On January 29, Star Bright Books proudly returned as a sponsor for Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Jnau! We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this celebration of representation and diverse stories. Multicultural Children’s Book Day aims to connect young readers with multicultural books and expose them to new perspectives.
Volunteers read and reviewed three of our titles—Twinkle, Twinkle, Diaper You!; The Big Day; and 21 Cousins—for MCBD. Below are some of their kind words. Thank you to everyone who participated and reviewed our books!
For more information about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, visit their website, Facebook page, or Instagram account.
The Big Day, written by Terry Lee Caruthers and illustrated by Robert Casilla.
The Big Day
Jennifer Burgin (Twitter: @mrsjburgin)
“. . . The Big Day ends with two full-page spreads describing aspects of Women’s Suffrage & surrounding politics of the era. It can help equip educators to discuss topics like racism, riots, suffrage and gender equality.”
Karina Elze (Facebook: Elze Kids Online)
“I love this book because I am able to cover so many topics with my students, whether it be the civic duty of voting, equality, or history. The illustrations are very detailed and the real newspaper headlines brought it more to life.”
Jason DeHart (Book Love/Dr. J Reads)
“The story is powerfully told in words from Caruthers, and would make a wonderful read aloud or shared reading for younger readers, as well as an independent read. I can even see this book as a powerful site for literacy development and cultural discussion for older readers as an introduction to a unit or prelude to a longer text.”
Valerie Williams-Sanchez (Valerie’s Vignettes)
“[E]xplore[s] the past in ways that make[s] history come alive, offering [a] fresh perspectives and reconstructed imagining of [an] important event in our nation’s history. . . imagines the excitement of being the first Black woman to cast her ballot in Knoxville, Tennessee.”
Dolisha Mitchell (Instagram: @littleblackbooknook)
“The back matter of this book includes so many fascinating facts and details such as a timeline of women’s suffrage world wide, newspaper clippings, and more details about the life of Agnes Sadler.”
Roberta Gibson (Wrapped in Foil)
“The Big Day is perfect to share for Black History Month (February), Women’s History Month (March), and around elections. Children, particularly budding historians, are going to be fascinated by this glimpse into an important time. Delve into a copy today!”
Twinkle, Twinkle, Diaper You!, written by Ellen Mayer and illustrated by Ying-Hwa Hu.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Diaper You!
Zainab Hasan (Instagram: @busyammareads)
“A very sweet board book, Twinkle Twinkle Diaper You! introduces the importance of ‘parentese.’ A form of communication between a child and parent that leads to relationship building.”
Sita Singh (Instagram: @sitawrites)
“I love that the book features a family that is diverse and multigenerational, and includes a note that highlights the importance of interacting with your baby. This book is a must-have for all new parents, grandparents, and caregivers!”
“I will recommend this book to anyone who wants to have fun while building a warm relationship with his/her baby through playful conversations.”
“This beautiful board book features Mommy and Baby as they interact and communicate during Baby’s diaper change. The story serves as a reminder to parents and other caregivers that every interaction with a child can be meaningful.”
Kristen Zellner (Eat, Pray, Travel, Teach)
“The illustrations alone are a wonderful addition to any library but I truly think this is one that should be gifted at every baby shower.”
21 Cousins, written by Diane de Anda and illustrated by Isabel Muñoz.
21 Cousins
Patricia Nozell (Wander, Ponder, Write)
“21 Cousins is a celebratory exploration of family and mestizo heritage. Readers meet each cousin in this loving family in turn, making it a perfect book to explore how we are the same and different. I love that physical attributes, skills, and passions are highlighted—I think readers may find someone who is just like them (or like one of their family members).”
Melissa Mwai (Kid Lit Cliffs Notes)
“[T]here seems to be every different type of person in this mestizo family. Such an immediate “draw”! . . . I love that the English version works in a lot of Español! It feels very conversational.”