to inspire others to be better people.
Social Media: @luzdelmes ~ Website: www.luzdelmes.com
Author Diana Huang
Diana Huang was born in Southern California to Chinese-American immigrant parents, she struggled academically and socially in her k-6 years. But ever since kindergarten, she had developed a strong interest and passion for the visual arts. Eventually, she went on to study at the University of Southern California with a BFA in Fine Art (2001) & MAT Multiple Subject (2015), and OTIS College of Art and Design with a BFA Digital Media (2007). She has been working in various art and non-art industries while also creating her own story worlds. She is also the author and illustrator of multiple books including Intrepids: A Sci-fi Fantasy Novel for 5-8th graders (2020), Cooking the Books: A Cartoon Humor Book About Idioms (2019), and The Elemental Horses book series (2012-2015).
Intrepids – A Sci-Fi Fantasy Novel
Katie Mah was your average Asian American kid living an average life, going to an average school, getting average grades in an average town in the dull suburbs of Southern California. Katie was subjected to all kinds of average unpleasant experiences of growing up. On a fateful 6th-grade science camp trip to the mountains, her average life was so unbearable, she ran away, and landed herself into a lot of trouble, not on Earth, but on Alpha Centauri. There she befriends the centaurs who desperately need her help. Intrepids is for ages 7-18 and is available in ebook form.
Connect with Diana via her website, Facebook, Twitter, DeviantArt, Instagram, and YouTube
Author Kathleen Burkinshaw
BOOK RIOT lists THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM as one of “30 Fascinating Historical Fiction Books for Middle School Readers – October, 2018″
Yuriko was happy growing up in Hiroshima when it was just her and Papa. But her aunt Kimiko and her cousin Genji are living with them now, and the family is only getting bigger with talk of a double marriage! And while things are changing at home, the world beyond their doors is even more unpredictable. World War II is coming to an end, and Japan’s fate is not entirely clear, with any battle losses being hidden from its people. Yuriko is used to the sirens and the air-raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbors who have left to fight stop coming home.
When the bomb hits Hiroshima, it’s through Yuriko’s twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.
Kathleen Burkinshaw is a Japanese American author and the daughter of a Hiroshima survivor residing in Charlotte, NC. She’s a wife, mom, and owns a dog who is a kitchen ninja. She has presented her mother’s experience in Hiroshima to middle and high schools for the past 9 years. Writing gives her an outlet for her daily struggle with chronic pain from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy(RSD). The Last Cherry Blossom (Sky Pony Press,2016), is now a United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Resource for Teachers and Students. And is recently nominated for the NC School Library Media Association YA book award and 2019-2020 VSBA, 2018& 2016 Scholastic WNDB Reading Club selection, and Finalist for NC Sir Walter Raleigh Fiction Award, 2018 Sakura Medal, Japan, and SCBWI Crystal Kite Award(Southeast region).
In April 2020 NHK World-Japan, an international news station based in Japan did a short segment on The Last Cherry Blossom in both Japanese and English. The English segment was on its Newsroom Tokyo TV program and the Japanese segment was on its Today’s 2020 TV program. Listen to both programs HERE.
Learn more about Kathleen through her Blog – Creating Through the Pain or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
CultureGroove
Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series by Ajanta & Vivek takes kids on a journey across India as they experience festivals, cities, food, music, dance, and everything else that makes the Indian culture so vibrant and joyful!
The series has 11 titles so far including festivals, places, mythology, activity books & more! The books provide an in-depth view via fun, non-religious and engaging content!
Ajanta & Vivek also teach fun multicultural content via their YouTube channel whose goal is to provide Cultural Screen Time and includes animations, dance-along videos, a trip to Indian stores, and more.
Culture Groove’s vibrant books include Diwali, Holi, Ramdan/Eid, Mumbai, Delhi/Taj Mahal, Ganesha, Krishna, Navratri, Vaisakhi, Indian Wedding and their latest: 50-Activity Diwali book.
CultureGroove’s vibrant books include Let’s Celebrate Holi! (Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series), Let’s Celebrate Ramadan & Eid! (Muslim Festival of Fasting & Sweets), Let’s Celebrate Navratri! (Nine Nights of Dancing & Fun) Let’s Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! (Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series), Let’s Visit Mumbai! (Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series) Delhi and Taj Mahal and more!
Author Sandra Elaine Scott
Sandra Elaine Scott is the author of the award-winning book, The Magical Day. Inspired by her bicultural heritage, she is a child at heart and has a love for all things magical. She loves to read and dream up stories. Sandra’s wish is that children learn to love themselves and create their own magical joy-filled days.
The Tale of the Black Unicorn (for ages 4-8)
Reina is a special unicorn who loves playing with her friends until the day her appearance starts changing. When magical things start to happen, she tries to hide her differences. The enchanting tale of the Black Unicorn is told to 8-year-old Reina, who learns to have confidence in herself and to be proud of who she is. This wonderful twist on identity and loving yourself will inspire readers as they hear the powerful message of acceptance: You are Loved! You are Beautiful! You are You!”
Connect with Sandra via her website, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Author Dorena Williamson
Dorena Williamson is a Bestselling author of children’s books that adults need too. Bridgebuilder, First Lady, Wife & Mom. her debut book is a diverse picture book called The Celebration Place.
“Church is more than a building —it’s a gathering of God’s people to celebrate who he is and all that he has done. It’s also where we learn about God’s vision for justice and unity. That was the message that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared, and it continues to be an important message for us today. Because of God’s great love, a church should be the best celebration place!”
Connect with Dorena via her website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Author Veronica Appleton
Veronica Appleton is the creator of Appleville Books, a collection of children’s stories reflecting the everyday life of multicultural families. In 2016, Journey to Appleville, one of the first stories released from the collection, shares a tale of friendship and goal setting for all families. Veronica has visited more than 10 elementary schools and daycares to share the power of literacy.
When Veronica is not working on new children’s stories, she serves as a Professor of Intercultural Communications and Organizational Communications at DePaul University. Veronica completed her undergraduate education at Purdue University, graduate education at DePaul University and currently pursuing a doctoral degree in organizational behavior and leadership at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with significant research interests in organizational/workplace culture, employee engagement, and diversity management.
Veronica has been featured in Diversity Journal’s Top Professionals in Higher Education, FOX Chicago News, Chicago Woman Magazine, Story Monsters Ink Magazine, WCIU Now. Chicago received the Relationship Advocate Award from Chicago’s Perspective Charter Schools, received the Champion of Growth Award from Coalesce Chicago, named the 2017 Chicago Scholars 35 Under 35 Young Leaders Making an Impact Award, received a nomination for the 2016 Jay Walter Thompson Bill Sharp Advertising Award, received the 2017 #Redefine Possible Women’s Leadership Award from the Chicago Sky Basketball Team, named Crain’s Chicago 20intheir20’s, and the 2017 DiversityMBA Magazine’s Top 100 under 50 Emerging Leaders Award. Veronica is a native Chicagoan.
Journey to Appleville is also available on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Apple iBooks.
Connect with Veronica via her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Author Alejandra Domenzain
Alejandra Domenzain has been an immigrant worker rights advocate for over 20 years doing organizing, policy advocacy, program development, education, and research. She was also an elementary school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, specializing in project-based curriculum development and interdisciplinary language arts units. Alejandra has two masters’ degrees from UCLA, a bachelor’s from Georgetown University, and a CLEAR teaching credential. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, is married to a Brazilian immigrant, has two school-aged kids being brought up tri-lingually, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Alejandra’s bilingual English/Spanish book, For All/ Para Todos, is about a young girl named Flor and her father are driven to leave their country for the promise of land called For All. When Flor comes to understand the deep impact of their immigration papers, she picks up her green pen and writes from the heart, telling the story of immigrants who have been excluded from “justice for all.” She inspires others to speak up and take action in the hope that their new country will live up to its ideals. A timely bilingual story, written in musical rhyme, beautifully illustrated, calling children to compassion and courage. Best for elementary ages and a portion of the proceeds go to RAICES.
This powerful book won Honorable Mention for the 2021 International Latino Book Award and has been featured by the Cesar Chavez Foundation, National Association of Bilingual Educators, LA Public Library, Miami International Book Festival, UNIDOS US, Social Justice Books/Teaching for Change, We Need Diverse Books, University of New Mexico’s Latin American and Iberian Studies Institute, Progress Report, Storytime with Mr. Limata, 14 Best Children’s Books about Immigrants and Refugees by Rebekah Gienapp, Empathy Media Labs, East Side Freedom Library, and others. Review by Social Justice Books, featured in 14 Best Children’s Books about Immigrants and Refugees, and featured in Progress Report article on how to talk to children about immigration
Connect with Alejandra via her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Author Anna Gilchrist
Daffodil Grey and her cat, Teacake, discover a colorful parade celebrating diversity and are invited to join! Some troublesome twins, however, have a different idea and want to ruin the celebration.
Can Daffi encourage them to change their minds?
This story, with its message of love and tolerance, is based on Articles 13 and 15 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states a child’s right to express their beliefs and to associate with other children.
Connect with Anna via her website, Sandfish Publishing, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Author Lauren Muskovitz
Lauren Muskovitz Ranalli is a children’s book author, public health professional, and mom to two high-spirited, fiercely lovable children.
“I am a fully grown adult who still gets excited over the Scholastic book catalog. I can wander for hours in bookstores. I absolutely love a freshly sharpened pencil (like realllly love it). And I have found so much joy in pursuing my dream of being a children’s book author. Inspired by my own high-spirited children, I aim to create stories that excite curiosity and broaden our sense of community.”
Lauren is the author of Places We Have Never Been; a new book that asks readers what questions can they ask to learn about new places? This whimsical picture book ignites creativity and curiosity and is best for ages 3-7. She is also the author of The Great Latke Cook-Off is a Chanukah story about family tradition, friendly competition, and delicious recipes.
Places We Have Never Been and The Great Latke Cook-Off is available at laurenranalli.com.
Connect with Lauren on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Tonya Duncan Ellis
Watch Sophie’s Video Book Trailers!
SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard
Eight-year-old Sissy loves her life. She loves her toys, her Big house, and her Big backyard. But when Sissy’s parents decide they are going to live in a Tiny House on wheels and travel around the U.S., Sissy isn’t sure that she will like the idea of “living tiny.” But as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, repurposing, and how “stuff is just stuff” in a positive way, Sissy soon understands that living Tiny has BIG possibilities; possibilities for all sorts of adventures and learning.
Written by Rebecca Flansburg and BA Norrgard, both Minnesotans (who have been friends for over 30 years), Sissy Goes Tiny was created to share the idea and process of “going Tiny” from a child’s perspective.
In Sissy Goes Tiny, eight-year-old Sissy and her parents make the bold choice to downsize their life and embark on a journey of living tiny and doing more with less. At first, Sissy struggles to get used to the idea of living in a tiny house on wheels and traveling around the U.S, but as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, repurposing, and how “stuff is just stuff,” she soon understands that a life of “living tiny” will be filled with the big adventures and learning.
Connect with Rebecca via her website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Author Kimberly Lee
Kim C. Lee is a children’s book author from Maryland. She writes about things in life that tickle the heart and is motivated to create stories that feature young Black and African American children.
As a mother to a grade-school-aged son, Kim recognizes the importance of children seeing their likeness and myriad of experiences reflected in books. When she is not focused on finding the right words for a story, Kim enjoys spending time with family and friends, creating content of different types, and travel. Kim is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
In 2020, Kim published her first children’s book, The Night Owl. In early 2021, she followed up with Meet Frankie Jordan, extending her children’s book collection and continued focus on sharing diverse perspectives.
Meet Frankie Jordan introduces readers to an amazing little girl who holds tight to her love of art despite finding that she is so different from other kids.
Where does one find the courage to embrace their uniqueness and hold fast to their dreams? Frankie Jordan is a little girl who knows that her love of art makes her different from other kids. While they enjoy playing tag and riding bikes, Frankie prefers to spend her time imagining new things and sketching. In reading this story, kids will learn that it is okay to be different and most important to embrace the uniqueness of each individual. It is a story about recognizing the uniqueness in each individual and accepting each person for who they are. (For ages 3-9)
Author Susan Schaefer Bernardo and illustrator Courtenay Fletcher met in a local Mommy and Me class 12 years ago when their kids were tots. The pair indie-published their first book Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs together in 2012 to reassure children coping with loss and separation — now they are a dynamic duo committed to creating books to heal and inspire children of all ages!
Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs is a timeless picture book with a powerful message: love is forever. It’s a wonderful bedtime book for any child, but especially helpful for children grieving a loss or coping with separation anxiety for any reason (divorce, deployment, foster care, etc). Soothing, lyrical text, and heartwarming illustrations portray a diverse spectrum of children, engaged in joyful activities in nature.
As of 2019, Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs now has a new bilingual edition, Sun Kisses (Besos de sol, abrazos de luna).
New releases include Bernardo’s first novel Inspired (February 2018), a book intended to empower and encourage tween and teen girls, and a picture book biography of Theophile Steinlen entitled The Artist Who Loved Cats (Spring 2018). Find healing art activities and more information at www.innerflowerchildbooks.com.
Connect with Susan on her website, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook
Nancy Tupper Ling
Children’s Author, Poet, Librarian, Wife, Mom, Crazy Lady…not necessarily in that order. Nancy Ling is the winner of the prestigious Writer’s Digest Grand Prize and the Pat Parnell Poetry Award. She draws her inspiration from the multicultural background of her family and the interwoven fabric of familial culture which is, on the surface, seemingly every day. Her most recent release is For Every Little Thing.
How do you find joy in ordinary moments? How do you mark small wonders like the return of the fireflies or a friend’s helping hand?
Arranged from waking up to falling asleep, For Every Little Thing is an engaging collection of the day and its delights. This inspirational anthology gathers classic selections, modern prayers, and new poems from multiple cultures and faiths. From Emily Dickinson to Amma, from Ken Nesbitt to Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro, fifty-one voices encourage children to be present and thankful at all hours.
Accessible language and richly detailed illustrations celebrate simple pleasures like slurping noodles and splashing in puddles. Perfect for sharing around the table or at bedtime, For Every Little Thing will awaken a sense of gratitude in readers of all ages. She is also the author of My Sister, Alicia May (Pleasant Street Press), Double Happiness (Chronicle Books), The Story I’ll Tell (Lee & Low Books.
Currently, she resides in Walpole, Massachusetts with her husband, Vincent, and their two girls.
Connect with Nancy via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or via BookShop.org or www.NancyTupperLing.com
Author Winsome Hudson-Bingham
Winsome write pictures books and chapter books and is the sole author of the November debut picture book, SOUL FOOD SUNDAY, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza
SOUL FOOD SUNDAY is about a young boy who is coming of age and how his Granny teaches him to cook soul food. For ages “4-400.” 🙂
Connect with Winsome via Instagram and Twitter.
Author Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett
Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett inspires children to fall in love with learning the Chinese language and culture. She is the author of the “Let’s Learn Mandarin Chinese with Miss Panda!” audio album and the host for the Playful Chinese podcast. She has also released a children’s picture word book First Mandarin Sounds. Amanda is also a trained Chinese language instructor and the mother of two bilingual children. She has extensive Mandarin Chinese and ESL teaching experience with kids and business professionals in Taiwan, Morocco, Canada, Ecuador, and the United States. Her students call her “Miss Panda!”You can find Miss Panda’s engaging, playful, and interactive Chinese language learning resources at MissPandaChinese.com. She currently lives in Washington D.C. with her family, including two lovely trilingual cats, Qwerty and Bella, as well as a bilingual bird, Lemon.
Author Sivan Hong
Sivan has written and illustrated three books in The Super Fun Day Books series, including Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, and her most recent book that was released on August 11, 2021, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day. Emily D. and the Fearful First Day follows a neuro-atypical girl on her first day of school. The story will help kids identify and share their worries, and its bright illustrations are deliberately simple. Each of Sivan’s books is created with very specific needs in mind as well.
When not writing, Sivan enjoys being a wife to her wonderful husband and a mother to their two exceptional children. They have a dog and cat and live a quiet and contented life in their home in Westport, Connecticut. Her professional career spans over two decades in several industries and professions, including holding esteemed positions as a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business and former partner at The Bridgespan Group. She also loves to offer her time and expertise to others, and she currently serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the Westport Public Library, the Rita Allen Foundation, and the ASPCA.
All of Sivan’s books are available via her website and on Amazon. Parents, Teachers, and Educators can connect with her via Facebook and Instagram as well.
Kiyanda and Benjamin Young/Twin Powers Books
Ben and Kiyanda Young are the proud parents of an amazing set of fraternal twins, Zara and Owen. As parents, they promote individuality among their children while encouraging their twins to support and rely on one another. The special bond between Zara and Owen is what inspired the Youngs to write “Twin Power,” the first of what they hope to be a series of books highlighting the unique relationship that twins share. In addition to being Zara and Owen’s parents, Ben is a gastroenterologist and Kiyanda is a surgeon, both with medical practices in Virginia.
“Twin Power” is about Simone and Sebastian who are not just brother and sister; they are twins! They show little readers some cool things they can accomplish because of their “Twin Power.” They will take little readers on everyday adventures to show them how working together makes twinning super fun… and convenient. This book is best for ages 2-7 and is available in paperback and ebook format.
Connect with Ben and Kiyanda via their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Michael Genhart
Michael Genhart, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco, CA.
He is the author of numerous picture books – covering themes such as bullying, friendship, homelessness and compassion, uniqueness, LGBTQ+
families, and multicultural families. He lives with his family in Marin County.
Michael’s books include ACCORDIONLY: ABUELO AND OPA MAKE MUSIC – the story of a boy who brings the two cultures of his family together through the music, the music of the accordion, with the help of his two
grandfathers, Abuelo and Opa. (For ages 4-8 years old) Click here to access a coloring activity for Accordionly
and RAINBOW: A FIRST BOOK OF PRIDE -a celebration of rainbows, the colors of the rainbow flag and what each color means, rainbow families of all kinds, and feeling proud of who you are! (For ages 3-5 years old)
Click here to access a coloring activity for Rainbow
Click here to access questions about Rainbow
Connect with Michael via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Debbie Dadey
In her upcoming book A Titanic Friendship, Echo struggles to share her friends with a new student in this twenty-second Mermaid Tales adventure.
A new merstudent, Anita, joins the class, but Anita is rude to Echo the first time they meet, and all of Echo’s friends seem to like Anita better than her. Is Echo willing to look past her jealousy and help Anita when she is in need? Can she find a way for everyone to feel included?
Debbie Dadey is the author and co-author of 176 traditionally published books, including The Mermaid Tales and the best-selling Adventures of the Bailey School Kids. A former teacher and school librarian, Debbie enjoys sharing activities and teaching units on her website, debbiedadey.com.
Connect with Debbie via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube
Author Elizabeth Cureton
The place: Central Park, Earth. The time: Now. What does a migrating bird have to tell us humans about how to treat each other?
Little Bird’s Big Message is a picture book for ages 0-5, with themes of antiracism, diversity, and kindness, and social justice. The story is narrated by one of the birds in Central Park, telling the people, as children, how to interact with our fellow humans by listening rather than making assumptions, with humility rather than entitlement, by acknowledging our many differences as well by finding common ground. With charming images of children of different races, cultures, abilities, and gender identities modeling positive interactions, Little Bird implores the reader to take care of the earth and love its inhabitants. Easily understandable symbols of peace, diversity, equity, environmental stewardship, and freedom from oppression are seen throughout the book.
Using simple rhyming text and thoughtful colorful illustrations this book conveys important social and even spiritual messages in an accessible and adorable way for very young children. An essential and timely modern classic.
Dr. Cureton lives and works in Oakland, California where she is married to a professional bassoonist. As mommy to 4-year-old twins and as a cancer surgeon, she is always humbled. She also aspires to play the oboe more.
Connect with Dr. Cureton via Facebook.
Author Maryann Jacob
Maryann Jacob Macias is a graduate of the City College of New York, CUNY, and the Solstice MFA Program. Her debut picture book, Téo’s Tutu, was called “A gender-affirming picture book with a lovable, indomitable star.” by Kirkus Reviews (starred) and “filled with warmth from the joys of self-expression and calm assurance found in loving support.” by School Library Journal. This book is best for 3-5 year-olds and is available in paperback and ebook formats.
Connect with Maryann via her website, Twitter, and Instagram.
Author Stephanie M. Wildman
Author Stephanie M. Wildman served as John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law and directed the school’s Center for Social Justice and Public Service before becoming Professor Emerita. Her books include: Brave in the Water (2021); Privilege Revealed: How Invisible Preference Undermines America 2d (2021) (with contributions by Armstrong, Davis, & Grillo); Race and Races: Cases and Resources for a Diverse America 3d (with Delgado, Harris, Perea, & Stefancic) (2015); Social Justice: Professionals Communities and Law (with Mahoney & Calmore) (2013); Women and the Law Stories (with Schneider) (2011). She is a member of the Writers Grotto and can sit criss-cross applesauce, thanks to her yoga practice.
BRAVE IN THE WATER (illustrated by Jenni Feidler-Aguilar) (translated into Spanish as Valiente en el Agua by Cecilia Populus-Eudave): Are you afraid to put your face in the water? So is Diante. He would like to play in the pool with other children. He’s not afraid to hang upside down, though, and he’s surprised to learn his grandma is. Can Diante help Grandma and become brave in the water? This book is best for 4-7 year-olds and is available in ebook format as well as paperback.
Connect with Stephanie via her website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Rochelle Melander
Rochelle Melander wrote her first book at seven and has published 11 books for adults, including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (and Live to Tell About It) and Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity. She’s a professional certified coach, an artist-educator, and the founder of Dream Keepers, a writing workshop for young people. Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing is her debut book for children.
Throughout history, people have picked up their pens and wielded their words–transforming their lives, their communities, and beyond. Now it’s your turn! Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, Mightier Than the Sword connects over forty inspiring biographies with life-changing writing activities and tips, showing readers just how much their own words can make a difference. Readers will explore nature with Rachel Carson, experience the beginning of the Reformation with Martin Luther, champion women’s rights with Sojourner Truth, and many more. These richly illustrated stories of inspiring speechmakers, scientists, explorers, authors, poets, activists, and even other kids and young adults will engage and encourage young people to pay attention to their world, to honor their own ideas and dreams, and to embrace the transformative power of words to bring good to the world.
Rochelle lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband, children, and two dogs. Visit her online at writenowcoach.com or rochellemelander.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Author Sherri Maret
Sherri Stephens (now Sherri Maret) was born and raised in Texas and has lived in NM, WY, and AZ before finally settling down in Pennsylvania. Her mother, grandparents (photo below), and great-grandparents lived in the McAlester, OK area and they share a Choctaw ancestry. Exploring her ancestry has led to some exciting discoveries! She is related to Joseph C. Pitchlynn (third great-grandfather) and Edward Folsum (fourth great-grandfather). She has traced her Choctaw relatives all the way to Mississippi. Click here to view the surprise relative reveal! During the publishing process, it was discovered that Sherri and The Cloud Artist Choctaw illustrator, Merisha Sequoia Clark, were cousins!
Sherri’s elementary and middle school years were spent in Beeville, Corpus Christi, Portland, and Pearland. She moved from Texas with her family to Farmington, NM where she attended junior high and graduated from Farmington High School.
She attended Eastern New Mexico University for two years and then took time off to work and then have a child. She received a B.A. degree in English from the College of Santa Fe in NM and moved to Arizona to teach. She attended Arizona State University to become a library media specialist. After teaching English for three years in Mesa, AZ, she and her husband moved to Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania, she started her first library media specialist position. She received an M.S. degree in Education from Wilkes University in PA . She taught in Southcentral Pennsylvania until she decided to pursue being an author full-time. Her teaching career spanned a little over twenty years.
Connect with Sherri via her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Author Dia Mixon
El Mundo Mixon Books creates children’s books that promote biliteracy, foster bilingualism and celebrate biculturalism. Diversity in children’s books is important to this emerging author!
“One Whole Me is the name of my latest book,” Mixon shared. “Being bicultural is a wonderful thing! Follow along as a Colombian-American child embraces both cultures that make him unique. This lighthearted story, written in a blend of Spanish & English, showcases language, food, family, music, and more. It will inspire children to be proud of who they are and to never forget what makes them special!”
Connect with Dia via her website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Author Shereen Rahming
Shereen Rahming was born and raised in the tiny village of Esperanza in the Central American country of Belize. When she wasn’t in school or running around outdoors with other children in their village, she had her nose stuck in a book. She loved reading but the one-room schoolhouse didn’t have a great selection of children’s books and they didn’t have a library. So she depended on her mom to send storybooks to her from the United States where her mom lived and worked. She was also lucky that a wonderful mobile library would visit the village once a month.
The only problem was that she never saw storybook characters that looked like her. There was no one she could relate to. Now she lives in Southern California with her husband, children, and their enormous but adorable dog. And since having a daughter of her own, she wrote a book to teach her daughter to believe in herself and to see a character in a book that looks like her. She is now working on a book for her son.
In Ahni & Her Dancing Secret, Ahni dreams of being a prima ballerina so she joins Madam Sabina’s dance school. But her spirit is soon broken when she discovers that the other students are far more advanced than she is and not as friendly as she expected. This charming story depicts the journey of little Ahni from an unsure hopeful to a confident dancer, by discovering the secret to success with the help of wise Madam Sabina. For ages 3-8.
Connect with Shereen via her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Authors Linda Thornburg and Katherine Archer
In their debut book, Snorkel McCorkle and the Lost Flipper, Snorkel McCorkle is a 10-year-old eco-warrior determined to fix the unfixable in her life–the school bullies, the endangered environment…even her mother’s disappearance at sea. Her adventures are perfectly described by Katherine Archer’s magical music.
Snorkel has a mass of unruly curls that are always tangled in her snorkel and mask. She’s been wearing them and 24/7 since she learned that her mom, a marine biologist, was lost at sea while measuring water quality off the Florida Keys three months ago.
Snorkel is the only person who believes her mom is still alive drifting in the ocean.
Every night Snorkel charts how far her mom has traveled that day on a map of ocean currents—up the Atlantic coast, to Newfoundland, across the Atlantic, possibly past England and Scotland to Norway, even south to the Canary Islands.
When the school bullies tip her kayak, Snorkel engineers an outrigger for balance from old tent poles, duct tape, and gallon milk jugs.
Snorkel’s best friends are Matilda the Manatee, who’s missing a flipper and have a tracking device, and Figaro, the opera-singing-pelican, whose foot was mangled by ghost line.
When Snorkel’s kayak is pulled out to sea by a storm, her friends Matilda and Figaro rush to her aid. In the turmoil of the trio’s time in open water, Snorkel learns firsthand the dangers facing the creatures of the sea–ghost nets, islands of plastic debris, seismic testing.
Snorkel is a real-world girl facing real-world problems head-on. She empowers young readers to do the same.
Available on Apple Books.
Also at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.
Author Maxine Shur
Author Natalie McDonald-Perkins
Natalie McDonald-Perkins is an elementary school teacher and children’s book author from San Francisco, California. She now resides in the Greater Atlanta area. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Multicultural Studies, Social Justice Education, and Action Research from California State University, Fresno, in 2015. Natalie has worked in the education field for 20 years and has been a teacher for nine years. Throughout her entire career, she has been dedicated to serving underprivileged youth. She spent most of her career teaching in Sacramento, California, and East Oakland, California. Her professional interests are social-emotional learning, culturally relevant teaching, and behavior management through positive student-teacher relationships. Her books teach diversity, inclusion, acceptance, and anti-racism. She continues to share the Justice Books series with students, parents, counselors, and fellow teachers.
Connect with Natalie via Instagram.
