I’m honored to be participating in Multicultural Children’s Book Day (#ReadYourWorld) for my third year! I was gifted a copy of the book so I could provide an honest review. Like many of you, I love promoting children’s books and have a special place in my heart for diverse books. MCBD has been committed to bringing attention to so many amazing books for a long time–this is their 9th year.

The book I’m reviewing this year is BEST BUDDIES by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Arthur Lin. I was gifted a copy of this book by Capstone, who is the publisher, so I could provide an honest review. Which I am happy to do of course.

The first thing that jumps out at you with this book is the adorable illustrations! They are so appealing and kid-friendly, and you know immediately that the best buddies of this story is a young boy and his dog.

After meeting right after the boy is born, the two become inseparable friends. They do everything together. That is, until it is time for the boy to start going to school. After their unbearable separation that first day, the two friends can’t imagine surviving endless days that make up the school year. But when the boy, who has Down syndrome, comes up with a clever salutation, the two buddies find a way to still feel connected even when they are physically apart.

Stories of dealing with separation anxiety brought on by the beginning of school are hardly new. But the author manages to keep this one fresh, and the illustrations keep the reader drawn to the page. Having a main character with a developmental disability without making it the central premise of the story allows the book to convey an important underlying message in a subtle and effective way.

For more details about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, take a look here. Please take a moment to note the list of generous sponsors for this important event.

The post Multicultural Children’s Book Day Review: Best Buddies appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

This is my third year participating in MCBD, and my review is for BEST BUDDIES by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Arthur Lin. You can read my review here.

MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. You can read about their Mission & History HERE.

In addition to lots and lots of wonderful books being featured and shared as part of MCBD, there are tons of helpful free resources being made available for teachers and parents. Check it out: 

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 Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit

Gallery of Our Free Posters

FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program

Plus, there can’t be all this excitement going on without a party! Join us tomorrow, Friday, January 28, 2022, at 9 pm EST for the 9th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party! Be sure and follow MCBD and Make A Way Media on Twitter!

This fast-paced hour will include multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

And you know what else? PRIZES! Every 5 minutes MCBD will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded folks, 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.

MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

SUPER PLATINUM: Make A Way Media

PLATINUM: Language Lizard

GOLD: Barefoot Books, KidLitTV, Candlewick, Capstone, Abrams Books

SILVER: Pack-n-Go Girls, Charlotte Riggle, Kimberly Gordon Biddle  

BRONZE: Carole P. Roman, Patrice McLaurin, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Redfin Mortgage, Redfin/Title Forward, Create & Educate, Star Bright Books, Vivian Kirkfield, Dr. Eleanor Wint, Kind World Publishing, Snowflake Stories, Lisa Wee, SONGJU MA, Melissa Stoller, J.C. Kato and J.C.², Crystel Patterson, Audrey Press, Pragmaticmom, TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales 

MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Charlene Mosley (official MCBD2022 Poster Creator)

Illustrator Isabelle Roxas (Class Kit Poster Creator)

Alva Sachs, Brianna Carter, Ebony Zay Zay, Rita Bhandari, Gwen Jackson, Lois Petren/The 5 Enchanted Mermaids, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Josh Funk, Afsaneh Moradian, Eugenia Chu, Maritza Martínez Mejía, Diana Huang, Kathleen Burkinshaw, CultureGroove, Sandra Elaine Scott, Dorena Williamson, Veronica Appleton, Alejandra Domenzain, Lauren Muskovitz and Sandfish Publishing, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kimberly Lee, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Nancy Tupper Ling, Winsome Hudson-Bingham, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Sivan Hong, Michael Genhart, Debbie Dadey, Elizabeth Cureton, Stephanie Wildman, Maryann Jacob, Sherri Maret, Rochelle Melander, Dia Mixon, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young, Shereen Rahming, Linda Thornburg and Katherine Archer,  Rebecca Flansburg and BA Norrgard , Maxine Schur  Natalie McDonald-Perkins

MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!

The post It’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022! appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

The first time I ever submitted a story for publication, I didn’t tell a soul.

I was in high school, and very self-conscious about sharing my work. 

Not surprisingly, I received a “thank you for your submission, but…” letter very soon after.

When I stepped back into the arena of writing for children again much, much later, I thought I was older and wiser. I had a critique partner who clearly was very qualified–she taught writing to college students, for gosh sakes!

But my stories continued to suffer the same, sad fate of rejection.

Later, I even consulted with someone who I thought would surely make all the difference. A children’s librarian! This was a person who knew children’s books inside and out.

Nope. Still got rejected.

Why Feedback is So Important

Despite my track record of rejection continuing, I was at least doing one thing right. I was asking others to read and critique my work. 

Why must the pen be red?

This is the single most important step you must take if you want to write a children’s book. (Or at least one that ends up being something you are proud to share widely with the world). 

It is impossible for you, the author of your work, to distance yourself enough to do all of your edits alone. You know what you want your story to say and convey to your readers. You do your best to find the right words to do so.

But because you are so close to your story, you don’t realize where your brain is filling in missing pieces in your writing. You don’t always realize all the places you could tell your story better.

You need a new set of eyes to see these things.

Even super famous and award-winning authors have their stories critiqued and edited. In fact, that’s why their work is so good–because they are open to feedback.

Get Feedback From Those Who Know Children’s Books

If you have shared your stories with your family, friends, and kids at the local school, that’s great! After all, these are the kind of people who will eventually be your readers.

And if you have found skilled editors and readers like I did, again, that is excellent work on your part.

But you can’t rely on them alone.

Once you’ve gotten past the initial stages of feedback and revision, it’s time to get serious. 

And that means getting critiques from people who know how to write for kids. Even if your best friend is a bestselling author of fiction for adults, you can’t stop there. 

You should probably find someone a little bit more experienced

That’s where I had fallen short. While my first rounds of feedback came from people who were highly skilled, I shouldn’t have stopped with them.

Writing for children is very different from writing for adults. And only those who have been immersed in this kind of writing understand the subtle, and not so subtle, differences. (If you write young adult, then you are in a bit of a different category. Go ahead and ask your adult writer friends for help in this case. But still get feedback from those who know YA).

You Don’t Have to Pay for a High Quality Critique

Trying to write a children’s book and get it published, either through self or traditional publishing, requires an investment of time and money.

You may not have either of these things in abundance. I totally get it.

So while I recommend getting at least one professional critique or edit, there are ways to get high-quality critiques without having to keep shelling out fistfuls of dollars over and over again.

There are several places where it is possible to get critiques from other children’s book authors and other people in the kidlit industry, at low to no cost.

It may not even cost you this much

In fact, I suggest that with your earlier drafts, start with these kinds of critiques. Because if you get to the point where you want to pay for feedback, you will want your manuscript to be in a highly polished state. 

Otherwise you may find you have so many edits to do, you’ll be needing to go back for another paid critique after you do the revisions. This can get expensive!

Here are some places where you can get great feedback on your story for little to no cost.

Free Critiques 

Kidlit411 Manuscript Swap Facebook Group

Join the Facebook group to post requests for a manuscript critique in exchange for giving one.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KIDLIT411MSswap/

Sub It Club 

A private Facebook group set up to help writers find critique partners

Mindy Alyse Weiss PB Party Critique Train

A monthly Twitter event where you participate in a critique “train” for your new picture book manuscript. 

You can check it out here.

WriteOnCon

A 3-day online conference for writers and illustrators. Free to attend keynote and critique forums. Low-cost option to purchase other presentations.

Find out more about WriteOnCon here.

Low Cost Critiques

SCBWI Blueboard – Message and Chat Board

A message board where members can ask questions about all things kidlit. Includes a chat forum where people can post requests for critique partners or groups. There is no charge to post on the Blueboard, but you should return the favor and provide feedback on other people’s postings. Membership with SCBWI ($90 per year) is required.

www.scbwi.org

Inked Voices

A paid service that connects people to online critique groups. https://www.inkedvoices.com

Writing Conferences

Many children’s writing conferences also offer opportunities to receive paid critiques by other authors, as well as the industry editors and agents who are speaking at the conference. 

SCBWI Regional Chapters

The regional conferences are often less expensive than the two annual nationwide conferences. Most include presentations by agents and editors, who you can also sign up to pitch your story to for an additional fee. 

Children’s Book Academy

Courses on writing picture books, middle grade novels, and illustrating children’s books that also offer critique opportunities with editors and agents for an additional fee. (This is the course that directly led to my trade picture book being published).

https://www.childrensbookacademy.com

Highlights Foundation

You have probably heard of Highlights Magazine, right? The organization behind it also holds conferences throughout the year and many offer critique opportunities. A bit pricey.

https://www.highlightsfoundation.org

Big Sur Children’s Writers Workshop

Workshop featuring small groups and one-on-one feedback

https://www.bigsurchildrenswriters.com/big-sur-cali-home

Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Conference

Novel Workshop and Retreat

Features craft lessons and a critique with an editor or agent

https://www.childrenswritersworkshop.com

Social Media

Sometimes you will run across authors, editors, and agents offering to provide critiques as a giveaway for one reason or another. I have only seen them on Twitter, but it is possible other social media channels could be a source of these opportunities.

You can find them by following fellow kidlit authors, as well as editors and agents. Check your feed regularly (every day is ideal) and keep your eyes peeled! Yes, this one is pretty hit and miss, but if you follow enough relevant people, you are sure to see some critique opportunities pop up now and again.

(Yes, I Offer Paid Critiques!)

If you feel you are ready to pay for some feedback, but don’t have the budget for one of the higher dollar options, I do offer critiques (I specialize in picture books, chapter books, and nonfiction) for $50. If you want more information on getting a critique, you can simply email me directly at ckim@ckimwrite.com.

The post How to Get Your Children’s Book Critiqued Without Breaking the Bank appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

In Part Three of my series of book reviews for Multicultural Children’s Book Day (#ReadYourWorld), I’ll be reviewing KOREAN CHILDREN’S FAVORITE STORIES by Kim So-Un, illustrated by Jeong Kyoung-Sim. The publisher is Tuttle Publishing.

Before I forget to mention it, I was gifted a copy of this book so I could provide an honest review. Which I am happy to do to help promote diverse books and support the mission of MDBD.

As a second-generation Korean-American, I was delighted to first discover this book several years ago. This book represents a recent reprinting with a new cover.

This book contains a collection of thirteen short folktales which the author describes as having been told for generations. Most contain an obvious message for the reader, such as the rewards of behaving with kindness, empathy, and generosity. Some contain echoes of classic fables such as those by Aesop, including animals acting with human qualities, such as a clever rabbit or dangerous and badly-behaved tigers (and some kind tigers as well).

One thing to keep in mind is that these stories have not been updated to reflect modern sensibilities. As a result, there are elements in some of the stories that will, at best, be perceived as old-fashioned. For example, there are many references to the beauty of some of the female characters that equates them with being superior—a message labeled the “feminine beauty ideal” by some literary scholars. This is, of course, precisely what is found in classic western fairytales such as Cinderella and Snow White. But in a couple of these Korean stories, daughters are offered as a reward, and the most beautiful ones are “given” as the top prize. The best way to approach this issue is to take the opportunity to use the stories as a discussion point for both girls and boys. Most children are quick to recognize the superior importance of a person’s character over their appearance, regardless of what they may read in a classic fairytale.

These stories do serve to illustrate some of the broader cultural elements unique to Korea. Themes of honesty, hard work, forgiveness, and courage are all included in the collection, alongside some light-hearted or, quite frankly, head-scratching messages. Not all stories end neatly or happily—something to keep in mind when sharing the book with younger readers. On the whole they are entertaining and a departure from most stories kids encounter today. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and depict the historical dress and landscape of the country.

My other reviews for MCBD include THE PIRATE PRINCESS, FILIPINO CELEBRATIONS, and LET’S LEARN KOREAN.

For more details about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, take a look here. Please take a moment to note the list of generous sponsors for this important event.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8^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.

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

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.

The post Multicultural Children’s Book Day Book Review: KOREAN CHILDREN’S FAVORITE STORIES appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

In Part Four of my series of book reviews for Multicultural Children’s Book Day (#ReadYourWorld), I’ll be reviewing LET’S LEARN KOREAN by Laura Armitage (edited by Tina Cho). The publisher is Tuttle Publishing.

I was gifted a copy of this book so I could provide an honest review. Which I am happy to do to help promote diverse books and support the mission of MDBD.

This boxed kit contains a set of 64 flash cards containing common Korean words such as numbers, colors, family members, and clothing. There are also common phrases, including “Hello”, “Good-bye”, and “Thank You”. The illustrations are colorful and kid-friendly, showing the word written in Korean, the category (food, clothing, colors), the pronunciation, and an image.

On the backs of the cards are the English translation and the word used in a sentence written in Korean along with the pronunciation of each word in the sentence.

There is also an enclosed audio CD so listeners can hear the words and phrases spoken. The CD also includes several songs—some tunes will be familiar, such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Feet” (well, close enough) and the “Happy Birthday” song.

The kit also contains a pamphlet that gives some background information and tips on how to use the cards to teach the words. There is also a detailed pronunciation guide.

The pamphlet also includes instructions for some Korean games and activities kids can do that can also help them learn the language. Words to the songs on the CD are also found here. Finally, a fold-out wall chart depicts the fronts of all 64 cards.

Taken together, this teaching kit is packed with helpful tools and props that can make learning to speak Korean a fun activity.

My other reviews for MCBD include THE PIRATE PRINCESS, FILIPINO CELEBRATIONS, and KOREAN CHILDREN’S FAVORITE STORIES.

For more details about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, take a look here. Please take a moment to note the list of generous sponsors for this important event.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8^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.

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

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.

The post Multicultural Children’s Book Day Book Review: LET’S LEARN KOREAN appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

I’m honored to be participating in Multicultural Children’s Book Day (#ReadYourWorld) for the second time! I was gifted a copy of these books so I could provide an honest review. I’m also always looking for ways to promote diverse books, and MCBD brings attention to many, many wonderful books.

The first book I’ll be reviewing is THE PIRATE PRINCESS by Alva Sachs, illustrated by Patricia Krebs, and published by Three Wishes Publishing Company.

This beautifully illustrated book makes use of colors and shading to create the feeling of an old treasure map—which is the perfect setting for a book featuring pirates! But these are not your typical pirates. These are a group of girls who use their imagination to transform a rainy day into an adventure as pirate princesses.

While the storyline is pretty straightforward, kids will likely find it easy to relate to. Parents can use the book to encourage their own children to see where their imagination can take them, using every day items in their own homes. The lush illustrations add to the visual experience.

My other reviews for MCBD include FILIPINO CELEBRATIONS, KOREAN CHILDREN’S FAVORITE STORIES, and LET’S LEARN KOREAN.

For more details about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, take a look here. Please take a moment to note the list of generous sponsors for this important event.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8^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.

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

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.

The post Multicultural Children’s Book Day Book Review: The Pirate Princess appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

In Part Two of my series of book reviews for Multicultural Children’s Book Day (#ReadYourWorld), I’ll be reviewing FILIPINO CELEBRATIONS by Liana Romulo, illustrated by Corzaon Dandan-Albano. The publisher is Tuttle Publishing.

I was gifted a copy of this book so I could provide an honest review. I believe it’s a wonderful way to help promote diverse books and support the mission of MDBD.

This book is packed with information about how major holidays and events are celebrated in the Philippines, as well as many local festivals held throughout the year in different parts of the country. There are references to the origins of the events and practices, which include Muslim, Spanish, Christian, and Chinese influences from the country’s history. An introduction includes an explanation of the historical influences, which is very helpful.

Fun activities for kids included

Throughout the book many of the main words and phrases are given Tagalog translations, step-by-step instructions for a few crafts and a couple of simple recipes. There’s also a glossary included in the back for a handful of key words.

The book would make a great reference for classrooms wanting to share a range of customs from different cultures around the world. Children with Filipino roots (or who have an interest in learning about the country and its customs) will find a wealth of information in the book. Some of the traditions shown cover events that are familiar to most children, such as birthdays, weddings, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. But all will show the practices unique to Filipinos.

In addition are many celebrations found only in the Philippines. Many towns organize a festival around a patron saint or historic event. There are so many festivals, there could easily be something happening every month in various parts of the country. Other celebrations cover the entire country, such as Independence Day and the Flowers of May.

This is the kind of book kids will return to over and over again. It is so packed with information, it’s easy to discover something new each time.  

My other reviews for MCBD include THE PIRATE PRINCESS, KOREAN CHILDREN’S FAVORITE STORIES, and LET’S LEARN KOREAN.

For more details about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, take a look here. Please take a moment to note the list of generous sponsors for this important event.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8^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.

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

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.

The post Multicultural Children’s Book Day Book Review: FILIPINO CELEBRATIONS appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.