Colors of Wine Country

Have you been to wine country? If not, then grab your little one and take an imaginary trip to Napa Valley, California in Colors of the Wine Country, a wonderful board book that teaches children about the colors found throughout the beautiful California wine country. 

Told in a simple and fun style, Colors of the Wine Country, is a comprehensive lesson for toddlers and other children who have not yet learned to speak (such as autistic or other special needs children), that not only teaches children about colors, but also  introduces them to farm equipment, crops and animals.

The book contains bright and  beautiful colors of animated illustrations of many of nature's wonders including crop fields, streams and animals, including a cow and dog. I have no doubt that Colors of the Wine Country  would be a fun and enjoyable read that children will love for its visual appeal, and parents will love for its educational content. It's a win-win!

Colors of the Wine Country

Written by Kyle and Amy Goleno

Illustrator: Peter Francis

DID YOU KNOW?

May 4-8 is is teacher appreciation week, and that May 5th is National Teacher Appreciation day? Since 1984, National PTA has designated the first week in May as a special time to honor the men and women who lend their skills to educating our children. Find out more at www.pta.org.

About BookBuzz4Kids.com

BookBuzz4Kids.com reviews books that educate young children ages 1-10. Our mission is to celebrate children’s books that promote education, diversity and fun, and to give parents of all cultural, religious and racial backgrounds a source where they can find children's books that represent them and their children.  To suggest a book to have reviewed on BookBuzz4Kids.com, email adcwriter@gmail.com

Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns and Stars!

I love the cherry blossoms that bloom every year in Washington, D.C. - and so does the rest of America! That's why I am reviewing the picture book Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns and Stars!, a great picture that tells of many Japanese traditions, including one that celebrates the blooming of cherry blossom trees.

Some of the many celebrations described in the book include a doll festival, Children's Day, the Star Festival, Greenery Day, cherry blossom viewing parties, and more. The book not only tells what the celebrations are, but gives both the English and Japanese names for each celebration, and provides a helpful glossary in the back of the book as a reference. For example, the Japanese word for "cherry blossom" is "sakura." The Japanese word for the cherry blossom viewing parties held to celebrate the blooming of the cherry blossom trees is "Hanami."

Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns and Stars! also educates children on typical phrases such as thank-you, which is  "domo arigato" in Japanese. Children will learn not only about the celebrations, but the foods that are eaten during these celebrations, the arts and crafts made during celebrations and words and letters of the Japanese language.

If you seek a great book that educates children on the aspects of Japanese culture, Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns and Stars! is a great choice!

DID YOU KNOW?

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. There are many ways to celebrate and  Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns and Stars! is a great source for picking a suitable celebration!

Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns and Stars!

Author & Illustrator: Betty Reynolds

About BookBuzz4Kids.com

BookBuzz4Kids.com reviews books that celebrate diversity and culturally educate young children ages 1-10. Our mission is to celebrate children’s books that promote education, diversity and fun, and to give parents of all cultural, religious and racial backgrounds a source where they can find children's books that represent them and their children.

My Brother Charlie

When we were babies, I snuggled and giggled with Mommy.

But Charlie was different. He wouldn't play with me.

As we grew older, Mommy discovered that Charlie's brain works in a special way, 

because Charlie has autism. 

Today is the World Autism Awareness Day, and to honor those affected by this very challenging disorder, I am reviewing the picture book My Brother Charlie, co-written by actress Holly Robinson Peete and her daughter Ryan Elizabeth Peete. My Brother Charlie tells the story of a brother and sister, one with autism and one without, and addresses the heartache that can accompany being the sibling of a child suffering from autism.

Callie loves her brother Charlie very much, but sometimes it's hard dealing with his quirks, such as when he doesn't want to play with others, or giggle. As with most autistic children, words come sparingly to Charlie, but Callie tells how autistic children are still able to show love and affection through eye contact or a simple touch. And while it can be difficult and very frustrating at times, Callie explains that having an autistic brother isn't always bad. Like most children, Charlie has special gifts, including the ability to connect well with animals and an exceptional memory - he can recite the names of all the American presidents!

What makes My Brother Charlie such a wonderful book is it's lessons of love and tolerance, and how it encourages children to appreciate and understand the differences in others. It is a great resource for any adult who wants to explain what autism is to young children. As the aunt of a 6 year-old nephew with autism, I really appreciate the warmth and honesty of this book. If you are a neighbor, teacher, parent or sibling who has been looking for a way to explain autism to a little one, you can't go wrong with My Brother Charlie.

My Brother Charlie

Written by: Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth

Illustrated by: Shane W. Evans

I am Amelia Earhart

 

  I am Amelia Earhart. When I was little, 
people told me that girls should wear dresses and play with dolls. 

They said we shouldn't have "unladylike" adventures. I didn't agree.

It's Women's History Month, and what better time to learn about a female pilot who broke records when no one thought she could! I'm referring to Amelia Earhart, the first woman to ever fly across the Atlantic Ocean. I am Amelia Earhart tells Amelia's story about how she wasn't like other girls. She wanted to have backyard adventures, but she was told that they her backyard adventures were "unladylike" for little girls. Still, Amelia continued to make roller coasters and more in her backyard - even when she got in trouble for these "unladylike" adventures.

As a child, Amelia went to air shows with her family, and at age 23 she took a plane ride with the legendary Frank Hawks. It was then that she knew she had to fly, and began to pay for flying lessons by working various jobs as a photographer, stenographer and even a truck driver. Eventually, she made her legendary flight over the Atlantic Ocean. She also broke the record for flying at the highest altitude than any man or woman had ever done.

What's really great about I am Amelia Earhart is how the book teaches children that they can do something that has not been done by others. The book encourages children that you don't have to be a natural at something, but if you work hard toward a dream, it can be accomplished. It's a fun read with great illustrations that teaches children to aim high and aspire to do great things.

I am Amelia Earhart

Written by: Brad Meltzer 

Illustrated by: Christopher Eliopoulos

The Story of Ruby Bridges

On Ruby's first day, a large crowd of angry white people gathered outside.

The people carried signs that said they didn't want black children in a white school.

People called Ruby names; some wanted to hurt her... the marshals carried guns.

Ruby would hurry through the crowd and not say a word.

You may have heard about when schools were first integrated in the South, but have you heard about the brave little girl who endured angry white parents who shouted at her every day because they didn't want black children attending school with their children?

I'm talking about Ruby Bridges, and if your child doesn't know who she is, this is the perfect time to read The Story Of Ruby Bridges to them. Why? Because today is the last day of Black History Month and the eve of Women's History Month, and the perfect time to learn about Ruby's story. Not only is it a story that teaches children courage, it also teaches how to love others - even if they don't love or understand you.

Chances are you've seen the Norman Rockwell 1964 Paintingof young Ruby Bridges, then only six-years old, being escorted to school by U.S. Marshals as a result of her decision to a school that had been all-white. It was a time of racial strife, and many white parents stop sending their children to school because they didn't want them to go to the same school as a black child. So for months, Ruby studied alone in her class - but she didn't let loneliness stop her. Ruby learned to read and write and she continued to learn day after day - all by herself.

The Story Of Ruby Bridges  is a great picture book for young children for many reasons.It teaches children that doing the brave thing isn't always the easy thing - but that it can still be done with dignity and grace. Also, even though each morning, Ruby was shouted at - and sometimes had tomatoes and other items thrown at her - she went to school and never gave up, because she and her parents were determined for her to have the best education. It is a story that all children, especially those who have faced adversity and bullying at school can learn from.

D is for Drinking Gourd

L is for Little Rock Nine,

the students who integrated school

at Little Rock, Arkansas's Central High -

protected under military rule.

D is for Drinking Gourd is a wonderful picture book that tells the African-American story with beautiful illustrations and comprehensive facts, offering a great introduction to African-American history for young children ages 2-10.

The book begins with "A is for abolitionists" and continues with other important highlights of Black history including "E is for Emancipation," "G is for the Great Migration," and "H is for Harlem Renaissance," all in a way that is understandable to young children. It is a great tool for sharing African-American history to young children in a factual, yet heartfelt way that doesn't only tell of the atrocities of Black history, but also of the triumphs and victories.

One of my favorite references in the book is "D is for Drinking Gourd" from the book title, which explains how fugitive slaves referred to the Big Dipper as "Drinking Gourd." The book explains how this constellation helped slaves locate the North Star which guided them toward freedom.

Other significant events highlighted in the book include the founding of the NAACP, history of the Tuskegee Airmen, winners of the Pulitzer Prize, and the congressional terms of African-Americans including Hiram Revels, who is unknown to many, but  in 1870 became the first African-American United States senator.

D is for Drinking Gourd is a must for any adult who wants to introduce Black history to a child, and it is a great way for teachers to celebrate Black History with students. It is a truly heartfelt compilation of both heartbreaking – and victorious moments in Black history and should be read by adult of all races who want to share an accurate and heartfelt history of the African-American experience.

Bijoy and the Big River

January 27th is Multicultural Children's Book Day and to celebrate I am reviewing Bijoy and the Big River. Learn about the daily lives through a young boy's journey through the Brahmaputri River, also known as the Burha Luit or "Big River" in his Indian village of Assam.

Bijoy loves living near the water because it has many facets, one of which is the xihu, (pronounced hihu). Xihu is an endangered Gangetic river dolphin that lives and swims sideways in the Big River, and one of the native animals that Bijoy has come face to face with. Other animals native to India in the book are silkworms and their unique cocoons, elephants, and the endangered one-horned rhino. Learn also about materials from trees native to India, including bamboo and cane, that are used to build houses in Bijoy's village of Assam. 

Bijoy and the Big River is a great book to read to your child who is interested in India, has family in India, or children who simply like learning about different countries. Not only does it tell of native animals and plants, it explores native foods and festivals.

Reading Bijoy and the Big River is a great way to introduce your child to another culture! Take it one step further and introduce your child to the food of India by going to and Indian restaurant or making a home-cooked meal of mustard greens and bamboo shoots, both foods that are native to India. However you choose to celebrate the day, make sure that you make it fun!

Bijoy and the Big River

Written by: Meera Sriram and Praba Ram

About Multicultural Children's Book Day2015  (MCCBD)

Creators: Co-creators of this unique event are Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press. You can find a bio for Mia and Valarie here.

Mission: To raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries. 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 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.”

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.

Co-hosts: Find a list of co-hosts on the Multicultural Children's Book Day website here.

Virtual Book Drive w/ First Book: 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. We want to help get diversity books into the hands of kids who most need it and now we have a way to do it! The Virtual Book Drive is LIVE and can be found HERE.

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

How I Learn: A Kid's Guide to Learning Disability

I like school, but sometimes I get confused. 

That's because I learn in a different way. 

But guess what? That's OK.

It's the New Year, and a great time for new learning! With that in mind, I'm reviewing How I Learn: A Kid's Guide to Learning Disability.to keep in line with Book Buzz 4 Kid's mission to support books that discuss issues of diversity, to include cultural, religious, racial, and disabled/special needs communities.

Children with a disability or special need, such as Autism or Dyslexia, often feel embarrassed or ostracized for being different. How I Learn is a wonderful picture book that teaches children that it's OK to be different and learn differently from others.

The story addresses how some kids are good at reading, but not math, while other children who are good at sports, may not be good at drawing or reading. How I Learn encourages children to ask questions when they don't understand, or to use computers for help with a learning disability. The book also encourages children to also ask for their parents help.

What I love most about the book is that in addition to telling children throughout the book that it's okay to learn differently, it also encourages parent-child reading time, and demonstrates how learning things like math can be made fun when taught to count using measuring in the kitchen at home. After all, parent support is the most important thing in cultivating confidence in a child with special needs. How I Learn demonstrates this well and is a great read for any child trying to cope with being different.

How I Learn: A Kid's Guide to Learning Disability

Author: Brenda S. Miles, PhD, & Colleen A. Patterson, MA

Illustrated by Jane Heinrichs