Language Lizard Archives - Multicultural Children's Book Day

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.

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

Prevent Summer Slide! Fun Interactive Sets Encourage Language Learning

July 14, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

{Guest post from Language Lizard}

Every summer, parents, and teachers find themselves worrying about the dreaded “summer learning slide,” when kids potentially lose some progress they made during the school year. This year, there are even more concerns stemming from lengthy pandemic-related school closures across the country.

A long break from language learning exposure can erode some of a student’s hard-earned achievement gains. For parents and teachers looking for a fun way for kids to continue their language learning over the summer, Language Lizard has 3 fun, interactive language sets: A new Spanish learning set, an English early learning literacy pack, and an English phonics set.

Each set uses a PENpal Audio Recorder Pen that lets kids tap images and hear the target language spoken. They will love exploring the charts and cards, independently or with an adult, while developing their sound discrimination skills. Kids and adults can make their own custom recordings, too!

Interactive Spanish Learning Set

With these interactive learning charts, kids can tap images to hear words in Spanish. Each chart features its own theme and lets kids practice their knowledge with fun learning games.

This set can be used as a stand-alone resource, or in combination with other teaching materials. Children can play the games independently, in small groups, or with a whole class. This set is ideal for learners 7 to 12 years old.

The Spanish set includes 31 large (11.69 x 16.54 inches) sound-enabled, interactive charts. The charts begin with simple words and build up in skill level. All of the recorded Spanish is spoken by native speakers.

Early Learning Literacy Pack

Language Lizard Early Learning Literacy Pack

The Touch, Listen & Learn pack is a unique chart set that helps kids learn critical English words and themes by adding a sound element.

The set is an ideal resource for early learners (ages 3-6), new arrivals, or special needs students. It’s easy to use, so children can work independently with the set, just by tapping pictures with the PENpal Audio Recorder Pen.

The Touch, Listen & Learn pack

This set features 11 large, interactive charts that reinforce listening, speaking and reading skills. Kids can explore the following themes: Home, Fruit & Vegetables, Animals, Transportation, In the Classroom, Colors, Numbers, Shapes, Parts of the Body, Clothes, and Family.

The interactive audio games challenge children to identify and recall specific words and provide immediate reinforcement. There are also opportunities for self-correction – a vital skill for language learning.

Talking Phonics Set

The award-winning Talking Phonics Set comes with beautifully illustrated charts, games, and books, all designed to support educators and parents of children who are developing early phonics skills.

Children can explore the charts and cards with the PENpal Audio Recorder Pen, independently or with an adult while developing their sound discrimination skills. You can also use the included PENpal labels to make your own recordings!

The Talking Phonics Set includes:

8 Talking Charts
6 Game boards
36 Flash Cards
2 Talking Books
1 Set of Recordable Labels
Frog Puppet
16 page Guide Booklet

This set complements existing phonics resources and teaching methods. The packs are designed to support early learners (ages 3-6), new arrivals, or special needs students.

PENpal Audio Recorder Pen

The sets featured here require the use of a PENpal Audio Recorder Pen. If you do not already own one, you can add a PENpal (with over 100 recordable stickers) to your purchase of these sets at a discounted price.

With the PENpal, children can listen to content in many languages by simply touching the pen to interactive books, charts, labels, and other learning resources. Custom narrative, music, or sound effects can be recorded with the Recordable Labels.

Check out Language Lizard’s videos and other support resources to learn more about the PENpal Audio Recorder Pen, and all of their PENpal products and literacy value sets.

These interactive language sets are a great way to keep the learning going over the long summer break. What are your favorite ways to encourage learning and reading over the summer? Comment below and share your ideas!

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

Language Lizard: Inspiring Language Learners and Promoting Multiculturalism

May 31, 2020 by Rebecca Flansburg

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.

Inspiring Language Learners

“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.”

Dual-language Children’s Books

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.

ALBANIAN
ARABIC
BENGALI
BULGARIAN
BURMESE
CHINESE
CROATIAN
CZECH
DARI
DUTCH
ENGLISH-ONLY
FARSI
FRENCH
GERMAN
GREEK

GUJARATI
HAITIAN-CREOLE
HEBREW
HINDI
HMONG
HUNGARIAN
IRISH
ITALIAN
JAPANESE
KAREN
KHMER
KOREAN
KURDISH
LATVIAN

LITHUANIAN
MALAY
MALAYALAM
MULTILINGUAL
NEPALI
NORWEGIAN
PANJABI/PUNJABI
PASHTO/PASHTU
PATOIS
POLISH
PORTUGUESE
ROMANIAN
RUSSIAN
SCOTTISH GAELIC
SHONA

SLOVAKIAN
SOMALI
SPANISH
SWAHILI
SWEDISH
TAGALOG
TAMIL
THAI
TIGRINYA
TURKISH
TWI
URDU
VIETNAMESE
WELSH
YORUBA

“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.”

Expanding Minds and Worlds

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.”

Exceptional Resources from Language Lizard

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.

Fun Facts about Language Lizard

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 giveaway!

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.

Building Culturally Responsive Classrooms that Celebrate Diversity

January 2, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

Guest post from Anneke Forzani, CEO of Language Lizard, LLC

Are you a teacher or homeschooling parent looking for ways to incorporate diverse cultures and languages in your teaching? A new book helps educators build culturally responsive classrooms that embrace multiculturalism through lesson plans, games, and fun activities from around the world. These resources help students develop a greater understanding of, and respect for, diverse cultures and perspectives.

Building a Culturally Responsive Classroom

Building Bridges with Bilingual Books and Multicultural Resources: A Practical Manual of Lesson Plans, Literacy Games, and Fun Activities from Around the World to Celebrate Diversity in the Classroom and at Home helps teachers and homeschoolers incorporate cultural diversity into their teaching.

This timely and practical manual saves educators significant time by providing numerous ready-to-use lessons and activities to:

Build culturally responsive classrooms
Create positive connections with dual language students & families
Teach children about other languages & cultures
Support literacy development among English language learners
Foster a welcoming and inclusive learning environment

Multicultural Lesson Plans

Building Bridges includes numerous multicultural lesson plans that use bilingual books and diversity activities to support literacy development and build culturally inclusive classrooms.

The lessons meet Common Core State Standards and include detailed procedures, assessments, cross-curricular extension activities, and vocabulary-building flashcards. Each lesson incorporates optional ESL activities, accommodations for language learners, and suggestions for involving dual language families.

Multicultural Games, Foods & Crafts

Also included in the book are foods and crafts from around the world, as well as both physical and literacy-related games and diversity activities.

In addition, this manual includes:

Diverse language profiles
Handouts to build community in the classroom
Unique multicultural holidays and events to celebrate diversity
Useful links and resources
Special bonus offers

The lessons and activities in the book will help educators support dual-language children and incorporate diversity in their teaching.

About the Author

Author Anneke Vanmarcke Forzani is the President and Founder of Language Lizard LLC, which provides multicultural resources in over 50 languages to schools, libraries, and literacy organizations. She has presented workshops about using multicultural resources in diverse classrooms at educational conferences.

Building Bridges was written with assistance from Dr. Heather Leaman, coordinator of the Master’s of Education program in Applied Studies and Teaching at West Chester University, and elementary school teachers Edmond Gubbins and Ellen O’Regan.

We’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions for building culturally inclusive classrooms. Comment and share your thoughts below!