GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS: A Muslim Book of Colors

Orange is the color of my henna designs, they cover my hands in leafy vines.

Silver is a fanoos, a twinkling light, a shiny lantern that glows at night.

There is much religious turmoil going on in our world right now. As a devout Christian, I always hope that those who do not share my religion will still respect it. In turn, I make an effort to respect religions that are different from my own. For that reason, this week I am reviewing the educational picture book Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns. It is my hope and belief that if we teach children at a young age the beauty of other religions, then they will grow up with a love of their religion, as well as tolerance for others.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is a beautifully written children's book. It is a  positive introduction to some of the cultural practices of the Muslim religion featuring breathtakingly beautiful illustrations, and rhyming prose that educates young children about different colors. Some of the cultural practices highlighted in the book are of women wearing a hijab (scarf) and henna (tattoo-like artwork), and the hanging of a fanoos (lantern) during Ramadan. At the end of the book is a glossary of the terms used in the book that explains what each word means and why it is important in the Muslim culture.

It is not always easy to embrace customs that are different from ours, but if we are to use the golden rule - to treat (respect) the beliefs and customs of others, the way that we in turn would like to be treated - then embracing different cultures, and educating our children about them is something we must make an effort to do. For this reason, I strongly recommend reading Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns to children who are both Muslim and non-Muslim.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book that is a great educational tool for teaching young children colors as well as well as introducing children to Muslim traditions. If it is your hope to educate and/or raise a tolerant and educated child who respects those different from him or her, this is a wonderful book to read to a child of any religion, and a great way to introduce a child to the concept of peace and tolerance.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors

Written by: Hena Khan

Illustrated by: Mehrdokht Amini

About BookBuzz4Kids.com

BookBuzz4Kids.com reviews books that celebrate culture and educate young children ages 1-10. Our mission is to celebrate children’s books that promote diversity so that parents of all cultural, diverse and religious backgrounds, including those with disabilities have a source where they can find children's books that represent their children. BookBuzz4Kids.com also aims to support independent self-published authors who write educational and culturally diverse books.

We are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians

It's Native American Heritage Month and in honor of the many contributions of that countless Naitve Americans have made, I am reviewing We Are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians.

Have you have heard of Sacajawea, the woman who is now on the gold one-dollar coin? Perhaps you know or have heard of Wilma Mankiller, the first female Native American Chief of the Cherokee nation. But I bet you haven't heard of the first Osage Native American ballerina Maria Tallchief or the Dakota artist Shumka-Ishnala aka "Lone Dog," or how about the 420 code talkers, Navajo Native American soldiers who helped defeat the Japanese in World War II. These and more notable Native Americans are highlighted in We Are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians.

One of my favorite people featured in the book are Tisquantum aka Squanto, one of the Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims survive a sickness that was killing off hoards of people. He taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn with fish, and how to catch fish with tall, thick grass that was weaved into fishing nets. The pilgrims thanked Tisquantum by inviting him and other Native Americans to a feast, now known as Thanksgiving.

We Are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians is a wonderful historical picture book that every child should read, as many of these figures - if not all, are rarely depicted in U.S. history books. The book also provides a small pronunciation guide at the end to help readers practice the correct pronunciation of Native American names. It also provides a reading list for young readers so that children can continue their learning about Native Americans.

The best part of the book is that it doesn't just state facts, it tells a  personal story about each person profiled. It tells of how Susan La Flesche Picotte, a doctor from the Omaha nation struggled by horseback in a snowstorm to reach a child with pneumonia. These and more personal stories are told in the book. Others profiled in We Are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians are Olympian Jim Thorpe, writer Sherman Alexie, and the Conley sisters of the Wyandot nation - lawyers who helped to keep a Wyandot cemetery in Wyandot control. If you value the contributions made by Native Americans, this book is a must read for the children in your life.

We Are the Many: A Picture Book of American Indians

Written by Doreen Rappaport

Illustrated by: Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu

When I Am the Leader

"When I am a representative,

I will be a member of the House of Representatives within the United States Congress

I will more or less fulfill the people's interests and objectives."

Do you ever have a difficult time trying to explain politics to kids? What about the election process? If so, When I am the Leader is a great book to start the conversation. Not only does it describe the roles of elected officials, it also highlights occupations in education that children are familiar with. For  kids who already have aspirations of what they want to be when they grow up, When I am the Leader is a great readr. It describes more than 20 occupations, many of which are determined through elections. The book explains what it means to be a senator, school principal, police officer, mayor and many other professions.

The rhyming prose makes the book easy to read, and makes up for the lack of color in the illustrations. The back of the book features a substantial notes section, which is helpful for classroom lessons. This book is effective in teaching children what it means to be a leader, because it focuses on the duties of each occupation, not on how much  money is made, which can be why many children do or don't want to go into a specific profession.

If you know a child who demonstrates leadership abilities and/or qualities When I am the Leader is a great way to instill future ambitions in them. When I am the Leader is written by Fannie T. Brown and is available at BarnesandNoble.com. Or if you live in, or plan to visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, you can find the book at the Grand Strand Cultural Arts Foundation, which is located at 1208 Hemingway Street in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words

"We will bring change through our voice."

"Our words can change the world"

- Malala Yousafzai



Today is the anniversary of Malala Yousafzai being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize one year ago today. In honor of Malala and her achievement, I am reviewing Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words- a picture book about how Malala became an internationally known advocate for education.

Malala was born in Mingora on the River Swat in northern Pakistan. Her father, a school principal, named her after a Maiwand woman who helped save her village from invaders over 100 years ago.

When the Taliban took control of Malala's village, they forbade girls to go to school. Malala continued to go to school anyway, and shea began writing a blog about why everyone should have the right to an education. The blog was published in Urdu, but also in English by BBC.

In 2011, Malala was recognized for her writing, and received Pakistan's first National Youth Award for Peace. This angered the Taliban, and in 2012, Malala and two of her friends were ambushed and shot while riding in a school bus. Thankfully, everyone survived, and on her 16th birthday, Malala spoke at the United Nations urging every nation to help make it possible for every child to go to school for free.

Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words is a wonderful book that celebrates courage, and is an example of how one person can make a difference. Malala Yousafzai is now world-known as an advocate for education. Learn more about Malala and the work she is doing at www.malala.org

Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words

Written by: Karen Leggett Abouraya

Illustrated by: L. C. Wheatley

My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz

 

Do you love salsa music? I love it, and in celebration of Hispanic American Heritage Month, I am reviewing the bilingual picture book My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz.Celia Cruz was a salsa music legend, who is known as the Queen of Salsa, and rightly so. Had she not brought her beautiful music to the United States, salsa music would not be what it is today in the U.S.

 

Celia Cruz was born in Cuba, and she grew up around beautiful music and colorful clothing, both of which influenced her singing. She came from humble beginnings; her father was a railroad worker- but their lives were filled with music that brought them much joy, despite being poor.

 

Celia was gifted at a young age and would sing songs with both African and Cuban rhythms to her family as well as neighbors. She did well in school and was encouraged by her teacher to "go into the world and sing." Celia began singing in competitions with her cousin, but some would not let her sing because of her dark skin - but that didn't discourage her! She left Cuba during the revolution, and moved to the U.S., where she became a U.S. citizen. Celia brought salsa music to America that blended rock, rumba, mambo and jazz music. Celia Cruz was so successful as a singer in America that she was honored by presidents, and became known as the Queen of Salsa.

 

My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz is a wonderful children's book, not only because it teaches us about an important Hispanic woman in history. It's exceptional because it is a story of triumph, that educates children about a woman who crossed borders and broke boundries to pursue a talent that enriched and changed the world. The book's beautiful illustrations do a beautiful job of representing the energy that Celia brought to her music, and the descriptions of the sounds of nature and food she cooked with her family encourages children to pay attention to their surroundings to find inspiration to be creative. Most of all, it is a book that teaches children that you can overcome obstacles if you don't give up, and that is a lesson any child of color should be taught at a young age, if they are to survive and be successful in life.

 

 

My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz

Written by: Monica Brown

Illustrated by: Rafael Lopez

Biblio Burro: A True Story from Columbia

Written & illustrated by: Jeanette Winter 

 

What would you do if there were no books available to read to your children? What if there were no libraries that gave children access to books? This was the case for many villages in Columbia, until one man decided to bring books to children who didn't have them.

Biblio Burro tells the story of a teacher in Columbia who traveled miles and miles to bring books to poor villages in Columbia that had no access to books. Luis Soriano lived in the jungles of Columbia and loved reading books. However his love of reading soon resulted in a house full of books that made it hard to live. Luis decided that he would bring the books he's read to those in villages who had none.

Luis one day then ventures out with one donkey to carry him, and another donkey to carry a crate of books to get books to children in faraway hills of Columbia. His first trip is to El Tormento, where he weathers hot sun and even a bandit who tries to rob him, but he does not let that deter him. He continues on and when he arrives at the village, he is greeted by elated children ready to receive his books.

What started with a collection of 70 books and one trip, has grown to trips every weekend, delivering more than 4,000 books to hundreds of people who would otherwise not have books to read.

Biblio Burro is a wonderful picture book with colorful and lively illustrations that brings Luis' story to life. The story not only teaches children  about giving to others, but also encourages them to value those things that we many times take for granted.

In 2010, the Biblio Burro Foundation was established to provide education and literacy to disadvantaged rural children and teens in the northern villages of Colombia. For more information about the foundation visit it's Facebook pages,  www.facebook.com/BiblioburroFoundation/info in English, or in Spanish at https://www.facebook.com/Biblioburro-32811799715/timeline/.

 

About BookBuzz4Kids.com
BookBuzz4Kids.com reviews books that celebrate culture and educate young children ages 1-10. Our mission is to celebrate children’s books that promote diversity, so that parents of all cultural, diverse backgrounds, including special needs, have a source where they can find children's books that represent them and their children. BookBuzz4Kids.com also aims to support independent self-published authors who represent write culturally diverse books.

Take Me Out to the Yakyu

Do you know a child who loves baseball? If so, Take Me Out to the Yakyu is the perfect picture book! In this colorfully illustrated book, a young boy tells you all about how he enjoys going to the ballgame in both America and Japan.

In this baseball adventure, children learn that the word "yakyu" is the Japanese word for baseball. Children also learn the similarities and differences that exist in baseball in America and Japan. For example, in America, before the game, people buy hot dogs and peanuts; in Japan they buy soba noodles and edamame (soy beans).

Another similar custom is how in Japan during the 7th inning, the Japanese sing a team's anthem, similar to how we sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" here in America during the 7th inning.

The best part of the book is how it teaches children Japanese words for pitcher, fast ball, and even words for family members, and it includes a glossary in the back for the Japanese words used in the book.

If you want to teach a child about Japanese culture, Take Me Out to the Yakyu is a great introduction.

Take Me Out to the Yakyu

Written & Illustrated by: Aaron Meshon

Date Published: 2013

Little Erroll: The Story of Admiral Erroll M. Brown, First Black Coast Guard Admiral

"Erroll always listened to his teachers, completed his school work & stayed out of trouble. The teachers were very fond of him because he was a bright student. 
He loved to read and he especially loved math!"

August marks the anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard, established in 1789, and I thought it would be the perfect time to review the picture book Little Erroll: The Story of Admiral Erroll Mingo Brown: First Black Coast Guard Admiral, about the first African-American to become an admiral in the United States Coast Guard.

Erroll Brown was born in Ocala, Florida in 1950 and came from modest beginnings. He lived with his grandparents, and did many chores for them around the house including washing clothes and mowing the lawn. One day he asks his grandpa if he could help with steering the tractor. Because he was so small, his grandfather did not want Errol to help with such a dangerous job, but Errol insisted that if he sat on his grandpa's lap, he could steer the wheel - and that's just what he did.

It is with that persistence and perseverance that allowed Erroll to make honor roll in high school and play football despite constantly being teased for being small. When Erroll receives a letter to attend the Coast Guard Academy, he accepts and attends in 1968. At times, he struggled in his studies, but after meeting a black Coast Guard captain, he was determined to succeed and completed his engineering program. In 1972, Erroll was presented with his officer commission by the vice president of the United States, and eventually becomes became the first African-American  admiral in the Coast Guard.

Erroll Brown went up against racism in a post-segregation society and had many challenges along the way, but he never let that keep him from his goal. The book Little Erroll: The Story of Admiral Erroll Mingo Brown: First Black Coast Guard Admiral is a wonderful book for all children, as it teaches the important lesson that with hard work and perseverance, you can achieve your dreams.

Little Erroll: The Story of Admiral Erroll Mingo Brown: First Black Coast Guard Admiral

Written by: Shameen E. Anthanio-Williams