I was very lucky this year and got to review not 1, not 2, but 3 books for the celebration of diversity in our children's reading lives. The funny thing is it really does start with how our kids see us read. We all can get stuck reading the same genres/stories/same authors. This year's three books made me step out of my "reading box". In no particular order here is a recap and review of the three books I read for this year's MCBD.
Cry of the Sea by D.G. Driver
This was definitely not a book I would have picked up on my own. It is a mix of fantasy/science fiction with environmental awareness and teenage angst. Good YA read and would recommend it for readers in 7th grade and above. The main character Juniper Sawfeather, June, is an only child to a mother who is an environmental attorney and father who is an environmental activist. June is a senior in high school. She has always been involved in her parents career's work and passion of environmental protection and advocacy. June at the beginning of the story is helping her dad cover an oil spill off the West Coast. June and her father are trying to save animals from the oil spill by bringing them away from the oil and getting them to local animal shelters/marine care facilities. During this time she comes across a mermaid (enter fantasy/science fiction). Of course this "find" is amazing and they want to protect the mermaid and thus the story runs from there. I found this book overall a little disjointed- many story lines going on: boy/girl relationship issues, girl/girl friendship issues, parent/child- teenage angst, and June's overarching theme of figuring out this thing we call "life"- plus what about the mermaid. I gave this 3 out of 5 stars. Would have liked some cleaner writing, but the overall story line was intriguing and for those adults and YA readers who like a mix of environmental advocacy and science fiction this would be a perfect read for them.
This is the first in a three book series. Thanks to the author Donna G. Driver for sending me this book to review for MCBD. I had a choice where I wanted to start when reading the Juniper Sawfeather series. I wanted, of course, to start at the beginning. The author let me know that the 2nd and 3rd book go into more depth of June's American Indian mythology background and I think that would have pulled me more into her story in this first book. The publisher of this book/series is Fire and Ice Young Adult Books. I appreciate knowing publishers are investing time and money into getting diverse books out to the public. To further explore the books by D.G. Driver you can go to www.dgdriver.com
Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar
I have always been fascinated by the man and the story behind the man- Mahatma Gandhi. This book takes place in 1942 when Mahatma Gandhi is asking Indians to give one family member to the freedom movement-working on breaking from oppression of the British. Anjali, the main character is caught up in all of this because of her mother's stepping up to the plate and being that one family member to join the freedom movement. I think I loved this story even more because it was the mother, not Anjali's father, who joined the movement. I learned a ton in this book and best yet it has spurred my reading interest in further reading up on Mahatma Gandhi and this time period in India. I also very much appreciated the author bringing to light that even Mahatma Gandhi can make mistakes. One of his mistakes was, he thought, helping the lowest Indian caste- "The Untouchables" was by calling them "Harijan". This means "children of God". However, the Dalits (the appropriate name for this low caste) felt this name was condescending because if they were "children of God" why were they not welcome into the temple like all other castes to worship. The caste system was indeed interesting. You are born into your caste. So if you are a Dalit then you are the lowliest socioeconomic group- you were born into the life of the toilet cleaners, garbage pick up crew, etc. I felt the author showed how even when we are trying to help others, not like our selves, sometimes our actions are not always the best, the most helpful. She showed even great Gandhi could make a mistake.
Supriya Kelkar wrote a very clean, believable, and genuine story of Anjali's experience in her 10th year of life with change: change in her family, change in friendships due to the unrest the British caused at the time with Indians, and the unrest between Muslims and Hindus in India. A few of my favorite lines from the book are as follows...
pg 96 " As Gandhiji says, if we change ourselves, the tendencies in the world will also change."
pg 125 "I think you can care deeply about someone and still do the wrong thing."
I think this book, despite being written about a time in the 1940's, is so applicable to today's issues: economic segregation, cultural segregation, war, and violence. Ahimsa means nonviolent resistance- we need more of Ahimsa. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. The book is available as an E-book, but I would recommend buying the book- the cover is beautiful! This read could be appropriate for late elementary kids, but I think junior high and onward is best fit (some of the subject matter might be inappropriate due to violence with younger readers, however, each child reads at different maturity level so up to the teacher/parent to help guide). Would be a perfect book for a global studies/language arts class. Thanks to Lee and Low Books for sending me this great book. It was published by Tu Books an imprint of Lee and Low Books Inc.
Family Poems for Every Day of the Week
poems by Francisco X. Alarcon and illustrations by Maya Christina Gonzalez
This is a great poetry/picture book. It is a bilingual book with poems written side by side in both Spanish and English. Great way to introduce reading in two languages to all children (even us big ones). The way the author fit so many descriptors and fascinating facts about the origin of the days of the week into the poems were genius. I learned a lot by reading his introduction on the origins of the 7 days of the week and the names that they are called.
The art work is added bonus. My favorite art work in the book came with the poem called "Time is Very Tricky"- which I found appropriate in describing Wednesday.
Time is Very Tricky
through recess and games
time races at full speed
like a hare
but during class hours
time slows to the pace
of a tortoise.
The rabbit drawn on the page with this poem has children playing inscribed into it's body. In the body of the tortoise are rows and rows of children at their desks- very clever!
Thanks to Lee and Low Books for sending me this book to review for MCBD. The book was published by Children's Book Press and imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.
The following is more information about who and what makes MCBD possible- also some great resources and links below you can cut and paste into your browser if you need help in figuring out how to make your bookshelves more multicultural and diverse. Now more than ever I truly feel being more open and educated on multicultural issues is warranted. We owe it to our children! #readyourworld
Current Sponsors: MCBD 2018 is honored to have some amazing Sponsors on board.
2018 MCBD Medallion Sponsors HONORARY: Children’s Book Council, Junior Library Guild PLATINUM:Scholastic Book Clubs GOLD:Audrey Press, Candlewick Press, Loving Lion Books, Second Story Press, Star Bright Books, Worldwide Buddies SILVER:Capstone Publishing, Author Charlotte Riggle, Child’s Play USA, KidLit TV, Pack-n-Go Girls, Plum Street Press BRONZE: Barefoot Books, Carole P. Roman, Charlesbridge Publishing, Dr. Crystal Bowe, Gokul! World, Green Kids Club, Gwen Jackson, Jacqueline Woodson, Juan J. Guerra, Language Lizard, Lee & Low Books, RhymeTime Storybooks, Sanya Whittaker Gragg, TimTimTom Books, WaterBrook & Multnomah, Wisdom Tales Press
2018 Author Sponsors Honorary Author Sponsors: Author/Illustrator Aram Kim and Author/Illustrator Juana Medina Author Janet Balletta, Author Susan Bernardo, Author Carmen Bernier-Grand, Author Tasheba Berry-McLaren and Space2Launch, Bollywood Groove Books, Author Anne Broyles, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw, Author Eugenia Chu, Author Lesa Cline-Ransome, Author Medeia Cohan and Shade 7 Publishing, Desi Babies, Author Dani Dixon and Tumble Creek Press, Author Judy Dodge Cummings, Author D.G. Driver, Author Nicole Fenner and Sister Girl Publishing, Debbi Michiko Florence, Author Josh Funk, Author Maria Gianferrari, Author Daphnie Glenn, Globe Smart Kids, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Author Quentin Holmes, Author Esther Iverem, Jennifer Joseph: Alphabet Oddities, Author Kizzie Jones, Author Faith L Justice , Author P.J. LaRue and MysticPrincesses.com, Author Karen Leggett Abouraya, Author Sylvia Liu, Author Sherri Maret, Author Melissa Martin Ph.D., Author Lesli Mitchell, Pinky Mukhi and We Are One, Author Miranda Paul, Author Carlotta Penn, Real Dads Read, Greg Ransom, Author Sandra L. Richards, RealMVPKids Author Andrea Scott, Alva Sachs and Three Wishes Publishing, Shelly Bean the Sports Queen, Author Sarah Stevenson, Author Gayle H. Swift Author Elsa Takaoka, Author Christine Taylor-Butler, Nicholette Thomas and MFL Publishing Author Andrea Y. Wang, Author Jane Whittingham Author Natasha Yim
We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts HERE.
TWITTER PARTY Sponsored by Scholastic Book Clubs: MCBD’s super-popular (and crazy-fun) annual Twitter Party will be held 1/27/18 at 9:00pm.
Join the conversation and win one of 12-5 book bundles and one Grand Prize Book Bundle (12 books) that will be given away at the party! http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/twitter-party-great-conversations-fun-prizes-chance-readyourworld-1-27-18/
Free Multicultural Books for Teachers: http://bit.ly/1kGZrta
Free Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians and Educators: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/teacher-classroom-empathy-kit/
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.
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