I’m so excited to participate (for the second year in a row) in the global movement called Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Their slogan, “Read Your World”, is a nod to their mission:
“…to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these books into classrooms and libraries.”
Mission
In 2013, Valarie Budayr and Mida Wenjen set out to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in home and school bookshelves while also working diligently to get more of these types of books into the hands of young readers, parents and educators.
How about that?! I love this!
It’s not just important that our children read books with characters that look like them and speak the language of their heritage, but that families like yours and mine have access to them and can read a myriad of different ones in order to better understand our world.
Spanish Translation
This year I received a book from Tim Tim Tom Ltd. and it’s quite special because it takes a cute kid’s story and fuses it into a classic tale; while also providing a customized main character name and multilingual translation for young polyglots.
The illustrations in this can also be tailored to better reflect the skin tone, eye color, and hair texture of your little one. I thought this was an extremely thoughtful approach, seeing as though many children’s books I find in stores and at the library reflect a world and main character who looks nothing like my girls or our family make up, unless that is the specific premise of the story.
Elizabeth (or fill in your child’s name) dances Swan Lake, by Saskia Reusens, is a story about a group of ballet classmates all eager to be the lead dancer in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s popular ballet, Swan Lake.
As we read along in the story we are taken on a journey– watching Elizabeth practice diligently to remember her parts in Swan Lake. Saskia clearly takes the opportunity to weave simple lessons that children will quickly recognize into this ethereal kid’s story. As the day arrives for the performance and Elizabeth awaits backstage for her turn to leap in, the reader nervously anticipates how she will do.
The beautiful illustrations, captivating story, and easy to hold size will make this book one your child goes back to over and over again. My girls have been sneaking this one into bed with them at night.
I hope the next time you’re looking to get a birthday or holiday gift for a little on in your life, you’d consider a multilingual-customizable book by Tim Tim Tom Ltd.!
Attend the Twitter Party on January 27, 2018 at 9pm EST.
Join and win one of (12) 5 book bundles and one Grand Prize Book Bundle (containing 12 books) that will be given away at the party!
Free Resources for Parents & Teachers
Multicultural Books for Teachers
Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians and Educators
Learn more about Multicultural Children’s Book Day
2018 MCBD Medallion Sponsors
HONORARY: Children’s Book Council, Junior Library Guild
PLATINUM:Scholastic Book Clubs
GOLD:Audrey Press, Candlewick Press, Loving Lion Books, Second Story Press, Star Bright Books, Worldwide Buddies
SILVER:Capstone Publishing, Author Charlotte Riggle, Child’s Play USA, KidLit TV, Pack-n-Go Girls, Plum Street Press
BRONZE: Barefoot Books, Carole P. Roman, Charlesbridge Publishing, Dr. Crystal Bowe, Gokul! World, Green Kids Club, Gwen Jackson, Jacqueline Woodson, Juan J. Guerra, Language Lizard, Lee & Low Books, RhymeTime Storybooks, Sanya Whittaker Gragg, TimTimTom Books, WaterBrook & Multnomah, Wisdom Tales Press
2018 Author Sponsors
Honorary Author Sponsors: Author/Illustrator Aram Kim and Author/Illustrator Juana Medina
Author Janet Balletta, Author Susan Bernardo, Author Carmen Bernier-Grand, Author Tasheba Berry-McLaren and Space2Launch, Bollywood Groove Books, Author Anne Broyles, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw, Author Eugenia Chu, Author Lesa Cline-Ransome, Author Medeia Cohan and Shade 7 Publishing, Desi Babies, Author Dani Dixon and Tumble Creek Press, Author Judy Dodge Cummings, Author D.G. Driver, Author Nicole Fenner and Sister Girl Publishing, Debbi Michiko Florence, Author Josh Funk, Author Maria Gianferrari, Author Daphnie Glenn, Globe Smart Kids, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Author Quentin Holmes, Author Esther Iverem, Jennifer Joseph: Alphabet Oddities, Author Kizzie Jones, Author Faith L Justice , Author P.J. LaRue and MysticPrincesses.com, Author Karen Leggett Abouraya, Author Sylvia Liu, Author Sherri Maret, Author Melissa Martin Ph.D., Author Lesli Mitchell, Pinky Mukhi and We Are One, Author Miranda Paul, Author Carlotta Penn, Real Dads Read, Greg Ransom, Author Sandra L. Richards, RealMVPKids Author Andrea Scott, Alva Sachs and Three Wishes Publishing, Shelly Bean the Sports Queen, Author Sarah Stevenson, Author Gayle H. Swift Author Elsa Takaoka, Author Christine Taylor-Butler, Nicholette Thomas and MFL Publishing Author Andrea Y. Wang, Author Jane Whittingham Author Natasha Yim
We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts HERE.