Our mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity but to get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries.
That was the Mission Statement of a fledgling non-profit over seven years ago. To date, Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) has donated over 8000 diverse books for kids and this grassroots initiative has expanded to include worldwide readers, book reviewers, authors, organizations and publishers, exploded into a well-known national (and even global) event.
“Our young readers need to see themselves within the pages of a book,” Co-founder, Mia Wenjen, shared. “They need to experience other cultures, languages, traditions, and religions and they can do that within the pages of diverse picture books and chapter books. As our seventh Multicultural Children’s Book Day holiday approaches on January 31, 2020, we are thrilled to have a very well-established community of supporters. The actual on and offline celebration day occurs on the last Friday in January and the support and excitement surrounding this event is so special and continues to grow every year.”
During the months and weeks leading up to the online celebration, readers, parents, grandparents, teachers, caregivers, and librarians are encouraged to follow along via book reviews, author visits, event details, children’s book giveaways and more on the MCBD website. They are also encouraged to have their own reading and discussion time in the classroom or at home. Participants and supporters can also stay in the loop with the festivities via the event’s hashtag #ReadYourWorld on Twitter and other social media.
“Now more than ever, a message of hope, compassion, empathy, and understanding are needed,” Co-founder, Valarie Budayr, noted. “Now more than ever, children need to see themselves reflected in the pages of the books they read. Readers of all ages need to be able to “read their world” to both see themselves, and those are who different, whether by culture, religion, sexual orientation, special needs or ethnicity. Now more than ever, we need to come together as a nation of beautifully diverse people.”
With the support of hundreds of book reviewers, dozens of sponsors, classrooms and other non-profit agencies like the Junior Library Guild and the Children’s Book Council, the MCBD team hopes to be able to continue to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature.
\”We would be nowhere without the support and backing of our Book Reviewers, CoHosts, Sponsors, Book Donators, and the classrooms who celebrate along with us every year,\” Project Manager, Becky Flansburg revealed. \”This non-profit is a combination of brilliant minds, giving hearts, and supporters of every age-group who cheer us along. We are blessed beyond measure to be about to support YA and children\’s literature in such a positive and effective way.\”
Ways to Get Involved with MCBD 2020
Here are a few ways you can participate in Multicultural Children\’s Book Day:
1. {Teachers} Multicultural Children’s Book Day FREE Book for Your Classroom Campaign-If you know of a classroom or library that would like a free hardcover, library-approved, diversity children’s book, have them sign up HERE.
- {Parents/Librarians/Teachers/KidLit Lovers} Free Book to Review. MCBD offers a free diverse children’s book to parents, grandparents, and educators that are willing to write a review and this year we are not limiting reviewers to just bloggers. Just share on your review on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or your blog. Get sign up details here.
- {Everyone} Be an MCBD2020 Sponsor: Sponsorship is not only a great way to support this event; it is an excellent way to get an author’s name and books in front of thousands of readers. Sponsorship levels range from Platinum to Author Level and a Friends of MCBD option is also available for those who would like to support the initiative with a monetary donation. MCBD Sponsors not only keep the MCBD machine humming, it enables us to support underserved readers, libraries, and schools all year long.
- {Everyone} Multicultural Children’s Book Day Free Resources, Booklists, and Extension Activities for Teachers and Parents. Enjoy this vast resource list of diverse children’s books categorized by culture, religion, sexual orientation, special needs or ethnicity.
- Connect with MCBD on social media and share, share, share! Their official hashtag is #ReadYourWorld
– Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay
– Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay
-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/readyourworldmcbd/
-Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pragmaticmom/multicultural-books-for-kids/
As the next MCBD event approaches on January 31, 2020, I encourage everyone to follow along via the MCBD website and social media to win even more books, hear from authors and learn the importance of “windows and mirrors” in today’s children’s literature.
Participants and supporters can also stay in the loop with the festivities via the event’s hashtag #ReadYourWorld on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media. Oh! And don\’t forget to be on the lookout for the crazy-fun and wildly popular Twitter Party on 1/31/20! Details to follow.
Their FREE Downloadable Class Kit project has been wildly successful as well:
Free Classroom Empathy Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians, and Educators: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/mcbd2018s-free-classroom-empathy-kit-is-here-empathy-immigration/
Free Kindness Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians, and Educators: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/teachers-classroom-kindness-kit/
Free Classroom Kit–Poverty Doesn’t Discriminate | Understanding Poverty in America:
Free Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit:
Have questions on How You Can Get Involved In Multicultural Children\’s Book Day? Connect with the Project Manager at Becky (at) MulticulturalChildrensBookDay (dot) com.
