Multicultural Children’s Book List

For the past six years I’ve reviewed books for Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and this year I am honored to co-host together with an amazing group of blogger friends.

Disclosure: I was gifted a copy of the following books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase I’ll receive a small monetary compensation. Thanks!

I’m thrilled to share with you this list of amazing books for Multicultural Children’s Book Day!!!

Ana and Andrew A Day at the Museum by Author Christine Platt and Illustrator Sharon Sordo

An #ownvoices children’s book Ana & Andrew/A Day at the Museum was recently featured at the National Education Association’s 2019 Conference on Racial and Social Justice!

Book synopsis: Ana and Andrew are excited when Grandma comes to stay. During her visit, the family tours the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture and learns about important African American achievements. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Calico Kid is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.

Looking to spark in your children a visit to the museum? Looking to see more diversity and an African American family? This is exactly what the author Christine Platt has accomplished with her children’s chapter book. With four easy to read chapters, she’ll give you a glimpse into Ana’s and Andrew’s day at the museum. As a multicultural mom looking for diverse books especially of Black children I fell in love with this book. You can see the warmth of a close-knit African American family who is going to visit a newly opened museum. However, it’s not just any museum it’s the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Where they’ll learn about their ancestors, slavery, the Civil Rights movement, and famous African Americans. I loved how emotional Grandma was and how much visiting this museum meant to her. The illustrations are colorful and inviting. This is a book to have in your home library or classroom. Ideal for children ages 5 – 7 years old.

Sumo Joe by Author Mia Wenjen and Illustrator Nat Iwata 

Book synopsis: In this sweet and funny story, Sumo Joe and his friends enjoy pretending to be sumo wrestlers. But when his little sister wants to join their boys-only game, what should Sumo Joe do?

On Saturday mornings, Sumo Joe is a gentle big brother to his little sister. But on Saturday afternoons, he and his friends are sumo wrestlers! They tie on makeshift mawashi belts, practice drills like teppo, and compete in their homemade dohyo ring. They even observe sumo’s ultimate rule: no girls allowed! But when Sumo Joe’s little sister wants to join in the fun, Sumo Joe is torn between the two things he’s best at: sumo, and being a big brother.

Fists, feet, and martial art forms collide in this sweet yet spirited rhyming story by author Mia Wenjen and illustrator Nat Iwata.

Sumo Joe is a delightful children’s picture book about the loving relationship of a big brother and little sister, about sumo wrestling traditions, inclusion, and a healthy dose of competition. The illustrations are vivid and colorful with an easy to follow rhyming text that children young and old will enjoy. Throughout the book, there are keywords in red that you can look up in the glossary located in the back of the book. This book is recommended for 4-7 years old but my 11-year-old enjoyed it and pointed out the informative “author’s note” on sumo wrestling. Sumo Joe is a great addition to your home or classroom library. We love it!

When God Made the World by author Matthew Paul Turner  and Illustrator Gillian Gamble 

Book synopsis: For spiritual parents who are looking for a different kind of creation book, Matthew Paul Turner’s When God Made the World focuses on the complex way that God created our vast and scientifically operating universe, including the biodiversity of life on our planet and the intricacies of a vast solar system. Scottish illustrator Gillian Gamble brings the natural world to vibrant life with rich colors and poignant detail certain to stretch young minds and engage imaginations.

The first thing that made this children’s book standout out was the diverse children depicted in this whimsical and lovely story of how God made the world. Children with vitiligo or with a disability and having to use a wheelchair can see themselves. The text on each page is enchanting and alluring it leaves you wanting to read more. It engages the reader in the story that God not only made us but he made everything in this world. Perfect for Sunday school or your home library. It’s a perfect complement to the book of Genesis in the Bible. This book is for children ages 3-7 years old but older kids will enjoy just the same.

Intrepids by Diana Huang

Book synposis: Katie Mah was your average Asian American kid living an average life, going to an average school, getting average grades in an average town in the dull suburbs of Southern California. Katie was subjected to all kinds of average unpleasant experiences of growing up. During a fateful 6th-grade science camp trip to the mountains, her average life was so unbearable, she ran away and landed herself into a lot of trouble, not on Earth, but on Alpha Centauri. There she befriends the centaurs who desperately need her help.

My 6th-grader is really into science fiction books, and this one is just perfect! He really enjoyed Katie’s adventure. He could relate to her introvert and shy personality when it came to becoming friends with the centaurs. As a Mom, I’m always advocating for the need to have main characters that are diverse and Diana has done just this! Katie the main character is Chinese-American and she goes on to this magical fantasy adventure. This book deals with bullying, acceptance, community and finding your true self. This one is a winner and a favorite of our home library. Highly recommend this book.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7^th 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.

Seven 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.

MCBD 2020 is honored to have the following Medallion Sponsors on board

Super Platinum

Make A Way Media/ Deirdre “DeeDee” Cummings,

Platinum

Language Lizard, Pack-N-Go Girls,

Gold

Audrey Press, Lerner Publishing Group, KidLit TV, ABDO BOOKS: A Family of Educational Publishers, PragmaticMom & Sumo Jo, Candlewick Press,

Silver

Author Charlotte Riggle, Capstone Publishing, Guba Publishing, Melissa Munro Boyd & B is for Breathe,

Bronze

Author Carole P. Roman, Snowflake Stories/Jill Barletti, Vivian Kirkfield & Making Their Voices Heard. Barnes Brothers Books, TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales Press, Lee & Low Books, Charlesbridge Publishing, Barefoot Books Talegari Tales

Author Sponsor Link Cloudhttps://www.barefootbooks.com/l

Jerry Craft, A.R. Bey and Adventures in Boogieland, Eugina Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Kenneth Braswell & Fathers Incorporated, Maritza M. Mejia & Luz del mes_Mejia, Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Josh Funk and HOW TO CODE A ROLLERCOASTER, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Lauren Ranalli, The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! By Dr. Sharon Chappell, Phe Lang and Me On The Page, Afsaneh Moradian and Jamie is Jamie, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, TUMBLE CREEK PRESS, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Gwen Jackson, Angeliki Pedersen & The Secrets Hidden Beneath the Palm Tree, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 by Mia Wenjen, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher (Founders of Inner Flower Child Books), Ann Morris & Do It Again!/¡Otra Vez!, Janet Balletta and Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Ocean, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo & Bruna Bailando por el Mundo\ Dancing Around the World, Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, Sarah Jamila Stevenson, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Teresa Robeson & The Queen of Physics, Nadishka Aloysius and Roo The Little Red TukTuk, Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore & Stories by the Girlfriends Book Club, Finding My Way Books, Diana Huang & Intrepids, Five Enchanted Mermaids, Elizabeth Godley and Ribbon’s Traveling Castle, Anna Olswanger and Greenhorn, Danielle Wallace & My Big Brother Troy, Jocelyn Francisco and Little Yellow Jeepney, Mariana Llanos & Kutu, the Tiny Inca Princess/La Ñusta Diminuta, Sara Arnold & The Big Buna Bash, Roddie Simmons & Race 2 Rio, DuEwa Frazier & Alice’s Musical Debut, Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series Green Kids Club, Inc.

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.

Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts

A Crafty Arab, Afsaneh Moradian, Agatha Rodi Books, All Done Monkey, Barefoot Mommy, Bethany Edward & Biracial Bookworms, Michelle Goetzl & Books My Kids Read, Crafty Moms Share, Colours of Us, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes, Educators Spin on it, Shauna Hibbitts-creator of eNannylink, Growing Book by Book, Here Wee Read, Joel Leonidas & Descendant of Poseidon Reads {Philippines}, Imagination Soup, Kid World Citizen, Kristi’s Book Nook, The Logonauts, Mama Smiles, Miss Panda Chinese, Multicultural Kid Blogs, Serge Smagarinsky {Australia}, Shoumi Sen, Jennifer Brunk & Spanish Playground, Katie Meadows and Youth Lit Reviews

FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

• Free Multicultural Books for Teachers
• Our New FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit http://ow.ly/kcbZ30p3QWz
• Free Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians, and Educators
• Free Understanding Developmental & Physical Challenges Classroom Kit

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