Blog

December 16, 2022

Why We Need More Black Santas in Children's Books small

Why We Need More Black Santas in Children’s Books

It’s that magical time of year! For many families, a beloved holiday tradition is snuggling up together to read Christmas stories. Yet too often, those books do not reflect the families that are enjoying them.

Lack of diversity in children’s books is a problem all year long, but it seems especially pressing during the holidays, when traditional stories and tropes often reign. One area where this is most obvious is the portrayal of Santa Claus. Though based on a real person from modern-day Turkey, Santa is most often portrayed as very fair-skinned.

Bilingual Books To Aid in Post-Pandemic Social and Emotional Learning

by RYW Project Manager

Multicultural Booklist

December 9, 2022

One of the “after effects” of the recent Covid-19 pandemic is the exacerbation of mental health challenges faced by children. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Policy Lab’s article Addressing System Needs for Child Behavioral Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic states that “…early evidence on the pandemic’s impact on youth combined with the children’s mental health crisis that existed before COVID-19 means that youth and their families will need access to quality, affordable and timely behavioral health services now more than ever.”

To help address this concern, Multicultural Children’s Book Day created its 2023 Classroom Kit, Mental Health Support for Stressful Times, to provide some needed mental health resources for kids. We have created a list of additional bilingual resources to complement this kit to aid in post-pandemic social and emotional learning. This collection of books uses the power of stories to help children learn about acceptance and mindfulness. It empowers them by providing awareness and the necessary skills to build confidence, self-esteem, and personal character. These books come with accompanying lesson plans or activities.

Learning About Diverse Cultures Through Music

by RYW Project Manager

Multicultural Booklist

November 22, 2022

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”

– Billy Joel

Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month

by RYW Project Manager

Multicultural Booklist

October 22, 2022

October marks Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month! This month is designated to recognize and celebrate bilingual children and the incredible gifts they bring to the classroom. In addition to enjoying the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of being bilingual, these students act as a bridge between cultures, promoting understanding and empathy. With them, they also bring a unique perspective to classroom discussions, challenge themselves and others to think in new ways, and broaden everyone’s worldview.

Medallion and Author Level Sponsorships for MCBD2023 are OPEN!

by RYW Project Manager

Multicultural Booklist

September 16, 2022

DON’T DELAY! The sooner you lock in your spot, the more time we have to promote you!

Sponsorship is a great way to support our non-profit initiative while tapping into some amazing visibility and exposure for authors and publishers of diverse board books, picture books, chapter books, and YA.

January 26, 2023, will mark the 10th year of Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s (MCBD) quest to get culturally diverse books into the hands of children, parents, teachers, and librarians.

3 Easy Activities to Promote Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

by RYW Project Manager

Guest Posts, Language, Multicultural Booklist

August 29, 2022

3 Easy Activities to Promote Cultural Diversity in the Classroom Guest post by Language Lizard As students head back to school, it’s essential for them to feel welcomed, acknowledged, and safe in their classrooms. With U.S. schools continuing to change to reflect our country’s increasing cultural diversity, students must learn cultural respect and inclusion. Here are three...

“Beat The Heat” – Summer Language Learning Fun with Idioms

by RYW Project Manager

Guest Posts, Language, Multicultural Booklist

August 5, 2022

“Beat The Heat” – Summer Language Learning Fun with Idioms

Guest post by Language Lizard

One way to “beat the heat” and keep the kids learning all summer long is with nature idioms. Kids will be “over the moon” to learn these fun and silly expressions!

What is an Idiom?

International Day of Friendship – 6 Fun and Easy Ways to Celebrate

by RYW Project Manager

Guest Posts, Language, Multicultural Booklist

July 29, 2022

International Day of Friendship – 6 Fun and Easy Ways to Celebrate

Guest post by Language Lizard

What is International Day of Friendship?

International Day of Friendship, also known as World Friendship Day, was created by the United Nations in 2011 “with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures, and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.” Held annually on July 30th, the International Day of Friendship encourages involving “…young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity.”