 I was honored to have the opportunity to interview collage artist (and so much more!) Johanna Goodman for Rivertown Magazine. I had been following Goodman on Instagram for a long time and was inspired by her work. I was so thrilled when she invited me into her studio to share her artistic process. Click here to read the article on page 25 in the digital issue.
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 A miniature by Reginald Easton
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Set in Uganda in the Abayudaya Jewish community, which has been practicing Judaism since the 1920’s (as I learned in the informative backmatter), The Very Best Sukkah written by Shoshana Nambi, Illustrated by Moran Yogev,
tells the story of Shoshi and her brothers who hope that the Sukkah they build will be chosen as the best one in their community. It’s a friendly competition amongst neighbors though jealousy rears its head over one particular Sukkah and the materials used to build it. The Rabbi gathers the community and kindly talks to them about their feelings. And in the aftermath of a storm, we see the true spirit of the Abayudaya community. The illustrations are bold with deep lush colors that richly portray the people and the setting. While this book shares Jewish customs and traditions, I think it is a story for all readers. Even though a community Sukkah building competition could occur, it has not been a part of my Sukkot tradition or of other people I know. The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda, has won the inaugural 2023 National Jewish Book Award category: Children’s Picture Book Tracy and Larry Brown Family Award . This book was gifted for a review as part of Multicultural Children's Book Day. #ReadYourWorld If you purchase this book, please purchase directly from the publisher Kalaniot Books or Click here to find your local bookseller or Bookshop.org
Information about Multicultural Children's Book Day
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2023 (1/26/22) is in its 10th 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. Ten 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 continues. MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors! FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com) ? Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media ? Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages ? Gold Sponsors: Interlink Books, Publisher Spotlight ? Silver Sponsors: Cardinal Rule Press, Lee & Low, Barefoot Books, Kimberly Gordon Biddle ? Bronze Sponsors: Vivian Kirkfield, Patrice McLaurin , Quarto Group, Carole P. Roman, Star Bright Books, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Bay Equity Home Loans, Rent.com, Title Forward MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors! Authors: Sivan Hong, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Josh Funk , Stephanie M. Wildman, Gwen Jackson, Diana Huang, Afsaneh Moradian, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Eugenia Chu, Jacqueline Jules, Alejandra Domenzain, Gaia Cornwall, Ruth Spiro, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young/Twin Powers Books, Kimberly Lee , Tameka Fryer Brown, Talia Aikens-Nuñez, Marcia Argueta Mickelson, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Jennie Liu, Heather Murphy Capps, Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney, John Coy, Irene Latham and Charles Waters, Maritza M Mejia, Lois Petren, J.C. Kato and J.C.², CultureGroove, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Red Comet Press, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Nancy Tupper Ling, Deborah Acio, Asha Hagood, Priya Kumari, Chris Singleton, Padma Venkatraman, Teresa Robeson, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Martha Seif Simpson, Rochelle Melander, Alva Sachs, Moni Ritchie Hadley, Gea Meijering, Frances Díaz Evans, Michael Genhart, Angela H. Dale, Courtney Kelly, Queenbe Monyei, Jamia Wilson, Charnaie Gordon, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Debbie Zapata, Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, Natasha Yim, Tracy T. Agnelli, Kitty Feld, Anna Maria DiDio, Ko Kim, Shachi Kaushik MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts! MCBD 2023 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
Sumo Joe written by Mia Wenjen, Illustrated by Nat Iwata is a simple sweet rhyming story about big brother Sumo Joe practicing Sumo moves with his friends while his little sister goes to Aikido. Readers learn about Sumo traditions while watching them practice. When his little sister comes home, she becomes Aikido Jo and a match with her gentle, strong big brother ensues. The illustrations are clear and uncomplicated with a soft color palette that feel peaceful and complement the text. Explanation of moves and other traditions are explained in the Backmatter. This book was gifted for a review as part of Multicultural Children's Book Day. #ReadYourWorld
If you purchase this book, please purchase directly from the publisher Lee & Low Books or Click here to find your local bookseller or Bookshop.org
Information about Multicultural Children's Book Day
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2023 (1/26/22) is in its 10th 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. Ten 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 continues. MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors! FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com) ? Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media ? Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages ? Gold Sponsors: Interlink Books, Publisher Spotlight ? Silver Sponsors: Cardinal Rule Press, Lee & Low, Barefoot Books, Kimberly Gordon Biddle ? Bronze Sponsors: Vivian Kirkfield, Patrice McLaurin , Quarto Group, Carole P. Roman, Star Bright Books, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Bay Equity Home Loans, Rent.com, Title Forward MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors! Authors: Sivan Hong, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Josh Funk , Stephanie M. Wildman, Gwen Jackson, Diana Huang, Afsaneh Moradian, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Eugenia Chu, Jacqueline Jules, Alejandra Domenzain, Gaia Cornwall, Ruth Spiro, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young/Twin Powers Books, Kimberly Lee , Tameka Fryer Brown, Talia Aikens-Nuñez, Marcia Argueta Mickelson, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Jennie Liu, Heather Murphy Capps, Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney, John Coy, Irene Latham and Charles Waters, Maritza M Mejia, Lois Petren, J.C. Kato and J.C.², CultureGroove, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Red Comet Press, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Nancy Tupper Ling, Deborah Acio, Asha Hagood, Priya Kumari, Chris Singleton, Padma Venkatraman, Teresa Robeson, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Martha Seif Simpson, Rochelle Melander, Alva Sachs, Moni Ritchie Hadley, Gea Meijering, Frances Díaz Evans, Michael Genhart, Angela H. Dale, Courtney Kelly, Queenbe Monyei, Jamia Wilson, Charnaie Gordon, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Debbie Zapata, Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, Natasha Yim, Tracy T. Agnelli, Kitty Feld, Anna Maria DiDio, Ko Kim, Shachi Kaushik MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts! MCBD 2023 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 The BusyPBs picture book promo groupI’m excited to bee apart of the BusyPBs Picture Book Promo Group! We have a variety of diverse new picture books coming out between now and 2024. Check out our hive and follow us on Twitter @BusyPBs and Insta @BusyPBs for more information, giveaways and events! Click here to pre-order and purchase our books.  Children's author Julie Hedlund, challenged participants of her 12 Days of Christmas for Writers series to post SUCCESSES (rather than resolutions) on our blogs this year. She believes the way New Year's resolutions are traditionally made come from a place of negativity - what DIDN'T get done or achieved in the previous year. Instead, she suggests we set goals for the New Year that BUILD on our achievements from the previous one. I decided to participate in this Anti-Resolution Revolution! Here is my list for 2021.
Congratulations to Susanna Leonard Hill for 10 years of Halloweensie! What's Halloweensie? It is a very short story for kids contest - 100 words or less. This year, we had to use the words skeleton, creep, mask or some form of them in our stories. Happy Halloweensie!! 
 It's that time again! The #50PreciousWords contest created by Vivian Kirkfield inspired me to work on Puffin's Problem. I love birds, especially Puffins, and when I learned that puffins are tool users , I wanted to write about it. Honing a story to its essence is one of the tools I use to get the to heart of the story and this contest it the perfect way to do that. Thank you @VivianKirkfield!
 Today is a day to recognize the achievements of women and girls in science, those that have achieved and those that will achieve. I am reminded of a TED Women talk given in 2017 by Anushka Naiknaware, who at the age of 13, was the youngest winner of the Google Science Fair, with her invention of a clever new bandage that tells caregivers when it needs to be changed. Astounding.
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