Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

A Bilingual Story About Conservation & Cooperation

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“The sun beats down relentlessly on a scorched landscape where nothing is growing. Buffalo is listless and desperately looking around for something to eat. Then, one evening he finds a white biscuit in a small pool of water. But, he is not the only animal to see it and a great fight begins… But all is not what it seems.”

Language Lizard’s newest bilingual storybook offering, The Biscuit Moon, is an engaging bilingual story about a distressed traveler.

THE BISCUIT MOON (BILINGUAL CHILDREN'S BOOK)

THE BISCUIT MOON (BILINGUAL CHILDREN’S BOOK)

 

As we follow Buffalo’s journey, we explore the concepts of climate change, scarcity, and the need to share precious resources.


bilingual book for kids

Powerful Tale About the Need for Cooperation

 

In The Biscuit Moon readers meet Buffalo and Lion, and the delicious biscuit that never was. This is a discussion-provoking story about scarcity and greed, and ultimately the wisdom of cooperation.

The Biscuit Moon is available in English with Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Burmese, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Karen (Sgaw), Korean, Kurmanji Kurdish, Sorani Kurdish, Lithuanian, Oromo (their newest language offering), Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yoruba. 

Teacher’s Notes and Classroom Resources Available

Teachers can use this engaging story to spark discussions about climate change, its effects on wildlife, and why it’s important to conserve and share precious resources. The story can also be read as a metaphor for communities making a new life far away from home. 

Teachers and homeschooling families can access extensive teacher’s notes and activities that use The Biscuit Moon, along with links to child-friendly resources about climate change, on Language Lizard’s Free Multicultural Lesson Plans page.

Fun Facts about Language Lizard

Language Lizard is a longtime sponsor of Multicultural Children’s Book Day and a current 2021 Platinum Sponsor.

The Company is located in Basking Ridge, NJ, and can be reached at 1-888-LLIZARD (888-554-9273) or info@LanguageLizard.com . For address information and to contact Language Lizard using their online form, click here.

Their products have been well-reviewed by critics, families, and teachers. Click here to read reviews and awards on specific products. Click here to read Testimonials by Language Lizard’s customers.

***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.***

**If you have questions about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, how to get involved, or how to get free books for your school or classroom, email Kristi at Admin (at) MulticulturalChildrensBookDay (dot) 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 Admin@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.***

**If you have questions about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, how to get involved, or how to get free books for your school or classroom, email Kristi at Admin (at) MulticulturalChildrensBookDay (dot) com **

La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa / My Journey With Papa by Deborah Mills and Alfredo Alva

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Everyone has a story.

That’s something children’s book author and retired architect, Debbie Mills, has known all her life. She, her husband, Peter, and the couple’s eight grown children also believe in the strong bond of family is everything and that belief is evident in this tight-knit family. After moving to Kerrville, Texas in 2007, Debbie was fortunate to get to know a Mexican stonemason and was introduced to a moving story of courage, perseverance, and familial love that was begging to be shared with the world.

“We chose to settle down in Kerrville because it reminded us of Australia,” Debbie recalled. “My husband was in international banking so we lived all over the world. When we retired and chose to do so in Texas, I had the privilege of getting to know Alfredo Alva and his family. Alfredo was a stonemason by trade and over the course of a year, we became friends. One night, as we joined his family for a BBQ, I asked Alfredo to share his story of how he migrated from Mexico and settled in America. The story he told me became the inspiration for the book La Frontera: El viaje con papá/ My Journey With Papa.”

What Makes La Frontera Special

La Frontera: El viaje con papá/ My Journey With Papa is a bilingual book based on the true story inspired by the immigration experience of Alfredo and his father’s as they made the arduous journey from Mexico to the United States’ border– la frontera— to make a home for themselves in a new land in the 1980s. It’s a vibrant and moving story about immigration, resilience, empathy, and belonging. It’s also a story that is still happening today, even 30 years later.

In Praise of La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa

La Frontera was recently named to the Bank Street College of Educations 2019 Edition of The Best Children’s Books of the 2018 Year.

Best books of the year 2019

Starred and favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals: Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Junior Library Guild. 

View the full list of reviews and praise here.

“Very kid-friendly, but also informative, and could help children (and adults) who are unfamiliar with the struggles immigrants experience to better understand what these families endure just to get here. Thank you for taking the time to speak to the issue of immigration with our young people” — Emily Golightly, ESL Teacher, President of the Crystal Coast Reading Council

 “The riveting yet calmly told story, movingly illustrated, of a father and son who leave Mexico to find a better life.”
— Booklist

“Memories of migration matter. Telling these stories seems more important than ever — even, and some might say especially, to children. . . [Alfredo Alva] tells of a difficult and frightening trip with his father, one that includes hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and fear of discovery. Told in side-by-side Spanish and English text, Alva’s story is brought to life by Claudia Navarro’s vivid acrylic, graphite, and digital collages and given broader context with several pages of information on borders and immigration after the main story.”
— The New York Times

“Alfredo’s story is an inspiration, told in alternating English and Spanish with photographs of the Alvas, colorful artwork, maps, and thoughtful information on borders, immigration laws, and the importance of tradition and culture”
— Foreword Reviews

“Presented in both Spanish and English, the retrospective narrative overflows with grueling, poignant details about the journey Alfredo and his father undertook. Yet Navarro’s mixed-media artwork succeeds in emphasizing the more-hopeful aspects of Alva’s story, namely love and strength in a familial context. . . . A timely, necessary read”
— Kirkus Reviews

 

“Precise details create a deeply moving sense of a young immigrant’s journey, from the drinking water dropped along the tracks by train crews to a new school, where Alfredo always brings a $100 bill in case he’s picked up and returned to the border. With bright, saturated colors and expressive figures, the illustrations echo both the story’s drama and tenderness”
— Publishers Weekly

La Frontera Tera: El Viaje Con Papa / My Journey With Papa

“This moving story of perseverance is told in both Spanish and English to empower language-learning,” Debbie added. “I wanted this book to be a valuable tool for all teachers, especially ESL and TESOL teachers, so we included four pages of endnotes that unpack facts about Alfredo’s story and other stories like his. This story of migration is part of our American history whether people like it or not. This part of our history needs to be told in a language that helps kids to understand this phenomenon.”

 

La Frontera Tera: El Viaje Con Papa / My Journey With Papa

 

Debbie Mills is a retired architect turned children’s book author who has lived all over the world including England, Greece, France, Canada, and Australia. Upon retirement, Mills moved to Kerrville, Texas where she was immediately confronted with the realities of the immigration crisis while learned of the many stories of those escaping the violence of Mexico to start a new life in America. After befriending a Mexican stonemason named Alfredo Alva,  she learned the story of he and his father’s tumultuous journey from Mexico to a better life in America. Alfredo’s story became the inspiration for the award-winning bilingual picture book La Frontera: El viaje con papá/ My Journey With Papa.” 

When not enjoying life in her current home of Kerrville Texas with husband, Peter, Mills keeps busy with design projects, the couple’s 5 adult children, and working on the production of her invention with a marine supply company.

To contact Debbie with questions or to schedule a classroom visit, email her at peedubs@msn.com.

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La Familia Cool: A Visit with Author Dania Santana (and a Giveaway!)

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So many amazing multicultural authors stepped forward to show their support during the 2016 Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and Dania Santana was one.

Dania’s was an Author Sponsor for our wildly successful online event and her book, La Familia Cool, is a wonderful bi-lingual children’s book helps create awareness about the #Latino family with #bilingual #multicultural characters.

La Familia Cool represents the Latino family in the United States, with its variety of colors, customs and gastronomy. Through the website and #bilingual book we tell the story of the Cools, a close-knit nuclear family which is also very close to the extended family, in which sons and daughters along with nieces and nephews share with the siblinghood characteristic to Hispanic families. The characters of the family are multiethnic, multicultural and bilingual, and the children are first generation American, with origins that link them to different countries of Latin America. The main members of La Familia Cool are: MamiCool, PapiCool, AbiCool, TitoCool, PepeCool and AbueCool, they live together and are always doing family activities. However, like all Latino families, La Familia Cool is also part of an extended family and the relationship among the cousins: SisyCool, TonyCool, LoliCool, KikeCool, PattyCool, MayaCool and BetoCool. All of them learn from one another and the particular characteristics of their parent’s countries origin.

la familia cool [Read more…]