Multicultural Children’s Book Day Celebration is an event to raise awareness around kid’s books that celebrate diversity and to get more of these types of books into classrooms and libraries. I was gifted three books to share, review and celebrate with you.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.
Book Reviews
Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire
Author: Dr. Artika Tyner and Jacklyn Milton
Genre: Children’s Picture Book (8-12)
Illustrator: Jeremy Norton and Janos Orbon
Publisher: Planting People Growing Justice Press
Release Date: April 20, 2020
Formats: Paperback and Kindle
Pages: 32
Source: I was gifted a soft cover copy to review from Planting People Growing Justice for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Event
Rating: 5.0
“Words are powerful,” Grandma told Justice.
“They can be used in powerful ways to do good or do harm.
That’s why it’s important to always be careful with your words.”
Justice is a young girl who has grown up watching many ways her grandma serves the community. She too wants to make a difference in the world, too. She thinks that she is too young, but through conversations with her grandma and their love of books, Justice learns about important women and men throughout history who changed the world. Justice learns how each leader strived to advancing justice and improve the world. She dreams of becoming “Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,” a superhero with a law degree and an afro!
This is an excellent book for discussing justice – fair treatment. Everyone deserves fair treatment and children will relate to this book with their own concept of fairness. Children will be inspired by Justice and are encouraged to think about their own gifts and how they can use them to make a difference in the world. The book is appropriate for ages 8-12 and would be a good book to begin a justice unit.
For the classroom teacher, the authors provide several ideas to inspire children to think about ways in which they too can make a difference in the world. In addition, the authors provide a section with six other leaders who inspired justice. A great springboard for discussion and further study.
This book was awarded First Place in the Purple Dragonfly Book Award and is a must have for every classroom and school library.
The Feast That Stopped a War: A Folktale from Vanuatu
Author: Walton Burns
Genre: Graded Reader – Elementary
Illustrator: Van Illustrator
Publisher: Alphabet Publishing
Release Date: December 11, 2020
Formats: Paperback and Kindle
Pages: 23
Source: I was gifted a soft cover copy to review from Alphabet Publishing for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Event
Rating: 4.0
This folk tale from Vanuatu, adapted for beginner readers, tells the story of a chief who brings peace to the island of Efate by creating a new tribal system. This very clever new tribal system brings the nation together in peace.
If you like folk tales, as I do, you will find this folk tale interesting. The author shares a great deal of information in the introduction so the reader will have some knowledge before reading the story. It is the author’s purpose to encourage children to share their own cultural folktales. This book would be a good one to begin a folktale unit and is very appropriate for ESL students and elementary students who learn better visually.
This graded reader includes an introduction to Vanuatu as well as an introduction story itself. This is key as it provides background information for the reader. The book is visually appealing and includes large, full-color illustrations. The illustrations are clearly labeled to help the reader recognize both the visual and written word. In addition, the author provides graded language throughout, the book, a 10-word glossary, 11 comprehension questions, a writing prompt, and a map of Vanuatu.
Consider adding this book to your classroom library.
Twin Power
Author: Benjamin Young and Kiyanda Young
Genre: Picture book (3-6)
Illustrator: Imre Papp
Publisher: Twizzler Bees Entertainment
Release Date: June 4, 2021
Formats: Paperback and Kindle
Pages: 30
Source: I was gifted a soft cover copy from Twizzler Bees Entertainment to review for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Event
Rating: 4.5
“Twin Power” is the first in a series of Twin Power Books starring fraternal twins named Simone and Sebastian. The twins learn how to work together and teach little readers about what it means to be a twin and a best friend. The story first explains what it means to be a twin. This is a question that many preschoolers have when they hear the word or see a set of twins. The story continues to demonstrate how “twin power” works in a variety of situations. The illustrations are colorful and fun. Just right for the preschool classroom. The language is clear and simple. It is an easy read aloud that children will enjoy.
Through a series of activities included at the back of the book, little readers will practice their comprehension skills with 7 literal comprehension questions. This is followed with some activities, such as finding the differences, and several coloring pages. The QR Code in the back will take you to even more fun and free activities.
If you are a preschool teacher or a parent of a preschooler, you should consider this book for your library.
Join us today on social media for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Celebration. #ReadYourWorld
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