Barefoot Librarian January 2019 Newsletter
Here’s the latest issue of the Barefoot Librarian newsletter! My aim is to keep the content brief but highly relevant to elementary and preschool educators and parents of young readers. I welcome any comments or suggestions on topics you would like to hear about. Contact me.
Happy New Year! Welcome back to the Barefoot Librarian Newsletter!
Multicultural Children’s Book Day January 25, 2019
What better way to start the year then by reading with a new multicultural children’s book. Thanks to the Multicultural Children’s Book Day, I am able to do just that! Each year the MCBD organization pairs children’s book reviewers with multicultural books and I am honored to be one of those lucky reviewers! See my review of Mela and the Elephant by Dow Phumiruk, published by Sleeping Bear Press. Thanks to Sleeping Bear Press for sending me a free review copy.
Besides providing reviews of many multicultural children’s books, MCBD provides teacher with the free resources below.
Free Multicultural Books for Teachers: http://bit.ly/1kGZrta
Free Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians & Educators: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/teacher-classroom-empathy-kit/
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with MCBD on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.
Book Review for MCBD
Mela and the Elephant
Written by Dow Phumiruk
Illustrated by Ziyue Chen
Published by Sleeping Bear Press
Mela and the Elephant is a contemporary folktale set in Thailand which teaches the merits of kindness. The main character, Mela, is a plucky young girl who sets out one day to see the sights along Ping River near her home. She refuses to allow her younger brother to join her, because “He had nothing to offer.” When Mela uses her uncle’s boat to catch a big fish she spies in the river, she gets caught up in the swift current and ends up deep in the jungle. Mela meets a crocodile, a leopard, and some monkeys on her journey. She asks the animals to help her find her way home, and they consent to help if Mela gives them something in return. As she gives up her possessions one by one to the animals, they all run off with her gift without helping her. In the end, she meets an elephant who is happy to show her the way home and asks for nothing in return. The last page of the book delivers the message of the story: “Kindness needs no reward, for it brings happiness and warmth to the heart.”
This book includes several of the elements that I look for in a good multicultural children’s book.
To see my entire review go to “Books I Love” on my website or click here: Mela and the Elephant
To buy this book now click on this: Mela and the Elephant
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Please contact me anytime with all of your book needs! I will be happy to recommend and sell you great books to enhance & enrich your lesson plans.
Happy Reading!