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I’m so thrilled that Multicultural Children Book Day (multiculturalchildrensbookday.com) has given me the opportunity to do a formal review on Children books. And even more so to have been matched with a book that will be of significant help for bilingual children as well as those who have been diagnosed with Autism. I was gifted an e-copy of “Icing on the Cake” by Troon Harrison and Illustrated by Joyeeta Neogi, published by Language Lizard (languagelizard.com).
Can you imagine how difficult it is for English Language Learners to hear words that they know the meaning of, but still do not understand? And how confusing it is for a child with Autism whose absence of pragmatic language makes them understand everything literally? When Children are faced with language barriers, it affects their participation in school, as well as their social life development. Not grasping what everybody else is understanding, affects their self-esteem and their confidence.
“Icing on the cake” is a book about Idioms that refers to food, phrases that literally say one thing, but they mean something completely different. Phrases that are commonly used in the everyday English language. For example: “Two peas in a pod” meaning Two people who are very similar. This book is the perfect idiom “Dictionary” for this audience.
The book is not limited to Spanish Bilingual children, you can also find it in English-only editions, as well as in 9 other different languages. ( Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Telugu, and Vietnamese.)
This book also contains very vivid illustrations and I must mention there is an evident effort in representing a variety of cultures and diversity throughout the pages.
Language Lizard, the publishing company behind the book, is a woman owned small business on a mission to provide resources that will help teachers create culturally responsive classrooms, where students of all backgrounds feel welcome, respected and included.
“Icing on the cake” is a treasure in the bookshelf, every Bilingual, ELL and Special Education teacher must have one available, as well as the parents to those children who fall into these groups.
This is a formal book review and the opinions expressed are purely my own.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.
Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Prgamaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)
Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Candlewick Press, Capstone, Hoopoe Books, KidLitTV, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Charlotte Riggle, Connecticut Association of School Librarians, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Pack-N-Go Girls
Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!, Barnes Brothers Books, Create and Educate Solutions, LLC, Dreambuilt Books, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin Real Estate, Snowflake Stories, Star Bright Books, TimTimTom Bilingual Personalized Books, Author Vivian Kirkfield, Wisdom Tales Press, My Well Read Child
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Poster Artist: Nat Iwata
Authors: Author Afsaneh Moradian, Author Alva Sachs & Three Wishes Publishing Company, Author Angeliki Stamatopoulou-Pedersen, Author Anna Olswanger, Author Casey Bell , Author Claudine Norden, Author Debbie Dadey, Author Diana Huang & Intrepids, Author Eugenia Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Green Kids Club, Author Gwen Jackson, Author Janet Balletta, Author Josh Funk, Author Julia Inserro, Karter Johnson & Popcorn and Books, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, Author Keila Dawson, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Author Mia Wenjen, Michael Genhart, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Natalie Murray, Natalie McDonald-Perkins, Author Natasha Yim, Author Phe Lang and Me On The Page Publishing, Sandra Elaine Scott, Author Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Tales of the Five Enchanted Mermaids, Author Theresa Mackiewicz, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Author Toshia Stelivan, Valerie Williams-Sanchez & The Cocoa Kids Collection Books©, Author Vanessa Womack, MBA, Author Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!
Check out MCBD's Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
TWITTER PARTY! Register here!
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party!
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome.
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.
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