{Guest Post by Jesse Lewis, Music Producer, and Sound Director, at TA-DA! Language Productions}
Sound and music is a point of entry for the next generation. Just like food and diverse books, music carries language and culture for kids.
So, I noticed that when music comes on, she stops everything and stares far away.
That thousand-yard stare is usually one I see in our 4-month-old right before the diaper… uh, right before he looks at me and grins… [Read more…]
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:
We love it when we have guests on our blog that showcase books with hard-to-find languages.
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.
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
MCBD has been blessed with an amazing connection and relationship with Language Lizard for several years. We are also honored they continue to be a reoccurring Medallion Level Sponsor for our Multicultural Children’s Book Day celebrations. This company always presents a high level of professionalism while providing much need products in a huge variety of languages. We are lucky to be able to continue to work with them and share their wisdom. Enjoy.
“Bilingual is in my blood,” shared Anneke Forzani, company president and founder of Language Lizard; a woman-owned business that offers award-winning bilingual children’s products in over 50 languages. “My passion for bilingualism started when I was a child and that thread runs through all parts of my life. My parents immigrated from Belgium so the European lifestyle was part of my childhood. My father was also a college professor so I have fond memories of him inviting students who couldn’t go home for the holidays to our house. Our Thanksgiving table was often surrounded by a variety of languages and cultures.”
Forzani went on to share that this love of language stayed with her well into adulthood and was instrumental in the creation of her company, Language Lizard. The mission of the company is comprised of Two Pillars:
Pillar #1: To facilitate the celebration of diversity and multicultural education with bilingual (dual-language) children’s books, audio resources, multicultural posters, and culturally responsive teaching support. Language Lizard is also committed to supporting the academic and social development of English language learners while promoting the maintenance of home or heritage languages.
Pillar #2: To continually give back to the community.
“Language Lizard is pleased to support any companies that are interested in providing a unique charitable giving program to the communities in which they work, or to educational programs that they support,” Forzani noted. “We also participate in the Pledge 1% Program. It’s a global initiative that strives to change the world by inspiring early-stage corporate philanthropy. Pledge 1% is an easy way to leverage a portion of our future success to support nonprofits in our community. It’s a small commitment today that can make a huge impact tomorrow.”
The company supports dual language learners and promotes multicultural education and the maintenance of heritage languages by offering many products in hard-to-find languages like Hmong, Somali, Farsi, and many more.
 Inspire kids to learn languages and understand diverse cultures
with our creative, award-winning multilingual products! BOOKS: All of their books are dual-language (bilingual) and include English as well as the language you select. Each page (or facing page) contains both languages. Please click on any language below to find the products available in that language. |
“The need to establish an awareness of and respect for other cultures in the next generation is clear,” Forzani shared. “We are living in a global community. In the US, over 20% of the population is either foreign-born or has a foreign-born parent. The Census Bureau estimates that by the end of the 21st century, minorities will represent more than half of the total population. In addition, with the expansion of the Internet and inexpensive international communications, the world is becoming increasingly interdependent.”
With a constant eye on providing the tools and resources for adults as well as kids, Forzani and her team pooled their knowledge and expertise to create their wildly popular book Building Bridges with Bilingual Books and Multicultural Resources. Published in 2019, this robust book is a practical manual of lesson plans, literacy games, and fun activities from around the world to celebrate diversity in the classroom and at home. This resource gives educators the tools to build culturally responsive classrooms that embrace multiculturalism.
Building Bridges with Bilingual Books and Multicultural Resources
“Our children must be comfortable working and playing with people of other backgrounds and ethnicities in order to succeed. As teachers and parents, we have a responsibility as well as a terrific opportunity to develop young people who are tolerant of other cultures and comfortable working in a diverse environment. We also have the ability to help children maintain existing home language skills and encourage parental involvement in education while at the same time promoting literacy and a love of reading. Language Lizard aims to give you the tools to do so.”
Their BLOG is filled with articles that support the education of dual-language children and promote literacy.
Parents, teachers, and librarians can also download free multicultural lesson plans that teach all students to appreciate and understand the diversity in our communities.
Language Lizard is a longtime sponsor of Multicultural Children’s Book Day and a current 2020 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.
Language Lizard is excited to announce an epic giveaway to promote reading to celebrate 15 YEARS of supporting language learners!
Language Lizard giveaway
Win packages of bilingual books in over 50 languages! Extra winners selected during the pandemic. All entrants receive a free diversity lesson plan.
Enter for a chance to win throughout the year by doing 2 easy steps:
(1) Fill out and submit the giveaway form and (2) Sign up for our newsletter.
Sign up at www.LanguageLizard.com/
**guest post from author, Judy Martialay**
Foreign language skills will open doors for your child, regardless of his or her career choice.
Language is about life. Wherever there is communication with people who speak another language, in our country or abroad, knowing another language is an asset or is required. This is why languages are one of the top 8 skills required of all occupations. In many countries, students study the language along with their career preparation.
Native English speakers comprise 5% of the world’s population. Although millions speak or study English, the majority have limited skills, and many prefer to communicate in their language.
The old adage for business is “Buy in your language but sell in the buyer’s language.” Solid lasting business relations are based on trust, friendship, and cultural affinity.
Students of another language can develop appreciation and respect for other cultures, and develop skills to work with people from diverse backgrounds. The ability to communicate in the language of the customer plays a big role in establishing friendship and trust.
These are some of the benefits that proficiency in a second language has for your child and his or her career:
• In the competition for jobs, all things being equal, the candidate who is bilingual has the advantage.
• Bilinguals are needed to interact with employees and customers abroad and in our country.
• Bilinguals can discover and attract more potential customers or clients than monolinguals. They can access important information which is unavailable to monolingual English speakers.
• Employees who are proficient in another language can receive a bonus.
The military needs people who are competent in other languages. Every soldier accepted by the Green Berets must know a foreign language. These soldiers are sent to other countries to advise and train local troops. Armed services are just one of the many careers where knowing a language is either required or an asset: health, social services, police, corrections, journalism, foreign service, politics, sports, hospitality, engineering, sales, the arts, travel, and tourism.
Can you think of more? I just read in the newspaper that radio sports announcers need to know how to pronounce the baseball player’s names. There are many players from foreign countries, mostly Spanish-speaking.
Encourage your child to start and/or continue the study of a language along with his or her major subject. Where possible, he or she should strive to earn the Seal of Biliteracy which is awarded upon graduation in many states.
He or she will be able to put this on his or her resumé. This will not only set him or her apart from the crowd; it will also open the door to exciting opportunities.
Author Judy Martialay
“Children absorb languages like sponges.” Elementary school teacher
Visit: http://www.polyglotkidz.com
Bonjour! Let’s Learn French:
NABE Book Achievement Award Winner Winter 2018 Children’s Bilingual
Honorable Mention Cultural Diversity Purple Dragonfly Award 2018
order now on Amazon.com
kindle: https://amzn.to/2mersvn
B&N.com: https://goo.gl/W7y2dT
Bookbaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Bonjour-Lets-Learn-French
¡HOLA! Let’s Learn Spanish
NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner Winter 2017 Children’s Bilingual
Readers’ Favorite Bronze Award Children’s Educational 2017
Honorable Mention Educational Purple Dragonfly Book Award 2017
Softcover printed
https://amzn.to/2mizrYw
Kindle:
https://amzn.to/2ujRTEs
B&N:
http://bit.ly/2eNNi6o
Bookbaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/¡hola-Lets-Learn-Spanish
Like me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJudyMartialay/
follow me on Twitter
Judy Martialay@judyruth10
Lead with languages
Since the dawn of mankind, humans have had problems dealing with people who are different from them. Despite the Golden Rule in the Bible to treat “the other” as one would treat oneself, relations with others have been a challenge, and interactions have often led to wars, persecutions, and devaluation.
Nowadays, we live and work among people from different cultures, and the world is ever more connected.
How do we prepare our children for good relations in the multicultural, multilingual world?
