Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 80
December 27, 2014
Weekend Links: Holiday Festive Books and Fun Milestones
As I sit as my laptop happily typing away and I can’t help reflecting on what a joyous holiday season it has been this year. There have been so many positive strides and monumental victories this year for me, both personally and as a writer. The weeks leading up to Christmas have been particularly busy so I wanted to share some of my top picks with me readers.
BOOKS! Of course there would be favorite books in my line-up of favs! The Astrid Lindgren’s book The Tomten was inspired by this very famous Swedish poem called The Tomte by Victor Rydberg. Originally in Swedish, I share it with you here in English so you can be inspired by these little gnome elves. Buzzfeed shared The 23 Best Picture Books Of 2014 and there were some dandies in their list. Readers not only LOVED this review I did of Christmas Wish, the hat craft was quite a hit as well 
One of my favorite young authors/writers/bloggers/kidlit book reviewers has to be Erik from This Kid Reviews Books. Erik is not only an inspiration, he just turned 13! Happy Birthday, Erik!
Saturday marked Day One for my week-long Snow Festival here on Jump Into a Book! Snow Festival Day 1: The Blizzard by John Rocco
Enjoy reviews from my favorite winter/snow-themed kidlit along with some yummy activities
On December 21st, our non-profit event to raise awareness for multicultural books for kids was showcased in Publishers Weekly!!!
Next month, more than 100 bloggers affiliated with parenting, education, and children’s blogs will review a selection of diverse and multicultural books on their respective blogs. The reviews will be promoted and shared by Jump Into a Book and the day’s nine “powerhouse” co-[hosts] with more than two million followers total across social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google+. The participating bloggers will also share reviews with their respective followers. There will be giveaways and children’s activities as well throughout the day.
This is the second year January 27 has been designated as MCCBD; it debuted on January 27, 2014. Read the rest of the article HERE.
Here’s to looking forward to a fun and book-filled New Year!
The post Weekend Links: Holiday Festive Books and Fun Milestones appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 26, 2014
Snow Festival Day 1: The Blizzard by John Rocco
One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW. So I’ve decided to dedicate an entire week of posts to our favorite snow books and the things we can do with them. Our first book choice for this wonderful week of snow is “Blizzard” by.
How many times have we been released from school early because it started snowing ? I remember those days and see my own children’s excitement when that happens. Blizzard is a true life account of one such day and what followed to author John Rocco.
It was the infamous blizzard of 1978. On Monday is started to snow and as the wind whipped up school was released early. By the time John and his sister had reached home the snow was already covering their boots. By morning they couldn’t even open the front door.
On Tuesday they climbed out the window and had themselves a real “snow day” and went sledding. Sitting by the fire they sat drinking hot chocolate.
On Wednesday they climbed out the same window and dug snow tunnels making secret rooms under the snow.
By Thursday the snow plows still hadn’t come and their food started to run out. Young John Rocco was sure they wouldn’t be able to survive much longer on hot cocoa made with water.
On Friday, John consults his Arctic Survival Guide and realizes that he can take action. He had memorized the survival guide and knew what equipment he needed to be able to get to the store and save his family. Snowshoes made of tennis rackets would do just the trick.
On Saturday he made a grocery list and prepared his sled to carry it all. Then he was off. A very fun pull out neighborhood map shows the route John took and the distractions he found along the way. From building a snowman with friends to climbing a lookout tree, making a snow angel, exploring an igloo, joining a snowball fight, to checking in with neighbors and even getting lost.
At last he reached the store. He was tired. He was hungry and chilled to the bone but he couldn’t think of himself at a time like this, he had to rescue his family and the neighborhood from the deep clutches of the blizzard of 78.
On his way home he dropped off the groceries to the various neighbors. All were so grateful for John’s help.
Over hot chocolate made with milk, John shared the tale of his perilous journey to the grocery store.
The next day Sunday, snow plows finally arrived and John and his family had survived the blizzard of 1978.
This book is on our favorite book of 2014 list. Not only is John an amazing storyteller, bringing simple everyday life activities to a hero’s journey of a storybook, but he is a brilliant artist and illustrated the book as well. The book is laid out very cleverly with a fold out map. His use of the days of the week written in different clever ways. He is creative in his approach to capturing the colors of snow. In all we felt a part of his blizzard and wished we could have been there right there with him. This is a must read !!! Don’t miss this one.
Somethings To Do:
Hot Chocolate
I have one of the best recipes for hot chocolate. It will have you wanting more and even willing to walk to the store in a blizzard to get the supplies.
Ingredients
2-1/2 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate
1/2 cup cold water
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
A gallon of milk, or enough for all participants
Step 1 : Making the Base
In a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat, melt the chocolate in the water, stirring constantly until it is smooth.
Add the salt and sugar, continue to stir for 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove from heat. Let the chocolate mixture cool completely while you prepare the whipped cream. This chocolate base will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Step 2: Whipping the Cream
Place a metal bowl and the beaters of a hand mixer in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Remove from freezer and whip the cream together with the vanilla extract.
Gently stir in the cooled chocolate mixture.
Place the chocolate cream mixture in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight to chill thoroughly and allow the flavors to blend.
Step 3: How to Make the Hot Chocolate
To make the hot chocolate you will need a gallon of milk and the refrigerated chocolate cream.
In each cup place a large spoonful of the chocolate cream mixture.
Slowly heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a whisk so it won’t scald.
Pour hot milk into each cup and stir well. Sprinkle with freshly grated cinnamon.
(This recipe comes from the book The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Valarie Budayr and Roscoe Welply)
Snow Angels
1. Pick a spot.
2. Fresh powder works best—make a snow angel right after a storm, when the snow is untouched.
3. Fall backward.
4. Move your arms and legs.
5. Press your head.
6. Get up.
How to Make Snow Shoes Out of Tennis Rackets
Take two tennis rackets. Using thin rope or webbing attach your shoe to the toe and heal using webbing or a sturdy thin rope.
Sledding Games
Have two distinct lines going down a snow hill. Starting off at the same time, see who gets to the bottom of the hill first.
Snowball Fight Rules
To make sure your snow ball fights are safe and fair be sure to establish a “safety word” which will stop the game if anyone should be hurt or have their feelings hurt. Snowballs can only be made with snow. Adding anything to a snowball is dangerous. Set boundaries as to where the snow ball fight can take place. Set a time limit and make sure everyone plays fair.
Have a fun throwing snowballs !!
Snow Forts
Need some ideas on how to build a snow fort ? Have a look here and here.
BIG SALE !!! This Week Only !!
A Year in the Secret Garden (inspired by the classic children’s book Secret Garden) is on a wonderful sale until December 31st. Books always make an excellent gift for anyone in your life and it’s not too late to get your copy of A Year in the Secret Garden book for the special holiday price of $15.00 (ends December 31st) if you use the secret code word secret garden at checkout.
This guide 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. There’s also a link to a free download website for all of the wonderful paper toys that Marilyn Scott-Waters has created.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. Get your copy here.
The post Snow Festival Day 1: The Blizzard by John Rocco appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 25, 2014
The Tomte by Victor Rydberg
Astrid Lindgren’s book The Tomten was inspired by this very famous Swedish poem called The Tomte by Victor Rydberg. Originally in Swedish, I share it with you here in English so you can be inspired by these little gnome elves.
Deep in the grip of the midwinter cold
Stars send a sparkling light.
All are asleep on this lonely farm,
Deep in the winter night.
The pale white moon is wanderer,
And snow lies white on pine and fir.
Snow glows on rooftop shake.
The tomte alone is awake.
Gray, he stands by the low bran door,
Gray by the drifted snow,
Gazing, as many winters he’s gazed,
Up at the moon’s chill glow,
Then at the forest where fir and pine
Circle the farm in a dusky line,
Mulling relentlessly
A riddle that has no key.
Rubs his hand through his beard and hair,
Shakes his head and his cap.
“No, that question is much too deep,
I cannot fathom that.”
Then making his mind up in a hurry,
He shrugs away the annoying wory;
Turns at his own command,
Turns to the task at hand.
Goes to the storehouse and toolshop doors,
Checking the locks of all,
While the cows dream on in the cold moon’s light,
Summer dreams in each stall.
And free of harness and whip and rein,
Even Old Palle dreams again.
The manger he’s drowsing over
Brims with fragrant clover.
The tomte glances at sheep and lambs
Cuddled in quiet rest.
The chickens are next, where the rooster roosts
High above straw filled nests.
Burrowed in straw, hearty and hale,
Karo wakens and wags his tail
As if to say, “Old friend, “Partners we are to the end.”
At last the tomte tiptoes in
To see how the housefolk fare.
He knows full well the strong esteem
They feel for his faithful care.
He tiptoes into the children’s beds,
Silently peers at their tousled heads.
There is no mistaking his pleasure:
These are his greatest treasure.
Long generations has he watched
Father to son to son
Sleeping as babes. But where, he aske,
From where, from where have they come?
Families came, families went,
Blossomed and aged, a lifetime spent,
Then-Where? That riddle again
Unanswered in his brain!
Slowly he turns to the barnyard loft,
His fortress, his home and rest,
High in the mow, in the fragrant hay
Near to the swallow’s nest.
The nest is empty, but in the spring
When birds mid leaves and blossoms sing,
And come with her tiny mate.
Then will she talke of the journey tell.
Twittering to all who hear it,
But nary a hint for the question old
That stirs in the tomte’s spirit.
Now through cracks in the haymow wall
The moon lights tomte and hay and all,
Lights his beard t hrough the chinks,
The tomte ponders and thinks.
Still is the forest and all the land,
Locked in this wintry year.
Only the distant waterfall
Whispers and sighs in his ear.
The tomte listens and, half in dream,
Thnks that he hears Time’s endless stream,
And wonders, where is it bound?
Where is its source to be found?
Deep in the grip of the midwinter cold,
Stars send a sparkling light.
All are asleep on this lonely farm,
Late in this winter night.
The pale white moon is a wanderer,
Snow lies white on pine and fir;
Snow glows on rooftop shake.
The tomte alone is awake.
The post The Tomte by Victor Rydberg appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 23, 2014
Do You Know How to Enchant a Child? The Little Fir Tree Does.
The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown is a heart grabber. The book has the most beautiful paintings which really remind me of my sweet boy “O”. Jim Lamarche, the illustrator, has contributed to the magic of this great story.
They put golden tinsel
on his branches
And golden bells
And green icicles
And silver stars
And red and green and blue
And purple chains of shining Christmas balls.
All alone in an empty field grew a little fir tree. It dreamed of being part of a forest, or part of anything at all. Then one winter day, a man takes the little fir tree away and it finds itself at the center of a little boy’s very special celebration. This sweet little boy is special, he has a lame leg and he has never been to the forest and so his father brings the forest to him. This little tree gets planted in a wooden tub. “You have come to me from the wild green forest, and you are a part of my very own world.” said the little boy.
Something To Do
You can bring the magic of a fir tree into your very own home. Though some of us may have big trees decorated in our houses, making a little fir tree to go into a child’s room is something truly special of their very own.
Supplies:
One small fir tree, fake or real. Both work.
A string of 35 lights. Color your choice.
small cinnamon sticks
Cranberries
Small pinecones
String
Large long needle
Thick Thread
A collection of small decorations
Small hooks
Tree topper
Instructions:
Thread your needle. Knot it at one end.
Put the needle through a cranberry and move it to the end. Then move the needled through a small pinecone and move it to the end. Add a cranberry and move it to the end, and then a cinnamon stick, moving it to the end. Continue in this pattern until you have a string long enough to wrap around your little tree.
String the lights around the tree.
Add your cinnamon garland.
Place hooks on your decorations and hang them on the tree.
Put on your tree topper.
Place your tree in your child’s room on a table top, or bookshelf. This is a beautiful way to bring light during the darkest time of the year into a child’s room. They will be thrilled and find it quite magical and spectacular. I have it from very good opinion that this one is a winner. Enjoy !!!
Special Note!
Many of you also may know that I am Co-founder of the wildly successful
Multicultural Children’s Book Day
. Our second celebration is coming January 27th, 2015 and so many amazing things are happening! We now have fourteen Sponsors for this event, 9 amazing Co-Hosts, a brand new Facebook page, a brand new Twitter page and we were featured in
Publisher’s Weekl
y this week!
We also rolled out our Diversity Book Lists & Resources for Teachers and Parents on the site and we’d like to remind everyone to watch for the event’s hashtag; #ReadYourWorld. Please retweet and share when you see it!
The post Do You Know How to Enchant a Child? The Little Fir Tree Does. appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 22, 2014
Victories and Updates with our Beloved Multicultural Children’s Book Day
We are so excited to announce our 2nd Multicultural Children’s Book Day January 27th, 2015 because we’ve added …
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Blogger Co-Hosts
We are excited to add our amazing Co-Hosts to help spread the word about diversity books for kids:
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Non-Profit Collaborators
We’re also partnering with First Book to be able to offer a Virtual Book Drive that will help donate multicultural children’s books through their channels during the week of the event. We want to help get diversity books into the hands of kids who most need it and now we have a way to do it!
We are collaborating with Children’s Book Council to highlight wonderful diversity books and authors on an ongoing basis all year.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Sponsors
Our Platinum sponsor is back from last year, Wisdom Tales Press!
We have a new Platinum sponsor, Daybreak Press Global Bookshop & Gathering Space.
We have three new Gold sponsors: Satya House, Multicultural Kids, and Stephen Hodges of The Magic Poof!
Two Silver Sponsors: Lee and Low Books, and Omnibus Publishing!
We have four Bronze sponsors: Rainbow Books, Felicia Capers of Enough of Frankie Already!, Chronicle Books for Lowriders in Space, Muslim Writers Publishing, and Bliss Group Books.
Author Sponsors include:
Beautiful Rainbow World by Suzee Ramirez
Lulu and the Very Big Meanies by Mac McGooshie, illustrated by Alexis Hogwood
Real Street Kidz Multicultural Children’s Book Series by Quentin Holmes
Multicultural Children’s Book Day New Website
And did I mention that we have a new Multicultural Children’s Book Day website as a year round resource to help parents, teachers, librarians and kids find the perfect diversity books they are seeking?!
Bloggers: Sign Up To Review Book for Multicultural Children’s Book Day
So what’s next? We need YOU! Sign up to receive a multicultural children’s book to review and blog on here:
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Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
The post Victories and Updates with our Beloved Multicultural Children’s Book Day appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 21, 2014
Weekend Links: Updates, Victories and DEALS
Christmas is almost upon us and WOW has it been busy around JIAB Headquarters! Thanks to holiday shoppers looking for quality books and activities for kids, I have sold, packed and shipped over 100 copies our Audrey’s Press’ newest book A Year in the Secret Garden. this week alone.
A big part of the selling spree is the fact that this book (inspired by the classic children’s book Secret Garden) is one a wonderful sale until December 31st. Books always make an excellent gift for anyone in your life and it’s not too late to get your A Year in the Secret Garden book for the special holiday price of $15.00 (ends December 31st) if you use the secret code secret garden at checkout.
This guide 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.
ANOTHER hot seller this month is Donna Ashton’s Waldorf Homeschool Handbook which is ALSO offered at the reduced holiday price of $17.00 (through December 31st) if you use the secret code word waldorf at checkout.
Many of you also may know that I am Co-founder of the wildly successful
Multicultural Children’s Book Day
. Our second celebration is coming January 27th, 2015 and so many amazing things are happening! We now have fourteen Sponsors for this event, 9 amazing Co-Hosts, a brand new Facebook page, a brand new Twitter page and we were featured in
Publisher’s Weekl
y this week!
We also rolled out our Diversity Book Lists & Resources for Teachers and Parents on the site and we’d like to remind everyone to watch for the event’s hashtag; #ReadYourWorld. Please retweet and share when you see it!
Happy Holidays everyone!
Last chance to grab this free gift!
The post Weekend Links: Updates, Victories and DEALS appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 17, 2014
Three Months of Kidlit Book Giveaways! Awesome Books for Teens
Can you believe that Christmas is only a hop-skip-n-a-jump away???
With the winter months upon us, I feel this is a great time for readers of all ages to snuggle in with a good book. I have been blessed with tons of amazing books titles for kids over these last few months and I want to get these books into the hands of young readers. SO, for the next three months Jump Into a Book will be hosting a book giveaway every Wednesday! Some giveaways will be a single title, some will be a “Book Bundle,” but all will be books that your readers will love and cherish. I think these books will also make great gifts as well! Here’s what we are giving away this week (NOTE: All of these books are physical books, not Kindle versions).
This week I am giving away some wonderful book that will appeal to our teen and YA readers. Enjoy!
Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma’s stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma’s astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope.
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
The winner of numerous awards and recipient of four starred reviews, Anne Ursu’s Breadcrumbs is a stunning and heartbreaking story of growing up, wrapped in a modern-day fairy tale. Read my extended review and bookjump HERE.
The Girl from Felony Bay by J.E. Thompson
Abbie Force has a mission: solve the mystery of her father’s accident and alleged theft. Since he has been in a coma for nine months and cannot defend himself, it is Abbie’s job to put the pieces together. Her life has been uprooted—her father’s unavailable; her home has been sold to a new family; she has to leave her beloved school; and now she has to live with her mean aunt and uncle that don’t give one lick about her. Her summer is starting off horribly. That is until she meets the new family that has moved into her old house with the same last name and a daughter near her age—Bee. These two adventurous girls become fast friends and on their many adventures through the plantation, discover a plot afoot right under their very noses. Read my extended book review and bookjump HERE.
Horn’s and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson
How can you tell if a river’s under a spell? River trolls, rock trolls, blue-wing fairies—the usual suspects. The stretch of the Mississippi where Claire lives has rumors of them all, not that she’s ever spotted any. But then Claire’s cousin Duke takes a swim and sprouts a horn—a long, pointy, handsome thing. After that, Claire doesn’t have much choice but to believe that something rivery is going on, especially since she’s the only one who can help Duke lose his new addition.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The post Three Months of Kidlit Book Giveaways! Awesome Books for Teens appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 16, 2014
How Do You Resolve Conflict with a Penguin? Flora Knows How
I just have to say that I absolutely adore Molly Idle, her art, and her lovely little girl Flora. I can not seem to get enough of Flora and now there is a new Flora book! Flora and the Penguin does not disappoint.
The pragmatic mom herself and I were discussing who we think is up for the Caldecott and who is going to win. Flora and the Penguin is a book that would make my entire year if it won the Caldecott. This book is perfect for ages 3 to 5 but I have to confess this grown woman adores it too.
Molly Idle has a way of telling a story that keeps her readers engaged. Did I mention she does this all with innovative illustrations ? There isn’t a word in the book.
This wordless wonder is innovative and brilliantly creative as it uses clever flaps that reveal Flora and her penguin friend becoming acquaintances, drifting apart and then coming back together as only friends can do.
In her last book Flora mastered the art of ballet. In Flora and the Penguin, we find her on ice skates, twirling, leaping, and gliding and her penguin friend is up to usual penguin antics by gliding on his flippers.
The ever perfect ice-skating duo mirror each other in an exuberant ice dance.
The penguin delighted with his new skating partner, dives into under the ice to give her the gift of a small fish. Ever disgusted at the idea of a fish, Flora throws it back into the water and gives her new friend the cold shoulder.
Realizing she has offended her friend she takes off her skate to use as a fishing rod, to try and capture the fish back. This in itself leads to a new adventure and back to a very funny ice dance. All’s well that ends well.
Molly Idle has a great gift of story telling. The use of flaps I think is just brilliant and engages the child as well as the adult on many levels. Flora is still one of my favorites. I can’t wait to see what happens at Caldecott time and I really can’t wait until the next Flora book.
Molly Idle began her career as an artist working for DreamWorks Feature Animation, contributing to movies including The Prince of Egypt and El Dorado. From there she leapt into the world of children’s books. She lives in Tempe, Arizona. Grab your copy of Flora HERE.
Something To Do
Though snow and ice and such are winter themes, the truth of the matter is thanks to ice skating rinks, we can go ice skating anytime we want to. To celebrate Flora and the Penguin why not head out to your local ice skating rink for an afternoon of frivolous Flora fun !!!
Once you get your balance and can stand up on ice skates, here are some really fun games for you , your family and friends to play,….oh on the ice of course.
Ice Skating Games
Freeze skate
This game is played similar to the classic party game of freeze dance. Instead of dancing, however, kids will skate along to the music in whatever manner they wish, perhaps while performing some of their favorite skating moves. When the music stops, all skaters must freeze in place. The last player to freeze is out. Play continues until all but one player have been called out. The last player left on the ice is the winner.
Skate Chain
Have kids line up with their hands on each other’s waists, like when forming a conga line. Play some music and have the kids wind around the rink while linked together in the chain. Gradually increase the speed of the music and challenge the chain to speed up as the music does. Any kids who let go or break the chain are out of the game. Play continues until only two players are left. They are the winners.
Gliders
Have two kids stand behind the same starting line. On the start signal, these skaters may take three skating strides and then glide over the ice until they stop. The one who glides the farthest wins while the other player is out. Keep competing like this in pairs of two until everyone has had a turn. All of the winners will then compete against each other to see who can glide the farthest to win the game. To make it more challenging, you could also have the second round of skaters compete with one-foot-glides.
Ice Potato
This game is modeled after the traditional party activity of hot potato, but has been modified to play on the ice. Have your players skate freestyle around the rink. As they are skating, toss a foam ball to a random skater. That player must pass the ball off to the first player to cross his path. Kids will keep passing the ball from skater to skater until the music stops. Whoever is holding the ball when the music stops is out. Play continues in this manner until only one player is left. That skater is the winner.
Follow the Leader
This game is played very much like the well-known schoolyard game of Follow the Leader, except that it is played on the ice. To play, have skaters line up on the ice. Choose one to be the leader. That player will skate for a few feet, performing her best figure skating techniques as she does. All of the other players must follow her lead by repeating the same moves as they skate the same distance. Any player who fails to mimic the leader is out of the game. If all of the players are able to correctly follow the leader, then the leader is out and a new leader is chosen. Play continues until one player remains. That skater is the winner.
Ice Words
Write several words that have to do with ice, and ice-skating on small pieces of paper. Fold them and place them inside of an ice skate. All of the players gather on the sidelines. One player will choose a paper from the skate, look at the word (without saying it aloud) and then “spell it out” by skating. The other players must watch the motion of the skater’s feet to try and guess the word she is writing in the ice. The first player to guess correctly takes the next turn at writing a word with skates. A few suggestions for words to use include ice, skates, figure 8, rink, blade,, and a variety of common figure skating terms.
Need a last minute gift? Books always make a wonderful book for kids and A Year in the Secret Garden is a “must have” for any active family! This vibrant book is part of s huge holiday sale and is available for only $15.00 unti 12/31/14! Grab your copy of A Year in the Secret Garden
ASAP!
The post How Do You Resolve Conflict with a Penguin? Flora Knows How appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 14, 2014
Diversity Authors and Illustrations Guest Posting on the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Blog!!
As everyone may already know, plans are in full swing for our second Multicultural Children’s Book Day on January 27th! Created by myself and the amazing Mia Wenjen from PragmaticMom and myself, event has a goal of not only shing the spotlight on all of the amazing diverse and multicultural children books, authors and illustrators, but also to get these very books into the hands of the children who need them.
We are so excited to announce our line up of 25 diversity authors and illustrations starting January 1st and running through Janaury 25th at the Multicultural Children’s Book Day blog!
As we mentioned, we are collaboring with the Children’s Book Council who reached out to its members to highlight the authors and illustrators of multicultural children’s books!
Please welcome (in alphabetical order):
Tracey Baptiste was born in Trinidad, where she grew up on jumbie stories and fairy tales. Her debut, a young adult novel titled Angel’s Grace, was named one of the 100 best books for reading and sharing by New York City librarians. Tracey is a former teacher, textbook editor, ballerina, and amateur librarian who once started up a library in her house in the hope that everyone would bring their books back late and she would be rich! You know, like other librarians. She is now a wife and mom and lives in New Jersey, where she writes and edits books for kids from a very cozy office in her house that is filled with more toys than she can count. The Jumbies is her second novel.
Kathleen Benson is the coauthor of many picture books, including John Lewis in the Lead, which was illustrated by Benny Andrews. She lives in New York, New York.
Tonya Bolden’s work has garnered many accolades, including the Coretta Scott King Honor Award, James Madison Book Award, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, YALSA Best Book of the Year, and CCBC Best Book of the Year. She lives in New York City.
Tricia Brown is an author, editor, and book developer. She travels often and is a popular speaker in schools, libraries, and events in Alaska as well as the Lower 48. Her multimedia presentations, which include lessons on Alaska natural history and culture, regularly receive high praise from educators and parents. She loves to get kids excited about reading, writing, and art.
Andrea Cheng is the daughter of Hungarian immigrants. She writes picture books and middle grade and young adult novels, and also teaches English as a Second Language and children’s literature. She walks daily near her Ohio home. She writes the Anna Wang series (The Year of the Three Sisters).
Kris Dinnison has spent nearly two decades as a teacher and librarian. Nowadays, she helps run the retail and café businesses she owns with her husband, hikes, and spins classic vinyl. This is her debut YA novel. She lives in Spokane, Washington.
Sharon M. Draper is a New York Times bestselling author who has received the Coretta Scott King Award for both Copper Sun and Forged by Fire. Her Out of My Mind has won multiple awards and has been a New York Times bestseller for more than a year. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year.
Matt de la Peña is the author of five critically-acclaimed young adult novels: Ball Don’t Lie, Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here, I Will Save You and The Living. He’s also the author of the award-winning picture book A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific where he attended school on a full basketball scholarship. de la Peña currently lives in Brooklyn NY. He teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country.
Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome are a husband-wife team who have collaborated on many award-winning picture books for children. These include Satchel Paige, which was an ALA Best Book for Children and a Booklist Top Ten Sports Book for Youth, and Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass, which received starred reviews in Booklist and School Library Journal. The Quilt Alphabet was praised as “a blue-ribbon ABC book that combines bright, folksy oil paintings and lilting riddle-poems” in a starred review in Publishers Weekly and called “a feast for the eyes” in School Library Journal.
JaNay Brown-Wood dreams big. Ever since she was a little girl, she’s wanted to become a published author. Her determination has paid off. Imani’s Moon is her first book for children. JaNay is also a professor of early childhood education. She lives in California.
Karen English is a Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning author who lives in Los Angeles, California. Her books have been praised for their accessible writing, authentic characters, and satisfying story lines. Karen is a retired elementary school teacher, and she wrote these stories with her students in mind.
Desirae Foston is a designer and artist based in Brooklyn, NY.
Rachel Isadora received a Caldecott Honor for Ben’s Trumpet, and has written and illustrated numerous other books for children, including Bea at Ballet, Jake at Gymnastics, Say Hello!, Peekaboo Bedtime, the Lili at Ballet series, and several classic tales set in Africa (including Old Mikamba Had a Farm, There was a Tree, The Night Before Christmas, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, and The Princess and the Pea). She lives in New York City.
Kekla Magoon is an award-winning author of many young adult novels, including The Rock and the River, for which she received the 2010 Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Kekla Magoon lives in New York City.
Meg Medina is the author of The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind and the picture book Tía Isa Wants a Car, illustrated by Claudio Muñoz, which won the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. Her most recent young adult novel, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, is the winner of the 2014 Pura Belpré Author Award. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Richmond, Virginia.
Jason Reynolds is crazy. About stories. After earning a BA in English from The University of Maryland, College Park, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where you can often find him walking the four blocks from the train to his apartment talking to himself. Well, not really talking to himself, but just repeating character names and plot lines he thought of on the train, over and over again, because he’s afraid he’ll forget it all before he gets home. He is the author of the critically acclaimed When I Was the Greatest and The Boy in the Black Suit.
Kashmira Sheth was four years old at the first Indian wedding she remembers, and she still cherishes the memory of the festivities in her grandparents’ house. Since then she has attended many weddings but, unlike Sona, has never successfully stolen a groom’s shoes. She is the author of many acclaimed books, including Tiger in My Soup, My Dadima Wears a Sari, and Monsoon Afternoon. Sheth teaches at Pine Manor College, in their Solstice MFA in Creative Writing Program.
Conrad J. Storad is an award-winning author and editor of more than 50 science and nature books for children, Conrad J. Storad is committed to helping students better understand and appreciate the natural world. Conrad visits many schools to teach and entertain children and is now approaching his visit with his millionth student. In 2006, Don’t Call Me Pig! (A Javelina Story) was selected by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to promote reading, and more than 93,000 first-graders received a special edition copy. In 2012, Storad’s Arizona Way Out West & Witty, coauthored with Lynda Exley, was selected to represent Arizona as part of the “52 Great Reads” program run annually at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
Eric Velasquez was born in Spanish Harlem in New York City. The awards he has won include a Pura Belpré and the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award. He lives in New York State with his family.
Laura Rose Wagner has a PhD in anthropology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She lived in Port-au-Prince from 2009 to 2012, and survived the earthquake. She travels to Haiti often, and founded a creative writing group for young people there.
Brenda Woods was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, raised in southern California, and attended California State University, Northridge. She is the award-winning author of several books for young readers: Coretta Scott King Honor winner The Red Rose Box, The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond, Saint Louis Armstrong Beach, Voya Top Shelf Fiction selection Emako Blue, My Name is Sally Little Song, and A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her numerous awards and honors include the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, FOCAL award, Pen Center USA’s Literary Award finalist, IRA Children’s Choice Young Adult Fiction Award, and ALA Quick Pick. She lives in the Los Angeles area.
Natasha Yim was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At ten, her family moved to Hong Kong, where Natasha attended a very Harry Potter-esque secondary school. This is where she was turned on to writing. She moved to the United States to attend college where she studied Psychology and English Literature. Natasha is the author of Sacajawea of the Shoshone, Cixi: “The Dragon Empress”, and Otto’s Rainy Day. She lives in Ukiah, California.
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The post Diversity Authors and Illustrations Guest Posting on the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Blog!! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
December 11, 2014
A Special Reveal !!!
Today is a special day indeed. On February 14th 2015, Jump into a Book is happy to announce that we will be a co-host for International Book Giving Day. As we get closer to the event I’ll fill in the details but for now there is even bigger news to share !!!
“Chris Haughton designs the official poster for International Book Giving Day 2015.”
The International Book Giving Day team is delighted to announce that Chris Haughton is the illustrator behind 2015’s official poster.
Chris Haughton is an award winning Children’s Picture Book illustrator/author from Ireland. His books are amazing !!!
Now in it’s 4th year International Book Giving Day continues to grow from strength to strength. Turning the commercialization of Valentine’s Day on its head, people across the globe are encouraged to spread the love of reading by getting books into the hands of as many children as possible on 14th February.
To encourage even more people to give books to children in 2015, Chris Haughton has designed this year’s poster in his unique and vibrant style. Libraries, schools & bookshops are encouraged to download, print and display the poster to celebrate the love of reading & encourage others to give books to children on International Book Giving Day, 14th February.
Chris Haughton has been an illustrator for over 12 years. His first children’s book, A Bit Lost, has been translated into 19 languages and has won 9 awards in 7 countries. This was followed by Oh No, George! in 2012, winner of the Junior Magazine Picturebook of the year award. His latest picture book SHH! We Have A Plan (March 2014) won the AOI award for children’s books for 2014.
“I am absolutely delighted that Chris Haughton has designed this year’s poster. His unique, eye-catching style will help spread the word to encourage many more people to give books on 14th February 2015.” Emma Perry, IBGD.
Successes from 2014
2014 saw participants from across the globe donate books to many, many children. Reports flooded in from Fiji, Singapore, America, Nigeria, Canada, France, Australia, India, Czech Republic and plenty more! Books were left in hospitals, schools, trains, parks, playgrounds, free libraries were even set up especially for the day. Scholastic gifted new books to all the children at the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital, Publishing House Host (Czech Republic) provided books for children at a traveller’s centre.
2014 attracted plenty of media attention including a feature article in The Guardian UK, and a letter of support from Australia’s Children’s Laureate Jackie French published across the media. Twitter was abuzz with #giveabook highlighting tales of generosity as the love of books was shared. Visitors to the official website was double those seen in 2013 as International Book Giving Day continues to capture imaginations.
2015 is set to be even bigger.
International Book Giving Day
International Book Giving Day is a 100% volunteer initiative aimed at increasing children’s access to, and enthusiasm for, books.
Many children in developing countries do not own books.
In the United States, two-thirds of children living in poverty do not own books.
International Book Giving Day’s focus is on encouraging people worldwide to give a book to a child on February 14th.
We invite individuals to …
1) gift a book to a friend or family member,
2) leave a book in a waiting room for children to read
3) donate a gently used book to a local library, hospital or shelter or to an organisation that distributes used books to children in need internationally.
In addition, we encourage people to support the work of nonprofit organisations (i.e. charities) that work year round to give books to children.
For further information please contact Emma Perry at emperry@gmail.com
Website | www.bookgivingday.com
Twitter | @bookgivingday
Facebook/BookGivingDay
The post A Special Reveal !!! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
