Multicultural Children’s Book Day: Lulu Loves Stories #ReadYourWorld

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MCCBD team hopes to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature. Our 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. We encourage readers, parents, teachers, caregivers and librarians to follow along the fun book reviews, author visits, event details, a multicultural children’s book linky and via our hashtag (#ReadYourWorld) on Twitter and other social media.

Today is Multicultural Children’s Book Day! In celebration, I have the privilege of sharing this wonderful book by Anna McQuinn, Lulu (Lola in the US) Loves Stories. I already have the book Lola at the Library and fell in love with the sweet story and images. See all of Anna’s books here.  I’m excited to add more Lulu/Lola books to my collection!

As a child care provider, I love to share stories with my infants, toddlers and preschoolers. I’ve also learned the importance of having diverse books and materials available.  A multicultural classroom involves both the students and the teacher being accepting of all races, cultures, and religions. This acceptance is evidenced by the books that are read, the activities that are completed, and the lessons that are taught.

It’s important for all children to see images that include they way look and for them to be included. The world is becoming more diverse everyday and will likely be more diverse as the years go on. We can help prepare children by teaching acceptance and love for all people.

 Multicultural Children’s Book Day: Lula Loves Stories

Starting with the cover, we see Lulu not only loves stories, she loves her dad! What a sweet relationship we can tell they have already before they even share the book. I have memories of going to the library and loving stories too. Children can relate to this! What a positive way for families to spend time together.

Lulu’s father takes her to the library on Saturday morning and she finds some books. We see a three children, all whom look different, but they are all enjoying the library.

When her father reads the first story to her, it’s about a fairy princess. Below we see that Lulu was inspired to be a fairy princess too! How fun!

Next she reads a book about an amazing journey. Then she pretends to also take an amazing journey.

Below, we can see how children were able to reenact this story through dramatic play, or were inspired to play based on the idea in the book.

Throughout the story, Lulu pretends to be a fierce tiger, a construction worker and a farmer. Children can dress up and pretend to be these characters too, and take on their roles in play.

It’s always wonderful when we can connect a story to play and expand on the ideas of something we’ve read. It increases literacy and expands the mind! I love these adorable pages in the book:

Things I noticed about the book:

• Both parents are depicted in the book, playing with Lulu and reading to her. We can tell they have a close connection to each other.
• She plays with both boys and girls, both indoors and out.
• Lulu has a vivid imagination like most children her age. She is confident to act out the characters and ideas she reads about. Her parents support this through her outfits, playing with her and giving her time and freedom to play.
• Reading is shown to be fun and loving experience.
• There is a positive message that children can be what they read about and dream to be.

The UK edition (Lulu Loves Stories) won the Coventry Inspiration Award. 

Here are some of books from Anna McQuinn on Amazon:

       

More about Multicultural Children’s Book Day:

Our mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries.

Mission: Despite census data that shows 37% of the US population consists of people of color, only 10% of children’s books published have diversity content. Using the Multicultural Children’s Book Day, Mia and Valarie are on a mission to change all of that. Their mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these types of books into classrooms and libraries. Another goal of this exciting event is create a compilation of books and favorite reads that will provide not only a new reading list for the winter, but also a way to expose brilliant books to families, teachers, and libraries.

MCCBD is partnering with First Book to offer a Virtual Book Drive that will help donate multicultural children’s books through their channels during the week of the event.

MCCBD is also collaborating with Children’s Book Council to highlight wonderful diversity books and authors on an ongoing basis all year.

MCCBD’s  2015 Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors: Wisdom Tales Press, Daybreak Press Global Bookshop
Gold Sponsors:  Satya House,  MulticulturalKids.com,   Author Stephen Hodges and the Magic Poof
Silver Sponsors: Junior Library Guild,  Capstone Publishing, Lee and Low Books,  The Omnibus Publishing. Bronze Sponsors:Double Dutch Dolls, Bliss Group Books, Snuggle with Picture Books Publishing,  Rainbow Books,   Author FeliciaCapers,   Chronicle Books   Muslim Writers Publishing ,East West Discovery Press.

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