Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 61
February 9, 2016
Brown Girl Dreaming and delving into the topic of memoir
Jacqueline Woodson is a woman who on a couple of occasions has had me coming out of my seat and screaming my head off as I do the Dance for Joy.
The very first time this happened is when I was sitting at my computer on January day in 2015 listening to the ALA awards and they announced ” And the Newbery award goes to Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.”
I can tell you that I screaming. Like up, out of my seat screaming. There I stood before my computer screen applauding this great talent in children’s literature. Now the whole world knew my secret. Brown Girl Dreaming had been my very favorite book since it had been published. I felt like I had made a friend during the turning of these pages. Jacqueline Woodson gave me a window to her world. I felt as if it had been written for just little ol me.
Never had I seen memoir executed with such precision and ease of reading. You see Jacqueline just didn’t write her memoir in narrative. Nope, she wrote it in prose and verse and let’s not forget the really important part, she wrote it in prose and verse for children. In great simplicity and articulation she has conveyed a collection of childhood memories, memories we can connect with profoundly.
The second time Jacqueline had me coming out of my seat was in the middle of a meeting. I was meeting with two of mommy friends and co-workers, one Pragmatic and the other Frantic. It was this past autumn when we were discussing our upcoming Multicultural Children’s Book Day. During this meeting we got the message that Jacqueline was supporting MCCBD as a Bronze Sponsor. We did the Happy Dance as together we support the awareness of diversity and multiculturalism in children’s literature.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day is an act of extreme love. We just complete our third year of this online celebration created to shine the spotlight on multicultural books and authors and each year it grows considerably. Our mission is not only to bring awareness to Multicultural and Diverse kid lit but to put it in the hands of children. Last year we had 26 million people joining in and sharing in the celebration. I know it will be even MORE this year 
What Happens During and after January 27th
This year we have over 180 bloggers who will be reviewing multicultural and diverse children’s books and then linking them to our Linky. You can find it right her on January 27th. If you have a blog post about a diverse or multicultural book please feel free to link up as well. It’s one way to create a big resource list for those of us who are looking for these book titles.
FREE Books for Classrooms! Teachers! We want to help you build your classroom library with diverse, inclusive and multicultural books! The Junior Library Guild has generously donated 200 library quality, hardcover, prescreened multicultural children’s books to get into classroom. Go HERE to learn how to get a free book for your classroom library!
Something To Do
We could not talk about Brown Girl Dreaming without delving into the topic of memoir.
“Write what should not be forgotten.” Isabel Allende
What Memoir Is:
Memoir is a story that has happened to the writer. It’s written in the first person.
Memoir is a story which makes you feel something. Does it make you feel happy, sad, frustrated, angry,nostalgic etc.
Memoirs are about events that have happened to the writer.
Memoirs often times includes the writer’s family and friends.
What Memoir Isn’t
A Memoir is not an autobiography. An autobiography covers someone’s entire life up to that point. A memoir deals with a specific period of the writer’s life.
Memoirs generally do not share the author’s feelings about the situation.
Memoir isn’t fiction.
“Stories have to be told or the die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here. ” Sue Monk Kidd
A Fantastically Fun Memoir Activity
You in Six Words
Jacqueline Woodson uses verse, prose and poetry to convey her memories in Brown Girl Dreaming. We are going to do the same thing but we’re going to do it in just six words.
Think of something about yourself. Think about your favorite food, sport, hobby, musical instrument, religion , race, culture, etc.
Another idea is to think about a recent event like a birthday, holiday, or summer action.
You could also write about a past event or write about your family.
Brainstorm and think about six words that best convey the meaning of your topic. Have paper handy. I promise that you will think of more words than you can use.
Write your six word memoir.
You in Six Words M & M Challenge
I’m sure thinking of six words to convey your moment in time was very easy. So now let’s get some food involved. Maybe some of our favorite candy such as M & M, skittles work as well. 
February 7, 2016
Weekend Links: Happy Chinese New Year with Great Kidlit Books
The Chinese New Year is tomorrow !!! The WWW is buzzing with great facts, books and actitivities families can do surrounding China and this wonderful holiday. Let’s dig into Exploring China with Great Kidlit Books. Here are some of my top picks this week:
Something to Do
Time to create your own Year of the Monkey Bookmark Craft thanks to Mia at @PragmaticMom
I love this Chinese New Year Crafts – Paper Plate Dragon from Fun Craft Kids
In honor of The Year of the Money-here are 25 Mischievous Monkey Crafts for Kids from Southern Girl Ramblings
Good Reads and Booklists
Picture books celebrating the Chinese New Year from Youth Literature Reviews
Learn about China with these books about China and Chinese New Year from No Time for Flashcards
12 Books to Explore CHINA for Chinese New Year
Past JIAB Reviews and Extension Activities
19 Books Celebrating China with Author Demi
Family Book Festival: Beth Cheng and The Monkey King
Cooking with Books: Lucky Birthday Noodles {Guest Post by Jodie from Growing Book by Book}
Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
Where The Mountain Meets The Moon by Grace Lin
Grandfather Tang’s Story: Storytelling with Tangrams
Little Leap Forward-A Boy in Bejing by Guy Yue & Clare Farrow
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Free Gift-Multicultural Activities for kids
Don’t forget to grab my FREE Gift to YOU! Available for only a short time. Grab your copy HERE.
MCCBD subscribe
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The post Weekend Links: Happy Chinese New Year with Great Kidlit Books appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
February 6, 2016
A Year in the Secret Garden wins Mom’s Choice Award!
Now that the hub-bub of Multicultural Children’s Book Day has slowed down to a manageable roar, I have some very exciting news that I have been dying to share!
On January 15th I received the most wonderful, exciting, heartwarming and I’m-think-I-am-going-to-burst pride-filled email.
Dear Valarie,
It gives us great pleasure to inform you that A Year in the Secret Garden has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products and services. Congratulations!
Award Details:
A Year in the Secret Garden
Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8)
Gold
GOLD!! A Year in the Secret Garden, a book that I co-authored with the wonderful Marilyn Scott-Waters, has received a Gold Award from Mom’s Choice Awards!
To say this is epic, is an understatement!
When writing A Year in the Secret Garden, Marilyn and I both had a vision of introducing the beloved children’s classic, The Secret Garden to a new generation of families. The result was a wonderful guide that uses over two hundred full color illustrations and photos to bring the magical story to life, with fascinating historical information, monthly gardening activities, easy-to-make recipes, and step-by-step crafts, designed to enchant readers of all ages. Each month your family will unlock the mysteries of a Secret Garden character, as well as have fun together creating the original crafts and activities based on the book.
Over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together. A Year In the Secret Garden is our opportunity to introduce new generations of families to the magic of this classic tale in a modern and innovative way that creates special learning and play times outside in nature. This book encourages families to step away from technology and into the kitchen, garden, reading nook and craft room.
The warm fuzzy glow of the excitement hasn’t wore off yet, but one thing Marilyn and I DO know is that we want to CELEBRATE!
From now until February 29, 2016, A Year in the Secret Garden will be on sale for only $15.00. If you are looking for wonderful crafting activities, cooking project the whole family can participate in and character studies that help readers delve deeper into important characters like Mary, Dr. Craven, Colin, Ben Weatherstaff, Martha and Mrs. Melock, this book is for you.
Readers, parents, teachers and librarians can grab their copy of A Year in the Secret Garden on the Audrey Press website and on Amazon.
The post A Year in the Secret Garden wins Mom’s Choice Award! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
February 4, 2016
The 2016 Read Kids Classic Challenge #ReadKidsClassics
Hello Reading Friends!
We are starting something fun and new in March. We are huge fans of the classics here at Jump into a Book. Throughout the years we’ve read old classics and discovered new ones.
This year I’d like to discover even more classics and I thought it might be fun if we all share a favorite classic every month starting March 1.
Every month during our Read Kids Classic Challenge we are going to present one classic that we can’t live without. We’d like you to join as well.
To Participate-We’d like you to share one kids classic that you can’t live without every month. Share it on your blog, vlog and social media using the hashtag #readkidsclassics once a month to let us know what you’ve been reading.
If you should choose to post about your kids classic choice, please let us know the following within your blog post:
WHEN did you Discover This Classic?
WHY did you Chose to Read It with your Family?
WHAT Makes It A Classic?
WHAT did you Think of This Classic?
Here’s how I classify classics as old or new (this isn’t an official classification it’s just sort of the way I think of it):
Old Kid’s Classics are those books written before 1950. New Kid’s Classics are those books written after 1950.
But that’s not all
When you sign up for the 2016 Read Kid Classics Challenge every month you will get a PDF that you can download which will have loads of activities on the particular book we’ve chosen to share at Jump into a Book. Each edition of Read the Kids Classics will highlight the story, have good things to eat in our kitchen called Table of Contents, give behind the scenes gossip about the author, easy crafts that kids can do on their own in our craftiness section, questions for the curious, explorations into the world of our featured books, as well as further connections via books like this one and topic booklists so you can find more good reads and finally a visit to the word wizard for some word play.
And Still There’s More-Free Books!
Sign up and join Jump Into A Book’s #ReadKidClassics Challenge to participate in our monthly adventure of sharing personal classic children’s favorites and activities.
On the last day of every month, JIAB will go on a book adventure; an adventure that will put participants in the running to win a bundle of book classics to fill your shelves with. This adventure could be in the form of a Instagram scavenger hunt or as easy as commenting here on JIAB. We just want participants to have fun and earn free books!
As part of this fun book-ish adventure, I will be creating free monthly PDFs of a #ReadKidClassics book and book extensions to give to all participants for their own family reading and fun.
We’re so excited about our challenge. Sign up below and we’ll see you there
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The post The 2016 Read Kids Classic Challenge #ReadKidsClassics appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
February 2, 2016
10 Reasons We’ll Always Read Kid’s Classics #readkidclassics
When I think back to my childhood a whole list of books and the imaginings that went along with them come to mind. I remember playing Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, Heidi and of course Mary from The Secret Garden. Other cherished moments that come to mind is discovering that my dad really did know how to make Green Eggs and Ham and that playing in the Snowy Day, just as the sweet little boy in Jack Keats book could bring hours of enchantment.
The other day my kids, who are now quite big, and I while sitting at the dinner table, decided to write down all of the “classic” books we could think of that impacted our childhood. Is what was interesting is that we had some of the same books on our list and some were different because so many more books have been written since I was a little girl.
We had the greatest discussion about old classics and new classics and those books we just can’t live without. I have to admit that some of their “new classics” have become favorites of mine as well such as The Penderwicks, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Dark Materials. Actually the classics list is looking very large. So that made up ponder What makes a book a classic and why do we always want to read them and keep them close to us on our shelves ?
10 Reasons We’ll Always Read the Classics
Characters We Love
Discovering Secret Worlds
Opens Our Imaginations
Confronts the World
Inventive Problem Solving
Shared Between Generations
Builds Resiliency
Teaches Love and loss
Have Become Part of Our Culture
Have Stood the Test of Time
Characters We Love
Whether good or bad, classic books always have characters that evoke a strong emotion in us. From the Grinch who Stole Christmas, and Lemony Snicket to Pippi Longstockings, classic book characters always invite us to love, hate, and connect. How many times have we read a classic and identified with the main character so much that we wanted to be them or at the very least their BFF ?
Discovering Secret Worlds
“Reading gives us places to go when we have to stay where we are.”
Nothing says adventure like a classic book. It’s an invitation to cultures we don’t know, worlds we never knew existed, and sometimes a glimpse into life that’s not so far a way such as in the country on a farm, or in the intercity, museum or library. Yes the classics are a way to travel when we must stay put.
Opens Our Imaginations
As we envision the characters, stories, and settings in a classic, it opens our minds to infinite possibilities. Imagination is the greatest skill in our tool belt; it is the key to inventive problem solving and creativity. Imagination allows for us to escape the doldrums of everyday life.
Confronts the World
More often than not, the classics are filled with problems. When we confront these problems in the safety of our own home, school, library or wherever happy reading takes place, it creates a sense of confidence and safety in problem solving and expanding our view of the world, or worlds- depending what you’re reading.
Inventive Problem Solving
Children in kids classics have to be inventive. They are faced with the most unique and confounded problems ever. By reading the kids classics, different sets of problem solving skills are learned and that any problem has a solution. You may not like the solution, but every problem has one.
Shared Between Generations
I love this one! My favorite kids classics were shared with me by my mom and grandmother. Because they were such a strong part of my childhood, I in turn shared them with my children. I couldn’t imagine their lives moving forward without knowing Tom Sawyer, The Jungle Book or Treasure Island. Of course Little Bear ranks high up there plus many more. When I asked my kids what books they are going to share with their children, my grandchildren (squeeeee- that thought makes me happy), we have many of the same books but then some great books that we’re written during their childhoods. Great kids classics just have to be shared!
Builds Resiliency
Have you noticed in great kids books, classics, that our main character meets challenge and adversity after adversity? That my friend, builds resilience. It teaches that, no matter what happens, you have to keep your eye on the goal, work together as a team or sometimes just find your inner courage to muster through. By the end of that story everyone, including the reader, has built up resiliency to whatever life or story throws at them.
Teaches Love and Loss
The classics teach that even with the greatest of loss such as the death of a parent, sibling, pet, grandparent, that it’s the memory and love of that person that will give us the courage to move forward. Classic books also teach that we can greatly love a thing and perhaps may have lost it, or have to give it up but that we become the stronger for having survived it.
Have Become Part of Our Culture
If I say TTFN (Ta-Ta For Now) you’ll know that I’m a fan of Winnie the Pooh. Equally if I say it’s time for Elevenses, you’ll know I’m a hobbit or what about “swish and flick” or “mischief, managed!” you’ll know that I’m honing my wand skills taught of course at Hogwarts. Of course if I say, “This…. is a pen !!” you know that I’m trying to summon my inner Greek god. Oh how we love Percy Jackson! Great kid lit becomes part of our daily lives, how we talk and how we think or perceive things. Those around us know exactly who and what we’re referring to. It’s another way of bringing those imaginative stories to life in our everyday world.
Have Stood the Test of Time
Some of the greatest and most loved classics of all times were written in the 19th century and have been handed down for generations. That’s one sort of “stood the test of time.” Then there is the other test of time, as in how many times they’ve been read AND the time it takes to read them. I don’t know how many time I read Little Bear. Maybe a thousand. I read Green Egg and Ham so much that I finally memorized it. Now even today, all this time later I can still recite it. I will never forget my soon to 12 year-old getting the third Harry Potter book. She sat in the driveway all day long for it to be delivered and then she ran to her room where it took her 4 days to read 600 pages. She only came out for food, water, and a bathroom break. I had never in my whole life seen a child read that many pages in that amount of TIME. So whatever time you choose, kids classics always stand the test of time.
I’ve shared some of our favorite classics, now it’s your turn. I just have to know……
What are your Favorites ?
What books from your childhood can you not live without? Which books are you sharing with your kids ? AND what wonderful new book that are sure to become classics have your discovered ?
Just leave your comments below. I can hardly wait to see them!
**I am an Amazon affiliate which means if you buy anything through my blog, I get a very small kickback at no cost to you. I use this money to pay for postage and handling for my giveaways.
Don’t forget to grab my FREE Gift to YOU! Available for only a short time. Grab your copy HERE.
The post 10 Reasons We’ll Always Read Kid’s Classics #readkidclassics appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
January 31, 2016
Weekend Links: The Thrill of Multicultural Children’s Book Day
Of course the big news this week was the occurrence and success of Multicultural Children’s Book Day on 1/27. This huge online nation event continues to grow and be successful beyond our wildest dreams. As you can imagine, it is a monumental amount of work for myself, co-founder Mia Wenjen and our support team of Becky and Susan M. It is such an important event and such a rewarding project. Read more about our mission here.
I love this wonderful video that Platinum Sponsor StoryQuest Books was kind enough to create for the event.
There were SO MANY amazing book review with activities offered up by our review bloggers in honor of this event. In fact, if you visit our MCCBD Link-up, you’ll see over 250 multicultural book reviews from several hundred reviewers.
Here are some of my top picks.
Trinitoga: Stories of a Life in a Roughed Up Tough Love No Good Hood Shout Mouse Press book review from Squishable Baby
I love the graffiti project that Lisa did as a book extension with this review to help her kids understand the complex characters in the book.
Drum Dream Girl: A Book Review and fun drum-making craft from Here Wee Read
Do You Have a Thinking Girl or Boy? It’s time for a Goosebottom Booklist
Picture Books About Japan from Mama Smiles
Hot Air Balloon Craft For Kids Inspired By The Stories I’ll Tell from Playdough & Popsicles
I also adore this delightful hot air balloon craft that goes along with the book!
Spanish Places Vocabulary: Book and Writing Activity from Spanish Playground
The Case of the Missing Museum Archives by Capstone Young Readers review and companion activities from Wise Old Owl Factory
Feb 8th, Year of the Monkey! Chinese New Year Crafts, Books and More from Pragmaticmom
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The post Weekend Links: The Thrill of Multicultural Children’s Book Day appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
January 28, 2016
Do You Have a Thinking Girl or Boy? It’s time for a Goosebottom Booklist
Multicultural Children’s Book Day came and went and WHAT an exciting day it was! To view the details, and see the huge book review Link-up, go here or here.
We had over 180 bloggers reviewing Multicultural and Diverse books for kids. It’s a great resource and a fun time is had by all.
Now to answer my question in the blog title, do you have a thinking girl or boy? I hope the answer to that question is a resounding, YES.
A little over a year ago I was in Boston attending the National Social Studies Teacher convention. In the expo center I came across these really gorgeous and well written books with girls and women as their focus.
In a word, Goosebottom Books is about empowerment!
Started by award winning author Shirin Yim Bridges, Goosebottom Books empowers girls of all backgrounds as she shares strong females as role models. Is what I greatly value is Shirin Yim Bridges pulls from the entire world and varying places on the timeline to share the rich historical figures.
Her first series The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses was inspired by her niece who greatly loved fairy-tale princesses. Shirin wanted her niece to have stronger and more positive role models and not only created this wonderful series of books but as continued on as an award-winning indie publisher.
Goosebottom Books’ second series, The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames, explores the lives of some of the most fascinating women in history, each of whom got labeled with a terrible nickname.
A Treasury of Glorious Goddesses brings to life mythologies from around the world. Each story is told through the eyes of the goddess, in a fun and intimate first-person voice. Although all works of fiction, the books are inspired by ancient myths.
An Augmented Reality Collection of Ghosts and Ghouls: Horrible Hauntings
This exciting book brings to life—quite literally—ten famous hauntings from the annals of history. By downloading a free app and using your smartphone or tablet to view each luscious illustration, you can summon and interact with 3-D ghosts. The Headless Horseman, the Flying Dutchman, Bloody Mary, and the Princes in the Tower are just some of the eerie apparitions you’ll encounter.
Goose Bottom Books has recently started an new imprint called Gosling Press. Gosling Press focuses on fiction with a worthwhile message.
Both of the Thinking Girl Treasury Series have excellent stories of each heroine. Woven in are precise, rich, and cultural facts. Each book is designed in a gorgeous but simple manner. Using illustrations, photographs of artifacts, reproductions of archival paintings, maps, and timelines, brings each story to life as an experience.
NOT JUST FOR GIRLS
Not only is it important for us to empower our young women, it’s also important for boys to read about female historical figures. Goose Bottom Books not only shares smart, intellectual, and empowered girls and women, it shows them in their cultural contexts. Sharing these stories with boys, creates a partnership based society where one is valued for their smarts and skills and not their gender. I know in my own home these books have opened many discussions and have continued to shed light on gender issues, inner strength, and face adversity as well as many attributes.
We are thrilled to have Goosebottom books as a Bronze Sponsor for this year’s Multicultural Children’s Book day.
Please have a look below at their entire catalog as well as their incredible resource section on their website. These books are a joy in kid lit non-fiction. Goose Bottom Books resource section is fully geared towards common core as well as creating fun and engaging moments inside the pages of their well crafted books.
Goose Bottom Books Booklist
The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses
The books combine the romance and enchantment of princesses with a message of youthful female empowerment. These are princesses who didn’t just sit around waiting to be rescued. Against great odds, they made their own lives, and changed their worlds.
The series features princesses from different cultures around the world, and different epochs in history. The books are richly illustrated with photographs and maps, and lovely pen-and-watercolor paintings by Albert Nguyen, whose art helps to bring the stories of these fascinating girls to life.
Winner of an Independent Publishers’ Book Awards Silver Medal. Two volumes listed as Recommended Feminist Books for Youth by the Amelia Bloomer Project of the American Library Association.
Books in this series:
Hatshepsut of Egypt
Artemisia of Caria
Sorghaghtani of MOngolia
Qutlugh Terkan Khatun of Irman
Isabella of Castile
Nur Jahan of India
Sacajawea of the Shoshone
The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames
While satisfying tweens’ tastes for something a little darker, the series also appeals to its readers’ powers of analysis and sense of fairness—asking if these women’s nicknames were just.
Each woman’s story is presented in rich historical and cultural context, with gorgeous original gouache paintings by Peter Malone, as well as photographs of artifacts, reproductions of archival paintings, maps, and timelines.
Named one of the Top Ten Nonfiction Series for Youth 2012 by the American Library Association, and winner of an Independent Publishers’ Book Awards Silver Medal.
Books in this Series:
Cleopatra “Serpent of the Nile”
Agrippina ” Atrocious and Ferocious”
Mary Tuodr “Bloody Mary “
Catherine de’ Medici ” The Black Queen”
Mjinga ” The Warrior Queen”
Marie Antoinette” Madame Deficit”
Cixi “The Dragon Empress”
A Treasury of Glorious Goddesses
Lively middle grade novels written in the first person, A Treasury of Glorious Goddesses brings to life mythologies from around the world. Each story is told through the eyes of the goddess, in a fun and intimate first-person voice. Although all works of fiction, the books are inspired by ancient myths.
A non-fiction section at the end of each book provides cultural context and fascinating details on the mythology, customs, history, and geography encountered in the story.
In line with the Common Core goal of teaching young readers how to analyze which parts of a text are based on fact and which on fiction, a “Myth, Fact, or Fiction?” section provides an illuminating look at how each chapter was constructed.
Books in this Series:
Call Me Isis: Egyptian Goddess of Magic
Call Me Athena: Greek Goddess of Wisdom
Call Me Ixchel: Mayan Goddess of the Moon.
An Augmented Reality Book
Horrible Hauntings
This exciting book brings to life—quite literally—ten famous hauntings from the annals of history. By downloading a free app and using your smartphone or tablet to view each luscious illustration, you can summon and interact with 3-D ghosts. The Headless Horseman, the Flying Dutchman, Bloody Mary, and the Princes in the Tower are just some of the eerie apparitions you’ll encounter.
International Reading Association Children’s Choices Winner: “Sure to motivate even the most reluctant reader!”
Gossling Press
The Lost Celt
Primed by their favorite video war game pitting Celts against Romans, Mikey and Kyler are convinced that they’ve seen a real live Celtic warrior. Has the Celt time-traveled as part of a secret defense project? In tracking him down, the boys solve the biggest mystery of their lives.
Geared for ages 9-13, Goosebottom Books is a welcome addition to any home, school or library. They are very solidly based and beautifully produced. Visit them on the web here.
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The post Do You Have a Thinking Girl or Boy? It’s time for a Goosebottom Booklist appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
January 26, 2016
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Book Review Linky!
Today is Multicultural Children’s Book Day!
Thank you to all of our wonderful participants including Co-Hosts, Medal Sponsors, Author Sponsors, bloggers and readers! Thank you to Robert Liu-Trujillo for his wonderful FREE downloadable poster!
Link Up Your Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2016 Posts Here!
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MCCBD now has its own Paper.li! A Paper.li is a free online newspaper that aggregates information on the topic of multicultural books for kids from all over the Internet. Please feel free subscribe and stay up-to-date with this topic.
-Our Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents are now available. Spread the word! http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/multicultural-reading-resources/diversity-book-lists-for-kids/
-Connect with us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay
-Connect with us on Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email the project manager at Becky@AudreyPress.com
Thank you so much for your support!
The post Multicultural Children’s Book Day Book Review Linky! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
January 24, 2016
Maya’s Blanket: La Manta De Maya Book Review #ReadYourWorld
Multicultural Children’s Book Day is nearly here!
MCCBD2016 Sponsor and multicultural publisher Lee and Low, since it’s inception, has been committed to multicultural and diverse literature for children. We are honored to have them as a Silver Sponsor of this year Multicultural Children’s Book Day
What if the objects we love most in our lives i.e. blankets, stuffed animals, dolls, toys etc could be creatively used, recycled, and treasured so that they’d never leave us?
Maya’s Blanket by Monica Brown and illustrated by Caldecott winning artist David Diaz is such a tale.
This is a bilingual book. The left hand page is in English with some key Spanish words, and the right hand page is in Spanish. David Diaz does a magnificent job in portraying the story in his artwork of vibrant colors and wonderful character drawings.
From the loving hands of her grandmother, Maya receives a magical blanket that keeps bad dreams away. As she loves and uses her blanket, it becomes frayed so Maya and her grandmother transform the blanket into a dress which she ends up spilling red juice on. From here Maya’s blanket is progresses through a series of other items such as a skirt, shawl, scarf, hair ribbon, and finally a bookmark. When at last even the magical bookmark is lost, all that is left are her memories of her magical blanket and all of it repurposed glory. So Maya wrote a book to capture and hold her treasures in.
Maya’s Blanket is a Junior Library Guild Selection. We’re honored to have the Junior Library Guild sponsor this year’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Challenge. Teachers, we’re giving away a beautiful FREE hard-covered book to your classroom. Have a look here to find out how you can bring a Junior Library Guild Selection to your classroom.
Something To Do
No Sew Blanket
Maya’s grandmother made the blanket for Maya but through all of it’s other transformations it had the creative helping hands of both Maya and her grandmother. This no sew blanket is such a blanket. It takes less than an hour, around 40 minutes, and is fun project to do together. At the end you’ll have a cozy blanket and the memories of making it.
You Will Need:
2 coordinating fiber fleece fabrics, 2 yards each.
Sharp fabric scissors
1 tape measure
Take your first piece of fabric and lay it down on the floor.
Cut off the two salvedge sides.
3. Do the same thing with the second piece of fabric.
No Sew Set-up
Lay your first piece of fabric face down on the floor.
Take your second piece of fabric and lay it on top of the first with the wrong side down, right side facing up.
Take your tape measure and measure a 4 inch x 4 inch square on each corner.
Cut a 4 x 4 inch square out of each corner.
Take your tape measure and spread it out from one 4×4 corner to the next. Lock the tape measure in place.
Cut one inch slits which are 4 inches long around each side of the blanket.
Now it’s time to knot the blanket. Take one cut slit of fabric. You will have two pieces of fabric per cut. One from the top and one from the bottom. Just make an over hand knot on each slit all around the blanket.
Enjoy your new blanket.
Spanish Language for Kids
Maya’s Blanket not only is bilingual but uses a series of Spanish words inside the English side of the story.
After reading the book, see how many words you remember and know the meanings of.
Fascinated about the Spanish language ? Would you like to learn more ? Have a look at these really fun YouTube channels that will have you speaking Spanish in no time.
Little Pim is the leading language program for young children. Winner of over 25 awards, Little Pim’s Entertainment Immersion Method makes it fun & easy for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to learn.
Rockalingua is a collection of Spanish songs, videos, worksheets games and other teaching materials for kids.
Free Spanish lessons for kids, schools, family and after school programs. Wonderful curriculum!!!
Bookjumper Pinterest Board
Discover even MORE Jump Into A Book Booklists and their companion activities by visiting and following my Pinterest Board!
Follow Valarie Budayr @Jump into a Book’s board Jump Into a Book Kidlit Booklists on Pinterest.
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The post Maya’s Blanket: La Manta De Maya Book Review #ReadYourWorld appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
January 21, 2016
Ready for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party?
Please join us on January 27th as we celebrate multicultural, diverse and inclusive books for kids for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. To help us with our mission to get diversity books into the hands of children, we are giving away a TON of books.
Please join us for our Twitter party where we will be discussing children’s books and giving away packages of diversity books for kids every 5 minutes!
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party
Win Packages of Diversity Books for Kids
Wednesday, January 27th
9:00 pm -10 pm EST
Hashtag: #ReadYourWorld
We will be discussing:
Q1: What diverse, multicultural and inclusive books are you reading with your kids? #ReadYourWorld
Q2: What diversity/multicultural/inclusive topics are you having trouble finding? #ReadYourWorld
Q3: How do you feel about mixed race characters in books? Are there enough? #ReadYourWorld
Q4: Would you read a book about a race or culture that isn’t yours or your child’s? Would you buy this book? #ReadYourWorld
Q5: Are there certain diverse characters that you see too much of … say studious Asian Americans? #ReadYourWorld
Q6: What diverse characters would you like to see? (I’d love to see an Asian American in a dance picture book!) #ReadYourWorld
Q7: Do you follow KidLit awards that are specific to an ethnicity like the (Pura) Belpré Medal? #ReadYourWorld
Q8: With racist political rhetoric in the media, how do you teach your kids compassion and understanding towards Muslims (or any other group)? #ReadYourWorld
Q9: Who are your favorite authors of a diverse nature? #ReadYourWorld
Q10: What are your favorite diversity books? #ReadYourWorld
Q11: Do you have a new author discovery that you are excited about? #ReadYourWorld
Q12: If you were to buy one children’s book of a diverse nature, what would it be about? #ReadYourWorld
12 Diversity Book Bundle Prizes, 1 Prize handed Out Every 5 Minutes!
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Grand Prize Diversity Book Bundle
Thank you to all the authors and publishers who donated books! They are noted next to each book.
Quickest Kid In Clarksville -Chronicle Books
Mystery of the Thief in the Night -Pack-n-Go-Girls
The Peace Tree -Lee and Low
Sunbelievable -StoryQuest
Hands Around the Library -Karen Leggett and Susan Roth
Never Say a Mean Word Again – Wisdom Tales
Just Like Me Climbing a Tree -Wisdom Tales
Don’t Judge a Bird by it’s Feathers -Tori Nighthawk
Poetry Friday Anthology -Pomelo Books
Call Me Tree – Lee and Low
Hoodie Hero – Shout Mouse Press
In The Forbidden City -The China Institute
Q1 Prize: Diversity Picture Books, Ages 4-8
I wonder, I wonder -Valerie Christopher
Centipede Dragon -Alice Y Chen
Kai and the Magic Jacket -Tricia Chinn Campbell
Sade & the Golden Shoe -Shahara Ruth
Q2 Prize: Diversity Advanced Picture Books, Ages 6-9
Papa Lemons Little Wanderers -Lehman Riley
Indonesian Children’s Favorite Stories -Joan Suyenaga
The Green Musician -Mahvash Shahegh
The Remembering Day -Pat Mora
Francisco’s Kites -Alicia Z Klepeis
Q3 Prize: Diversity Picture Books, Ages 4-8
Dale, Dale, Dale, Hit it, Hit it, Hit it -Rene Saldanda Jr.
Just Like Me – Durga Yael Bernhard
Dalia’s Wonderous Hair -Laura LaCamara
The Unboy Boy -Richa Jha
Esta Manos: These Hands -Samuel Carabello
Q4 Prize: Diversity Advanced Picture Books, Ages 6-9
Mystery of the Golden Temple- Lisa Travis (Pack-n-Go Girls)
The Unboy Boy -Richa Jha
Never Say a Mean Word Again -Durga Yael Bernhard
CelebriTrees – Margi Preus
Lupita’s First Dance -Lupe Ruiz Flores
Q5 Prize: Diversity Chapter Books, Ages 6-12
Kiki & Jacques -Susan Ross
Mystery of the Thief in the Night -Janelle Diller (Pack-n-Go-Girls)
The Jacob Ladder -Gerald Hausman
Papa Lemon’s Little Wanderers -Lehman Riley
Once Upon a Time in Japan -Tuttle Books
Q6: Diversity Picture Books, Ages 4-8
The Prayer Mitten -Daryl OConnell
Dev & Ollie Kite Crazy -Shweta A
Poems in the Attic -Nikki Grimes
Doyli to the Rescue -Cathleen Burnham
In a Village by the Sea -Muon Van
Q7: Diversity Young Adult, Ages 12 and up
A nahita’s Woven Riddle -Meghan Nutall Sayres
Patalosh -Z. Altug
Chronicles from the Chateau Moines -Evelyn Holingue
Q8: Diversity Advanced Picture Books, Ages 6-9
Mystery of the Golden Temple -(Pack-n-Go Girls)
Ellis and the Magic Mirror -Cerece Murphy
Favorite Indonesian Stories -Tuttle Books
The Legend of Robert Cofresi -Janet Balletta
Once Upon a Time in Japan -Tuttle Books
Q9: Diversity Picture Books, Ages 4-8
One Lonely Camel -Rashann Edwards
I Love Snow -Zetta Elliot
The Place Where You Live -James Luna
The Story of Conch -Shannon McAfee
The Legend of Robert Cofresi -Janet Balletta
Q10: Diversity Advanced Picture Books, Ages 6-9
Mystery of the Thief in the Night -Janelle Diller
The Monkey King -Aaron Shepard
Horses of Myth -Gerald & Loretta Hausman
The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin -Durga Yael Bernhard
The Monkey King’s Daughter -Todd Debonis
Q11: Diversity Young Adult, Ages 12 and Up
Pen Pal -Fracesca Forrest
Patalosh -Z. Altug
Younghee & the Pullo Cho
Q12: Diversity Advanced Picture Books, Ages 6-8
Vanilla and Chocolate -Marzira Mejia
The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin -Durga Yael Bernhard
Don’t Judge a Bird by its Feathers -Tori Nighthawk
JuneTeenth for Mazie -Floyd Cooper
The Prayer Mitten -Daryl OConnell
SIGN UP TO WIN!
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The post Ready for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party? appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
