Words Read, Words Unsaid

All the memorable things I've read/heard. Lines that hit really hard. The music and art that inspires me. My thoughts, my annotations, and my words.

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Read Your World 2025 Part 2

I was also gifted A Two-Place Heart by Doan Phuong Nguyen! This was a publication by Tu Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books (leeandlow.com). Nguyen was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. in elementary school with her family.

Bom is experiencing a longing for the home and family she knew in Vietnam all while the memories and language seem to be slipping from her mind. She's baffled by her younger sister's nonchalance about not remembering their life in Vietnam. In an effort to remind both her sister and herself, she begins recording her memories and feelings on paper using her dad's typewriter.

This is a beautiful novel in verse. Nguyen does a brilliant job of capturing Bom's fears of forgetting the home she's left behind. I also loved the inclusion of Vietnamese words and the family tree included in the beginning. I'm elated to add this book to our library collection! Read Your World 2025 (1/30/25) is in its 13th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

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Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Medallion:

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight and  Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages 

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Third State Books 

🏅 Silver Sponsors: The Quarto Group, Red Comet Press and Lerner Books 

🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor:  Scholastic Books 

🏅 Bronze Sponsors:  Lee and Low and Star Bright Books

🏅 Bronze Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education 

🏅 Ruby Corporate Sponsor: MagicBlox

Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Stephanie M. Wildman, Martha Seif Simpson, Anna Jennings, Gwen Jackson, Afsaneh Moradian, Joaquín Camp, Rahana Dariah, Ziggy Hanaor, Josh Funk, Nancy Tupper Ling, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Gea Meijering, Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Story Time, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Cynthia Levinson, Diana Huang, Rochelle Melander,  Lisa Chong, Lisa Stringfellow,  Brunella Costaglioga, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Rachel C. Katz, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Shifa Safadi, Lisa Rogers, Sylvia Liu, Eva Clarke, Crystal Murakami, Teddi Ahrens

Read Your World is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts and by our Partner Organizations! 

Check out RYW’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Read Your World Day

RYW2025 Poster

Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit

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

📌 Register for the Read Your World Virtual Party:  https://readyourworld.org/virtualparty 

Join us on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 9 pm EST celebrating 13 years of  Read Your World Day Virtual Party! Register here.   

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants are welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 30, 2025, at our virtual party!

InLinkz - Linkups & Link Parties for Bloggers

Create link-ups, link parties and blog hops. Run challenges and engage your followers with Inlinkz.

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Read Your World 2025 Part 1

This year I was gifted Figure It Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis! This book was another publication by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishing (harpercollins.com). Davis is the author of several middle-grade and young adult novels including Mare's War, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book.

Henri is a seventh-grader with dyscalculia transitioning from her special education school to public school. Throughout the book, Henri must learn how to balance her schedule to meet both the academic expectations of her mother and her desires to join the school's soccer team all while navigating new friendships that come into conflict with the relationship she has with her sister.

It's so refreshing to see a story that normalizes the experiences of navigating school with a learning disability. Henri's desire to be able to figure things out on her own without being coddled really resonated with me! (Wil Snakespeare was phenomenal too)! I'm excited to add this collection to our library!

Read Your World 2025 (1/30/25) is in its 13th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Medallion:

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight and  Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages 

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Third State Books 

🏅 Silver Sponsors: The Quarto Group, Red Comet Press and Lerner Books 

🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor:  Scholastic Books 

🏅 Bronze Sponsors:  Lee and Low and Star Bright Books

🏅 Bronze Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education 

🏅 Ruby Corporate Sponsor: MagicBlox

Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Stephanie M. Wildman, Martha Seif Simpson, Anna Jennings, Gwen Jackson, Afsaneh Moradian, Joaquín Camp, Rahana Dariah, Ziggy Hanaor, Josh Funk, Nancy Tupper Ling, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Gea Meijering, Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Story Time, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Cynthia Levinson, Diana Huang, Rochelle Melander,  Lisa Chong, Lisa Stringfellow,  Brunella Costaglioga, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Rachel C. Katz, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Shifa Safadi, Lisa Rogers, Sylvia Liu, Eva Clarke, Crystal Murakami, Teddi Ahrens

Read Your World is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts and by our Partner Organizations! 

Check out RYW’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Read Your World Day

RYW2025 Poster

Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit

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

📌 Register for the Read Your World Virtual Party:  https://readyourworld.org/virtualparty 

Join us on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 9 pm EST celebrating 13 years of  Read Your World Day Virtual Party! Register here.   

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants are welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 30, 2025, at our virtual party!

Create link-ups, link parties and blog hops. Run challenges and engage your followers with Inlinkz.

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Multicultural Children's Book Day Part 2

This year, I was also gifted The Jake Show by Joshua Levy! The book was published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishing (harpercollins.com). Joshua is Jewish Florida native who has written several middle grade books. Jake is a TV-loving kid who is being pulled between two different worlds: The devout "yiddishkeit" of living with his mother and the secular, STEM encouraging of living with his father. Shuffled from school to school and between these two worlds, Jake has mastered the art of masking, but with the guidance of some excellent friends (and a few close-calls along the way), learns that he can't be both the person his mom wants him to be and the person his dad wants him to be at the same time (let alone himself). I really connected with Jake and the need to perform differently for different groups of people. I also remembered the feeling of starting in a new school and feeling like it would only be temporary. While adjusting to the Jewish vocabulary in the beginning was a little difficult for me (Jake did a great job at providing subtitles for things a few chapters in), this book was a great read! Jake's story will resonate with readers trying to parse out who they are/who they want to be. I'm so excited to add this book to the shelves in my library! Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/24) is in its 11th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

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Read Your World celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day and is honored to be Supported by these Medallion and Ruby Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight, Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Lerner Publishing Group, Children’s Book Council

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Barefoot Books, Astra Books for Young Readers

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Lee and Low Books, Cardinal Rule Press

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: CK Malone, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Anita Crawford Clark, Star Bright Books, Blue Dot Kids Press, Brunella Costagliola, Red Fin, Fabled Films 

Ruby Sponsor: Crayola 

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Poster Artist:  Rebecca Burgess 

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Classroom Kit Poster: Barefoot Books 

MCBD 2024 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Gwen Jackson, Josh Funk, Eugenia Chu, Sivan Hong, Marta Magellan, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Angela H. Dale, Maritza M Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Charnaie Gordon,  Alva Sachs, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Lisa Chong, Diana Huang, Martha Seif Simpson, DARIA (WORLD MUSIC WITH DARIA) Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Gea Meijering, Stephanie M. Wildman, Tracey Kyle, Afsaneh Moradian, Kim C. Lee, Rochelle Melander, Beth Ruffin, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Alina Chau, Michael Genhart, Sally J. Pla, Ajuan Mance, Kimberly Marcus, Lindsey Rowe Parker

MCBD 2024 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our Partner Organizations! 

Check out MCBD's Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

MCBD 2024 Poster

Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit

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

📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of  Multicultural Children's Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here. 

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 25, 2024, at our virtual party!

InLinkz - Linkups & Link Parties for Bloggers

Create link-ups, link parties and blog hops. Run challenges and engage your followers with Inlinkz.

FRESH.INLINKZ.COM

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Multicultural Children's Book Day 2024 Part 1

I was gifted Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers & Revolutionaries Who Changed the World Through Writing by Rochelle Melander. The books is published by beaming books (beamingbooks.com) and includes illustrations by Melina Ontiveros. Melander is a public speaker and author working to encourage young people to change their lives and communities through writing. Her non-fiction book, Mightier Than the Sword does an excellent job at capturing the importance of writing across all different fields. She introduces important figures throughout history from a variety of different backgrounds and demographics with short biographies and how they used writing to improve their lives and/or the lives of those around them. I loved the inclusion of different writing prompts and believe this book will make a fantastic addition to my library shelves. Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/24) is in its 11th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day and is honored to be Supported by these Medallion and Ruby Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight, Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Lerner Publishing Group, Children’s Book Council

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Barefoot Books, Astra Books for Young Readers

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Lee and Low Books, Cardinal Rule Press

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: CK Malone, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Anita Crawford Clark, Star Bright Books, Blue Dot Kids Press, Brunella Costagliola, Red Fin, Fabled Films 

Ruby Sponsor: Crayola 

Poster Artist:  Rebecca Burgess 

Classroom Kit Poster: Barefoot Books 

MCBD 2024 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Gwen Jackson, Josh Funk, Eugenia Chu, Sivan Hong, Marta Magellan, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Angela H. Dale, Maritza M Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Charnaie Gordon,  Alva Sachs, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Lisa Chong, Diana Huang, Martha Seif Simpson, DARIA (WORLD MUSIC WITH DARIA) Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Gea Meijering, Stephanie M. Wildman, Tracey Kyle, Afsaneh Moradian, Kim C. Lee, Rochelle Melander, Beth Ruffin, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Alina Chau, Michael Genhart, Sally J. Pla, Ajuan Mance, Kimberly Marcus, Lindsey Rowe Parker

MCBD 2024 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our Partner Organizations! 

Check out MCBD's Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

MCBD 2024 Poster

Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit

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

📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of  Multicultural Children's Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here. 

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 25, 2024, at our virtual party!

Create link-ups, link parties and blog hops. Run challenges and engage your followers with Inlinkz.

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Multicultural Children’s Book Day

I was gifted the book Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War! The book is being published by an imprint of Lerner books (www.lernerbooks.com). The book was researched by children’s author, Talia Aikens-Nunez whose previous publications include the OMG series. Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War is a nonfiction chapter book. While war history is not really my favorite subject to read about, Aikens-Nunez does a great job of capturing your attention with a great introduction. The book is filled with great facts and maps at the beginning of each chapter. I love the inclusion of a glossary as well as a bibliography. While it was a struggle for me to read because of the topic, I really appreciated learning about a facet of history I was not super-familiar with before.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2023 (1/26/22) is in its 10th 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 books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Ten 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 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages 

🏅 Gold Sponsors: Interlink Books, Publisher Spotlight 

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Cardinal Rule Press,  Lee & Low,  Barefoot Books, Kimberly Gordon Biddle

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Vivian Kirkfield, Patrice McLaurin , Quarto Group, Carole P. Roman, Star Bright Books, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Bay Equity Home Loans, Rent.com, Title Forward, Brunella Costagliola Bronze Sponsor

Poster Artist:  Lisa Wee

  Classroom Kit Poster: Led Bradshaw

MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Sivan Hong, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Josh Funk , Stephanie M. Wildman, Gwen Jackson, Diana Huang, Afsaneh Moradian, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Eugenia Chu, Jacqueline Jules, Alejandra Domenzain, Gaia Cornwall, Ruth Spiro, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young/Twin Powers Books, Kimberly Lee , Tameka Fryer Brown, Talia Aikens-Nuñez, Marcia Argueta Mickelson, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Jennie Liu, Heather Murphy Capps, Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney, John Coy, Irene Latham and Charles Waters, Maritza M Mejia, Lois Petren, J.C. Kato and J.C.², CultureGroove, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Red Comet Press, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Nancy Tupper Ling, Deborah Acio, Asha Hagood, Priya Kumari, Chris Singleton, Padma Venkatraman, Teresa Robeson, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Martha Seif Simpson, Rochelle Melander, Alva Sachs, Moni Ritchie Hadley, Gea Meijering, Frances Díaz Evans, Michael Genhart, Angela H. Dale, Courtney Kelly, Queenbe Monyei, Jamia Wilson, Charnaie Gordon, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Debbie Zapata, Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, Natasha Yim, Tracy T. Agnelli, Kitty Feld, Anna Maria DiDio, Ko Kim, Shachi Kaushik, Shanequa Waison-Rattray, Susan S. El Yazgi, Shirim Shamsi

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 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

MCBD 2023 Poster

Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit

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

📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 9 pm EST for the 10th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Read Your World Virtual 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 a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 26, 2023, at our virtual party! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c4PKSi9HTzU0QeiW1tZvbox_EAK1pwdl/edit

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Multicultural Children’s Book Day

I received the book Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day by Tonya Duncan Ellis for Multicultural Children's Book Day 2022! This book is a great early middle grade book introducing children to entrepreneurship! Sophie and her friend, Chloe, first heard about Lemonade Day at school. In an effort to try and earn money to buy her mom a birthday present, Sophie quickly tries to get her younger brother and a group of friends together to create a team for Lemonade Day. However, sibling relationships, friendships, and pets prove that being an entrepreneur and earning money are not as easy as they may have seemed. Ellis does a great job of showing the feelings early middle schoolers grapple with. The irritation Sophie feels towards her younger brother and the way she navigates relationships with her friends is something a lot of young middle schoolers might find relatable. Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9th 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 books 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. Read about our Mission & History HERE. 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! 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 Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party! Be sure and follow MCBD and Make A Way Media on Twitter!

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After Reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Read: February 17, 2021 to February 27, 2021

Rating: 7.5/10

Thoughts/Comments:  Quite the trek.

Vibes:  PCT, Journey of Self, Lost and Found, My Feet Hurt, Oof, Ouch, Grief, Grieving Process

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After Reading Am I Blue by Marion Dane Bauer

Read: February 5, 2021 to February 17, 2021

Rating: 8/10

Thoughts/Comments:  I definitely liked some of the stories more than others, but this is such a good collection for the early 90s.

Vibes:  LGBTQIA+, Representation, Nice for the Time of Publication, We Need More Though

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After Reading All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Read: January 10, 2021 to January 13, 2021

Rating: 9/10

Thoughts/Comments:  This really grew on me; I quite enjoyed it!

Vibes:  It Left!, Why?!, It Grew on Me, I Love It, Protect Your Humans, I Feel That Murderbot

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After Reading Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles

Read: January 8, 2021 to January 13, 2021

Rating: 5.5/10

Thoughts/Comments:  Really interesting idea, I just couldn't get into it...

Vibes:  Magic, Circus, Mirrors, CARDS?

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After Reading The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

Read: January 8, 2021

Rating: 7.5/10

Thoughts/Comments:  I really enjoyed the twist at the end, however, I prefer Stardust

Vibes:  Love Fairytale Retellings, This Was Dark and Sinster, What A Twist, Not My Favorite Work Though

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After Reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Read: January 8, 2021

Rating: 9/10

Thoughts/Comments:  A beautiful journey with huge character development

Vibes:  Ouch, This Hit Harder Than I Thought It Would, Lessons Taught, Fragility, Keep Your Heart Open

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After Reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

Read: February 16, 2021 to March 2, 2021

Rating: 9.5/10

Thoughts/Comments:  You think it burns slowly, but, before you know it, you're left with a pile of ashes. Just a really good read!

Vibes:  Time, Faustian, Deals, It Folds Like an Accordion, Love the Ending, I Think?, The Story Weighs Heavy on My Mind and Heart

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After Reading Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Read January 7, 2021

Rating: 9/10

Thoughts/Comments:  A heavy tale woven and told with a gossamer touch

Vibes:  Oof, Dreams, Nightmares, This Hit Harder Than I Thought It Would, Beautiful

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After Reading Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Read from January 4, 2021 to January 6, 2021

Rating: 8.5/10

Thoughts/Comments: Really great once you’re able to look past the horny teenagers

Vibes:  Space, Horny Teenagers, Plants, They Are Us, We Are Them, That One LIne Though

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Mikrokosmos

Mikrokosmos, a song by BTS on Spotify

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Arise, my love, And greet the day. Rub the stardust from thine eyes. Reignite that flame which burns within. Tend to it with care, my love, And let thine light shine forth.