Today is January 29th and that could mean only one thing in the kid lit world! It’s the 8th edition of Multicultural Children’s Book Day! We are all so excited and celebrating today.
I’m also happy to bring to you two books that were gifted to me for purposes of review. Just know that all opinions are my own and of course, I only share with you books that I love, that are diverse and multicultural.
This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you. If you make a purchase I’ll receive a small monetary compensation.
First book: Northbound: A Train Ride Out of Segregation
Synopsis:
Michael and his granddaddy always stop working to watch the trains as they rush by their Alabama farm on the way to distant places. One day Michael gets what he’s always dreamed of: his first train journey, to visit cousins in Ohio! Boarding the train in the bustling station, Michael and his grandma follow the conductor to the car with the “colored only” sign. But when the train pulls out of Atlanta, the signs come down, and a boy from the next car runs up to Michael, inviting him to explore. The two new friends happily scour the train together and play in Bobby Ray’s car—until the conductor calls out “Chattanooga!” and abruptly ushers Michael back to his grandma for the rest of the ride. How could the rules be so changeable from state to state—and so unfair? Based on author Michael Bandy’s own recollections of taking the train as a boy during the segregation era, this story of a child’s magical first experience is intercut with a sense of baffling injustice, offering both a hopeful tale of friendship and a window into a dark period of history that still resonates today.
On his first train ride, Michael meets a new friend from the “whites only” car—but finds they can hang together for only part of the trip—in the last story in a trilogy about the author’s life growing up in the segregated South. For ages 6-9.
My review:
The first thing that I love about this book is that it’s an “own-voices” book. The author writes about his own personal experience. It is a beautifully illustrated picture book written by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein and illustrated by Coretta Scott King. On the cover it has a Black and White boy sitting together on a train ride. This book is about a friendship that sparked while they sat together and how they were separated due to segregation laws from one state to another during their train ride. This book gives children a look into how it was to travel by train was during the segregation era, the emotions and feelings of being separated simply because of the color their skin. Children who read this book will be able to better understand how difficult it was to have a newly found friend whom you have many things in common only to be segregated to a separate train for “colored only.” This book is a must-have in your home or school library.
Second book: Underwater Adventure John Caleb and the Dolphin / John Caleb y el delfín
My review:
You won’t find this specific title anywhere because it is a personalized children’s book. The beauty of the TimTimTom children’s book is that you can personalize it with your child’s name, languages spoken at home and customize the main character (your child) to look like your child! A huge bonus: you can have your very own dedication on the first page of the book. How cool is that???
I was gifted this book so I can gift to my 3 year-old grand-nephew who is being raised to be bilingual in both English and Spanish. I dedicated it to him. How sweet is that?
This story is about a little boy’s underwater adventure to help a dolphin. He’s the main character and hero in the book. He can see himself and hear his name as his parents and grandparents read the book to him. It just melts my heart!
About TimTimTom: They are a bilingual personalized book company
The original idea for TimTimTom – Bilingual Personalised Books was to help parents trying to raise bilingual kids no matter what combination of languages they had at home. However, as they were working on their first story, they noticed that many kids where not being represented in books and set their goals to change this. Every child should have the chance to become the hero of a story.
TimTimTom – Bilingual Personalized Books, because reading in two languages is twice the fun!
With three stories, 10 languages, and over 100 personalization possibilities to choose from, your child becomes the hero of any TimTimTom story, not only by name and appearance but also in the language(s) he/she speaks or is learning in school.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th 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 book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Prgamaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)
Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Candlewick Press, Capstone, Hoopoe Books, KidLitTV, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Charlotte Riggle, Connecticut Association of School Librarians, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Pack-N-Go Girls
Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!, Barnes Brothers Books, Create and Educate Solutions, LLC, Dreambuilt Books, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin Real Estate, Snowflake Stories, Star Bright Books, TimTimTom Bilingual Personalized Books, Author Vivian Kirkfield, Wisdom Tales Press, My Well Read Child
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Poster Artist: Nat Iwata
Authors: Author Afsaneh Moradian, Author Alva Sachs & Three Wishes Publishing Company, Author Angeliki Stamatopoulou-Pedersen, Author Anna Olswanger, Author Casey Bell , Author Claudine Norden, Author Debbie Dadey, Author Diana Huang & Intrepids, Author Eugenia Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Green Kids Club, Author Gwen Jackson, Author Janet Balletta, Author Josh Funk, Author Julia Inserro, Karter Johnson & Popcorn and Books, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, Author Keila Dawson, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Author Mia Wenjen, Michael Genhart, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Natalie Murray, Natalie McDonald-Perkins, Author Natasha Yim, Author Phe Lang and Me On The Page Publishing, Sandra Elaine Scott, Author Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Tales of the Five Enchanted Mermaids, Author Theresa Mackiewicz, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Author Toshia Stelivan, Valerie Williams-Sanchez & The Cocoa Kids Collection Books©, Author Vanessa Womack, MBA, Author Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!
Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
TWITTER PARTY! Register here!
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party!
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.