2024 Multicultural Children's Book Day

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/25) is in its 11th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Ready or Not, Book Two in the Summer of L.U.C.K trilogy, is a middle grade novel written by Laura Segal Stegman. This book was gifted to me to review for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 event (1/25/24).

Ready or Not is narrated by thirteen year old Justin. Justin, Darby and Naz reunite for another summer at Camp Inch. They are ready for more adventure together, but nothing is exactly like it was the year before. That includes their interactions with carnival creator Mr. Usher. Justin arrives at camp wanting to repair an incident that involved Naz, his friend from Morocco. From his first day at camp, he also struggles with bullying between bunkmates, one of whom is Jewish. Through a series of visits to the carnival, Justin learns that Mr. Usher had to work through discrimination and prejudice in his family. Justin is looking for answers from Mr. Usher to one specific question: "How do you learn to be brave?" Usher’s family story that unfolds in mystery and magic does not answer that question, but teaches young readers that brave, just like magic, doesn't just appear. Intentional actions are happening underneath. Stegman's characters engage the young reader to identify and practice a growth mindset. As Justin builds his skills, or his 'brave', Justin comes to understand that what we do and learn before the brave, and after, is what matters most.

Young readers will benefit from Justin's curiosity with purpose. Importantly, for supportive adults who work with youth, Justin’s character is a means to start a conversation about trying, failing forward, and understanding that if we make a choice we regret, what matters is how we come back from that decision. Key themes are social justice and mental health as the characters work through concepts of acknowledging harm, identifying what is in our control, accepting what it is not, and asking questions that advocate for ourselves and others. Specifically, this book is a great teaching tool for youth counselors and youth workers who work in camp spaces. Ultimately, Ready or Not is a middle grade mystery that guides young readers and the adults in their lives to realize it only seems like the answers are hard to find, until we start paying attention.

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Further opportunities from Multicultural Children's Book Day!!

Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of Multicultural Children's Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here.

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 25, 2024, at our virtual party!

Check out MCBD's Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day