Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Gallery of Our Free Posters
  • About
    • What is a Multicultural Book?
    • Mission & History
    • Co-Founders
    • Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts
    • Team
    • Board of Advisors
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Us
  • #GivingTuesday 2021
  • FREE Diverse Books
    • FREE Diverse Books for Classrooms Program
    • Offline Classroom/Library Event Project
    • FREE Diversity Book For Reviewers!
    • Authors & Publishers: Donate Books for a Cause!
    • Donate
  • Sponsorship
    • Authors & Publishers: Sponsorship Info
    • MCBD 2021 Medallion Level Sponsors
    • MCBD 2021 AUTHOR Level Sponsors
  • Reading Resources
    • Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
    • 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
    • 2018 Book Review Link Up
    • 2017 LINKY (Diversity Children’s Books Reviews)
    • 2016 LINKY (Diversity Children’s Books Reviews)
  • Press Kit & Social Proof
    • Sign Up for Free Updates
    • Social Proof & Media Mentions
    • 2016 Recap and Stats
    • 2015 Recap and Stats
  • Blog
  • Fundraisers & Marketing Services
    • Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs
    • Sponsor of the Month (March-September)
    • Fundraising/ Sponsored Post Services
    • Multicultural Children’s Book Day ebook
  • MCBD Timelines
  • Media Partners

Surrounded by Superheroes: Diverse Book Celebrations from MCBD2021

February 7, 2021 by Rebecca Flansburg

We did it! Another wildly successful Multicultural Children’s Book Day is complete. Once again, the MCBD team was touched and elevated by the overwhelming support and enthusiasm surrounding our diverse children’s literature online celebration. In the days following the crescendo of the event, and our crazy-fun annual Twitter Party,  we all have spent hours sifting through the amazing camaraderie, comments, reviews, classroom celebrations, and touching kudos that were offered up during our on and offline global event.

As we all scroll through the social media posts, book reviews, and images of happy kiddoes reading diverse books during their classroom celebration, we really, REALLY, feel blessed to be so passionately supported.

We are, indeed, surrounded by superheroes!

The following is just a sample of all of the amazing book recommendations, diverse booklist, diverse book reviews, authors, publishers, educators, librarians, and young readers. Search #ReadYourWorld on any social media platform and see even MORE reasons to smile and books to add to your “must-read.” pile/

Also, be sure and visit our Big Giant Linky to see hundreds of diverse children and teen book reviews in honor of the event. Enjoy!

Media Mentions

It’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Why are multicultural children’s books important? Tell us what we should add to the list below. #ReadYourWorld @MCChildsBookDay https://t.co/fpioEcsozk pic.twitter.com/yiyl5XO21j

— Spanish Playground (@SpanishPlaygrd) January 30, 2021

Celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day with the BWG Library  

Multicultural Children's Book Day

Lake Oswego Public Library Read Alouds!

AND, Multicultural Books for Teens Printable Booklist!

 

News15 link Thanks to Aly:

https://www.kadn.com/content/news/KidLit-Pick-of-the-Week–573684761.html

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tressie Lee (@aoandtauri)

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Faith Pray (@faith.pray)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Glenelg Country School (@glenelgcountry)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @stylishmodernmotherhood

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shoumi – Author (@fromthetoddlerdiariesbooks)

 

 

#ReadYourWorld Celebrating multicultural picturebooks, Southwest Harbor, Maine, USA. pic.twitter.com/hEu5ubL2sg

— Read Aloud Literacy (@carolvnull) January 28, 2021

Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Twitter party with @MCChildsBookDay later today!

Let’s celebrate our diversity.#ReadYourWorld pic.twitter.com/qqn8F6TQ7m

— The Bookery (@TheBookeryCPT) January 29, 2021

My kids picked their own book selections for @MCChildsBookDay. Great choices! #ReadYourWorld pic.twitter.com/APZzm5sHzP

— Roxanne Martinez for FWISD District 9 (@Roxanne4FWISD) January 30, 2021

We are celebrating Multicultural Children’s Book Day 👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏽👩🏾‍🤝‍👩🏻👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏽#ReadYourWorld 🌎 pic.twitter.com/bvffl6SA9r

— Branston C of E Infant Academy 💙 (@BranstonInfant1) January 29, 2021

Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day! This is a special day set aside each year to celebrate diversity in children’s literature.

Checkout this video from @MCChildsBookDay Cofounder Valarie Budayr and find out one of her favorite books. #readyourworld pic.twitter.com/3AOv0CYMbS

— New Hope BCCAC (@NewHopeBCCAC) January 29, 2021

Happy #MulticulturalChildrensBookDay!! #ReadYourWorld 🌏📚❤️ #sophiewashington #raisingreaders #middlegrade #mglit #kidlit pic.twitter.com/FyiWwqhbh4

— Tonya Duncan Ellis (@TonyaDEllis) January 29, 2021

Last book!!! Grade 3!!! It’s been an amazing day of building language and sharing cultures! @BowenBees #ReadYourWorld @monicalakhwani @KenyaLMcCoy pic.twitter.com/ss3RsxVSbW

— Mary Morgan (@mnm12) January 29, 2021

#MulticulturalChildrensBookDay happens every day in my classroom. As a teacher, these books are displayed in my room #OnPurpose. The books in our room should mirror our #students. Happy Multicultural Book day #MulticulturalMustangs! @OakRidgeNPD117 #ReadYourWorld #NPD117learns pic.twitter.com/tF3DW4tvq7

— Ahlam Hassan (@ahlam_ahassan) January 29, 2021

Here’s our first book! The students were raising their hands to help me improve my Spanish pronunciation! We used Jamboard and paper/pencil to draw & share in Google Meets! #ReadYourWorld @BowenBees pic.twitter.com/bHkmxPRGp3

— Mary Morgan (@mnm12) January 29, 2021

In honor of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, we donated copies of the book, The Storm Runner by @jencerv, to @DaggettFWISD Book Club. Enjoy the book! 📖 #readyourworld @readyourworldmcbd pic.twitter.com/c3EXm1Kiem

— Roxanne Martinez for FWISD District 9 (@Roxanne4FWISD) January 30, 2021


Tomorrow is Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Just put up my display.#MCBD2021 #ReadYourWorld pic.twitter.com/gGp6IZMmoN

— roesolo (@roesolo) January 28, 2021

Multicultural Children’s Day celebrations in Mrs. Crimi/Mr. Peterson’s 5th grade class: We are studying Helen Keller and learning how to sign. We signed our spelling words to partners. #ReadYourWorld pic.twitter.com/ig0YR6lRHs

— Jennifer Carere (@SantapogueWB) January 29, 2021

Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day! @OakRidgeNPD117 #MulticulturalMustangs #ReadYourWorld @NorthPalosSD117 pic.twitter.com/xVrVpetHFJ

— Jola Maslak (@Mrs_Maslak) January 29, 2021

Mrs. Beth Bell’s third grade class spent time this week reading books and enjoying the colorful illustrations related to Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Learn more about the day at https://t.co/FJy7Puu9G0.#glenelgcountry #readyourworld #mcbd2021 pic.twitter.com/fLCCxYm9JA

— Glenelg Country (@glenelgcountry) January 29, 2021

January 29 is Multicultural Children’s Book Day 🌎📖 Check out our picks from the collection and celebrate you! #ReadYourWorld pic.twitter.com/bsfww82XV1

— Slover Library (@SloverLibrary) January 29, 2021

“Planting the trees of Kenya, the story of Wangari Matthai” I admire that woman so much that it was my daughter’s 3rd bday party theme. #ReadYourWorld pic.twitter.com/KBi1LNPv8M

— Jandy Flores Reyna M.Ed (@JandyFR) January 30, 2021

During library Mrs. McVicker’s Grade 2 class learned about the courage of Rosa Parks in her fight for equal rights to celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day #ReadYourWorld #MCBD pic.twitter.com/MRYcraDucH

— Jennifer Carere (@SantapogueWB) January 29, 2021

Mrs. Casali’s first grade class celebrated Multicultural Children’s Book Day by learning about African-American Wilma Rudolph who overcoming adversity to win 3 Olympic gold medals. #ReadYourWorld #MCBD pic.twitter.com/vuihzhydbo

— Jennifer Carere (@SantapogueWB) January 29, 2021

Today Pre-K read about Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel to space. Here we are discussing with a partner what we noticed about her in the photos where she became an astronaut! 🚀🌌#ReadYourWorld #ExperienceSLE pic.twitter.com/nFiuMgtf8T

— Emma Ackels (@AckelsEmma) January 29, 2021

Mrs. Paganica’s second grade class learned about Pakistani activist Malala to celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day. #ReadYourWorld #MCBD pic.twitter.com/K5r71EEnO2

— Jennifer Carere (@SantapogueWB) January 29, 2021

Today is #MulticulturalChildrensBookDay. Find book ideas and resources to celebrate today and all year: https://t.co/jJgvHqh0Rr#ReadYourWorld #AllBooksForAllKids #RepresentationMatters #OwnVoices pic.twitter.com/ccAPVL7e8W

— Follett Classroom (@follettclass) January 29, 2021


Follow us on Pinterest!

 

Filed Under: 2021 MCBD, Book review, MCCBD News, Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: #ReadYourWorld, book review, Children's Book Author, diverse picture books, diverserkidlit, Multicultural Author, Multicultural Books for kids, Multicultural Children's Book Day, multicultural children's book publisher

New & Fresh Diverse Kidlit Books: #OWNVOICES

August 23, 2020 by Rebecca Flansburg

As many of you know, Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) is a global non-profit initiative that celebrates diverse authors and works year-round to raise awareness on the importance of diversity in children’s literature.

With our ears to the ground and eyes peeled (that is such an ODD phrase!!), we are also always on the prowl for new multicultural books that we know our supporters, educators, parents, caregivers, book reviewers, and librarians would appreciate knowing about.

Sometimes, when someone is a first-time author, getting attention on your new children’s book is a lot like shouting into a hurricane. Delightfully, the options for amazing diverse kidlit and YA books is endless…but that makes it all the more daunting for authors with new releases or first-time offerings.

Shining the spotlight on authors of multicultural/diverse board books, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and YA reads is one of our many missions. With that in mind, enjoy the latest “scores” in our ongoing quest to find the best books for our young readers.

Enjoy!

Diverse #OWNVOICES Kidlit Books That Should be on Your Bookshelf

How Angels are Made by Bryson Thompson Sr.

Based on a true story of the relationship between the author’s mother and son, How Angels are Made was a true creation in the midst of a tragedy. Author Bryson Thompson Sr. wrote the initial version of the book only two days after returning home from her funeral. During the initial days of the passing of his mother, Bryson and his wife spent significant time speaking with their son, BJ, about what happened to his mother. In the midst of those conversations, it became very apparent that they needed to be very clear and transparent with young BJ and answer as many questions as he had. One thing the Thompson family took away from their situation was how confused youth are during times of grief. From there, Bryson focused his energy on using their tragedy as a tool for youth and families to be able to work through their own healing processes.

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and David Litchfield

This beautiful book was created to raise awareness for Save the Children US and is an uplifting story of hope to comfort children and families in these challenging times. Thanks to MCBD Supporter, Candlewick,  Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and David Litchfield as a free e-book can be downloaded for FREE here until September 30:  stayhome.candlewick.com and can be downloaded for FREE here until September 30:  stayhome.candlewick.com

 

Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim

This book was a labor of love that spanned 8 years. It is inspired by my first friend in America and how her kindness made me feel welcomed in this country.
Danbi is an unlikely hero and by all measures. She is a Korean immigrant; she doesn’t speak English; she is utterly confused with her American surroundings. How is she the hero? And to whom?
I also love that this book has multiple themes including multiculturalism, friendship, immigration, and back-to-school.
I believe children should have hero choices that they can identify with, whatever their race, culture, or socio-economic background. And it’s important for those who grow up in one culture to see the beauty of cultures other than theirs. This can be life-changing for a child who is frightened and bewildered in a new country, and craving acceptance.  I feel it is my mission to deliver this positive message of hope to that child sitting in a corner, alone, because she or he doesn’t feel accepted for the color of her skin or the culture he is from. After all, those children desperately need heroic characters that empower them.
This is why I wrote the book – in hopes to start that conversation with children, with families, in classrooms, and with each other.

I Am Different Just Like You by Rebecca DalMolin

I Am Different, Just Like You! is a creative non-fiction children’s book that uses fun illustrations and real photos to explain what Down syndrome is and the remarkable things that people with Down syndrome are capable of doing. It showcases a little girl named Adella who, just like other little girls, loves to run, play, sing, and dance. But there are also things that make Adella different. One difference is that she has Down syndrome. As she explains what Down syndrome is, readers will find that there are things that make them different too, just like Adella. For every book purchased, $1 will be donated to a charitable organization that helps support the Down syndrome community.

Devin’s Discovery by Skylar Miller (Author), Ros Webb (Illustrator)

Devin’s Discovery is a story about an ordinary boy who happens to wear orthotic braces. He realizes he’s not as different as he thought as he discovers there are many other children who need special orthotics and prosthetics to support them, too! A story of acceptance and embracing what makes us all unique, this is a book for EVERY child!

Do you feel you have a diverse children’s book that deserves some visibility?
Shoot us an email at Admin (at) MulticulturalChildrensBookDay (dot) com.
**No Kickstarter Campaigns, please.

About Multicultural Children’s Book Day

Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) is an online and offline celebration that attracts thousands of supporters, educators, parents, caregivers, book reviewers, and quality authors and publishers who join forces to shine the spotlight on diversity in children and YA literature. Celebrated annually on the last Friday in January, this global non-profit offers a plethora of free resources, teaching tools, booklists, downloads, and a year-around initiative to get multicultural and diverse books into the hands of young readers. To date, they have donated over 8,000 books to underserved kids, classrooms, and organizations, and that number continues to climb. To learn more about MCBD, visit them on the web and be follow their official hashtag #ReadYourWorld on social media.
#OWNVOICES

Filed Under: Multicultural Booklist, New and Fresh Diverse Kidlit Books: Tagged With: #OwnVoices, #ReadYourWorld, book review, Diverse #OWNVOICES Kidlit Books, Diverse Kidlit Book, Diverse Kidlit Books, diverse picture books, diverserkidlit, New and Fresh Diverse Kidlit Books:

New Diverse Kidlit Books that Embrace the Uniqueness of our World!

August 11, 2020 by Rebecca Flansburg

Before we just in and start sharing the latest in amazing multicultural books that have come across our desks, we want to say this…

Thank you for supporting the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021, and we cannot wait for the celebration to begin.

We always welcome quality, relevant, and literacy-related contributions from writers, authors, publishers, and organizations. We’ve had some really, really cool. If you are looking for guest posts about diverse books that focus on timely topics and unique language, there have been many on Multicultural Children’s Book Day blog recently.

Here are a few of the latest:

Author Idan Ravin shares his wonderful book about patience and one of our new mantras in life #FindYourCornbread HERE.

Author John Stickler shares his story of a surprise international prize for his delightful diverse book Maya and the Turtle HERE.

Maya and the Turtle: A Korean Folk Tale

Language Lizard has some ammmaaazzzing language tools, books, and resources for teachers, distance learners, and homeschoolers HERE.

We love it when we have guests on our blog that showcase books with hard-to-find languages.

We are thrilled that authors Monica Hernandez and Bilen Haile stopped by to share their Sri Lankan kidlit book…

… and we felt like we hit the lotto when Sandra Amoako stopped by to share her Ghanian (Twi) language book for beginning readers.

In our opinion, there can never be enough kids’ books available on the topic of unique family dynamics.

Kendra and Claire-Voe Ocampo, authors of the new LGBTQ children’s picture book, Mighty May Won’t Cry Today have penned a beautiful diverse story a little girl and her two moms that should be on every bookshelf.

**Discover even more excellent articles and posts about diversity, languages, equality, activism, and so much more on the MCBD blog HERE.

Ways to Get Involved in Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021

Book Donation: Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media.

Sponsorships: Sponsorships are directly connected to the yearly celebration itself and are a great way to tap into the hundreds-of-thousands of views our social media channels get from November to February 1. We have sponsorships at a variety of price points to fit any budget. All levels of Sponsorships for MCBD 2021 will open up September 1.

Do a Social Shout Out for your book or Favorite Author’s Book: Shout Outs are a one-time social media push on an author/diverse book’s behalf. Our Social Shout Outs are available all year long and act as a fundraiser for our Free Books for Classrooms Project. See samples of how awesome our Social Shout Out images look HERE.

Join our Exclusive MCBD Facebook Group: This group is a nice mix of parents, book reviewers, teachers, and authors, so you will be able to connect with like-minded people!

Guest posts: As you can tell, MCBD loves to welcome guest post ideas that are in alignment with our mission! For more information about guest posting for us, contact Becky at Becky@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com .

Be a Book Reviewer: We are always looking for people who would love a free diverse book in exchange for an honest review on social media during the month of January. If this is something you are interested in, subscribe to the MCBD blog and we will let you know as soon as the reviewer sign up is open September 1.

If you have any questions about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, contact Becky at Becky@MulticulturalChildrensBookDay.com 

 

Filed Under: 2021 MCBD, Multicultural Booklist, On My Desk Tagged With: #ReadYourWorld, book review, Children's Book Author, diverse picture books, diverserkidlit, foreign language for kids, Language Lizard, Multicultural Author, Multicultural Children's Book Day, Twi language

5 Ways that Increasing the Awareness of Diverse Books is Paying Off

April 2, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

Our world is an exciting place. Cultures are blending, family dynamics are changing, and the world that the next generation is inheriting has become a delightful melting pot of different cultures, races, and traditions. Kidlit provides families with an invaluable opportunity to discover our world through vibrant stories, education resources, and colorful illustrations and imagery. All without ever having to leave the comfort of home.

 Also, imagine being a child in a multicultural family and not be able to “find yourself” within the pages of the books you read. According to the University of Wisconsin’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center, the number of books published in the U.S. by and about people of color is still alarmingly non-reflective of the demographics of the country. The good news is; this statistic is poised for a change thanks to the increasing awareness of libraries, organizations, parents, and teachers. Here are a few reasons why we think this is improving:

**Reason One: In the past, there was a big question mark in many minds when it came to identifying what books were truly considered “diverse” or “multicultural.” Now key factors to help parents, caregivers, educators, and librarians identify books are more widely known and shared and initiatives like #OwnVoices also help book buyers add more diverse books to their home or classroom bookshelf. In a nutshell:

  • Look for books (picture books, chapter book, or YA books) that contain main characters of color as well as supporting characters that represent a minority point of view.
  • Look for books that share ideas, stories, and information about cultures, race, religion, language, disabilities, and traditions.
  • Consider Non-fiction: Fiction stories are great, but non-fiction books that embrace our world and can also offer kids new ways to connect to a diverse world in a fun and entertaining way as well.
  • Research the hashtag #OwnVoices for books written by people of color about their own diverse experiences and journeys.

**Reason Two: As the demand for diverse kids’ books increases, so does the awareness from publishers charged with producing those books. It is no secret that, up until the last ten years, children’s book publishing has been very…white. But now, veteran publishing houses that have been committed to offering only the best diverse books for decades are getting the recognition they deserve thanks to heightened awareness from the book-buying public. For those looking for traditionally published heavy hitters in the diverse kidlit publishing world, consider visiting these sources for high-quality multicultural books for kids:

  • Lee & Low Books, the largest multicultural children’s book publisher in the country, and one of the few minority-owned publishing has been committed to producing children’s literature that reflects other races, religions, cultures, and traditions since 1991.
  • Capstone: As Minnesota-based publishing, Capstone has been making its mark in the multicultural kidlit book arena for over 25 years. Capstone offers a fantastic line-up of diverse books for young readers of all age groups but is best known for its recent 2018 Caldecott Honor Book, A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illus. by Thi Bui
  • Wisdom Tales Press: Wisdom Tales is the name of the children’s book imprint of the award-winning publishing house, World Wisdom, which was founded in 1980. Wisdom Tales publishes both children’s and teen titles and was created to share the wisdom, beauty, and values of traditional cultures and people from around the world with young readers and their families.
  • Candlewick Press: Candlewick Press is one of the fastest-growing children’s book publishers in the United States. Established in 1991, we are a progressive and creative company with a steadfast commitment to the best. Some of their more notable diverse titles include Baby Goes to Market, Martin Luther King: The Peaceful Warrior, 42 is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero, Pattan’s Pumpkin: An Indian Flood Story and Escalera a La Luna by Maya Soetoro-Ng and Yuyi Morales.

**Reason Three: The need for books that reflect our world is on the radar of today’s librarians as well. “I think all librarians would like to see more good quality multicultural books written for kids,” noted Santa Monica librarian, Amy Muscoplat. “Many of those good books that do exist do not always get in front of collections librarians because they may not show up in the guides they turn to for book reviews and more. This is especially true for books from very small presses or indie books. If we could be made more aware of these high-quality diversity children’s books, it would help us to recommend them to young patrons, families, and teachers.” 

**Reason Four: Publishing diverse books are not just for big publishing houses anymore. Many beautiful and accurate multicultural reads are being produced by small boutique publishing houses that pack a big punch. Here are a few: 

Make A Way Media: Owned by an ambitious mom who also happens to be a lawyer and children and family health advocate, Dee Cummings has dedicated the last decade to writing and publishing children’s picture books that fill much-needed reading gaps. Her diverse books cover a wide range of topics including family dynamics, mindfulness for kids, and empathy.

Books can teach kids hard facts like geography and history, and soft, yet-no-less-important, skills like empathy and kindness. Make A Way Media is definitely meant to teach the latter. Its books focus on spreading positivity and instilling gratitude with each turn of the page. ~Mater Mea, Lifestyle Magazine

She penned her latest book, In The Nick of Time, because of a glaring void in Christmas books that offered a little brown boy as the main character; a character that also helps Santa save Christmas. To learn more about Make A Way Media and her catalog of diverse picture books for kids, go here.

Shout Mouse Press: Shout Mouse Press is a nonprofit writing program and publishing house that empowers young people from marginalized backgrounds to tell their own stories in their voices act as leaders and agents of change.

Pack-n-Go Girls: Those who have a middle reader in the family that dreams of mysterious adventures and faraway places, the Pack-n-Go Girls® chapter books are just the ticket.

Star Bright Books: Star Bright Books is an independent children’s book publishing house established in 1994. They are dedicated to producing great books for great kids—books for parents and children to discover together. Bilingual titles from Star Bright that are a “must-read” include Books and Bricks: How a School Rebuilt the Community (Ages 10-12), Cradle Me (A birth to 3 board book published in English, Navajo/English, Ojibwe/English), Alicia’s Happy Day (For ages 4-8 also in Spanish/English), and A Fish to Feed (A ages 1-3 board book that is also available in Spanish/English).

Inhabit Education, Inc.: Canadian-based Inhabit Education is a Nunavut-based educational publishing company with a mission to provide parents and educators with resources infused with an authentic Northern perspective, Inuit languages, ways of life, and imagery.

**Reason Five: Adults now understand that it is not only up to educators and libraries to get books of a multicultural nature into the hands of young readers, it is also the responsibility of parents and caregivers. Thanks to access to endless booklists and free resources for at-home use and homeschooling, parents are not struggling to identify books that allow their child to “see themselves” within the pages, or open up new and exciting worlds. As soon as their Littles can hold a board book, parents and caregivers can begin introducing their readers to new races, religions, family dynamics, traditions, and cultures.  Online sites like 1000 Black Girl Books, Scholastic, Kitaab World, and Multicultural Children’s Book Day are all excellent sources of diverse book titles and author recommendations.

  A Two-Minute Action Plan for Parents

 Two of the best ways to help kids learn and enjoy learning about new cultures and traditions are through the exploration of ethnic food and diverse books. Books are especially influential because they contain the seeds of curiosity that inspire readers to look further and discover what is “out there” in the real world. Having access to these kinds of books is an integral part of learning, play, and imagination while also helping kids understand and be curious about other lives, countries, and cultures.

Nevertheless, it is not enough to own these multicultural books. Studies have shown that reading to a child as little as twenty minutes per week will result in stronger readers and an interest in books that will last a lifetime. Reading aloud is also an excellent chance to share adventure, intrigue, and emotion during a time when the reader (and listener) are 100% present in the moment. In a hectic, loud, and fast-paced world, those one-one moments between child and parent are irreplaceable.

5 Ways that Increasing the Awareness of Diverse Books is Paying Off

Filed Under: diversity in children’s books, Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: #ReadYourWorld, 5 Ways that Increasing the Awareness of Diverse Books is Paying Off, diverse books, Diverse Kids' Books, diverse picture books for kids, diverserkidlit, Make A Way Media

Multicultural Book Recommendations for World Travel from the Safety of Home

March 22, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

Guest Post from Janelle Diller and Pack-n-Go Girls®

::Big sigh:: The world has changed—we hope just temporarily. But here we are. No travel. Extra days out of school. Uncertain times. Thank goodness for books to distract us! We have some great multicultural recommendations to pass the time and expand your children’s world.

Hopefully, your library has them, but if not, Amazon still delivers to your door. We hope.

Multicultural Book Recommendations for World Travel

The Breaking News Written and Illustrated by Sarah Lynne Reul

Multicultural Book Recommendations

Bad news breaks and a young girl tries to make sense of it. A gray cloud slips over the family and the community. The parents are sad and distracted. “Suddenly Mom is glued to the television. Dad can’t stop checking his phone. They whisper and I pretend not to hear.” The mother even forgets to tuck the girl into bed at night. Her schoolmates feel the weight of the bad news, too.

This isn’t a random bedtime story to read to a sleepy three-year-old. Even though the sparse text and picture book format implies a preschool audience, the subject matter and treatment could be unsettling for a young child who didn’t have a context for the theme. In this current environment, it can be a powerful conversation starter for preschoolers through early elementary children.

 

My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder Written and Illustrated by Nie Jun; Translated by Edward Gauvin

Multicultural Book Recommendation

Whether you’re eight or eighty, My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder is perfect for an afternoon of contemplating. What’s real? What’s a dream? What’s magic? The four stories give readers plenty of moments to use their own imagination.

Nie Jun wrote and illustrated the stories in comic book style, but don’t be misled. This is not your father’s comic book of bold lines and dramatic primary colors (washed out by the printing process and cheap paper). This is a book of art. Each page presents multiple frames of the story, all done in pastel watercolors and ink lines. They’re rich in detail and action.

 

Penguin Days Written by Sara Leach; Illustrated by Rebecca Bender

Multicultural Book Recommendation

Penguin Days takes the reader on a journey. In the second book in this endearing series by Sara Leach, Lauren and her family travel to Lincoln, North Dakota, so Lauren can be the flower girl in her auntie Joss’ wedding. It takes Lauren’s family “two days, eight movies, four chapter books, and three throw-ups” to get to their destination. This is perhaps as good of a time as any to stop and ponder how many children’s books take place in North Dakota.

Zero? That’s the common answer.

So here’s the first clue to the nature of this book: Penguin Days is not common. And that’s its gift. Lauren, the protagonist, has ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, which means her brain works differently than other people’s brains. The book is filled with gentle humor, which helps the reader appreciate Lauren’s perspective while at the same time doesn’t sugar coat life with a child with ASD. The family drives to North Dakota because the last time they traveled there, they flew, and as Lauren notes, “[N]obody wanted to live through the experience of flying with me again.”

Penguin Days provides learning of the most important kind and has an added bonus of sweet humor, age-appropriate text, and engaging illustrations. It belongs on the shelf of every library for young readers.

 

Big Problemas Written and Illustrated by Juana Medina

Multicultural Book Recommendation

In Big Problemas, written and illustrated by Juana Medina, Juana and Lucas return in a second romp through the world of this delightful young Colombian and her dog, Lucas.

Juana’s life is just about perfect—but it’s about to become just a little less perfect. Her first clue is that her mami has a new hairdo. At first, Juana thinks she’s just gotten into the wrong car after school, but when Juana tells her mami that she liked her mami’s old hair better, her mami isn’t too happy about her comment. “That’s when I knew I was in the right car with the right Mami, just not with the right hairdo.” And that’s when the reader realizes that this is going to be fun.

This engaging story with endearing characters and a gentle touch on the larger themes of loss and change make for a valuable read.

Small Mercies Written by Bridget Krone; Illustrated by Karen Vermeulen

Multicultural Book Recommendation

Mercy steals the reader’s heart from the very first page. Although more accurately, it’s Mercy’s eccentric foster aunts who do the initial stealing. Their quirky excuse notes—one says Mercy has “the collywobbles,” another that she has “a dicky tummy,” and on another that she can’t participate in inter-house cross-country because she “has a bone in her leg”—let the reader know some sweet humor is ahead.

Small Mercies carries the reader to South Africa. One of the benefits for the North American audience is that the reader realizes that, yes, there are unfamiliar differences between the two places, but even more important, the similarities are even greater. Take away the African cultures and replace them with familiar American cultures, and the classroom is the same. Children can be kind and can be cruel; they can stress out about school expectations, and the worries they have about their home life travel with them into the classroom.

Karen Vermeulen’s simple line drawings complement Krone’s text with appropriate whimsy. The short chapters are a nice treat for the reading level, particularly since the themes have a depth to them that takes some reflecting. Krone notes that her “favorite stories are those that, just when you expect a lesson, sing a song instead.” Small Mercies is just that surprising song, full of light and sweetness. Readers will carry the melody in their hearts long after the last page is turned.

Pack-n-Go Girls Adventures

Pack and Go Girls

If you’re looking for travel adventure mysteries, Pack-n-Go Girls will take you there. Snuggle up with spooky stories that take readers to haunted castles in Austria, catch thieves in Mexico, save dolphins and turtles in Brazil, search for lost golden temples in Thailand, and chase aliens in Australia. It’s the cheapest way to travel to the other side of the world, and you can do it by paperback, ebook, or audiobook!

Follow us on Twitter:@packngogirls

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/packngogirls
Instagram with us: packngogirlsadventures
Join us on Pinterest: Pack-n-Go Girls
If you love Pack-n-Go Girls, we’d love your review on Amazon!

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: #ReadYourWorld, book review, diverse books, diverserkidlit, Multicultural Book Recommendations, Multicultural Books for kids, Pack-n-Go Girls®

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Newsletter

Founders Circle

Platinum Sponsor!

Platinum Sponsor!

Make a Way Media

Gold Sponsor!

Candlewick

Gold Sponsor!

Gold Sponsor!

KidLitTV

Gold Sponsor!

Gold Sponsor!

Gold Sponsor!

Silver Sponsor!

Pack n Go Girls

Silver Sponsor!

Silver Sponsor!

Silver Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Barnes Brothers Books

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

Bronze Sponsor!

My Well Read Child

Stay in the loop with all MCBD Happenings!

Help us get diverse Kidlit into schools!

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

Children’s Book Blogs

Copyright © 2021 · Multicultural Childrens Book Day on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Astra Website Security