Picture Books by Asian Creators

 

Heartbroken about the awful things that have been happening to our Asian community right now.  

Our human family is stronger when we circle up with love. 

Here are my wildebeests a few years back with their Halmoni. We love her so much.  

Let's stand with our Asian community. Support Asian creators. Support Asian businesses. 

Stand up, speak up if you see hate happening.  

 

Sending out so much love 

to my Asian friends & family right now.

Here are other ways to help: https://stopaapihate.org

Another way we can help is to listen to Asian voices, 

read & share Asian creatives’ work. 

Here are a few favorites, 

but I have many more on my to-buy & share list.

ARU SHAH series by Roshani Chokshi.LISTEN, SLOWLY (Thanhhà Lai).

WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON series 

(Grace Lin).

THREE KEYS and

FRONT DESK (Kelly Yang).

STAND UP, YUMI CHUNG (Jessica Kim).

AMAL UNBOUND (Aisha Saeed).

DUMPLING DAYS (Grace Lin).

A WISH IN THE DARK (Christina Soontornvat).

LING AND TING series (Grace Lin).
THE PROTEST by Samantha Thornhill, ill. by Shirley Ng-Benitez .
PABLO’S PET by Sheri Tan, ill. by Shirley Ng-Benitez
JASMINE TOGUCHI SUPER SLEUTH by Debbi Michiko Florence, ill. by Elizabet Vuković.
ALVIN HO series by Lenore Look, ill. by LeUyen Pham.
MINDY KIM series by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho.
CLARA LEE AND THE APPLE PIE DREAM by Jenny Han, ill. by Julia Kuo.

EVERY LITTLE LETTER by Deborah Underwood, ill. by Joy Hwang Ruiz
STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS by Lisa Mantchev, ill. by Taeeun Yoo

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING by Kao Kalia Yang, ill. by Khoa Le.

A MAP INTO THE WORLD by Kao Kalia Yang & Seo Kim. 

THE PAPER BOAT by Thao Lam.

THE SEA SERPENT AND ME by Dashka Slater, ill. by Catia Chien.
MY BLUE IS HAPPY by Jessica Young, ill. by Catia Chien.

EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS by Joanna Ho, ill. by Dung Ho
THE REASON FOR THE SEASONS by Ellie Peterson

HANA HASHIMOTO, SIXTH VIOLIN by Chieri Uegaki and Qin Leng
BEE-BIM-BOP by Linda Sue Park, ill. by Ho Baek Lee

WAVE (Suzy Lee)
BEAR CAME ALONG (Richard T. Morris & LeUyen Pham)

IT BEGAN WITH A PAGE by Kyo Maclear, ill. by Julie Morstad
STORY BOAT by Kyo Maclear, ill. by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Sending love to everyone who is hurting.

You can request titles or work by specific creators via your online library catalog. 

Or you could order some from your local indie bookseller!

Win, win!

Multicultural Children's Book Day: Farah Rocks New Beginnings

Here is another sweet book I was given to review for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. I’m so happy I got paired with this book. 

"FARAH ROCKS New Beginnings" by Susan Muaddi Durraj, illustrations by Ruaida Mannaa, published by Stone Arch Books is a chapter book about a Palestinian American girl, Farah Hajjar who loves rocks, school, and creative writing. 

Farah is just beginning sixth grade at Magnet Academy when her house burns down. While she settles into temporary housing with her family and learns the ropes at a new school, Farah is also plagued with a secret. 

The fire that burned her house down may actually be Farah’s fault. 

I loved reading about a science-loving, writer girl from a loving Palestinian American family. The thing I found most refreshing and relatable about Farah is that she battled with guilt and honesty and didn’t solve all of her challenges in a tidy bow. 

While not every reader has the chance to attend a school for gifted kids like Farah does, every reader does deal with issues like guilt and truth. 

I also loved the English and Arabic glossaries and the writing prompts at the end of the book. I can totally see Farah Rocks New Beginnings inspiring readers to write their own stories.  

...............................

 

Multicultural Children’s Book Day is a non-profit children’s literacy initiative 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.  

MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves.

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

TWITTER PARTY! Register 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, M aya/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 & Illustr ator 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 Teac her Classroom Empathy Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit Gallery of Our Free Posters 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.

Multicultural Children's Book Day: Camila the Star

Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day! 

What are some of your favorite multicultural children’s books?  

I was thrilled to be given a number of beautiful new books to read and review in honor of the big day. 

 

CAMILA THE RECORD-BREAKING STAR and CAMILA THE BAKING STAR by Alicia Salazar, illustrated by Thais Damiãi, published by Capstone, are vibrant and charming early chapter books for new readers.  

  

Camila is a determined character who really wants to be a star. 

In Camila, the Record-Breaking Star, Camila wants to set a world record, and with a great deal of perseverance, original thinking, and the help of her very supportive family, Camila learns to try, try, try again until she achieves her dreams. 

In Camila the Baking Star, Camila longs to be on a kids’ baking show. 

When her dream comes true and Camila needs to learn to receive help and not try to do everything alone. That is an excellent life skill I want to develop, too. 

Camila’s trials and successes will thrill young readers with big dreams. 

Both books are positive, hopeful, and spot on for this age group. 

The art by Thais Damiãi is full of color and joy. 

Written by former teacher, marine biologist, and #ownvoices author Alicia Salazar, the books are even stronger for the Spanish words woven seamlessly throughout the text, 

Spanish and English glossaries, a page of activity ideas, and a classroom discussion guide at the end. 

This series will be a hit for young readers.

.....................................

Multicultural Children’s Book Day is a non-profit children’s literacy initiative 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.  

MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves.

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

TWITTER PARTY! Register 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, M aya/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 & Illustr ator 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 Teac her Classroom Empathy Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit Gallery of Our Free Posters 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.

Multicultural Children's Book Day: Korean Celebrations

 

I am a huge fan of Tina Cho’s books, so what a thrill to be given 

Korean Celebrations : Festivals, Holidays and Traditions 

by Tina Cho, illustrated by Farida Zaman, published by Tuttle 

to review for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. 

Many thanks to Tuttle Publishing for this beautiful book. 

While my husband is Korean American, there’s so much my kids and I don’t yet know about their heritage. We are going to treasure it. 

Korean Celebrations: Festivals, Holidays, and Traditions is an appealing overview of traditional celebrations and special days, but the book also shares activities, Korean language lessons, traditional dress, games, and recipes. 

The illustrations by Farida Zaman are sweet, clear, and colorful. My kids will love reading this book.

Plus, they will want to try out the recipes for rice cake and ddukguk (the yummiest soup ever).  

Here is a paper doll craft we did back in homeschool days when studying traditional Asian dresses. It  reminds me of this image from the book of women holding hands and doing a circle dance.

Wouldn't it be fun to do a paper doll chain all in hanboks? 

Again, thank you to Tuttle Publishing for the beautiful book, and thank you to the host of people organizing and bringing awareness to Multicultural Children's Book Day. 

 

Multicultural Children’s Book Day is a non-profit children’s literacy initiative 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.  

MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves.

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

TWITTER PARTY! Register here!

Multicultural Children's Book Day: Three Korean Fairy Tales

 

Happy Multicultural Children's Book Day! 

Just look at these beautiful books I was given to review for the occasion. 

Thank you, Tuttle Publishing. 

Three Korean Fairy Tales, Beloved Stories and Legends 

by Kim So-un, illustrated by Jeong Kyoung-Sim

is a beautifully designed picture book that contains three Korean fairy tales: 

The Magic Gem, The Tiger and the Kumgang Mountains, and The Deer and the Woodcutter.

Each story within the book is about 30 pages, fully illustrated.

There's a good bit of text within, but less text than a chapter book.

   

The book opens with a chapter on cultural background - Korean folklore. 

Isn't it powerful to think that a storyteller can pass down a legend, a myth, a belief, a song, a fairy tale from family to family to family over hundreds and thousands of years? 

I think it is pure magic.

I love reading specific details of Korean culture - talking tigers, mythical fish, magic gems, Kumgang Mountains, but also the way each story is woven with threads of similarity 

that can be found in fairy tales around the world -

quests to prove oneself, lessons in gratitude, contentment, and courage. 

Aside from the fascinating text, the illustrations by Jeong Kyoung-Sim are captivating. The art has this gorgeous tone, color, and texture of old, Korean art, but it also has this freshness about it that feels so lush and new. 

And the endpapers. I can't get over the endpapers. Each different. Just stunning. 

The second book is Korean Children's Favorite Stories, Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales, 

also by Kim So-un and illustrated by Jeong Kyoung-Sim.

This is also a collection of 13 fairy tales, shorter than the stories 

in the previous book, just as fascinating.  

Similarly, I am wowed by the art and book design.

Both books will be an excellent resource for teachers, libraries, and readers 

who are curious about traditional Korean stories. 

I love the opening lines of Korean Children's Favorite Stories from author Kim So-un:

"Stories do not like to be hoarded. They like to be told and retold 

again and again, passing always from lip to lip. "

Korean folk stories told hundreds and thousands of years ago are still alive today. Magic.

.....................................................

Multicultural Children’s Book Day is a non-profit children’s literacy initiative 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.  

MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves.

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

TWITTER PARTY! Register 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, M aya/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 & Illustr ator 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 Teac her Classroom Empathy Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit Gallery of Our Free Posters 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.