Make A Way CEO, Deedee Cummings stumbled upon Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) a few years ago and it was like a breath of fresh air to her frustrated soul.
“Being a part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) is a constant reminder that books and people are still good at heart,” she shared. “There are people on the planet who are different from me but love some of the same things and care about some of the same messages. Like the importance of diverse books. And they care about this because diverse books send messages to all of us about the beauty of being a human being and getting to know someone else’s story. It teaches us and reminds us that we can work together and be more compassionate, kinder, and more engaged with one another if only by hearing their story. Diverse books do for kids what Multicultural Children’s Book Day has done for me: shows us all that the world is not so scary and we are not alone in our beliefs. There are more people like me out there. I just have not met them all yet.”
MCBD’s mission from Day One has been to not only raise awareness around kid’s books that celebrate diversity but to also get more of these types of books into classrooms and libraries. Their passion for diversity in children’s literature and shining the spotlight on amazing books that help young readers see what is possible align completely with the vision and goals of Make A Way Media.
The 9th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day is coming on January 28, 2022.
“We are so proud to be able to work with authors like Deedee,” shared MCBD’s PM, Becky Flansburg. “Her fire and passion are infectious and she inspires all of us!”
Make A Way Media and MCBD have some amazing things planned for this epic children’s literacy-based online event so stay tuned and be sure and follow both of these powerhouses on Instagram!
More about MCBD
MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness for children’s books that celebrate diversity by getting more of these books into classrooms and libraries. This non-profit also strives to shine the spotlight on the diverse books and authors that often get overlooked by mainstream publishing and media.
“Kids need to ‘see themselves’ in the pages of the books they read,” noted Co-Founder, Valarie Budayr. “We are determined to not only shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books available but also offer visibility for the amazing authors and publishers who create them.”
The MCBD online celebration attracts thousands of supporters, over 600 book reviewers, and dozens of quality authors and publishers. With each passing year, not only has the event itself grown exponentially, but this non-profit initiative has also expanded to offline classroom programs, celebrations, and they now have a global reach.
The proceeds from the January online event and year-round fundraising go towards supporting this initiative and funding the Our Free Diverse Books for Classrooms and Teachers project.
To learn how you can get involved, go HERE and don’t forget to follow the #ReadYourWorld hashtag on social media!
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess–A Little Magic is HERE!
Kayla always had a plan. The problem was a lot of other people had a plan for Kayla too. But as an independent young woman, Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess has grown into a Queen. “ModernDayK,” as her peers call her.
So, when she tells her mom that she is on her way home from college with “big news,” the results are some surprises, some honest conversations, and the realization of a life-long dream. Mother and daughter soon see how all the special princess gifts from the past will play a magical role in Kayla’s future. Each gift has a special memory, and each represents a noteworthy milestone in her life. But most importantly, they are filled with confidence, determination, a mother’s love, and A Little Magic.
Parents and Teachers: Seeing characters who look like them in the books they read is not only essential for building self-esteem, but it also helps young readers understand that they matter. Diverse and #OWNVOICES books, like Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess, help kids discover for themselves that their dreams are possible. This book, and the other diverse picture books in the Kayla series, touch on important and timely topics like family dynamics, challenging stereotypes, acceptance, social justice, confidence, speaking our truth, and inclusion.
This book series is not just for girls or children of color either. Frequently, adults forget the “Windows” part of “Windows and Mirrors.” A Mirror is a story that reflects your own culture and helps you build your identity, but a Window is a resource that offers you a view into someone else’s experience. It is critical to understand that students cannot truly learn about themselves unless they learn about others. White kids need to read books that provide a “window” into new cultures, races, traditions, family dynamics, and religions to drive the point home.
“If you care about fostering empathy in children, you need to genuinely care about the journey of other people who don’t look and live as you do.” ~Deedee Cummings
Adults also need to provide books for our kids that do not contribute to harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. This can occur much more quickly when the book is not written by someone who lived that life and learned firsthand from experience. Instead, we owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to share books that help us see the world as the vast, beautiful, and fascinating place that it truly is- from the perspective of many. The most authentic story is told by the one who lived it. By investing in #OWNVOICES stories, book buyers support the stories and amplify the voices, of the authors who lived them.
Grab your copy in both ebook and paperback HERE.