Friday, January 25, 2019

MCBD 2019 Book Reviews: Albie Newton, How to Code a Sandcastle, & Ahni and Her Dancing Secret

www.multiculturalchildrensbookday.com

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019 (1/25/19) is in its 6th year and was founded by Valarie Budayr from Jump Into A Book and Mia Wenjen from PragmaticMom. Their mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves while also working diligently to get more of these types of books into the hands of young readers, parents, and educators. You can visit the MCBD website or see my blog post for more information about the event as well as a list of sponsors and co-hosts.
 
I am so excited and honored to be participating in MCBD 2019 as a reviewer for the first time! I'm looking forward to spending today celebrating diversity and helping to raise young readers' awareness of and appreciation for cultures that are different from their own by reviewing some great picture books!


{ The authors very kindly provided copies of their books for me to review for MCBD 2019, which is very much appreciated but did not influence the following honest reviews. }


https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508783837l/35160619.jpg
Albie Newton
by Josh Funk; illustrated by Ester Garay

Available as: hardcover
Pages: 32
Publisher: Sterling
Publication date: May 1, 2018
Suggested tags: picture book, school, makers



From Goodreads:
"Meet Albie Newton: child genius. He’s a whiz at inventing things. But is he inventive enough to figure out how to make friends?

When precocious inventor Albie Newton enters a new preschool, he concocts the perfect plan for making friends. Unfortunately, it involves stealing the hamster’s wheel, snatching the wings off of Dave’s toy airplane, and generally making a giant mess. Now everyone’s angry at Albie! Will his new invention delight the other kids enough to make everything right—and finally win their friendship? "

I don't think there has ever been a sweeter and more adorable little genius! I loved Albie! As a baby, he took his stroller apart and rebuilt it. As a toddler, he cried because he couldn't get to infinity when he was counting. Now, he learns a new language almost every week and is starting at a new school.


How should he make friends?... By making something, of course! Too bad all his hard work interferes with everyone else's activities ... even Hamilton the hamster's! Just when all the other kids are getting ready to confront him about his actions, they realize that maybe Albie had good intentions all along...

I loved this book all the way through, but the surprise ending brought a big smile to my face - it's too perfect! The rhyming story just begs to be read aloud - the rhymes are clever and roll right off your tongue in a perfect rhythm. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, and the kids are all so stinking adorable. Their classroom is a happy and diverse one, and I liked that they were able to resolve their frustrations with Albie by themselves, without a teacher having to interfere. I can see this one being a hit at storytime, bedtime, or anytime!

Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35845088-how-to-code-a-sandcastle
How to Code a Sandcastle
by Josh Funk; illustrated by Sara Palacios

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition
Pages: 44
Publisher: Viking / Penguin
Publication date: May 15, 2018
Suggested tags: picture book, beach, coding



From Goodreads:
"From the computer science nonprofit Girls Who Code comes this lively and funny story introducing kids to computer coding concepts.

Pearl and her trusty rust-proof robot, Pascal, need to build a sandcastle before summer vacation is over, and they’re going to do it using code. Pearl breaks the big we-need-a-sandcastle problem into smaller steps, then uses conditionals, loops, and other basic coding concepts to tell Pascal exactly what to do. But building a sandcastle isn’t as easy as it sounds when surfboards, mischievous dogs, and coding mishaps get in the way! Just when it looks like the sandcastle might never work, Pearl uses her coding skills to save the day and create something even better: a gorgeous sandcastle kingdom!
"

Pearl wants to build a sandcastle, but things keep interfering. So she decides to use her robot, Pascal, to help her find a way around her problems using code to tell Pascal what to do. She teaches us some basic coding skills, and as she learns what works and what doesn't, we as readers do too. The story is educational, but it never gets boring or feels like a lecture - the way the coding is woven into the story is logical and entertaining. Pearl and Pascal's Guide to Coding at the back of the book helps to further explain the coding elements in the story in a way that is simple and easy to understand, even for those with limited coding experience (like me!).


I thought Pearl's attitude about the whole sandcastle situation was relatable yet inspiring: sometimes she starts to get upset when things aren't going right, but she quickly cheers up and faces the problems head-on to come up with a solution. The beach itself is a fun and diverse setting, showing lots of different kinds of people and families and their activities. And there are so many funny moments - such as when Pascal's coding doesn't work out quite right and he brings back strange items to decorate the sandcastle, or when Ada Puglace the pug comes along and - oh no - pees on the sandcastle!

Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33779073-ahni-and-her-dancing-secret---a-young-girl-learns-how-to-conquer-her-feaAhni and Her Dancing Secret
by Shereen Rahming; illustrated by Jeff Vernon

Available as: paperback
Pages: 32
Publisher: Read & Glow Books
Publication date: 2016
Suggested tags: picture book, dance, self-confidence



From Goodreads:
"Ahni dreams of being a prima ballerina so she joins Madam Sabina's dance school. But her spirit is soon broken when she discovers that the other students are far more advanced than she is and not as friendly as she expected. This charming story depicts the journey of little Ahni from an unsure hopeful to a confident dancer, by discovering the secret to success with the help of wise Madam Sabina."

Ahni has a passion for dance, but she doesn't quite have the talent yet. Her fellow dancers, a diverse group of students, make fun of her dance moves at first. She runs away crying, but she finds Madam Sabina, who teaches her that with hard work and determination, she'll soon be the dancer she wants to be.


The illustrations here are very bright and colorful, matching Ahni's spirit and enthusiasm. The illustrator's style seems to be larger heads that aren't quite proportionate with the characters' bodies, which distracted me a bit, but the movements of the dancers are captured nicely. This is a rhyming story, but the lines sometimes seemed to change rhythm a bit, so at some points it didn't flow as easily for me when I read it out loud. Ultimately, my favorite thing about this book was the message. Ahni discovers that the secret to success, her "dancing secret," lies within herself. Madam Sabina teaches her how to envision her goal, believe in herself, and work hard to achieve her dreams. There is a spread where Ahni envisions herself as a soccer player, a teacher, and even the president! I can see those pages sticking in the minds of young girls, helping them to believe in their own goals.

Final verdict: I liked it! I thought this book was good! I enjoyed reading it and I would probably recommend it to others.


So that's my celebration of MCBD 2019! You can join in with the hashtag #ReadYourWorld! And there's a Twitter Party at 9pm TONIGHT!! Hope to see you there!



Thursday, January 24, 2019

Multicultural Children's Book Day is almost here!

MCBD 2019 is TOMORROW and I'm so excited!! :D  For some background information about it, you can go to their website here or see my blog post here.

I'll be posting my reviews tomorrow for the books I received for MBCD (yay!!), but here are some other exciting things going on:

  • The ebook Read Your World: A Guide to Multicultural Children's Books for Parents and Educators is FREE this week on Amazon for Kindle! It's a "best of" list highlighting diverse book lists for children, contributed by 20 bloggers and 2 authors. You can find more info here. And you can find more lists of diverse books and resources for teachers and parents on the MCBD website: Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
  • Lots of rafflecopter giveaways for diverse books are open on the MCBD blog! Like, A LOT. Go check them out!
  • Speaking of giveaways, don't forget about the MCBD Twitter party tomorrow night! See you there! #ReadYourWorld

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2019



I'm so excited to be joining the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2019, hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy! It's a great way to celebrate nonfiction in picture books and check out what others are reading and reviewing. You can find more info about it and the linkup to join in here!



My goal for this year is to read 12 nonfiction picture books! I decided at the beginning of the year that I was going to start highlighting some new topics and genres on my blog that I'm really into, and that includes picture book biographies and nonfiction picture books in general. I'd like to feature a different topic each week, which means each topic gets read once a month since I have 4 topics (picture book bios, nature, cultures, and strong girls). I'll probably end up reading more than 12, since some of my nature and culture books will probably be nonfiction picture books also. But 12 is the official goal!

I can't wait to get started! Look for my first nonfiction picture book review coming the first week of February! #nfpb2019

Monday, January 7, 2019

#ReadYourWorld: Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019!

www.multiculturalchildrensbookday.com

I am so excited and honored to be participating in Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019! I'm looking forward to January 25 as a day to celebrate diversity and raise young readers' awareness of and appreciation for cultures that are different from their own by reviewing some great picture books!

The following authors very kindly sent me these books to review for MCBD 2019:

https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508783837l/35160619.jpg
Albie Newton by Josh Funk

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35845088-how-to-code-a-sandcastle

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33779073-ahni-and-her-dancing-secret---a-young-girl-learns-how-to-conquer-her-fea
Ahni and Her Dancing Secret by Shereen Rahming


Look for my reviews here on my blog soon! Join in with the hashtag #ReadYourWorld! And there's a Twitter Party at 9pm on January 25 that I am SO excited for!! More information about the event can be found below or on my MCBD2019 blog page


Here's the official information about the event...

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019 (1/25/19) is in its 6th year and was founded by Valarie Budayr from Jump Into A Book and Mia Wenjen from PragmaticMom. Our mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves while also working diligently to get more of these types of books into the hands of young readers, parents, and educators.

MCBD 2019 is honored to have the following Medallion Sponsors on board


Medallion Level Sponsors

Honorary: Children’s Book Council, The Junior Library Guild, TheConsciousKid.org.

Super Platinum: Make A Way Media

GOLD: Bharat Babies, Candlewick Press, Chickasaw Press, Juan Guerra and The Little Doctor / El doctorcito, KidLitTV, Lerner Publishing Group, Plum Street Press,

SILVER: Capstone Publishing, Carole P. Roman, Author Charlotte Riggle, Huda Essa, The Pack-n-Go Girls,

BRONZE: Charlesbridge Publishing, Judy Dodge Cummings, Author Gwen Jackson, Kitaab World, Language Lizard – Bilingual & Multicultural Resources in 50+ Languages, Lee & Low Books, Miranda Paul and Baptiste Paul, Redfin, Author Gayle H. Swift, T.A. Debonis-Monkey King’s Daughter, TimTimTom Books, Lin Thomas, Sleeping Bear Press/Dow Phumiruk, Vivian Kirkfield,

MCBD 2019 is honored to have the following Author Sponsors on board


Honorary: Julie Flett, Mehrdokht Amini, Author Janet Balletta, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw, Author Josh Funk, Chitra Soundar, One Globe Kids – Friendship Stories, Sociosights Press and Almost a Minyan, Karen Leggett, Author Eugenia Chu, CultureGroove Books, Phelicia Lang and Me On The Page, L.L. Walters, Author Sarah Stevenson, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Hayley Barrett, Sonia Panigrah, Author Carolyn Wilhelm, Alva Sachs and Dancing Dreidels, Author Susan Bernardo, Milind Makwana and A Day in the Life of a Hindu Kid, Tara Williams, Veronica Appleton, Author Crystal Bowe, Dr. Claudia May, Author/Illustrator Aram Kim, Author Sandra L. Richards, Erin Dealey, Author Sanya Whittaker Gragg, Author Elsa Takaoka, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, Anita Badhwar, Author Sylvia Liu, Feyi Fay Adventures, Author Ann Morris, Author Jacqueline Jules, CeCe & Roxy Books, Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace, LEUYEN PHAM, Padma Venkatraman, Patricia Newman and Lightswitch Learning, Shoumi Sen, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Traci Sorell, Shereen Rahming, Blythe Stanfel, Christina Matula, Julie Rubini, Paula Chase, Erin Twamley, Afsaneh Moradian, Claudia Schwam, Lori DeMonia, Terri Birnbaum/ RealGirls Revolution, Soulful Sydney, Queen Girls Publications, LLC

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.


Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts

A Crafty Arab, Agatha Rodi Books, All Done Monkey, Barefoot Mommy, Biracial Bookworms, Books My Kids Read, Crafty Moms Share, Colours of Us, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes, Descendant of Poseidon Reads, Educators Spin on it, Growing Book by Book, Here Wee Read, Joy Sun Bear/ Shearin Lee, Jump Into a Book, Imagination Soup, Jenny Ward’s Class, Kid World Citizen, Kristi’s Book Nook, The Logonauts, Mama Smiles, Miss Panda Chinese, Multicultural Kid Blogs, Raising Race Conscious Children, Shoumi Sen, Spanish Playground


TWITTER PARTY Sponsored by Make A Way Media!

MCBD’s super-popular (and crazy-fun) annual Twitter Party will be held 1/25/19 at 9:00pm.E.S.T. TONS of prizes and book bundles will be given away during the party. GO HERE for more details.

TWITTER PARTY Sponsored by Make A Way Media!

MCBD’s super-popular (and crazy-fun) annual Twitter Party will be held 1/25/19 at 9:00pm.E.S.T. TONS of prizes and book bundles will be given away during the party. GO HERE for more details.

FREE RESOURCES From MCBD

Free Multicultural Books for Teachers: https://wp.me/P5tVud-1H

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.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

New Year, New Blog!

(... ok, same blog, but some new blog policies!)

First of all, Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a very happy holiday season and that 2019 turns out to be a great one for you all!

I've been doing some thinking about how I could improve my blog this year. I would love to commit to posting daily, but since that hasn't worked out for me so far, I doubt that's going to work out anytime soon. I need to accept the fact that I'm a wife and mommy now, and I just do not have the spare time that I used to have, no matter how much I wish I did.

But, I can commit to posting some new types of things! There are certain topics and genres that are important to me, so I'd like to highlight those on my blog, such as...

  • picture book biographies (and nonfiction picture books in general!) - I love these! I'd love to read more, and I'd love to highlight the great ones I've discovered so other readers can enjoy them too. There's a weekly Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge that I'd love to join in on to share these types of books! I'll try to review one of these on the first week of each month.
  • books about nature for younger readers - I love books about nature... animals, plants, national parks, you name it - I will read it. I've had some jobs in environmental education and I've loved them all, so I'd really love to bring a little of that to my blog too by sharing awesome kidlit books about nature. I'll try to review one of these on the second week of each month.
  • books about different cultures for younger readers -  I have a lot of varied interests, and I also have a thing for learning about all the amazing cultures in the world. I love books that make learning about people and cultures who are different from yourself a really positive and exciting experience. I love reading folk tales and fairy tales from other cultures as well. I'll try to review one of these on the third week of each month.
  • books about strong girls - There are so many books coming out now with stories of girls today and in the past doing awesome things, written for younger readers, teens, and adults as well. I'd love to read some of them and share my favorites on my blog! I'll try to review one of these on the fourth week of each month.

I also have a pretty major policy change to announce. I've been doing some thinking about the kind of place I want my blog to be, and the kind of reviewer I want to be, and I realized I just want my blog to be a positive, happy place and that I want to be a reviewer who shouts from the rooftops about books that I love. With that in mind, I have decided not to post negative reviews on my blog. I'd rather spend my time and effort sharing books that I really loved, spreading the word about them and getting other readers excited to try reading them for themselves. So here's what that means:
  • My rating system won't involve stars anymore - each book will get a verdict of "I liked it," "I loved it," or "I'm obsessed with it." I'll be removing all the reviews from my blog that don't fall under those categories.
  • My reviews will still be honest! If I don't like a book or don't have anything nice to say about it, I simply won't review it.
  • This does not mean that I won't be providing constructive criticism. If I think a book could improve somewhere, I will say it in what I hope is a nice and helpful way. It just means that I won't be bashing books or saying nothing but negative things about them.

I have nothing against blogs or reviewers that post reviews that bash a book - everyone is entitled to their opinion, and those reviews can be fun to read. But the world is feeling a bit unkind and angry to me right now, and I'm making my own small stand against that by pledging my blog to be a place of kindness and positivity.

Wishing you all a happy 2019! I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that I share each New Years - it helps me get in a positive, fresh-start mood, and I hope it helps you feel the same!

"May your year be filled with magic and dreams..., and I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." Neil Gaiman