Friday, January 22, 2016

Book Review & Activity of ABC Adoption and Me

ABC Adoption and Me

By Gayle Swift and Casey Ann Swift

Illustrated by Paul Griffin

For Multicultural Children’s Book Day #ReadYourWorld

Reviewed by Maritza Martinez Mejia – Author  



Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCCBD) falls on January 27, 2016. The mission of MCCBD is to not only raise awareness for kids’ books that celebrate diversity, but to also get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries. MCCBD assigns a book for participating bloggers to review.

I reviewed ABCAdoption and Me. This book provides an easy way to open the door to conversations about adoption. It may look like a children's book, but it is for anyone going through or thinking to adopt a child.

It begins with instructions on how to use the book, follows by the elements of adoption in a way a child can understand making connections with the alphabet. The illustrations support the message on how the children will relate to the adoption process.
This book displays knowledge and experiences not only from the author
Gayle Swift as an adoptive parent, adoption coach and foster parent, but also from the co-author Casey Ann Swift as an adoptee, teacher and supporter of the project.
I highly recommend this book for all who are exploring the option of adoption.

Activity to ABC Adoption and Me designed by Maritza Martínez Mejía @2016

Fill in the bubbles


About MCCBD
The MCCBD team’s mission is to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature. Young readers need to see themselves within the pages of a book and experience other cultures, languages, traditions and religions within the pages of a book. MCCBD encourages readers, parents, teachers, caregivers and librarians to follow along the fun book reviews, author visits and event.  The full name of this event is Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the official hashtag is #ReadYourWorld on Twitter and other social media.
The co-creators of MCCBD are Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press. Find a bio for Mia and Valarie here. View the Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents here. Connect with Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Facebook.
MCCBD Sponsors
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2016 Medallion Level Sponsors #ReadYourWorld include the following:
Platinum – 
Wisdom Tales PressStoryQuest Books, Lil Libros
Gold – Author Tori Nighthawk, Candlewick Press
Silver – Lee and Low Books, Chronicle Books , Capstone Young Readers
Bronze – Pomelo Books, Author Jacqueline Woodson, Papa Lemon Books, Goosebottom Books,Author Gleeson Rebello, ShoutMouse Press, Author Mahvash Shahegh, China Institute.org
MCCBD Co-Hosts
Multicultural Children’s Book Day has 12 amazing Co-Hosts and you can view them here.

Classroom Reading Challenge
MCCBD holds a 
Classroom Reading Challenge. This very special offering offers teachers and classrooms the chance to very easily earn a free hardcover multicultural children’s book for their classroom library. These books are not only donated by the Junior Library Guild, but they are also pre-screened and approved by them as well.

Share the post "Book Review of Chocolate Milk, Por Favor for Multicultural Children’s Book Day and Banana Sandwich Recipe #ReadYourWorld"
The Classroom Reading Challenge has begun! Teachers can earn a free diversity book! #teachers, #books  
http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/?p=1796

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Book Review and Activity of Amelie Gets Busy!

Written by Agatha Rodi

Illustrated by Joanna Scott

For Multicultural Children’s Book Day #ReadYourWorld

Reviewed by Maritza Martinez Mejia – Author


Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCCBD) falls on January 27, 2016. The mission of MCCBD is to not only raise awareness for kids’ books that celebrate diversity, but to also get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries. MCCBD assigns a book for participating bloggers to review.

I reviewed Amelia Gets Busy! 
written by Agatha Rodi and illustrated by Joanna Scott.I recommend this book for children ages 5-8 years old. 

Since the beginning of the story, the main character, Amelia seems impressed with all the wonders around her at the village’s farm with her Greek grandma named yiayia.  Visiting Grandma is an opportunity to enjoy nature, flowers, plants, birds and farm animals. The lovely yiayia protects Amelia with affection and care. The children story ends with a fond display of yiayia’s favorite keepsake box where she keeps the reason to be impressed of farm’s life.

The author Agatha Rodi uses elegant rhymes to make the story dances with poetic structure. Soft pastel illustrations depict the simple and beautiful gardening and farming’s Greek life style. 

My favorite lines:

“A jar of yiayia’s favorite cherry jam
Some pieces of spinach pie and feta cheese
Full of spices and crispy dough.
I always take my village with me,
The blue light and the hues of the rainbow
That make me say wow!
That’s why I’m so impressed!’



Activity to AmeliaGets Busy! designed by Maritza Martínez Mejía @2016

The last stanza in the book tells why Amelia is so impressed:

1.    Create your own keepsake box
2.   Fill out the five lines
3.   Add all the things that make you are impressed


A jar of ----------------------------------------------------------
Some pieces of -------------------------------------------------
Full of ------------------------------------------------------------
I always take my -----------------------------------------------
The --------------------------------------------------------------
That makes me say wow! 
That’s why I’m so impressed!



About MCCBD
The MCCBD team’s mission is to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature. Young readers need to see themselves within the pages of a book and experience other cultures, languages, traditions and religions within the pages of a book. MCCBD encourages readers, parents, teachers, caregivers and librarians to follow along the fun book reviews, author visits and event.  The full name of this event is Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the official hashtag is #ReadYourWorld on Twitter and other social media.
The co-creators of MCCBD are Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press. Find a bio for Mia and Valarie here. View the Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents here. Connect with Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Facebook.
MCCBD Co-Hosts
Multicultural Children’s Book Day has 12 amazing Co-Hosts and you can view them here.

All Done MonkeyCrafty Moms Share,Educators Spin on it,Growing Book by Book,Imagination Soup,I’m Not the Nanny,InCultural Parent, Kid World Citizen,Mama Smiles,Multicultural Kid Blogs,Spanish Playground

Classroom Reading Challenge
MCCBD holds a 
Classroom Reading Challenge. This very special offering offers teachers and classrooms the chance to very easily earn a free hardcover multicultural children’s book for their classroom library. These books are not only donated by the Junior Library Guild, but they are also pre-screened and approved by them as well.

The Classroom Reading Challenge has begun! Teachers can earn a free diversity book! #teachers, #books  
http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/?p=1796

Monday, January 18, 2016

Book Review and Activity of Shanghai Sukkah

                                          
Shanghai Sukkah 

Written by Heidi Smith Hyde 

Illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong 

For Multicultural Children’s Book Day #ReadYourWorld 
Reviewed by Maritza Martinez Mejia – Author 
www.luzdelmes.com


Multicultural Children’s Book Day falls on January 27, 2016. The mission of MCCBD is to not only raise awareness for kids’ books that celebrate diversity, but to also get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries. MCCBD assigns a book for participating bloggers to review.

I reviewed Shanghai Sukkah. A young boy named Marcus had to move with his family from Berlin to Shanghai fleeing the Holocaust in Europe.While playing in his new place with other Jewish boys, he made a new friend named Liang.  Although they spoke different languages, they learned how to communicate and became good friends. Marcus needed to build a Sukkah to celebrate the fall harvest holiday. Marcus and his friends worked hard to keep his traditions abroad and found the only place to build one on the roof, but made a simple Sukkah. Liang shared his harvest holiday called Moon Festival and invited Marcus to celebrate with him. Liang added enthusiasm to his Sukkah by bringing colorful lanterns to Marco’s Sukkah. Marcus and Liang found a way to bring both holidays together.

Author Heidi Smith uses simple sentence structure to make a good read for k-4 graders. Colorful illustrations depict the life style of a story of Jewish culture living in China. The back of the book has an informative historical notes and photos of Jews and their homes in Shanghai. Parents and teachers can discuss history and cultures.

Activity to Shanghai Sukkah - designed by Maritza Martínez Mejía @2016


The MCCBD team’s mission is to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature. Young readers need to see themselves within the pages of a book and experience other cultures, languages, traditions and religions within the pages of a book. MCCBD encourages readers, parents, teachers, caregivers and librarians to follow along the fun book reviews, author visits and event.  The full name of this event is Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the official hashtag is #ReadYourWorld on Twitter and other social media.
The co-creators of MCCBD are Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press. Find a bio for Mia and Valarie here. View the Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents hereConnect with Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Facebook.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day has 12 amazing Co-Hosts and you can view them here.
All Done Monkey, Crafty Moms Share,Educators Spin on it,Growing Book by Book,Imagination Soup,I’m Not the Nanny,InCultural Parent, Kid World Citizen,Mama Smiles,Multicultural Kid Blogs,Spanish Playground

Classroom Reading Challenge
MCCBD holds a 
Classroom Reading Challenge. This very special offering offers teachers and classrooms the chance to very easily earn a free hardcover multicultural children’s book for their classroom library. These books are not only donated by the Junior Library Guild, but they are also pre-screened and approved by them as well.


The Classroom Reading Challenge has begun! Teachers can earn a free diversity book! #teachers, #books  http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/?p=1796

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Coloring Vanilla and Chocolate Character

Vanilla and Chocolate was published in October 2012. This book was written to help children understand the virtue of Tolerance.


Designed by Estella Mejia
Main Setting: Vanilla and Chocolate main setting is at the Black and White Picnic where the development of the story mainly takes place. 

Plot: A concerned teacher helps two friends be together after their parents refused to let them play because of their skin color.

Characters: Mrs. M. prepared a Black and White Picnic Day where Vanilla and Chocolate’s parents recognized their kid’s friendship.





Activity:  Using your imagination, color Vanilla and Chocolate's Characters

This book is dedicated to all teachers who dedicate their lives to education.

For more activities visit: http://www.luzdelmes.com/ldm.php?ldm=learningactivities

For reviews about this book visithttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16249983-vanilla-and-chocolate-vainilla-y-chocolate

Social Media:

E-mail: hazeleyes@luzdelmes.com
Website: http://www.luzdelmes.com/
Amazon Author Page:

Mrs. M. Coloring Page

Illustrations by Estella Mejia
Vanilla and Chocolate was published in October 2012. This book was written to help children understand the virtue of Tolerance.


Main Setting: Vanilla and Chocolate main setting is at the Black and White Picnic where the development of the story mainly takes place. 

Plot: A concerned teacher helps two friends be together after their parents refused to let them play because of their skin color.

Character: Mrs. M., Vanilla and Chocolate's main character She prepared a Black and White Picnic Day where Vanilla and Chocolate’s parents recognized their kid’s friendship.




Activity:  Color Mrs. M. using your imagination and own colors



This book is dedicated to all teachers who dedicate their lives to education.

The last page of the story contains a vocabulary page and questions for discussion with children at home or at school.

Social Media:

E-mail: hazeleyes@luzdelmes.com
Website: http://www.luzdelmes.com/
Amazon Author Page:

Lessons for Living Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/Kdz9mG1Xc5k  via @YouTube