Valarie Budayr, Author at Read Your World

November 16, 2021

One of the many missions of MCBD is to always be shining the spotlight on authors of diverse kidlit. Thanks to the talents of MCBD Team Member and long-time CoHost, Leanna Guillen-Mora, we are excited to announce the addition of a reoccurring Instagram Live feature! Every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. ET., followers can tune in and learn more about these amazing authors and their books.

Here’s a look at who Leanna interviewed this week!

author interview, Charnaie Gordon, IG Lives

Gender stereotypes – Not again!

by Valarie Budayr

Author Visits, Guest Posts

November 14, 2021

Guest post by Lisa Wee

No matter which part of the world you’re from, you’d have been told how to behave like a boy or a girl from a very young age.

At the age of 5, I got my first dungaree. I wore it whenever I could because of the sense of comfort and freedom it gave me. It gave me the opportunity to track through mud, run, and climb trees with my brothers.

Then a new world started to appear around me. “Don’t be so tomboy, Lisa.” As a 5-year-old, I didn’t understand the word but I could sense the disapproval that went with it in the odd looks exchanged between the adults.

gender stereotypes, Gender stereotyping, picture book that challenges gender stereotypes

Author Visit | African Diaspora within the Americas!

by Valarie Budayr

2021 MCBD, Author Visits, Guest Posts

November 10, 2021

Guest Post by author C.Nichole

Growing up, we were taught about the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The history textbooks made it, and still make it seem, as Americans of African descent only have a history that starts at slavery. And then after that, it teaches about all the struggles through Jim Crow, civil rights movements, etc. but never about the people as a whole, no cultural references. I am an American of African descent. As a child, I can’t recall knowing that people of African descent were in North and South America anywhere other than the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. I didn’t know until about my mid 20’s that the term “African Diaspora” even existed, which is people of African descent that don’t live on or weren’t born on the African continent.

Author Visit | African Diaspora within the Americas!, books about African Diaspora

How Does Multicultural Children’s Book Day Work?

by Valarie Budayr

Multicultural Booklist

November 3, 2021

Hi! How does multicultural children’s book day work? Do you want us to send a book? Please tell me more:)

This was a question that popped into my email last week and my first thought was, “what a great question!”

For those who are unfamiliar with the diversity in children’s literacy initiative known as Multicultural Children’s Book Day, the MCBD website has a plethora of who’s, where’s, and whys.

How Does Multicultural Children's Book Day Work?